Portal:Current events/2021 April 22

April 22, 2021 (2021-04-22) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray War, Sexual violence in the Tigray War
  • The United Nations Security Council declares its concern about the war in Ethiopia's Tigray Region for the first time since the conflict began, particularly because of the use of sexual violence by security forces against civilian women and girls. The statement drafted by Ireland was approved unanimously by the council. (Reuters)

Arts and culture and Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
  • The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Chairman Akio Toyoda announces that the 2021 Tokyo Motor Show will be cancelled due to COVID-19. It is the first cancellation in the event history. (The Japan Times)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • India reports 314,835 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a world record for daily cases and pushes the confirmed cases to 15.9 million. The country also reports a record 2,104 deaths and pushes the nationwide death toll to 184,657. (CBS News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Lineage B.1.617
      • Japan reports its first five cases of the "double mutant" Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (Nippon.com)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • Thailand reports a record seven deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 117. (Reuters)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
      • The number of vaccine administered in the United Arab Emirates surpasses 10 million doses. (Khaleej Times)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, Lineage B.1.617
      • Belgium reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in a group of Indian nursing students who travelled from Paris. (Barron's)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain reaches 10 million people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Cadena Ser)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    • Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • The Canada government announces that the country will ban travel from India and Pakistan due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. (CBC)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    • Argentina reports a record 537 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 60,620. (Clarín)

International relations

• China–United Kingdom relations, Uyghur genocide
  • The UK House of Commons unanimously passes a non-binding resolution condemning the internment of Uyghurs as genocide. (CNN)
• Russia–Ukraine relations
  • The Russian Defense Ministry announces it will move its forces away from the Ukrainian border starting tomorrow. Ukraine and its western allies accused Russia of trying to provoke conflict by moving troops to the border, while Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu claimed it was only to conduct drills. (Al Jazeera)
• The United States hosts the two-day Leaders Summit on Climate and invites 40 world leaders to discuss the necessity of combating climate change and committing to reduce their nations' emissions. Due to quarantine protocols, the conference is virtual. (CNN)

Law and crime

• COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
  • President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signs into law changes to the Infectious Diseases Protection Act that will give the federal government the power to impose "emergency brake" measures in areas where infection rate exceed certain levels. The signing comes after the Bundesrat gives final approval for the controversial law. (DW)
• Letters with CETME rifle bullets are received by the Spanish Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the leader of Podemos Pablo Iglesias and the general director of the Civil Guard María Gámez. The death threats are condemned by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. (Barron's)

Politics and elections

• Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The United States Senate votes 94–1 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with bipartisan changes. The bill, which would expedite anti-Asian hate crime reviews to the U.S. Justice Department, will next head to the United States House of Representatives. (USA Today)
• Statehood movement in the District of Columbia, DC Admission Act
  • The United States House of Representatives votes 216–208 strictly along party lines to pass a bill that would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. (AP)

Science and technology

• NASA's Perseverance rover successfully synthesizes breathable oxygen while on the surface of Mars. The success is taken as proof that oxygenating the planet for potential human habitation may be possible. (CBS News)

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April 2021

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