Portal:Current events/2021 April 16

April 16, 2021 (Friday)

Arts and culture

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage, COVID-19 pandemic in India
- The Archaeological Survey of India closes all monuments, museums, and protected sites until May 15 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Times of India)

Business and economy

The Turkish Central Bank bans transactions using cryptocurrencies and crypto assets, citing possible "irreparable damage" and transaction risks to customers. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor Angela Merkel receives her first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (DW)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Russia
      - The number of Russians vaccinated against COVID-19 surpasses eight million. (Interfax)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports a record 63,082 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,150,039. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine receives 117,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (UNICEF)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
      - Scotland relaxes its COVID-19-related restrictions, allowing non-essential travel around the country and some social gatherings. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
      - Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces a six-week extension of the stay-at-home order with new restrictions until May 20, including a ban of outdoor gatherings outside the household, as the COVID-19 cases remain high. (CBC)
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
      - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Pfizer will double the amounts of vaccine that are being shipped to Canada. He also announces that the Canadian Red Cross will be deployed to Ontario to help with COVID-19 vaccinations. (AP)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia
      - British Columbia Premier John Horgan receives his first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Vancouver Sun)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
      - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. (Bloomberg.com)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan extends its restrictions on gatherings and dining to May 24 due to an increase in the number of cases. The state also expands its mask mandate to children. (Detroit Free Press)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia, Lineage P.1
      - Virginia reports its first two cases of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
    - Bangladesh reports a record 101 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 10,181. (The National Herald)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a record 217,353 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 14.29 million. The country also reports 1,185 deaths, which is the highest daily total since September, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 174,308. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - The government designates Aichi, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures for tougher measures that would require restaurants and bars to close at 8:00 p.m. between April 20 and May 15. (The Mainichi)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand announces the closure of educational institutions, pubs, bars, karaoke shops, and massage parlours; a ban on alcohol sales at restaurants; and a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people for at least two weeks, beginning April 18, due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina reports a record 29,472 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total to 2,658,574 cases. (Clarín)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga
  - Salote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuita, Princess of Tonga, received her first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, thereby becoming the first person to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the disease-free country. (RNZ)

International relations

Russia–United States relations
- The Russian Foreign Minister says that Moscow will ask ten U.S. diplomats to leave Russia in retaliation to expulsions of Russian diplomats ordered by the United States yesterday. (AP)
United States involvement in regime change, Cuba–United States relations
- Declassified documents released by the National Security Archive show that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in a plot to assassinate Raúl Castro in 1960. (CNA)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- Criminal charges brought in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
  - American guitarist and Oath Keepers member Jon Schaffer pleads guilty for his role in the storming of the United States Capitol, thus making him the first participant in the riot to do so. (CNN)

Politics and elections

In a widely-expected move at the 8th Congress of the Communist Party, Raúl Castro officially resigns as First Secretary, the most powerful position in Cuba. Incumbent President Miguel Díaz-Canel is expected to succeed him. (NBC News)

Science and technology

Artemis program
- NASA awards SpaceX a contract to build its next-generation Human Landing System to return American astronauts to the lunar surface during this decade. (BBC News)