Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege over the increasing violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu which has killed hundreds this year and displaced more than 1.5 million
- AMERICAS: Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of U.S.-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, more than three years after they were initially arrested on corruption charges.
- ASIA: The South Korean foreign ministry stated that it will continue to coordinate with the United States to help encourage Washington to restart long-stalled denuclearization talks with Pyongyang at an early date.
- EUROPE: The historic post-Brexit trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom came into effect, as the fifth anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches.
- MIDDLE EAST: U.S. citizens were among the dozens killed or injured in a stampede at a recent Jewish religious festival in Israel.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: A new bill that prevents tech companies from deplatforming politicians has been approved by both houses in Florida’s legislature.
Top Story
- India: The situation with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen in the nation.
- India posted a record daily increase of 401,993 new COVID-19 cases as the country opened up its massive vaccination drive to all adults, although several states warned of acute shortages.
- India is due to begin vaccinating all adults over the age of 18 amid a deadly second wave of infections.
- Currently only 150 million shots have been administered in the nation, equating to 11.5 percent of the population of 1.3 billion people with only 25 million having had two shots.
- A fire in a COVID-19 hospital ward in Gujarat killed 18 patients, as the country deals with the worst outbreak yet steps up a vaccination drive for all its adults even though some states say they do not have enough shots.
- U.S. President Joe Biden imposed new travel restrictions on India due to the ongoing pandemic, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States.
- Reporting: Reuters, BBC, AFP, AP, Reuters,
Africa
- Democratic of Republic of Congo: President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege over the increasing violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu which has killed hundreds this year and displaced more than 1.5 million. (Reuters)
- Ethiopia: The nation recorded 1,024 additional COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 257,442. (Xinhua)
- Libya: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that an estimated 340 illegal migrants have been rescued off the coast. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Region: A U.S. bankruptcy court will allow Grupo Aeromexico, which controls Mexico’s largest airline, to increase the size of its plane fleet. (Reuters)
- Panama: A magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook buildings in Panama City, but authorities found no immediate sign of damage. (Reuters)
- United States: The question of whether to deploy a search warrant for Rudy Giuliani’s records was disputed inside the Justice Department in the final months of the Trump administration, dividing officials in New York and Washington and remaining unresolved for a new leadership team to sort out. (AP)
- Venezuela: The nation has released from jail six former executives of U.S.-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, more than three years after they were initially arrested on corruption charges. (Reuters)
Asia
- Japan: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck off the coast of northeast Miyagi Prefecture. (Xinhua)
- Myanmar: The nation’s deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi completed a third month under military-ordered house arrest. (AFP)
- South Korea: The foreign ministry stated that it will continue to coordinate with the United States to help encourage Washington to restart long-stalled denuclearization talks with Pyongyang at an early date. (YNA)
- Thailand: The nation set a new daily record of 21 COVID-19 deaths in one day as the Southeast Asian country prepared to open registration for a long-awaited mass vaccination campaign. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: The post-Brexit trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom went into effect, as the fifth anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches. (DPA)
- Germany: Cities have put thousands of police officers on alert ahead of demonstrations expected to mark May Day across the country, in anticipation of violence at demonstrations planned by members of left-and right-wing groups. (DPA)
- Hungary: The government loosened several COVID-19 restrictions for people with government-issued immunity cards, the latest in a series of reopening measures that have followed a strong vaccination campaign. (AP)
- Ukraine: The capital city of Kyiv eased tough restrictions imposed last month to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Israel: U.S. citizens were among the dozens killed or injured in a stampede at a recent Jewish religious festival. (Reuters)
- Lebanon: The nation recorded 1,001 additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 526,578. (Xinhua)
- Syria: A COVID-19 vaccine campaign kicked off in the rebel-held enclave of Idlib with a 45-year-old front-line nurse becoming the first to receive a U.N.-secured jab. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: A new bill that prevents tech companies from deplatforming politicians has been approved by both houses in Florida’s legislature. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes:
- M 6.8 – 38 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan
- Time: 2021-04-30 21:27:27 (UTC-04:00)
- Location: 38.230°N 141.665°E
- Depth: 47.3 km
- M 6.8 – 38 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 30APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 151,414,772
- Total recovered cases: 88,276,200
- Deaths:3,180,688
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 18APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 18APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 11
- Deaths: 6
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 30APR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (02MAY21)
- Global: Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Easter Sunday
- Asia: ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings (virtual)
- India: West Bengal legislative assembly elections results in India
END
