Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Fighting between different factions within Somalia’s security forces has broken out in Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu.
- AMERICAS: Human Rights Watch accused Venezuelan security forces of torture, executions and arbitrary arrests along the Venezuela-Colombia border.
- ASIA: Anti-junta activists in Myanmar urged the public to stop paying electricity bills and agricultural loans, spurning the junta’s pledge at a regional summit to end the country’s post-coup crisis.
- EUROPE: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted at potentially allowing vaccinated US citizens to visit EU countries this summer.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif complained of the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps interfering in Tehran’s diplomatic affairs, in audio recordings that were leaked during the weekend.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Authorities in China scrubbed China-born Chloe Zhao from the country’s social media landscape following her Oscar victory.
Top Story
- India: Countries pledge help as India sets another daily coronavirus case record.
- India recorded another global record for daily coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day, as it reported 352, 991 new cases over the last 24 hours.
- People are resorting to the black market for essential medicines, oxygen cylinders and concentrators due to a lack of critical medical supplies caused by this current behemoth coronavirus wave.
- Amid the record-breaking surge, several countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany pledged to send India critical medical supplies to help tackle shortages.
- The US help to India includes supplying India with therapeutics, test kits, ventilators and protective gear, as well as the Biden administration partially lifting its ban on the export of raw materials for vaccines for vaccine production in India.
- Reporting: DPA, BBC, NYT, WSJ, Reuters, WaPo
Africa
- Mozambique: Total confirmed its suspension of work on a massive $20 billion gas project in the country’s north, declaring a “force majeure” situation amid jihadist attacks in the country. (AFP)
- Somalia: Fighting between different factions within the country’s security forces has broken out in the capital city of Mogadishu. (BBC)
- South Africa: The Health Ministry is ready to resume a trial evaluating Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after a brief pause over rare cases of blood clots in people given the vaccine. (Reuters)
- Uganda: The government said it may seek to approach major creditors to negotiate a possible suspension of loan repayments due to a growing default risk. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Human Rights Watch accused Venezuelan security forces of torture, executions and arbitrary arrests along the Venezuela-Colombia border. (AP)
- Canada: Labour Minister Filomena Tassi said the government will intervene to prevent a strike planned by Montreal dockworkers. (Reuters)
- Mexico: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said the country is suffering from “critical” failures in law enforcement and some of the worst levels of journalist killings outside warzones. (AP)
- United States: Vice President Kamala Harris will urge world leaders to begin preparations for the next global pandemic during a UN address. (AP)
Asia
- Region: China confirmed that the International Atomic Energy Agency will invite Chinese experts to join a working group contributing to Japan’s planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. (Reuters)
- Indonesia: President Joko Widodo will posthumously promote the crew of the sunken submarine KRI Nanggala 402. (EFE)
- Kazakhstan: The country rolled out its natively developed two-shot coronavirus vaccine called QazCovid-in. (AFP)
- Malaysia: The Top Glove company said it resolved all indicators of forced labor in its operations, citing a report by independent consultant Impactt Limited. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: Anti-junta activists urged the public to stop paying electricity bills and agricultural loans, spurning the junta’s pledge at a regional summit to end the country’s post-coup crisis. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted at potentially allowing vaccinated US citizens to visit EU countries this summer. (NYT)
- Region: Czech President Milos Zeman stated that Russia being responsible for a 2014 ammunition dump explosion in the Czech Republic was just one of the two most prominent theories of what caused the explosion. (Reuters)
- Albania: No clear winner emerged in the country’s parliamentary elections. (DPA)
- Turkey: The trial of twelve members of the pro-Kurdish Democratic People Party (HDP) over protests during an Islamic State assault on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani in 2014 has started. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: Israel closed a fishing zone off the already blockaded Gaza Strip following the recent rocket attacks on the country. (AFP)
- Iran: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif complained of the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps interfering in Tehran’s diplomatic affairs, in audio recordings that were leaked during the weekend. (WaPo)
- Israel: Palestinians celebrated outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem after police barriers were removed from the East Jerusalem plaza, which has seen nightly Ramadan clashes recently. (Reuters)
- Yemen: Houthi rebels have reportedly made major advances on Marib, the government’s last stronghold in the country’s north. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Authorities in China scrubbed China-born Chloe Zhao from the country’s social media landscape following her Oscar victory. (AFP)
- Social Media: Twitter confirmed it blocked some material from being viewed in India after the Indian government ordered the social media platform to remove posts critical of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, triggering outrage across the country. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes:
- Tonga
- Location: 200 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga
- Magnitude: 6.4
- Depth: 234.3 km
- Map
- Tonga
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 26APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 147,238,543
- Total recovered cases: 84,955,477
- Deaths: 3,110,511
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 11APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 11APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 11
- Deaths: 6
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 26APR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (27APR21)
- Global: US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will speak at the Foreign Policy Virtual Climate Summit. (to 28APR)
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
- Global: The CSTO Council of Defense Ministers and CSTO Council of Security Council Secretaries will hold meetings. (to 29APR)
- Americas: US Vice President Kamala Harris will virtually meet with Guatemalan community-based organizations.
- Asia: Australia is expected to announce a coronavirus support package for India.
- Europe: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Commissioner for Budget Johannes Hahn will announce details on the next generation of EU funding.
- Algeria: The trial of pro-democracy activist Amira Bouraoui will be held.
- Bangladesh: Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe will visit.
- Cyprus: The UN will hold a summit on resolving the country’s ethnic divide. (to 29APR)
- India: The UK’s provision of anti-coronavirus supplies is expected to arrive in the country that is currently under siege by a new coronavirus wave.
- Japan: The central bank will announce a monetary policy decision.
- Morocco: The trial of journalist Omar Radi, accused of espionage and sexual violence, will be held. (to 29APR)
- Netherlands: King’s Day – 1967
- Sierra Leone: Independence Day – 1961
- South Africa: Freedom Day – 1994
- Togo: Independence Day – 1960
- United States: Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad will testify to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
- United States: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on climate change in Africa.
- United States: Norway’s crown prince, foreign minister, trade minister, and energy minister will virtually “visit” San Francisco. (to 28APR)
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