Portal:Current events/2021 April 22
April 22, 2021 (Thursday)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- 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 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 Spain
- Spain reaches 10 million people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Cadena Ser)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
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 Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signs into law a changes to the Infectious Diseases Protection Act that will give the federal government to impose an "emergency brake" measures in the area where infection rate exceed certain levels. It comes after the Bundesrat gives a 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. (Barrons)
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)