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April 1, 2021 (Thursday)
3.8 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
Two Venezuelan Army troops are killed and nine others are wounded by a land mine, near the border with Colombia, during operations against FARC dissidents and other "irregular armed groups".
Six auxiliaries of the Burkina Faso Armed Forces are killed in an ambush during an operation in Dablo, Sanmatenga.
Arts and culture
The government announces that it will permit the attendance of around 3,500 fans into Rotterdam Ahoy for the Eurovision contest on May 18–22, as part of a trial to reopen public venues.
Business and economy
New Zealand raises its minimum wage to $20 per hour, increasing the average income of 175,500 citizens by $44 per week, while income tax on those earning over $180,000 rises to 39 percent. Welfare spending, student allowances, and support for first time home buyers are also increased.
The S&P 500 closes its trading day at 4,019.87, the first time it ended at above 4,000.
Health and environment
Malaysia reports nine locally transmitted cases of the 501.V2 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which was originally detected in South Africa.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approves the general use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Bangladesh reports a record 6,469 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to impose a series of new measures, including banning all travellers from the European Union and 12 other countries for two weeks beginning April 3.
Phnom Penh imposes a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time that suspends all non-essential business activities and gatherings for two weeks in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Japanese government designates Osaka, Hyogo, and Miyagi Prefectures for tougher measures against COVID-19 amid a rise in cases. The measures include fines of ÂĄ200,000 ($1,808.80) for restaurants and bars that ignore mandates to shorten operating hours to 8:00 p.m., and capping attendance of large events to 5,000 people. These measures will be effective for one month beginning on April 5.
Vietnam receives the first batch consisting 811,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through COVAX scheme.
Prime Minister Jean Castex announces a ban of alcoholic drinks in parks and outdoor public spaces in France as part of the limited nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Moldova enters a 60-day state of emergency to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi says that the rate of infection has increased to 635 per 100,000 people.
Spain breaks vaccination record with 306,000 doses injected in one day.
Turkey reports a record 40,806 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.3 million.
Lockdown restrictions are eased in Queensland, including Brisbane, after a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases.
After surpassing one million cases, the government announces several new restrictions. Borders will be closed for 30 days; the curfew will start one hour earlier; work permits during quarantine will be given only for essential activities; and sales will be permitted only for food, medicine, and hygiene products.
Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant in a person from Bay County.
Pfizer announces a revised efficacy rating of 91.3% for its vaccine candidate, down from its original rating of 95%, and affirms that protection afforded by the vaccine lasts for at least six months. Pfizer also announces that the vaccine appeared to provide protection against the 501.V2 variant in 100% of cases during its South African trial run.
International relations
The United Kingdom places sanctions on Burmese conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation for funding the junta and for associating with military officials. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also accuses the junta of "sinking to a new low with the wanton killing of innocent people, including children".
U.S. ambassador to Palau John Hennessey-Niland becomes the first sitting American envoy to visit Taiwan since the U.S. cut formal ties in 1979. The visit coincided with the opening of a COVID-19 "travel bubble" between Taiwan and Palau. The highest level visit in 42 years prompted anger from China, who warned the U.S. against "crossing its red line".
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov warns of a rising "anti-White" racism in the United States, saying that political correctness was being "taken to the extreme". Lavrov also accuses the U.S. of attempting to spread a cultural revolution around the world.
Law and crime
A Hong Kong court convicts nine activists of the opposition pro-democracy camp for organizing and participating in an "unlawful assembly". Among those convicted are politicians Martin Lee, Leung Kwok-hung, and Margaret Ng, and entrepreneur Jimmy Lai.
Three Belgian police officers are injured and four people are arrested, after a crowd of around 2,000 people at the Bois de la Cambre park in Brussels is charged for violating social distancing measures by organizing and participating in a coronavirus party marketed as an April Fools' Day prank.
Politics and elections
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová appoints Finance Minister Eduard Heger as the new Prime Minister, ending a month-long political crisis.
Gian Carlo Venturini and Marco Nicolini are sworn in as the new Captains Regent of San Marino, succeeding Alessandro Cardelli and Mirko Dolcini.
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