Portal:Current events/2021 April 27

April 27, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan–United States relations, Afghan peace process
  - The U.S. State Department orders a portion of their staff to leave the Kabul embassy as a step of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. (AP)
Northern Chad offensive
- At least four people in N'Djamena and one in Moundou are killed during protests requesting the military government to concede to a civilian transition. Police use tear gas to disperse protesters. The military council has banned protests. (Al Jazeera)
Internal conflict in Myanmar, Karen conflict
- The Karen National Union attacks an army outpost near the Myanmar–Thailand border at dawn. The Myanmar military retaliates with airstrikes as some 450 Thai villagers are moved to safety by the Thai military. There are no immediate reports of casualties. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia says that it detected and destroyed an incoming remote-controlled ship containing explosives in the Red Sea. (The Independent)

Arts and culture

2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines
- The Philippines celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan, where Filipino natives led by chieftain Lapulapu killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. (The Philippine Star)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
      - The CDC says that fully vaccinated Americans can go outside without wearing a mask unless they are in large crowds. (AP)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
      - Colorado surpasses 500,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Denver Post)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts
      - Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker receives his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (WWLP-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      - Quebec reports Canada's first death from a vaccination. The death has been linked to a blood clot after a 54-year-old woman received the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and died due to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. (Global News)
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
      - Canadian Army general Dany Fortin, the person in charge of Canada's vaccination campaign, receives his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (CTV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Sweden
      - Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven receives his first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    - Iceland bans unnecessary travel from high-risk areas in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infections. This ban applies to all international travelers and will be in effect until May 31. (Iceland Monitor)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, Lineage B.1.617
    - Portugal reports its first six cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant originally detected in India. (The Portugal News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
    - Bangladesh grants an emergency use authorization for the Sputnik V vaccine. (Dhaka Tribune)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, Lineage B.1.351
    - Iran reports its first three cases of the Lineage B.1.351 variant first discovered in South Africa. The Health Ministry warns of "harder days ahead" as it is predicted that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 will increase. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 15 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 163. (Bangkok Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Pakistan's National Command and Operation Centre announces a ban on all tourism between May 8 and May 16 following a third wave of COVID-19. The country also bans all intercity and interprovincial travel during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, with the exception of travel within Gilgit-Baltistan. (The News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - Lockdown restrictions are lifted in Perth, Western Australia, after no new community transmissions are reported. However, some indoor venues will remain closed, and the mask mandate will continue. (ABC Australia)
    - Australia suspends flights from India until May 15 amidst a surge of the COVID-19 cases. (9 News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji, Lineage B.1.617
    - Fiji reports its first six cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant originally detected in India. (TVNZ)
More than 27,000 barrels containing DDT insecticide are discovered in a 36,000 acre "dump-site" in the Gulf of Santa Catalina. Usage of DDT has been banned worldwide since 1972 due to the chemical's catastrophic effect on human and environmental health. (NBC News)

International relations

The United States Navy says that three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol boats approach the USS Firebolt at "an unnecessarily close range with unknown intent" and retreat after warning shots are fired. (Fox News)
Brexit, Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU
- The European Parliament ratifies the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the United Kingdom by a 660–5 vote, with 32 MEPs abstaining. (BBC News)

Law and crime

Israel–Palestine relations
- A report published by Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of committing a crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people. (AP)
The European Parliament votes to lift the immunity of far-right MEP Ioannis Lagos, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2020 for being a leader of Golden Dawn, a party linked to acts of racist and political violence. Belgian police arrest Lagos ahead of his likely extradition to Greece. (The National Abu Dhabi)
Postal workers of Spanish Correos intercept a letter with bullets mailed to Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2021 Albanian parliamentary election
- Prime Minister Edi Rama claims victory for his Socialist Party, making Rama the first Albanian prime minister to win three consecutive parliamentary elections. (CNA)