HERE'S what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:
Mumbai runs out of vaccines as India hits another record
All vaccination centres in India's financial capital of Mumbai were shut for three days starting Friday due to a shortage of vaccines, authorities said, as the country posted another record daily rise in coronavirus cases.
Scientists are studying what led to this unexpected surge in India, and whether a variant of the novel coronavirus named B.1.617 first detected in India with two key mutations is to blame.
Brazil passes 400,000 COVID-19 fatalities
Brazil on Thursday became the second country to pass 400,000 COVID-19 deaths after the United States, and experts warned the daily toll could remain high for several months due to slow vaccinations and loosening social restrictions.
Brazil's COVID-19 deaths have fallen slightly from a peak of more than 4,000 in a single day in early April, prompting many local governments to ease lockdowns. But infectious disease experts warned that this easing will keep deaths elevated for months as vaccines alone cannot be counted on to contain the virus.
Japan says Olympics must not burden regional medical systems
The Olympics must not be a burden on regional medical systems, Japan's chief government spokesman said on Friday, amid worries that daily athlete testing will tax health resources already stressed in fighting a rebound of COVID-19 cases.
Tokyo 2020 organisers this week issued the second edition of "playbooks" that lay out infection prevention standards for the Summer Games, which are due to start in less than three months after a one-year delay because of the pandemic. The rules require daily testing of athletes and restrict their use of public transportation, complicating logistics in more remote venues.
Vaccine summit to prepare for future pandemics
Britain said on Friday it would host a summit in 2022 to raise money for vaccine research and development to support an international coalition seeking to speed up the production of shots for future diseases.
Britain said the summit with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) next year would support the body's goal of cutting the development time for new vaccines to 100 days in future pandemics.
'Light at end of the tunnel': NY mayor envisions full reopening by July 1
New York City aims to "fully reopen" on July 1 after more than a year of closures and capacity restrictions, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Thursday, citing satisfactory progress in vaccinating its more than 8 million residents.
Even though the July 1 date is still aspirational and other jurisdictions such as Texas have already declared complete reopening, de Blasio's announcement is significant. New York is the country's most populous city and was the early epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.
COVID cluster at Singapore hospital
Singapore has detected a COVID-19 cluster at one of its largest hospitals, among 16 new locally transmitted infections that were reported on Thursday, its highest number of domestic cases in seven months.
Authorities have isolated two wards in the hospital to test staff and patients, and increased quarantine and movement curbs after the cluster, which is the first in a Singapore hospital. Seven other local cases on Thursday were linked to an airport immigration officer.
Reuters
Fri Apr 30 2021
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Britain said on Friday it would host a summit in 2022 to raise money for vaccine research and development. REUTERSpic
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Ramsay reveals hundreds of lucky cat statues stolen from new restaurant
Gordon Ramsay says about 477 Japanese cat models called maneki-neko were stolen from his Lucky Cat 22 Bishopsgate restaurant.
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Zayn Rayyan case: Two child witnesses complete testimony today
So far, 20 prosecution witnesses, including the two children, have been called for this trial, according to the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
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Macron says he will tell Trump not to be weak with Putin in Washington visit
Emmanuel Macron says showing any weakness to Russia's Vladimir Putin would make it harder to deal with China and Iran.
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Israeli PM Netanyahu says Hamas will pay for not returning Shiri Bibas
Netanyahu accuse Hamas of acting "in an unspeakably cynical manner" by placing body of a Gaza woman in the coffin instead of Shiri Bibas.
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Trump pulls US out of key global climate assessment, sources say
The US is a co-chair along with Malaysia of a working group on climate mitigation, or ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Japan to court Tesla on Nissan investment, FT reports
The group hopes Tesla will invest strategically, believing it's interested in acquiring Nissan's US plants, the report says.
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185 children linked to GISB handed over to families - Exco
The children have been handed over to their families on bond with conditions by the court.
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IRS fires 6,000 employees as Trump slashes US government
The move will eliminate roughly 6% of the agency's workforce in the midst of the busy tax-filing season.
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Elon Musk wields chainsaw at conservative gathering, a gift from Argentina's Milei
This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy, says Elon Musk.
![[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide [OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/41740112820_KhazarUniversity.jpg)
[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide
For Azerbaijanis, the Khojaly genocide is more than a historical event - it is a collective trauma that shapes their identity and worldview.
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Israeli military says body released by Hamas is not of a hostage
Two bodies were identified as infants, but a third, believed to be their mother, Shiri, didn't match any hostage and remains unidentified.
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Key takeaways from Trump-Putin talks: Ukraine, energy, NATO, sanctions
Here's what is known so far about what was discussed.
![[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights [COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/41726025526_UnitedNations.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights
For as long as rights are understood on Occidental terms, problems would inevitably remain. What is needed is an appreciation of diversity.
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Argentina court clears 3 accused in singer Liam Payne's death
The court upheld the pre-trial detention of a hotel employee and a restaurant waiter held since last month.
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Spanish ex-soccer boss Rubiales sentenced to pay fine over kiss without consent
Court also acquits Luis Rubiales' three co-defendants accused of attempting to coerce Jenni Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
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King’s health significantly improved after treatment - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he had the opportunity to seek an audience with the King twice during his official visit to Bahrain.
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Why Trump wants the US Department of Education shut down
The vast majority of US children attend the country's free public schools, which are a big employer and economic engine.
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How did a jet flip upside down on a Toronto runway and everyone survive?
Here is what we know about this accident and similar crashes.
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TIMELINE - Trump's remarks on plan to take over Gaza, displace Palestinians
The plan has been condemned globally, with Palestinians, Arab nations and rights experts saying it was tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."
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'No to drugs' signboards mooted as condition for concert permit
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan says it was part of their recommendations as efforts to curb drug taking at entertainment events.