World Beat

• Israel launched a strike on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, for the first time since they agreed to a ceasefire with the country on November 27, 2024. Israel’s army claims to have been attacking a Hezbollah drone storage facility.
• A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, followed by an aftershock with a magnitude of 6.4. This event caused many deaths and a state of emergency declared by the country, spreading fear throughout Southeast Asia about more possible destruction.
• King Charles III was hospitalized briefly due to side effects from his cancer treatment. He has returned from the hospital after observation by doctors.
• Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on April 21, 2025 following Easter service and a meeting with United States Vice President JD Vance.
• Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, has stated that Canada’s ties with the United States are over due to trade tensions between the two countries. He has announced reciprocal tariffs on the U.S. due to Trump’s permanent 25 percent auto tariff.

President Trump signed an executive order that directs Vice President JD Vance to “eliminate improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from museums and centers by the Smithsonian Institution.