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Chia-yi County (Taiwan) (AFP) – Taiwan is facing its worst drought in more than half a century. Rainfall has been less than 40 per cent of the usual rate during the first three months of 2021.

A senior official from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region says he expects foreign media can avoid biases, prejudices and negative preconceptions when reporting on the autonomous region, adding that Xinjiang welcomes all international visitors to come.

Best supporting actress winner Youn Yuh-jung waved off questions about Brad Pitt backstage at the Oscars, but shared her longtime admiration for the actor, whose Plan B company backed her film "Minari." (April 26)

With diversity at center stage, minority Oscar nominees took home many coveted golden statuettes, but the three major awards for best actor, best actress and best cinematography went to white nominees.

Beijing residents congratulate Beijing-born director Chloe Zhao on her history-making win at the Oscars. Zhao's "Nomadland" about marginalised Americans roaming the West in vans was honoured for best picture, director and actress for Frances McDormand, who now is in elite company with her third Academy Award.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia tells CNN's Dana Bash that he thinks Congress needs to pass legislation focused on traditional infrastructure and that everything else "should be separated" into a different bill.

Denpasar (Indonesia) (AFP) – Debris from the missing Indonesian Navy submarine, KRI Nanggala 402, has been on the seabed in waters off Bali, military officials say as they confirm all 53 crew members are dead.

At least 82 people died in a huge hospital fire in Iraq's capital city of Baghdad, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. The fire is believed to have started after oxygen tanks exploded, according to two health officials at the hospital. CNN's Arwa Damon reports.

Hotels, restaurants and other businesses in tourist destinations warn that hiring challenges during the coronavirus pandemic could force them to pare back operating hours or curtail services just as they're eyeing a bounce-back summer. (April 26)

Michigan has become a national hotspot for COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations at a time when other states have seen the virus diminish substantially. (April 26)

Ten years haven't filled the voids created by a massive tornado outbreak that killed more than 320 people in six states a decade ago. (April 26)

Video released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory shows the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter completing its third successful flight on the Red Planet.