Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have recorded 29 Ebola virus cases and 13 deaths so far.
- AMERICAS: U.S President Joe Biden is planning to hold the first ever quadrilateral US summit with the leaders of Japan, India, and Australia, as the four countries boost cooperation to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
- ASIA: China’s top diplomat State Councillor Wang Yi declared the electoral system in Hong Kong must be improved for long-term stability, saying reform will create a “brighter future” for the city.
- EUROPE: Switzerland is going to vote on whether to effectively ban the wearing of burqas, the full body covering worn by some Muslim women, and other full-face coverings.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his nation was prepared to take measures to live up to measures in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as soon as the United States ends economic sanctions on Iran.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: South Korea’s corporate watchdog declared plans to change a law governing e-commerce transactions as an increase in online platform-based trade raised the need to better protect consumers amid a non-contact trend.
Top Story
- Myanmar: Protests continue more than a month after the coup, despite attempts by the junta to clap down.
- Thousands of anti-coup protesters hit the streets as the junta regime continued its crackdown, amid overnight raids in parts of Yangon which targeted members from Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party.
- The Junta has asked India to return several police officers who crossed the border following a coup in their country.
- The escalation of violence in Myanmar as authorities crack down on protests against the Feb. 1 coup is raising pressure for more sanctions against the junta, despite nations struggling on deciding how to best sway military leaders inured to global condemnation.
- Myanmar police fired tear gas to break up a sit-in demonstration attended by tens of thousands of people in Mandalay, while protests were held in at least half a dozen other cities in some of the most widespread efforts against last month’s coup.
- Reporting: AFP, AP, AP, Reuters
Africa
- Region: Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have recorded 29 Ebola virus cases and 13 deaths so far. (Xinhua)
- Ethiopia: The Federal Ministry of Health recorded 956 additional COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, bringing its national count to 165,029. (Xinhua)
- Nigeria: The army freed 14 crew members of a Chinese fishing boat from pirates, after a ransom was paid. (AFP)
Americas
- Paraguay: President Mario Abdo Benítez announced a cabinet change after violent street protests over the administration’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. (AFP)
- United States: Dozens of people gathered in front of the Minnesota governor’s mansion to demand accountability for police officers, days before a former Minneapolis officer is scheduled to go on trial in the death of George Floyd. (AP)
- United States: President Joe Biden is planning to hold the first ever quadrilateral summit with the leaders of Japan, India, and Australia, as the four countries boost cooperation to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. (FT)
- United States: Joe Biden will sign an executive order intended to increase voter registration, days after the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed an expansive voting rights law to counteract Republican efforts to restrict ballot access in several states. (FT)
Asia
- China: The nation’s exports surged 60.6% over a year earlier in the first two months of 2021, after factories reopened and global demand started to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP)
- China: The mainland government’s top diplomat State Councillor Wang Yi declared the electoral system in Hong Kong must be improved for long-term stability, saying reform will create a “brighter future” for the city. (Reuters)
- India: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is likely to visit the nation next week, a government source told Reuters on Sunday, as the two allies seek to deepen military ties to counter the growing power of China in the Indo-Pacific region. (Reuters)
- South Korea: The nation’s armed forces will stage a major springtime combined military exercise with the United States starting this week in a reduced manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (YNA)
Europe
- Russia: Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 10,595 in the past twenty-four hours to 4,322,776 total cases. (TASS)
- Switzerland: The nation is going to vote on whether to effectively ban the wearing of burqas, the full body covering worn by some Muslim women, and other full-face coverings. (DPA)
- United Kingdom: A leading political voice in Irish dissident republicanism has publicly asked all the armed paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to call ceasefires and end their violence. (The Guardian)
Middle East
- Iraq: Pope Francis is visiting parts of the northern region that were once held by the Islamic State (IS) on the third day of his historic trip to the country. (BBC)
- Iran: President Hassan Rouhani said his nation is prepared to take measures to live up to measures in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as soon as the United States ends economic sanctions. (AP)
- Israel: Seventh to ninth graders returned to schools throughout the nation following six months of home-schooling; restaurants and cafes also reopened after months of takeout and deliveries only. (DPA)
- Saudi Arabia: The nation said it had destroyed five armed drones launched by the Houthis in Yemen. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- E-Commerce: South Korea’s corporate watchdog declared plans to change a law governing e-commerce transactions as an increase in online platform-based trade raised the need to better protect consumers amid a non-contact trend. (YNA)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 07MAR21)
- Confirmed cases:116,574,933
- Total recovered cases: 65,903,846
- Deaths: 2,589,283
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 28FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 17
- Deaths: 7
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 28FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 8
- Deaths: 4
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 07MAR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (08MAR21)
- Global: International Women’s Day.
- The Americas: U.S. continues National Emergency with respect to Venezuela.
- Asia-Pacific: China to hold its “two sessions” policy meetings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC).
- Eurasia: First In-Person Meeting of Russia-backed Open-Ended Working Group on cybersecurity.
- Europe: Parliament plenary session.
- Syria: Revolution Day.
- United States: Trial begins for former police officer charged in death of George Floyd.
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