Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Polls opened in the Republic of Congo, with President Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to continue his 36-year rule despite an economic crisis in the Central African oil producer.
- AMERICAS: Mexican Authorities arrested 95 Central American immigrants who entered the country by plane from the south to the north, close to the United States border, the National Institute of Migration (INM) reported.
- ASIA: North Korean diplomats left their embassy in Malaysia and prepared to leave the country after the two nations severed diplomatic relations in a spat over a North Korean criminal suspect’s extradition to the United States.
- EUROPE: The number of COVID-19 patients in Bulgaria’s hospitals has risen to 8,545, the highest amount since the start of the pandemic last March, official health data reported.
- MIDDLE EAST: Thousands of Israeli citizens demonstrated outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence, calling for his removal ahead of this week’s parliamentary elections.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Twitter suspended the Myanmar information ministry’s account as anti-coup protests persist, in which nearly 250 people have lost their lives in weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations since the military overthrew an elected government.
Top Story
Myanmar: Protests Continue in the nation despite ongoing crackdowns:
- Young Protesters are considering armed rebellion and forming a “People’s Army” to fight the military government.
- Protesters in nearly 20 locations across the country staged candle-lit protests, from the economic hub of Yangon to small communities in Kachin State in the north and the southernmost town of Kawthaung, according to various social media posts.
- Police officers who refused the army’s orders to shoot opponents of the coup and escaped to India are asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government not to send them back and provide them political asylum on humanitarian grounds.
- A peaceful march at dawn by medical professionals in Myanmar’s second-largest city started another day of protests around the country against last month’s coup.
- Reporting: The Guardian, Reuters, AP, AP.
Africa
- Republic of Congo: Polls opened in the nation, with President Denis Sassou Nguesso widely expected to continue his 36-year rule despite an economic crisis in the Central African oil producer. (Reuters)
- Ethiopia: Security forces in the Oromia regional state have “neutralized” 21 suspected Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) insurgents. (Xinhua)
- Tanzania: President Samia Suluhu Hassan led citizens in mourning former President John Magufuli at the Uhuru Stadium in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Region: Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd has agreed to buy Kansas City Southern rail for $25 billion, the Financial Times confirmed, citing people with knowledge of the matter. (Reuters)
- Mexico: Authorities arrested 95 Central American immigrants who entered the country by plane from the south to the north, close to the United States border, the National Institute of Migration (INM) reported. (EFE)
- United States: Two Democratic state senators from New Orleans received the most votes in a special election to replace former Representative Cedric L. Richmond, who is now a senior advisor to President Biden. (NYT)
- United States: Thousands of travelers who went to Miami Beach for spring break have become so uncontrollable that authorities declared a state of emergency and enacted a curfew meant to quash the party. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: North Korean diplomats left their embassy in Malaysia and prepared to leave the country after the two nations severed diplomatic relations in a spat over a North Korean criminal suspect’s extradition to the United States. (AP)
- India: The nation recorded 43,846 additional COVID-19 cases, the biggest daily jump in four months, as its richest state Maharashtra continued to make up for more than half of the infections. (Reuters)
- Thailand: More than 30 civilians and police were injured in anti-government protests, an emergency medical center reported after police used a water cannon, tear gas, and rubber bullets to end the rally the night before. (Reuters)
- The Philippines: The Armed forces killed an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives, the military announced. (AP)
Europe
- Bulgaria: The number of COVID-19 patients in the nation’s hospitals has risen to 8,545, the highest amount since the start of the pandemic last March, official health data reported. (Reuters)
- Turkey: Police have arrested a prominent pro-Kurdish party politician who was in the midst of a days-long protest in parliament. (AP)
- United Kingdom: A new Royal Navy surveillance ship is to be built to protect “critical” undersea cables, the Ministry of Defence announced. (BBC)
Middle East
- Region: The U.S. Navy said it would have a significant naval exercise alongside Belgium, France, and Japan in the Mideast despite tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. (AP)
- Israel: Thousands of citizens have demonstrated outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for his removal ahead of this week’s parliamentary elections. (The Guardian)
- Yemen: Houthi rebels stated that three tear gas bombs used by their riot forces are the cause of the deadly fire that broke out earlier this month inside a migrant detention center in the capital Sanaa and killed at least 45 African migrants. (Xinhua)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Twitter suspended the Myanmar information ministry’s account as anti-coup protests persist, in which nearly 250 people have lost their lives in weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations since the military overthrew an elected government. (EFE)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 21MAR21)
- Confirmed cases:122,825,490
- Total recovered cases: 69,596,146
- Deaths: 2,709,821
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 14MAR21)
- Confirmed cases: 18
- Deaths: 9
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 14MAR21)
- Confirmed cases: 11
- Deaths: 5
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 21MAR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (22MAR21)
- Global: World Water Day
- Global: NATO chief holds virtual press briefing ahead of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
- Global: WHO World TB Day Press Conference (virtual)
- China: Russian foreign minister visits China
- Europe: EU ministers of foreign affairs will be briefed about current affairs and exchange views on the Southern neighborhood and Turkey.
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