Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said Eritrean soldiers killed over 100 civilians in the Tigray region in November, in an attack that may amount to crimes against humanity.
- AMERICAS: US and Mexican officials held a series of meetings to discuss issues related to immigration and regional development.
- ASIA: Myanmar’s junta released hundreds of anti-coup protesters from detention.
- EUROPE: The EU will reportedly curb the exports of coronavirus vaccines manufactured within the bloc for the next six weeks.
- MIDDLE EAST: No party has won a majority of the seats in Israel’s Knesset with about 87.5% of the vote counted, leaving the outcome of Israel’s parliamentary election uncertain.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Myanmar’s authorities released Thein Zaw, a journalist for The Associated Press, from detention.
Top Story
- Global: Large container ship blocks Suez Canal.
- A giant cargo container ship is blocking nearly the entire width of the critical Suez Canal waterway, in what could further disrupt the global shipping system already strained by the coronavirus pandemic.
- The owners of the MV Ever Given, a Panama-flagged container ship, said the vessel ended up blocking the waterway when it ran aground sideways after being hit by strong winds.
- Eight tugboats have been deployed to help free the 400m long container ship, but it was unclear how soon the vessel would be freed.
- Though Egyptian authorities have reopened the canal’s older channel for traffic, the incident has already resulted in long tailbacks on the important waterway.
- Reporting: Reuters, BBC, NYT, AP, Guardian
Africa
- Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said Eritrean soldiers killed 100 over 100 civilians in the Tigray region in November, in an attack that may amount to crimes against humanity. (AFP)
- Libya: French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris will reopen its embassy in the country next week. (Reuters)
- Morocco: Authorities provisionally released historian and rights activist Maati Monjib from prison. (AFP)
- Mozambique: Total will resume constructing a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project in the country after the government agreed to increase security arrangements. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: US and Mexican officials held a series of meetings to discuss issues related to immigration and regional development. (AP)
- Brazil: The Supreme Court ruled that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was not treated impartially during corruption investigations. (Reuters)
- Colombia: President Ivan Duque announced new coronavirus measures and restrictions for municipalities with overloaded hospitals. (Reuters)
Asia
- Australia: At least two people died in their cars that were trapped in floodwaters, marking the first casualties of the ongoing floods in the country. (Reuters)
- Bangladesh: Authorities defended the use of barbed-wire fences around Rohingya camps after a camp blaze left at least 15 people dead and nearly 50,000 homeless. (AFP)
- China: Hong Kong temporarily suspended the use of Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine due to defective bottle lids in one batch of the vaccine. (AP)
- Myanmar: The country’s junta released hundreds of anti-coup protesters from detention. (AP)
- North Korea: Pyongyang launched multiple short-range missiles last weekend after denouncing Washington for moving forward with joint military exercises with South Korea. (WaPo)
Europe
- Region: The EU will reportedly curb the exports of coronavirus vaccines manufactured within the bloc for the next six weeks. (NYT)
- Armenia: Parliament voted to lift martial law ahead of the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. (RFE-RL)
- Portugal: The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights called out the country for “the increasing level of racism and the persistence of related discrimination” inside it. (AP)
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin was vaccinated against the new coronavirus, though officials did not specify which vaccine was administered. (DPA)
Middle East
- Region: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing intends to invite Israel and Palestine to hold discussions in China. (Reuters)
- Region: Israel conducted airstrikes against Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip following a rocket strike on Israel from the Palestinian enclave. (AFP)
- Israel: No party won a majority of the seats in the Knesset with about 87.5% of the vote counted, leaving the outcome of the country’s parliamentary election uncertain. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: The country’s long-serving Finance Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has died. (Reuters)
- Yemen: The Saudi-led coalition in the country reportedly allowed four fuel ships to dock at the port of Hodeidah after the Houthi rebels said they would only consider a ceasefire proposal if an air and sea blockade were lifted. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Myanmar’s authorities released Thein Zaw, a journalist for The Associated Press, from detention. (AP)
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 24MAR21)
- Confirmed cases: 124,305,890
- Total recovered cases: 70,519,007
- Deaths: 2,736,298
- 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 24MAR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (25MAR21)
- Global: The UN’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade – 2008
- Global: The European Court of Justice will issue a ruling on a complaint from Kenya, Fiji and other countries arguing that the EU’s measures against climate change are not sufficient will.
- Global: US President Joe Biden will join the heads of states of EU member-states in an EU leaders summit. (to 26MAR)
- Global: South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook is visiting the United Arab Emirates until tomorrow, after which he will visit India. (to 27MAR)
- Global: The UN’s International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing UN Staff Members – Unknown
- Americas: Colombian President Ivan Duque will speak at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council.
- Asia: The Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of ASEAN member-states will hold a meeting. (to 30MAR)
- Asia: Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will visit Indonesia.
- Europe: The General Council of the European Central Bank will hold a meeting.
- Europe: The European Central Bank’s governing council will hold a non-monetary policy meeting.
- Europe: A plenary session of the European Parliament will be held.
- Europe: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Brussels.
- Europe: The Romania-led Sea Shield 21 NATO multinational naval exercises will be held. (to 29MAR)
- Middle East: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting to discuss the situation in the region.
- Andorra: Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya is expected to visit.
- Belarus: Anti-Lukashenko protests are expected to be held to mark the unofficial Belarus Freedom Day holiday.
- Greece: Independence Day – 1821
- Greece: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit.
- Greece: Prince of Wales Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla will visit to attend celebrations of the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution.
- Japan: The Olympic Torch relay will begin from Fukushima prefecture.
- Mexico: Bolivian President Luis Arce will visit and meet with counterpart AMLO.
- Slovakia: Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok and Education Minister Branislav Groehling could resign in the fallout of a political crisis over Prime Minister Igor Matovič’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
- South Africa: The Constitutional Court will hear a contempt case against former President Jacob Zuma.
- South Korea: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit.
- Tanzania: Former President John Magufuli will be buried.
- Turkey: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit and hold discussions with government officials.
- United States: President Joe Biden is expected to hold the first formal press conference of his term in office.
- United States: The Bureau of Economic Analysis will release the final GDP figures for Q4 2020.
- United States: Facebook, Twitter, and Google CEOs will testify to the House of Representatives on extremism and misinformation.
- United States: Army Chief of Staff General James McConville will speak at an event hosted by the Brookings Institution.
- United States: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing on the US response to the coup in Myanmar.
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