South Asia
Bolkan Bozkir, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, celebrated India and Pakistan's decision to declare a ceasefire along the Line of Control. He said that this was indicative of their “commitment to achieving sustainable peace” and that the agreement “sets an example” for countries across the world. [Livemint]
The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that India’s defence partnership with Sri Lanka is “Priority One”. This comment comes in anticipation of an event on Tuesday that will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Airforce. The event will see the participation of 23 Indian Air Force aircraft and the Navy, which the High Commission believes to be indicative of the two sides’ militaries’ “growing cooperation, camaraderie, and friendship”. [Hindustan Times]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Following street demonstrations in Tbilisi on February 26, Georgian activists set up tents and camped in front of the parliament building. The demonstrators called for new snap parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. [RFE/RL]
Armenian President Armen Sarkisian has declined to sign the discharge notice of the head of the country’s general staff, General Onik Gasparian, whose firing by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on February 25 prompted a political crisis. According to the statement released by the President’s office, the firing is considered to be “unconstitutional”. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
On Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore announced that the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 1.1 in 2020. Indranee Rajah, the Second Minister for National Development of Singapore, attributed this to the drop in marriages and postponement of parenthood due to the pandemic last year. [Channel News Asia
Pro-democracy protestors rallied near the Prime Minister’s residence in Bangkok on Sunday. Police tried to disperse the protestors with rubber bullets and water cannon tear gas. In return, protestors threw bottles. The protests started last year, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha. [Al Jazeera]
Europe
Russia on Sunday launched its Arktika-M space satellite on a mission to monitor the climate and environment in the Arctic. According to the country’s space agency, the satellite is expected to be able to monitor and take images of the Arctic every 15-30 minutes, as well as “retransmit distress signals from ships, aircraft or people in remote areas as part of the international Cospas-Sarsat satellite-based search and rescue programme.” [Reuters]
Thousands of people gathered in central Moscow on Saturday to mark the sixth anniversary of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemstov’s assassination. The former deputy prime minister was an ardent critic of the Putin regime and was gunned down on the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge in the Russian capital in 2015. Prominent Russian leaders, opposition activists, human rights leaders, as well as the ambassadors of several Western nations, including the US and UK, were among those who attended the commemoration. [RFE/RL]
Following just a few days of calm, violence once again ravaged the streets of Barcelona. After the peaceful demonstration turned violent, around ten protestors were arrested. This comes in response to the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, who was charged with crimes including the incitement of terrorism and now faces a nine-month prison sentence. [Sky News]
Latin America and the Caribbean
El Salvador conducted its legislative elections on Sunday. President Nayib Bukele is attempting to break the stronghold of the conservative National Republican Alliance and the leftist Farabundo Marti Liberation Front in order to gain control of the parliament, where he currently holds a minority of seats. [Associated Press]
Dominican Republic Luis Abinader announced that the country will begin construction on a 400-kilometre border wall that is aimed at curtailing the influx of migrants, and human, drug, and arms trafficking. Interestingly, the deal was agreed to by Haitian President Jovenel Moïse during a meeting between the two leaders in January. [Telesur]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The Polisario Front in the Western Sahara has accused the United Nations of supporting the Moroccan government in claiming sovereignty over the “occupied territory” of the Sahrawi people. Spokesperson Bhatri Addou said, “Morocco could not have done what it did without the support of the international community, the support of the UN, the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. Morocco is, of course, responsible for its actions; it is the UN that bears great responsibility for Morocco’s actions.” [Africa News]
Bahrain, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) voiced their support for Saudi Arabia after the United States released a report accusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) of approving a plan to assassinate Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. The Saudi foreign ministry has refuted the claims, and described the report as “negative, false, and unacceptable” and rife with “inaccurate information and conclusion”. [Middle East Monitor]
North America
Former US President Donald Trump delivered his first public address since the end of his term on Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. Repeating his claims about the 2020 election being “stolen,” Trump hinted at potentially running for office again in 2024, but said that he was not planning to form a new party, as it would divide the Republican vote. [Al Jazeera]
Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau on Sunday condemned the Burmese military’s violence against peaceful protesters in Myanmar and urged the Tatmadaw to cease its brutal crackdown on its own people. “Those responsible for this violence will be held to account, and Canada will consider additional measures in response,” Garneau added. [Global Affairs Canada]
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau virtually on Friday. The leaders committed to working together to address the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening bilateral relations. Earlier in the day, Secretary Blinken also spoke with his Mexican counterpart Marcelo Ebrard, wherein the officials reaffirmed their determination to boost ties and cooperate on issues of mutual interest, including energy, climate change, and migration. [US Department of State]
Oceania
The Australian federal government pledged $452 million towards reforming the aged care sector following the release of a damning report that recommends 148 changes to the sector based on a two-year study of the industry. Morrison has said that the first change will be overhauling the Aged Care Act and bringing in “generational change so that individual needs and needs-based care is developed”. [ABC News]
The New Zealand government has raised Auckland to alert level 3 after discovering a new COVID-19 case with an unidentified source. As a result, the city has entered a seven day lockdown period. [Newshub]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Saturday: “I have said it before, and let me stress it again, that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legal.” This comes amid a controversy over a police raid and shutdown of a newly-opened LGBTQ+ centre in Accra. [Africa Feeds]
On Saturday, at a heads of state summit of the East African Community, member-states discussed a request by the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the bloc as well as the status on the confirmation of Somalia as a new member. [The New Times]
World News Monitor: 01 March, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
March 1, 2021
Dominican President Luis Abinader SOURCE: WILSON CENTER