Russia’s parliament approved a constitutional reform (AP) that would allow President Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms. The changes, set for court review (BBC) and an April national referendum, could permit Putin’s rule until 2036. He has already been in power as either president or prime minister for twenty years.
 
After a lawmaker from Putin’s party proposed the reform yesterday, Putin told the legislature that Russia’s president should “guarantee stable development” (Politico) amid risks of political infighting and attempts at containment by Western countries. Opposition protesters picketed near the Kremlin and applied for permits to hold a larger rally later this month. 

The country’s legislature blocked an effort (Bangkok Post) by the party of leader Aung San Suu Kyi to reduce the quota for lawmakers from the military.
 
Indonesia: The king of the Netherlands offered the monarchy’s first apology (Straits Times) for “excessive violence” inflicted during its colonial rule of Indonesia. The Dutch government has apologized and paid damages to Indonesia in the past.

The Afghan government ordered the release (TOLO) of 1,500 Taliban prisoners and plans to release 3,500 more once peace talks with the group are underway. A Taliban spokesperson said the release did not comply (Al Jazeera) with a recent deal signed with Washington, which suggested a release of 5,000 prisoners before such talks begin.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at the U.S.-Taliban peace deal.
 
India: Twenty-two officials from the opposition Indian National Congress party in the state of Madhya Pradesh resigned (Hindustan Times) after a senior official in the state left their party to join (India Today) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A German court set an April start date for the trial of Syrian regime officials accused of crimes against humanity (Reuters), including torture and executions. The case is being pursued under universal jurisdiction laws that allow crimes against humanity to be tried anywhere.
 
Israel: A Jerusalem court denied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s petition to delay his corruption trial, ruling it must begin (Times of Israel) on March 17.

South Africa’s High Court dismissed accusations (BBC) that President Cyril Ramaphosa deliberately misled lawmakers about a campaign donation worth more than $36,000.
 
Tanzania: A court ruled that nine opposition leaders and lawmakers should receive five-month jail terms or fines for making seditious statements (Reuters). President John Magufuli’s government has been criticized for cracking down on freedom of expression.
 
CFR’s Africa in Transition blog looks at Magufuli’s war on democracy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not prevent (Reuters) migrants from crossing its border into Greece. Erdogan called for European leaders to attend a March 17 summit in Istanbul to update a 2016 immigration deal between Ankara and the European Union.

Caracas police fired tear gas at demonstrators (NYT) called upon by opposition leader Juan Guaido to protest the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Former Vice President Joe Biden won Democratic primaries (NYT, AP) held yesterday in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in preliminary results from North Dakota and Washington.

Reports of coronavirus cases in the United States topped one thousand (WaPo). Japan announced a multibillion-dollar plan (WSJ) to soften the virus’s economic impact, while the EU ordered a $28 billion economic relief fund (Reuters) and the Bank of England cut interest rates (Guardian).
 
CFR’s Tom Frieden discusses the worst-case consequences for the coronavirus in the United States.