Tens of thousands of people across Myanmar have protested in the past three days against last week’s military coup and the arrest of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Yesterday’s demonstrations were the country’s largest (NPR) since the 2007 Saffron Revolution, which prompted a military crackdown and helped usher in democratic reforms. 

Today, one week after the coup, people skipped work (Nikkei) to protest, forcing some businesses to close. Videos show police unleashing a water cannon on protesters in the capital of Naypyidaw. State media condemned the protesters as “lawless wrongdoers” (Reuters, AFP) and said “action must be taken” (Al Jazeera). Seven townships have imposed curfews (Myanmar Times). International observers have condemned the coup, in which the military arrested Suu Kyi and other civilian officials while alleging fraud in Myanmar’s November election. 

Chinese authorities formally arrested (SCMP) Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei for allegedly “supplying state secrets overseas” after detaining her without charge since August. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne expressed “serious concerns,” while a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson urged Australia not to interfere.

China: Beijing announced new market regulations (Reuters) on internet platforms, formalizing a November anti-monopoly draft law. The rules come as the government increases scrutiny of technology companies.

Rescue personnel are searching for survivors (CNN) after part of a glacier in the northern state of Uttarakhand fell into a river, triggering flash floods. At least twenty people were killed and some 180 are missing, most of them workers at two hydroelectric projects in the area, officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared today in a Jerusalem court, where he pleaded not guilty (Haaretz) to bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges. Experts say evidentiary hearings for Netanyahu’s case could be delayed until after Israel’s March 23 elections, in which he is expected to run.
 
UAE: A spacecraft, known as Hope, that the United Arab Emirates launched in July is expected to reach Mars’s orbit tomorrow. The country could become (AFP) the fifth state to reach Mars in what is the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission.

South Africa temporarily stopped administering (Daily Maverick) the COVID-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford after data indicated that it is not very effective against a new, more contagious coronavirus strain that accounts for more than 90 percent of South African cases.
 
This CFR In Brief explains the dangers of COVID-19 variants.
 
Somalia: Opposition leaders and the state of Puntland said they will not recognize (Garowe Online) President Mohamed Farmaajo once his mandate expires today. Somalia faces political uncertainty after talks failed to resolve an impasse (AFP) on holding elections, leaving Farmaajo without a successor.

The Netherlands’ first major snowstorm in a decade (AFP) prompted the national weather service to declare a “code red,” forced the government to close COVID-19 testing centers, and disrupted trains. Low temperatures and snowfall from the storm, dubbed Darcy, have also affected Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
 
Greece: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faces criticism (Guardian) for allegedly violating coronavirus protocols at a lunch over the weekend. A government spokesperson rejected rebukes as polarizing and untrue. Greece heightened its coronavirus restrictions on Saturday.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise announced the arrests (Miami Herald) of twenty-three people, accusing them of planning to depose and kill him. A constitutional crisis is stirring in Haiti, where opposition groups claim that Moise’s presidential term ended yesterday.
 
Ecuador: The country held presidential and legislative elections yesterday, seeing surprisingly high voter participation (LAHT) amid the pandemic. Initial results for the presidential race show economist Andres Arauz in the lead, and he will face (Reuters) one of two other candidates in an April runoff.

President Joe Biden told CBS News that the United States will not lift sanctions on Iran to restart negotiations over the 2015 nuclear deal, indicating that Iran should first stop enriching uranium. Earlier in the day, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei pledged that Iran would return to compliance with the deal, which it has repeatedly violated, after the United States removes all sanctions.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains the Iran nuclear deal.