Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Myanmar today in the largest demonstrations yet (Reuters) against the military junta that seized power last week. The protesters defied a ban on mass gatherings and rejected the coup leader’s call for people to “join hands” with the military. Today’s demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but three people were reportedly wounded when police fired rubber bullets in the city of Mawlamyine. UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews noted growing evidence (Reuters) of security forces shooting live ammunition at demonstrators.

The military junta also escalated its crackdown on dissent: it has imprisoned hundreds of people and drafted a cybersecurity law that would allow it to access internet users’ data (FT). The military has also released more than twenty-three thousand prisoners in what watchdog group Amnesty International called a “sideshow” intended to distract attention. The United States announced sanctions on Myanmar this week and today called on other countries to take similar action. Andrews urged the UN Security Council to consider sanctions, arms embargoes, travel bans, and judicial action.

Beijing announced that BBC World News cannot operate (SCMP) “within Chinese territory,” saying the service does not meet Chinese broadcasting requirements and that it had damaged national interests and ethnic unity. BBC had recently published reports about Chinese authorities’ abuse of Uighurs in Xinjiang. The United States and the United Kingdom criticized the move.

North Korea: Leader Kim Jong-un criticized his cabinet’s management (AP) of the country’s decaying economy during a meeting yesterday, state media reported. A senior economic official appointed last month was fired this week.

Unidentified gunmen killed at least five members (TOLO) of the Afghan security force team that was escorting the UN convoy in the capital, Kabul. The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack (Al Jazeera). Assaults on international personnel have been uncommon since the Taliban signed a peace deal with the United States last year.

The Saudi representative to the United Nations, Abdallah al-Mouallimi, urged the UN Security Council to hold Yemen’s Houthi rebels accountable for their actions, which he said violate international law, impede a political solution to Yemen’s war, and undermine regional security and peace, Arab News reports.

Lebanon: A funeral was held (Al Jazeera) in Beirut for Lokman Slim, a publisher and critic of the political and military group Hezbollah. Ambassadors from countries including the United States attended. Slim’s killing last week raised concerns of renewed political violence in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied responsibility for Slim’s death.

This CFR Backgrounder explains Hezbollah.

The director of the African Union’s disease control body said the bloc will not “throw away” (Reuters) its supply of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines after research showed they offer minimal protection against a coronavirus strain dominant in South Africa. The AU will instead use the vaccines in countries without reported cases of the variant.

Nigeria: Officials warned people (Al Jazeera) not to join protests planned for tomorrow after a judicial panel allowed Lekki toll gate in the city of Lagos to reopen. In October, security forces fired upon peaceful protesters at the gate during rallies against police brutality.

CFR’s John Campbell explains the demonstrations planned for tomorrow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country does not want to be isolated (Moscow Times) but is ready to end relations with the European Union if the bloc imposes more sanctions targeting Russia’s economy. The Kremlin downplayed Lavrov’s comments but said Russia must prepare for possible independence. EU sanctions are reportedly forthcoming.

UK: The country’s economy shrunk 9.9 percent last year amid the pandemic, its largest drop in more than three centuries (FT). Further contraction is expected this quarter due to a national lockdown.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador attempted to dispel rumors (AP) that the “doors are open” for migrants to the United States as U.S. President Joe Biden eases some immigration policies. Lopez Obrador also defended his policy of preventing Central American migrants from entering Mexico at its southern border.

Venezuela: Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez praised the EU’s backing of Venezuela’s opposition but contrasted its “declarative support” (LAHT) with material aid President Nicolas Maduro receives from countries such as China, Iran, and Russia. Lopez urged “very clear,” cohesive EU support to oust Maduro.

President Biden rescinded former President Donald J. Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the country’s southern border, which had allowed the Trump administration to divert federal funds to construct a border wall. Biden, who already paused construction (Hill), said no additional taxpayer dollars will be redirected for the wall and that funding for it will be reviewed.