U.S. President Joe Biden gave his first prime-time address (White House) yesterday, exactly one year after the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic, and announced new efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Biden vowed that all adults will be eligible to receive the vaccine by May 1 and expressed hope that people could gather in small groups by Independence Day on July 4. Speaking hours after he signed a $1.9 trillion relief package (WaPo), Biden also outlined ways (NYT) that the federal government is making vaccines more accessible. 

Efforts to counter the coronavirus, which has killed roughly 2.6 million people globally, continue around the world. Data from 121 countries shows that more than 334 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered (Bloomberg), with the United States leading the effort. But the global vaccine campaign has been dealt a blow as several countries—including Denmark, Thailand, and Norway—halted use (CNBC) of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford due to concerns that it could be linked to blood clots.

The leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, which form the so-called Quad, will meet virtually today (Al Jazeera) for the group’s first leader-level summit. They are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including responses to China, climate change, maritime security, and the pandemic.

Malaysia: The government implemented an ordinance (Straits Times) that punishes those who distribute false information about COVID-19 and a pandemic-related emergency order. The law was imposed without parliamentary approval, sparking criticism from opposition lawmakers, media groups, and lawyers.

The Pakistan Tele­communication Authority ordered internet providers (Dawn) to block TikTok after a court ruled that the video-sharing platform spreads obscene content. TikTok is no longer accessible in Pakistan, which temporarily blocked it (Al Jazeera) in October due to similar concerns.

Myanmar/South Korea: South Korea announced that it will suspend defense exchanges (Yonhap) with Myanmar, curb exports of military equipment to the country, and rethink development aid. South Korea has repeatedly urged Myanmar’s military to end its crackdown on protests against its coup.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat led the first meeting (TOI) of a bilateral security group. Attendees discussed Iran and other regional issues, the White House said.

Egypt: A fire at a clothing factory in Cairo killed at least twenty people and injured two dozen more. The incident is under investigation (Al Jazeera).

Speculation has emerged about the health of Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who hasn’t been seen in public for nearly two weeks. Officials dismissed rumors that he is in a Kenyan hospital, where Nation reports high-level security. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu yesterday claimed Magufuli was flown to India (Al Jazeera) for COVID-19 treatment and that he was in a coma.

On CFR’s Africa in Transition blog, Nolan Quinn analyzes what Magufuli’s alleged illness could mean for Tanzania’s future.

South Africa: King Goodwill Zwelithini, leader of the Zulu nation, died today after a month-long illness. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sympathies (South African) and called Zwelithini, who ruled for fifty years, a “much-loved, visionary monarch.”

The United Kingdom recorded its largest monthly trade drop in more than two decades during January, the first month after reaching a deal with the European Union on their post-Brexit relationship, the Office for National Statistics said. Exports to the EU fell by nearly 41 percent (Guardian). The drop coincided with a coronavirus lockdown. 

Brussels: The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution (BBC) declaring the EU an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone.” The move comes after localities in Poland, an EU member state, began calling themselves “LGBT ideology-free zones.”

CFR’s Paul J. Angelo and Dominic Bocci analyze the changing landscape of global LGBTQ+ rights.

Brazil’s Congress passed (FT) a widely welcomed $8 billion coronavirus spending package. Separately, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera unveiled a bill (Reuters), subject to congressional approval, that would help insulate middle-class families from the pandemic’s economic fallout. 

Argentina: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it will meet with Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman on March 23 and 24 in Washington, DC. The pandemic has escalated Argentina’s existing economic woes (Buenos Aires Times), and the country seeks to delay payments on $44 billion it owes the IMF.