Egyptian authorities announced today that the container ship blocking the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways (BBC), has been partially refloated and reoriented. However, the vessel’s front end remains lodged in sediment, and the head of a Dutch salvage company involved in the operation said the “challenge is still ahead” (Al Jazeera).
 
The news comes almost a week after the vessel, the Ever Given, ran aground in high winds and low-visibility conditions. Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie has said human and technical errors could also be at fault (DW). The incident has laid bare the fragility of global supply chains, holding up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of goods daily and leading war-torn Syria to announce fuel rations (NYT). Once the blocked vessel is refloated, Rabie said, the waterway will be open continuously until the hundreds of ships waiting to transit are able to do so, a process expected to take more than three days.

China sanctioned U.S. and Canadian officials (AP) and a Canadian parliamentary subcommittee days after the United States, Canada, and their allies sanctioned China for abusing Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. The United Nations is negotiating to gain unrestricted access (Guardian) to Xinjiang, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
 
Australia: Prime Minister Scott Morrison demoted two ministers (SMH) amid a broader cabinet reshuffle as he seeks to quell public anger about officials’ treatment of women. He also unveiled a cabinet task force that will address women’s equality, as well as their safety, economic security, health, and well-being.

Massive protests continued today (Reuters) in Myanmar, where security forces killed more than one hundred people on Saturday, the bloodiest day since the country’s February 1 military coup. Weekend clashes between the army and fighters from ethnic minority groups prompted thousands of people to flee to Thailand.
 
Bangladesh: Officials said thirteen people were killed (AFP) in three days of clashes between police and protesters angered by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bangladesh. The demonstrators accused Modi of encouraging violence against India’s Muslims.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at the increasing marginalization of India’s Muslims.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was visiting Iran, signed a twenty-five-year agreement (Al Jazeera) expected to increase bilateral trade and military cooperation.

Humanitarian workers said an estimated thirty-five thousand residents (NYT) fled the area around the Mozambican town of Palma, which is in a gas-rich region and that Islamist militants took control of this weekend. Dozens of people, mostly foreign workers, are missing (Guardian) after fighters ambushed a convoy of vehicles trying to escape.
 
Sudan: The transitional government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) signed a declaration of principles (Radio Dabanga) that lays out common priorities and could lead to peace talks. Two rebel groups, including the SPLM-N, have not signed (Al Jazeera) a peace deal with the government.

Embattled Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will step down next month (AFP) so snap parliamentary elections can be held in June, until which he will serve in an interim capacity. Slovakian Prime Minister Igor Matovic, who faced calls to resign (Politico) over a COVID-19 vaccine purchase made unilaterally, said he will swap jobs with Finance Minister Eduard Heger.
 
CFR’s Célestine Bohlen explains the political crisis in Armenia.
 
United Kingdom: The government eased pandemic-related restrictions (BBC) in England, including by allowing outdoor gatherings of up to six people. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to abide by the rules, emphasizing a recent spike in European COVID-19 cases.

Venezuela’s information ministry alleged “digital totalitarianism” (Al Jazeera) after social media giant Facebook froze President Nicolas Maduro’s page for thirty days. Facebook said Maduro violated its rules against sharing misinformation about the coronavirus.
 
Mexico: The Ministry of Health published data (Reuters) showing that over 60 percent more people have likely died due to COVID-19 in Mexico than had been officially confirmed. The government previously acknowledged that its confirmed death toll was likely an undercount.

A Minneapolis court will hear opening statements (WSJ) today in the trial of Derek Chauvin, a white former police officer who faces murder and manslaughter charges for the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, last May. Floyd’s death set off a national reckoning about race.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at what police are like around the world.