Situation Reports

Germany's domestic security agency has declared the entire far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a "suspected case" of right-wing extremism, Der Spiegel reported March 3. 

Protesters marched, blocked highways with flaming tires and dumpsters, and caused other disruptions in Beirut and throughout Lebanon over the past two days to protest government inaction, The Daily Star reported March 3. 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will open an investigation into possible war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories since June 2014, which is around the time that a major war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Axios reported March 3.

The United States, Australia, India and Japan are developing a campaign to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally with a focus on Asia, the Financial Times reported March 3, citing leaks from recent talks.

Sri Lanka's government approved a 35-year joint venture offer for India and Japan to build and operate the West Container Terminal of the country’s Colombo Port, which includes two floating liquified natural gas (LNG) storage facilities, Statecraft reported March 3.

The United Kingdom’s corporate tax rate will increase from 19 percent to 25 percent for companies with profits above £250,000 from April 2023, and will also freeze personal income tax thresholds until 2026, The Guardian reported March 3, citing a statement made by U.K. treasury chief Rishi Sunak.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a two-year human rights action plan that promises to strengthen the rule of law, increase judicial transparency and allot more freedoms to Turkish journalists, among other changes, Hurriyet reported March 2. 

Morocco's foreign minister requested to suspend contact with the German embassy in Rabat and related German organizations in the country based on "deep disagreements" with Berlin over Western Sahara, AFP reported March 1.

Venezuela's oil exports rose to a 10-month high in February to 732,107 barrels per day (bpd) after increased sales of fuel cargo to new clients in Asian markets (specifically China, Singapore and Malaysia), Reuters reported March 1, citing Refinitiv Eikon tanker tracking data.

The lower house of the Japanese Diet passed a record fiscal year budget for 2021, allowing it to be implemented by April 1 as planned with the inclusion of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's banner carbon neutrality funding and digitization push, Japan Times reported March 1.