China announces ban on British politicians, organizations

China on Friday imposed sanctions on several UK members of parliament and British organizations. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today China announces ban on British politicians, organizations in apparent relation over Xinjiang [A Chinese paramilitary police officer stands guard outside the British Embassy in Beijing, March 26, 2021.] Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/AP China on Friday [imposed sanctions]( on several UK members of Parliament and British organizations. It's seen as a retaliation over the UK’s recent move to join the European Union in sanctioning Chinese officials allegedly involved in human rights abuses of the [Uyghur Muslim minority]( in Xinjiang. The sanctions, which ban the group from traveling to China and freeze their assets in the country, are largely symbolic and come after the US [and Canada]( also levied sanctions on Chinese officials over Xinjiang. China has called reasoning for the sanctions “[lies and disinformation](.” Several Western countries have described the human rights abuses against Uyghurs [as genocide](. The newly announced sanctions [follow similar measures]( China imposed on the European Union and reflect China's increasingly tough diplomacy under nationalist leader Xi Jinping. What The World is following Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed released a statement Friday suggesting [Eritrea has agreed]( to withdraw troops from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. The announcement comes as the [Ethiopian Human Rights Commission]( said it will work with the United Nations to investigate reports of killing and raping of civilians, among other human rights violations in Tigray. Ethiopia has come under pressure from Western governments for an alleged massacre in November last year that [Human Rights Watch said]( included summary executions and the killing of children in the historic town of Axum. And China has [released its official view]( of the COVID-19 origins before an official World Health Organization report that is expected to be released later on Friday. The move appeared to be an attempt at getting the Chinese government version out ahead of the much delayed WHO report that stems out of an investigation that took place [in Wuhan in February](. The WHO’s investigation [has been criticized]( by the United States and others for coming under the influence of Beijing. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Rapper Ali ATH wonders if there's a place for him in Afghanistan's future]( [The rapper Ali ATH.]( Credit: Ali ATH/YouTube Up-and-coming rapper Ali ATH overcame many obstacles to get into the music business in Afghanistan. Now, as the Taliban appears to be getting ready to return to power, [he wonders if he will be able]( to remain in his country. [Author Kim Nicholas on the 5 stages of 'radical climate acceptance']( [Student activists carry posters and shout slogans as they participate in a protest march against climate change in Delhi, India, March 19, 2021.]( Credit: Altaf Qadri/AP Kim Nicholas, a climate scientist at Lund University in Sweden, has a new book out this week, "Under the Sky We Make: How to be a Human in a Warming World," [discussing]( how individuals in rich countries should understand their climate privilege and the best ways to think about individual change. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright Spot To meme or not to meme 🤔 ... dredgers, tugboats and a backhoe have all failed to free the skyscraper-sized cargo ship wedged in Egypt’s Suez Canal. The process might take weeks. But it seems that many people on the internet have found a parallel between that and everyday challenges. Unleash the memes! [Here are some excellent samples]( for your Friday. [Screen shot from Twitter]( Credit: Twitter Chaz Hutton --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it from The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.