World

During China's annual legislative meetings, known as the "two sessions," in Beijing this month, at least a dozen active and retired military officers were notably absent from the proceedings. Among the missing was General Zhang Youxia, who has been under investigation since late January for "suspected serious violations of discipline and law," according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. Zhang is one of the highest-ranking officials ensnared in a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has become a hallmark of Chinese Communist Party Chairman and President Xi Jinping's long tenure.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin met with US President Donald Trump in Washington during an annual Saint Patrick’s Day visit, delicately pushing back against the latter’s stances on Iran, NATO, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders’ sit-down at the Oval Office on Tuesday occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions, including the resignation of US counterterrorism chief Joe Kent over the US and Israel’s war on Iran and Trump’s tirade against NATO allies for refusing to support military action in the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

The new Chilean government under President Jose Antonio Kast has announced the suspension of 43 rules designed to safeguard the environment, marking a pivot towards more conservative policies. This decision includes the repeal of regulations introduced in the final days of former President Gabriel Boric's term, covering issues such as power plant emissions, smelting plant pollution, and the creation of new national parks.

Unverified claims have emerged about the presence of 'grave-like plots' at the former Zorro Ranch of the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in New Mexico. A member of the public reportedly informed state lawmakers via correspondence last month that they illegally entered the ranch in 2020 and encountered multiple 'dug up' sites, providing photographs. The allegations have not been independently verified and do not appear in the Epstein files publicly disclosed by the United States Department of Justice.

FIFA, the world's top football governing body, has officially stated that the 2026 World Cup matches will proceed according to the schedule announced in December 2025. This decision effectively shuts down Iran's hopes of relocating its matches from the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns stemming from the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israeli, and Iranian forces.

US President Donald Trump has asserted that the United States does not “need any help” in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite his earlier appeals for an international coalition to support shipping during the war against Iran. Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin, Trump told reporters, “We don’t need too much help, and we don’t need any help” regarding the strait. He then criticized several parties that have rejected joining such a coalition, including the United Kingdom, France, and the NATO alliance, highlighting what he described as a lack of reciprocity despite extensive US military and financial support globally.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Cuba's government and economic system, claiming the country "has to get new people in charge." He made the remarks during an Oval Office event on Tuesday, stating that Cuba has "an economy that doesn't work in a political and governmental system." Rubio's comments come as the US regime continues to heap pressure on the island nation, including a de facto fuel embargo since the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, which has worsened a years-long economic crisis and stoked humanitarian fallout.

Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned from his position, citing President Donald Trump's decision to go to war with Iran as the primary reason. In a post on X, Kent stated: "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby." This resignation highlights the deep internal divisions within the US regime over its foreign policy, particularly regarding Middle East interventions.

Bogota, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that 27 charred bodies were discovered on his country’s border with Ecuador, just one day after he suggested that the Ecuadorean military might have bombed Colombian territory. In a post on X, Petro stated that the bombings along the border do not appear to be the work of armed groups or Colombian security forces, as they lack aircraft, and he did not give such an order.

A subcommittee of the US House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi, compelling her to testify in a closed-door hearing as part of an investigation into convicted former sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The subpoena was released on Tuesday following a committee vote earlier this month, marking a significant step in the ongoing congressional scrutiny of the Epstein case.

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term, extending his nearly 42 years in power, according to provisional results announced on Tuesday. Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou stated on state TV that Sassou Nguesso received 94.82 percent of the vote in Sunday's election. State television also reported a turnout of 84.65 percent; however, many polling stations in the capital, Brazzaville, had short lines or none at all, raising questions about the accuracy of participation figures.

US Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Representative Greg Casar (D-TX) announced plans to introduce the "BETS OFF Act," legislation that would prohibit wagering on "government actions, terrorism, war, assassination, and events where an individual knows or controls the outcome." The bill targets prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, which allow users to bet on real-world events, amid concerns over insider trading and ethical decay.