Latest news for 4 March 2026

CHINA

Two Sessions, one man.

China’s annual political-legislative ‘Two Sessions’ kick off today (Wednesday) to announce new growth targets and the next five-year plan. (CNA)

Comment: These events (the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the 3,000-strong National People’s Congress) are more choreographed than Bring It On 5, but still offer glimpses into China’s opaque ruling party. We’ll keep you posted.

ECUADOR

New operation.

Declining to offer further details, the US and Ecuador say they’ve launched a new joint military operation against the resurgent drug cartels in Ecuador, a major transhipment route out of Colombia and Peru. It’s just four months since voters blocked a referendum to re-authorise foreign (US) bases. (Guardian)

INDIA

Must read.

Censorship speculation is raging over the fate of Four Stars of Destiny, an explosive memoir by India's former army chief. It apparently alleges Delhi left the army without clear directives during the 2020 India-China border standoff, but it’s not available anywhere, and Penguin Random House has deleted a 2023 tweet announcing it was ready for pre-order. (The Straits Times)

SPAIN

From friend to fast foe.

Prime Minister Sánchez has hit back at President Trump’s trade threats amid Madrid’s refusal to allow US strikes from local bases. Labelling Trump’s Iran war a “disaster”, Sánchez reiterated, "we're not going to be complicit in something that's bad for the ​world nor contrary ​to our ⁠values and interests simply to avoid reprisals from someone". (Politico)

Comment: One of the many lessons from this conflict, particularly where partners are sidelined, is that an alliance is not the same as acquiescence.

NEW ZEALAND

Talking heads.

The governing coalition has advanced a bill to make English an official language alongside Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Supporters argue it corrects a legal anomaly, while critics say it’s unnecessary for such a dominant language. (Guardian)

Comment: West Wing nerds will recall there was a whole episode on this, culminating in the line that you don’t need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

911.

Port of Spain has declared another 15-day state of emergency, expanding police powers amid the latest surge in violent crime. The last ~seven-month decree just expired at the end of January, but gang shootouts and reprisals soon resumed. (AP)

Comment: The country’s major LNG, methanol, and ammonia facilities are mostly in low-crime industrial zones, so international disruptions are unlikely.

CAMEROON

Trouble abroad.

Belgian authorities have detained four suspected leaders of the Ambazonia separatist movement active in English-speaking parts of francophone Cameroon. The war crimes charges suggest they weren’t just raising funds, but also directing operations from Belgium. (BBC)

Comment: It’s not just a reminder of this whole conflict (~6,000 casualties and 900,000 displaced since 2016), but also the value of cross-border collaboration: the investigation started after a tip from Norwegian (and possibly US) authorities.