On today's podcast

Colombia

In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro described as a coup the exclusion of the candidate from his party, Ivan Cepeda, the front-runner heading into the presidential elections, from the March 8th inter-party primary by the National Electoral Council. 

Petro argued that this is a deliberate attempt by the right-wing sectors within the CNE to remove Cepeda from the race, with the aim of fragmenting the left, favoring the right and thereby altering the democratic process. 

For his part, candidate Ivan Cepeda denounced the CNE's decision as arbitrary and without legal basis, calling it a serious sign of institutional interference, and announced that he will now seek to win the May elections directly.

Iran

Iran confirmed that talks with the United States will take place this Friday in Oman, a move seen as a sign that recent tensions between the two countries are easing. 

Tehran has made very clear that it is willing to talk only if the dialogue focuses on the nuclear program.

China / Taiwan

And the Chinese government warned the United States to exercise caution regarding arms shipments to Taiwan, as the territory is considered part of the Chinese territory. 

Beijing said that military strengthening Taiwan could turn the Taiwan Strait into a powder keg and increase the risk of confrontation or military conflict between China, the US and Taiwan.