What in the World?

1. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced on Sunday he would order his country's immigration service to start taking action against a significant issue. Recent data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have fled their nation due to economic and political turmoil, and now face the possibility of being deported to Colombia. Catherine Osborn writes about this situation in Latin America Brief.

2. A United Nations-backed monitoring mission recently arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The primary objective of this mission is to oversee the implementation of a peace deal brokered by the United States. However, locals in eastern Congo have expressed skepticism towards the agreement and would prefer to see the M23 rebel group retain its power, as reported by Krista Karch and Merveille Kavira Luneghe in January.

3. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent introduced a plan on Monday aimed at disconnecting Iran from the global economy. If policymakers believe that the worst economic consequences of the Iran conflict have passed, it could potentially result in severe economic consequences, according to FP's Emma Ashford and Matthew Rojansky.

4. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday what would happen to privately owned critical infrastructure facilities if their owners failed to protect them from Ukrainian attacks or repair them following any strikes. The concerns of potential nuclear escalation, should Russia be on the verge of defeat in Ukraine, are unfounded. Andreas Umland argues that other major powers have shown restraint in conflicts and have not resorted to nuclear warfare.

5. The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced the official disbanding of the group on Tuesday. The fate of the remaining fighters in the Kurdish-led northeastern territory, formerly known as Rojava, remains uncertain as they integrate into Syria. Hanna Davis reports on the practical and symbolic aspects of daily governance in this region, which is transitioning into Syria.

6. The Wall Street Journal revealed on Wednesday that CIA director John Ratcliffe visited Russia earlier in the week for a specific purpose. This trip occurred after new U.S. intelligence assessments indicated that Russian President Putin might consider launching a limited attack on a member of the trans-Atlantic alliance. John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar write about this situation in Situation Report.

7. Zambian police detained opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his running mate on Thursday after questioning them in connection with a particular crime. The outcome of the recent presidential election is still under dispute, with allegations of interference by incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema. Nosmot Gbadamosi reports on this issue in Africa Brief.

8. Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament rejected on Thursday the government's proposal for a special military budget. This budget was intended to focus on funding the development of Taiwan's drone capabilities. Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo criticized the opposition plan, stating that it would limit the island's ability to enhance its drone capabilities, according to Alexandra Sharp's report in World Brief.

9. A humanoid robot set a new world record in the 100-meter dash during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday. The robot surpassed the previous record of 9.58 seconds, which was set by Usain Bolt in 2009, by 0.19 seconds. The robot reached its top speed by running full speed into a padded wall and crashing to the ground, as reported by The New York Times.

10. Fat Marmot Week began in Colorado on Monday, with the aim of raising funds for research into marmots. Scientists are hoping to gather $200,000 to support research efforts for the upcoming summer. The Associated Press reports on this initiative, which highlights the importance of studying these unique creatures.