US News

• A Congressional audit finds that the two newest aircraft carriers have $130 billion in underestimated maintenance costs. The maintenance costs include septic problems that force the use of chemicals to prevent clogging. The chemicals add up to total $400,000 a flush. [Link]
• The Pentagon is concerned the financial crisis will allow foreign companies to buy stock in US defense companies. [Link]

Coronavirus

• The mayor of LA says the city will shut off power and water to nonessential businesses that remain open. [Link]
• Julian Assange was denied bail. His legal team requested bail for Assange due to the increased risk to his life posed by remaining in jail during the corona outbreak. [Link]
• Nine members of Congress send a letter to the Secretary of State and Treasury asking for sanctions to be lifted on Iran during the coronavirus crisis. [Link]
• Russia suspends war games to prevent the spread of coronavirus. [Link]
• Coronavirus lockdowns across the Middle East are preventing aid groups from helping people in war zones. [Link]
• France is withdrawing all of its troops from Iraq because of the coronavirus. [Link]

China

• The US Navy fires missiles in the South China Sea as a warning to China. [Link]
• The US sails a warship through the Taiwan Strait. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The Taliban says the Afghan government will begin releasing Taliban prisoners by the end of March. [Link]
• Secretary of State Pompeo described his trip to Afghanistan as frustrating. [Link]

Israel 

• The leader of the Israeli parliament steps down. He was an ally of Netanyahu and stepped down rather than comply with an order of the high court. [Link]
• The high court orders an election for a new speaker of parliament to be held today. The election is seen as a blow to Netanyahu as the new speaker is unlikely to be an ally. The opposition to Netanyahu is trying to pass a new law that would prevent him from taking a fourth term as prime minister. [Link]

Iraq

• Turkey says two of its soldiers were killed by Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. Turkey says it carried out airstrikes in response, killing eight Kurdish militants. [Link]