World News Weekly Roundup: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin Bolster Ties, Fake Donald Trump Arrest, ‘Weird Alien’ Comet, and More
(Photo : GRIGORY SYSOYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

The Moscow meeting between allies Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with controversies related to Donald Trump's possible arrest, topped the headlines this week.

In case you missed it, here's a rundown of the top stories this week:

Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin Boost Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for three days in Moscow to strengthen their nations' economic relations and protect energy supplies amid sanctions imposed by the West due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin also welcomed China's peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, but no concrete actions were taken.

The United States and the West were skeptical of China's peace campaign because it has yet to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They are also closely monitoring if China will provide military aid to Russia.


US Airstrikes in Syria Kill 8

On Thursday, the United States military conducted six airstrikes in Syria, killing eight Iranians in retaliation for an Iranian drone attack on a coalition facility.

Lloyd Austin, the US secretary of defense, claimed that President Joe Biden authorized a retaliatory strike against the Iran drone attack that killed one American.

US airstrikes on an arms cache east of Deir el-city Zour's of Harabesh resulted in the deaths of six militants supported by Iran. A second US attack on a checkpoint in the town of Mayadeen resulted in the deaths of two more fighters.

King Charles France Visit Rescheduled

King Charles' official visit to France has been postponed due to protests over President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reforms.

On Friday morning, both the French élysée Palace and the British Buckingham Palace released statements affirming the trip had been called off after violent protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial retirement age modification broke out in some areas.

The Elysee has said that the visit of King Charles "will be rescheduled as soon as possible."

Read Also: How Much Is Prince Harry Net Worth?

John Wick Post-Credit Spark Buzz

The fourth installment of the John Wick film, starring Keanu Reeves, hit the theaters this week, which included a surprise scene after the credits rolled that expanded on a major theme throughout the series.

Akira (Rina Sawayama) wants Michael Caine to pay for killing her father, Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), in the film's post-credits sequence. At the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, Akira attacks Caine with the clear intention of killing him.

On a sad note, John Wick actor Lance Reddick passed away due to natural causes days before the movie's release. His body had been found on Friday morning at his Los Angeles residence. 

Weird Comet Might Bring a Deeper Knowledge of The Universe

Oumuamua, the first interstellar object discovered visiting our solar system, has been the subject of intense scientific interest due to its mysterious and drastic acceleration.

The comet, discovered in 2017, indicated a rapid speed up as it approached the sun has been tracked ever since. In light of the comet's peculiar behavior, scientists proposed a wide range of explanations, including the possibility of an alien spaceship traveling the cosmos.

New research suggests that the comet's increased velocity was caused by the escape of hydrogen gas as it was heated by sunlight. But, unlike typical comets, this one didn't have a tail of gas and dust.

A study co-author, Jennifer Bergner, said that comets preserve a snapshot of what the solar system looked like in its early years, which can provide scientists more data about the universe.

Turkish TFX Fighter Debuts

The Defense Industries Agency successfully released photos of the first taxi testing of the Turkish fifth-generation TFX fighter on a runway at the Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters in Ankara.
It holds a 5th gen weapons technology, is super maneuverable, and is better at threat detection.


Fake Trump Arrest Dupes Internet Users

Fake images and videos of Donald Trump's arrest circulated on social media this week, which were shared by hundreds of users.

Donald Trump predicted last Saturday that New York authorities would indict him on Tuesday concerning his hush-money case. But as of Tuesday, March 21, former president Donald Trump has not been arrested by authorities.

Bellingcat creator Eliot Higgins said he made the photos using artificial intelligence.

LA School Workers Strike Shuts Down Schools

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District union employees went on strike for three days due to stalled contract negotiations, effectively shutting down the second-largest school system in the United States.

The Service Employees International Union, which represents some 30,000 teachers' aides, custodians, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and other support employees called for better wages, more full-time employment, and improved services for students.

Classes in LA resumed on Friday as the strike ended, and further discussions between concerned parties have already been scheduled.

California Suffers Another Devastating Storm

At least one person was killed when a severe storm brought more rain, snow, and hazards to California. PowerOutage.us reported nearly 200,000 state residents without power.

The storm hit much harder than expected, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. This was especially true for the southern half of San Francisco Bay and the Monterey Bay areas.

Paul George Suffers Injury an NBA Regular Season Nears End

Los Angeles Clippers superstar guard Paul George will miss the remaining days of the NBA season due to an injury, per reports.

Paul George's injury occurred Tuesday night during the LA Clippers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in a 101-100 loss for the Clippers.

"PG-13's" sprained right knee will keep him on the sidelines for two to three weeks, per multiple reports. 

Related Article: Michael Jordan Net Worth Gets Extra Boost