Monday, March 3
Hearings begin at the International Court of Justice at The Hague over charges of genocide in the war between Serbia and Croatia in the 1990’s that claimed over 200,000 lives. Both sides have accused the other of war crimes.
South African track star Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial begins in Pretoria. The double amputee Olympian is charged with the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.
The trial begins for Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, on charges that he conspired to kill Americans in his role as an al-Qaeda spokesman. Abu Ghaithm, who has pled not guilty, is the highest-ranking al-Qaida figure to face trial in the U.S. since the 2001 attacks.
President Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be in Washington to address the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, at its annual policy conference. The two leaders plan to discuss the U.S.-led peace effort in the region, which has stalled despite several visits by Secretary of State John Kerry. The meeting doesn’t look good; before takeoff, Netanyahu vowed to continue to reject pressure for Israel to compromise on Palestinian demands.
Pharrell’s album G I R L drops, featuring the number one song in the country, “Happy.”
Tuesday, March 4
President Obama unveils his 2015 federal budget request. The new budget calls for $28 billion in new domestic spending for efforts that include job creation and early childhood education. The president is also calling for a reduction of the size of the Army by 10,000 soldiers over the next five years.
Texas holds primary elections. Democratic state senator Wendy Davis and Republican state attorney general Greg Abbott are a lock for their parties’ nominations, but the outlook is rockier for Senator John Cornyn. He faces tea party favorite Rep. Steve Stockman and failed to get an endorsement from fellow senator Ted Cruz earlier last week.
Revelers have been flocking to New Orleans for the annual Mardi Gras celebration this week, which culminates in Fat Tuesday, and the week’s most popular and elaborate parades.
Glee star Lea Michele’s first solo album, Louder, is released.
Wednesday, March 5
President Obama travels to Hartford for an event with four governors—from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island—who support the president’s push to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and have agreed to coordinate raising the minimum wage in each of their states.
Secretary of State John Kerry is in Paris with his foreign counterparts to discuss the Syrian civil war’s impact on Lebanon.
Thursday, March 6
CPAC time. The most conservative people in the country will gather for speeches at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Speakers this year include embattled New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, as well as Tea Party heroes Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul.
Friday, March 7
President Obama and the First Lady travel to the Miami area for an event on expanding "opportunity for all," the slogan touted on a banner at all these events. Despite all the media focus on Ukraine, Obama is keeping his focus on the economy and highlighting the differences between Democrats and Republicans on the minimum wage going into midterm elections.
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel starring Ralph Fiennes, hits theaters along with the animated comedy Mr. Peabody and Sherman and the sequel 300: Rise of an Empire.
Saturday, March 8
It’s International Women’s Day, recognized since the early 1900s and now an official holiday in countries outside the U.S. including China, Afghanistan, and Russia. Countries around the world will hold events celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Sunday, March 9
Lindsay Lohan is back. And we’ll be watching as her new reality show debuts on OWN.