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Middle East Latest: Trump Warns of New Strikes on Iran as War Hits Two-Week Mark (Bloomberg)
US President Trump threatened Iran with further attacks after the Islamic Republic’s new leader signaled defiance, suggesting there will be no letup in a war that’s upending energy flows and global markets.
“We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags” on Friday, he said, referring to Iran’s leaders.
Yet pressure is building in the US for Trump to end the fighting given the chaos enveloping the Middle East and the surge in oil prices. They have climbed above $100 a barrel because of Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway.
American casualties are also mounting. A US refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq and four of the six crew members aboard were killed, the American military said. That raised the number of US service members who have died to 11.
Trump’s warning came after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would seek to ensure the strait remains effectively closed. In his first public comments since succeeding his father, he also said Tehran would look to open other fronts in the war, now in its 14th day, if the US and Israel persist with their attacks.
Moscow's Shadow: Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ Guides Iran’s Strikes in Widening Conflict (Bloomberg)
Russian intelligence support for Iran’s deadly retaliation against the US, Israel and Gulf allies — as well as concerns that China may also be helping Tehran — demonstrates deepening ties among US adversaries as the war with Iran continues to widen.
Moscow is currently providing Iran with various forms of intelligence, including satellite imagery and drone targeting tactics, in an effort to help Iran hit back at US forces in the region, according to people familiar with US and Western intelligence.
Housing Market Check-In: Mortgage Rates Jump Most in 11 Months on Inflation Risk From Iran War (Bloomberg)
Mortgage rates in the US jumped by the most in almost a year as inflation fears stoked by the war with Iran added uncertainty for the upcoming spring sales season.
Tragedy
in Michigan: Suspect Killed After Ramming Vehicle Into Michigan Synagogue
(Bloomberg)
A man was killed after ramming his vehicle into the front doors of a synagogue in suburban Detroit on Thursday afternoon, setting off an exchange of gunfire with security officers and a large police response, authorities said.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a vehicle drove into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield shortly after 12:30 p.m., breaching the entrance before security personnel engaged the suspect with gunfire.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the attack was carried out by Ayman Mohamad Ghazali. Ghazali, 41, was born in Lebanon, entered the US in 2011 and was granted citizenship in 2016, according to DHS.
Gun Violence in Virginia: Army Officer Killed in University Attack That Is Being Investigated as Terrorism (New York Times)
An Army officer who led the R.O.T.C. program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., was killed on Thursday when a man stormed a classroom and opened fire in an attack the authorities said was being investigated as an act of terrorism. The gunman, who the authorities said was subdued and killed by students during his attack, had been released from federal prison in 2024, after serving seven years on terrorism-related charges.
The slain army officer was identified by Gov. Abigail Spanberger as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who was a professor of military science and a combat veteran. According to his university bio, Colonel Shah, a native of Virginia, had flown Apache helicopters in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, logging hundreds of hours in combat. He earned two Bronze Stars and two Meritorious Service Medals, along with other awards.
South Carolina Stronghold: James Clyburn to Run for House Again, Defying Push for Generational Change (New York Times)
Representative James E. Clyburn, the 85-year-old Democratic power broker from South Carolina, said on Thursday that he planned to seek an 18th term, breaking with other former congressional leaders and aging lawmakers who have announced retirements and testing his party’s desire for generational change at a crossroads moment.
NY-12 Congressional Race: Mike Bloomberg to Back Protégé Micah Lasher in Crowded NYC House Race With Super PAC (New York Times)
"At a moment like this, New Yorkers need representatives with the imagination to offer bold new ideas, the experience to get big things done, and the courage to take on the toughest fights," Mike Bloomberg writes in a LinkedIn post.
"That’s why I will be voting for Micah Lasher for Congress this
year. Micah was a key part of our team in City Hall, where he helped secure the city’s fair share from Albany and advanced the cause of gun safety. I counted on Micah when I was Mayor, and he delivered for our city. I look forward to supporting him this June, and I hope you will, too," Mike writes.
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Countdown to March Madness: This Weekend's Conference Title Games That Will Shape the Bracket Before Selection Sunday (USA Today)
It’s conference tournament time, and Champ Week is already underway. Several leagues have been playing postseason games since last week, with more tournaments tipping off over the next few days as US college basketball races toward Selection Sunday for the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament, the United States’ national college basketball championship tournament—better known as March Madness.
This weekend is when the biggest games hit: Saturday is stacked with conference championship finals, including the ACC, Big 12, and Big East, and Sunday closes with the Big Ten and SEC title games.
Then comes Selection Sunday (March 15), when the full NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed and fans can finally start building their brackets. Expect a fast, high-stakes weekend with nonstop games and surprise winners that can flip the bracket before it’s even announced.
Find this weekend’s game times here, and use the NCAA’s step-by-step guide to building your bracket here.
The Shamrock's Weekend Takeover: The Biggest and Best St Patrick’s Day Celebrations Around the World (Time Out)
St Patrick’s Day isn’t until Tuesday, March 17, but celebrations worldwide are already kicking off this weekend.
Fueled by Ireland’s expansive diaspora, Paddy’s Day is now marked across the globe with free Céilís, enormous parades, river-dyeing sessions, and even potato-flinging contests.
Dublin leads the charge with a monumental four-day festival (March 14–17), when half a million people are expected to pack the streets for the parade and a stacked lineup of walks, treasure hunts, gigs, poetry, comedy, and “great craic.”
From Chicago turning its river vivid green on Saturday
to Montserrat’s glorious culmination of Irish and Afro-Caribbean cultures marked throughout March, the festivities span cities and islands in wildly different ways—and in Tokyo, the Green Ireland Festival sees costumed revellers sing, jig and march along Omotesando before taking over Yoyogi Park with Irish food stalls and events, proof that the party isn’t just in Ireland, it’s everywhere.
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