Lead: Renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since March 2, 2026 has intensified divisions inside Lebanon’s Shi’ite community. The exchange of rocket fire and Israel’s large-scale response — including a targeted ground operation announced on March 16 — has displaced hundreds of thousands and, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, left more than 900 … Read more
Lead: The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, a deal that would make the combined company the largest local television-station operator in the United States. The agency waived a 39% national ownership cap, saying the merged group would reach at least 60% of U.S. households. The announcement … Read more
On March 20, 2026, BTS returned with Arirang, their first full-length record in three years and nine months, blending hip-hop intensity with Korean folk motifs and wide-ranging production collaborators. The seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — reunited after completing mandatory military service and separate solo projects, and debuted the … Read more
Lead: In mid-March 2026, a major Israeli strike on facilities tied to Iran’s South Pars gas operations triggered Iranian reprisals against Gulf states and a noticeable bump in fuel markets. Washington initially denied prior knowledge before President Trump said he had warned Israel against the attack, highlighting public strains in coordination. Analysts say the episode … Read more
March 20, 2026 — Iran carried out strikes that damaged a major Kuwaiti oil refinery and set off explosions over Tehran on Friday, officials and media said, in a dramatic escalation nearly three weeks after the conflict began on Feb. 28. The attacks came as Iranians observed Nowruz and regional air defenses intercepted incoming fire … Read more
Lead As the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran entered its third week around the Persian new year (Nowruz), energy markets reacted sharply: Brent crude climbed to about $110 a barrel while key Gulf shipping lanes remained effectively closed. Israeli forces carried out strikes east of Tehran, and Iran responded with missile and … Read more
The NCAA tournaments resume Friday after a first day defined by upsets, tight finishes and a handful of marquee tests for top seeds. On the men’s side mid-majors carried momentum into the Round of 64 while several power-conference favorites were pushed harder than expected. The women’s tournament also begins, with top squads such as Texas, … Read more
U.S. equity indices opened lower on Friday, March 20, 2026, as investors prepared for a major options expirations session and weighed escalating Middle East tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 86 points (about 0.2%), the S&P 500 fell roughly 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped about 0.5%. Oil prices remained elevated—Brent near $108.16 a … Read more
Lead On March 20, 2026, public-health and weather forecasts warned that spring pollen is already increasing across much of the United States, an early sign of a difficult season for people with allergies. An estimated 106 million Americans live with allergies or asthma, and many will face worse symptoms as tree, grass and weed pollen … Read more
Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged three men tied to server maker Supermicro with conspiring to divert advanced Nvidia AI chips into China in violation of U.S. export controls. The indictment alleges the defendants moved roughly $2.5 billion in servers through a Southeast Asia intermediary and that $510 million worth of those servers containing banned B200 … Read more
Jill Duggar Dillard issued her first public response after her brother Joseph Duggar was arrested on Mar. 18, 2026, on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a minor. The arrest followed a report to investigators and a forensic interview in which a now-14-year-old victim said misconduct occurred when she was 9 during a family … Read more
Lead: On March 19, 2026 (updated March 20), global bullion traded near $4,660 an ounce as investors pushed gold toward its steepest weekly decline in six years. The selloff—exceeding a 7% drop for the week—followed a spike in crude, natural gas and fuel prices tied to the war in the Middle East. Rising energy costs … Read more
March 20, 2026 — Travelers encountered unusually long and erratic security lines on Friday as many Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees worked without pay amid a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse. Major hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental reported waits ranging from two hours to more than three hours, … Read more
Lead Iran is reportedly building a vetting and registration system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as it shifts from indiscriminate closure threats to a more selective, controlled approach. Lloyd’s List and other maritime sources say Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is designing a pre-approval process tied to a newly emerged ‘‘safe corridor.’’ … Read more
Lead The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament opened with 64 teams vying for a single national title, and the first weekend delivered both routine wins and shocking upsets. The field features heavy representation from the SEC (10 teams), the Big Ten (9) and the Big 12 (8); Duke entered as the No. 1 overall seed … Read more
