Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup? Explaining the state of play – The Guardian

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Lead This week Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup has swung between confirmation and apparent withdrawal. A public post by former US president Donald Trump raised immediate safety and exclusion questions, coming after Fifa president Gianni Infantino said Trump had told him Iran would be welcome. Iran’s football federation responded that no one can … Read more

Judge Blocks DOJ Subpoenas to Fed, Stalling Inquiry into Powell

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Lead On March 13, 2026, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., moved to halt a Justice Department grand jury probe targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell by quashing subpoenas sent to the central bank over headquarters renovations. Judge James E. Boasberg issued a 27‑page decision that criticized prosecutors’ motives and found the subpoenas likely … Read more

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell to Exit After Tumultuous Year

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Lead: Richard Grenell, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, is stepping down as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after a year marked by departures of high-profile artists and audience boycotts. The White House announced his exit on March 13, 2026, and named Matt Floca, the center’s vice president of … Read more

Relatives of Michigan Synagogue Attacker Killed in Lebanon Airstrike

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Lead On March 12, 2026, a 41-year-old man drove a truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a firefight with security officers. Federal officials identified the attacker as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon. Local religious leaders and a Lebanese official … Read more

Jury finds defendants guilty of terrorism-related charges in Prairieland ICE attack

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March 13, 2026 — A federal jury on Friday returned multiple guilty verdicts in the July 4, 2025 attack on the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas. Eight defendants were convicted of providing material support to terrorists and related offenses after a multiweek trial featuring surveillance video, witness testimony and forensic evidence. Prosecutors described … Read more

Oscars Predictions via Feinberg Forecast: Scott’s Final Picks – The Hollywood Reporter

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Lead: Scott Feinberg issued a final forecast ahead of the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, laying out his statistical projections for the ceremony’s top races. He notes that while Jessie Buckley for Hamnet is a strong favorite for Best Actress, the other five marquee categories — Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress … Read more

US judge throws out Justice Department subpoenas to Federal Reserve, citing ‘thin’ evidence

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Lead: A US federal judge has rejected subpoenas issued by the Justice Department that sought records from the Federal Reserve, saying the government’s showing of need was “thin.” The decision, handed down this week in federal court, prevents immediate disclosure of the requested Fed materials and narrows the scope of law-enforcement access to central bank … Read more

Oil only accounts for half the cost of a gallon of gas. Here’s where the rest comes from.

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Lead: Since fighting began in Iran on February 28, 2026, a supply shock has pushed U.S. pump prices higher by roughly $0.60 per gallon, reflecting global crude moves and local market mechanics. As of March 13, 2026, the national average stood near $3.63 a gallon, and crude remains the largest single input but not the … Read more

NBCUniversal Pulls Plug on First-Run Syndication, Ending Access Hollywood, Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show

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In a strategic move announced in 2026, NBCUniversal said it will stop producing original programming for first-run syndication, a decision that terminates new production on Access Hollywood and its daytime offshoots and ends current runs of Karamo and The Steve Wilkos Show. Access Hollywood will continue to air original episodes through September, while Karamo and … Read more

Get Your Cholesterol Even Lower and Start Younger, New Guideline Says

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Lead: On March 13, 2026, an updated set of cardiovascular prevention recommendations from 11 professional medical groups — led by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology — urged earlier and lower cholesterol control to cut heart attacks and strokes. The guidance recommends measuring LDL cholesterol in childhood (around age 10) and … Read more

Seven overlooked free-agent signings that could pay serious dividends in 2026 NFL season – NFL.com

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Lead: The opening wave of 2026 free agency has been noisy, but several low-profile additions deserve closer attention. Between March 13 and the days that followed, teams quietly added role players whose skill sets match clear roster needs. These seven signings include veteran blockers, versatile defenders and position-stabilizers whose contracts are modest but whose impact … Read more

NBCUniversal Exits First-Run Syndication; ‘Access Hollywood’, ‘Access Live’, ‘Steve Wilkos’ and ‘Karamo’ to End

nbcuniversal-exits-syndication

Lead NBCUniversal announced in March 2026 that it will withdraw from the first‑run television syndication business, ending original production on several long‑running series. The studio confirmed that The Steve Wilkos Show and Karamo have completed their current seasons and will air new episodes through the summer, while Access Hollywood and Access Live will wind down … Read more

FBI Launches Investigation Into Malware-Embedded Indie Games on Steam

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Lead: The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation on March 11 publicly opened a probe into a series of indie games distributed on Steam that were reportedly embedded with malware. The FBI’s Seattle Division says the campaign primarily targeted users between May 2024 and January 2026 and is asking possible victims to come forward. Seven titles … Read more

Five intriguing developments from first week of 2026 NFL free agency

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Published: Mar 13, 2026 — The opening days of the 2026 NFL free-agency window produced a string of headline-grabbing moves and surprising non-moves that reshaped short- and long-term plans across the league. From a blockbuster trade collapsing for medical reasons to high-risk, high-reward contracts and a pair of roster pivots by contenders, the first week … Read more