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Lead On March 20, 2026, 80-year-old driver Mary Fong Lau was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after pleading no contest in a 2024 collision that killed a family of four in San Francisco. The crash occurred on March 16, 2024, when the family waited at a bus stop … Read more

Lead: During the six-month London shoot of Project Hail Mary, actor Ryan Gosling performed opposite a complex puppet operated by James Ortiz so scenes would be grounded in a physical presence. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller prioritized practical effects, keeping Ortiz on set for nearly the entire production and using animatronics and CGI only … Read more

Hundreds of international delegates arrived in Havana this week as a solidarity caravan delivered roughly 20 tons of humanitarian supplies to Cuba, which is confronting a deepening energy shortage after a U.S. oil embargo imposed in January. About 650 delegates from 33 countries and 120 organizations reached the island by air and sea between Wednesday … Read more

Lead: On Friday, March 20 in Madrid, PFL staged its first major card in Spain, headlined by a rematch for the middleweight title between Costello van Steenis and Fabian Edwards. Van Steenis retained the belt with a third-round stoppage by elbows at 1:48, while the card produced multiple decisive finishes and several unanimous decisions across … Read more

March 20, 2026 — Emergency managers on Oahu ordered residents near a northern-island dam to move to higher ground after heavy overnight rain pushed the Wahiawa Reservoir to critically high levels. Officials said the water rose to within a few feet of the dam crest early Friday and described the structure as at “imminent risk … Read more

Lead: Nicholas Brendon, the actor best known for portraying Xander Harris on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died March 20, 2026, his family said. He was 54. In an Instagram post shared Friday night his family said he “died in his sleep of natural causes” and asked for privacy as they grieve. Brendon’s … Read more

Lead: Since the first case was reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 13 March, a cluster of meningococcal B infections tied to Kent has grown to 29 confirmed or suspected cases and two deaths. Public warnings were issued on 15 March after a suspected super-spreader event at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between … Read more

Lead On Friday, a Senate motion to advance a full-year Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill failed, leaving a partial funding crisis and growing concern over long airport screening lines at several of the nation’s busiest airports. Democrats withheld the votes needed to move the package, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he … Read more

Lead: As of March 20, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has become the central battleground in the widening conflict between the United States and Iran. In response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran has largely sealed the strait, disrupting oil shipments and contributing to rising gasoline prices. With the war nearing its three-week mark, the … Read more

Costello van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in the third round in Madrid to retain his PFL middleweight title, extending his head-to-head edge over the Briton. The victory, a stoppage delivered while defending a takedown against the cage, marked Van Steenis’ first title defence and his second career win over Edwards. Edwards, 32, had arrived after … Read more

On March 20, 2026 a federal judge in Washington struck down a Pentagon policy that had tied press credentials to agreements restricting unapproved reporting, finding the rule unconstitutional and restoring key protections for independent reporting. The decision, issued in a 40-page opinion by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman, targeted a policy implemented in October … Read more

Lead: In Tampa on March 20, 2026, No. 4 seed Alabama rallied from an early double-digit deficit to defeat 13th-seeded Hofstra 90-70 in a Midwest Region first-round game. Labaron Philon Jr. paced the Crimson Tide with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, including a 21-point second-half outburst. Alabama (24-9) closed the half on a … Read more

Lead: Nicholas Brendon, the actor best known as Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds, died in his sleep, his family said in a statement posted March 21, 2026. He was 54. The family described the death as from natural causes and asked for privacy while they grieve. … Read more

Lead On March 20, 2026, oil prices ticked higher while U.S. equities slid sharply as attacks on energy facilities around the Persian Gulf rattled markets. Brent crude settled at $112.19 a barrel, up 3.3% from the previous session, though below Thursday’s peak near $119. The S&P 500 closed 1.5% lower as investors reacted to supply … Read more

Lead The US Treasury on 20 March issued a 30-day waiver allowing purchase of Iranian crude and petroleum products already loaded at sea, aiming to relieve short-term global energy shortages tied to the recent US‑Israeli conflict with Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move will quickly return roughly 140 million barrels to world markets … Read more