AdvertisementFor Trump, securing allies’ help is as much a domestic economic need as it is international diplomacy. AdvertisementDespite Trump‘s demands, several key allies have publicly rebuffed his calls for support. AdvertisementOn the threat to merchant ships, Trump projected uncertainty. Trump, however, is keeping the pressure on allied countries, making the future of the conflict more open-ended depending on their response. When asked if he was confident Macron will help with the reopening of the strait, Trump told reporters: “Yeah, I mean sure.

The United States is now determined to be the perpetrator behind the Feb. 28 bombing of an Iranian’s girl’s school, according to an internal U.S. military investigation reported by the New York Times. The bombing comes amidst continued U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. According to United Nations News, UNESCO put out a statement that “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education.” Many United Nations officials and individuals across the United Nations system have come out to condemn the attacks, including the United Nations Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai. “Deadly Bombing of Iran Primary School ‘a Grave Violation of Humanitarian Law’: UNESCO | UN News.” United Nations, March 1, 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167063. “Malala .” X (formerly Twitter), February 28, 2026. https://x.com/Malala/status/2027839488710340647?s=20.

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code

Put a cold-blooded spin on it and “Sinners” is now the biggest loser in Oscars history, ceding 12 of its 16 record-breaking nominations to other films. But Ryan Coogler still won the night. In another year, I might have said “Sinners” lost to “rivals” or “competitors.” But on Sunday, anyone with an ego got swatted on the nose. One of the many things I admire about “Sinners” is its acknowledgment that artists, dreamers and visionaries like Coogler still have to exist within a system they might disagree with, possibly even hate. (Speaking of family ties, here’s a fun fact: Coogler officiated at Göransson’s wedding.)

A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who conspired with a cryptocurrency magnate to extort and falsely arrest rivals was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison. Michael David Coberg, who was a deputy and Sheriff’s Department helicopter pilot at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy against rights. — from Miami to L.A. and cause him to be arrested with drugs, according to the plea agreement. AdvertisementCoberg separated from the sheriff’s department in September 2025. He was separately charged in Connecticut last year with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.

With the Trump administration’s oil blockade cutting off fuel to Cuba, the country’s electrical grid collapsed Monday, causing an island-wide blackout. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened again to topple the country’s communist government. “I do believe I’ll [have] the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump told reporters Monday afternoon. The repeated power cuts and blackouts have set off rare protests in the communist country in recent days. A White House official, asked for clarity about what the president meant Monday by “taking” Cuba, emphasized a deal.

Despite more than two weeks of relentless airstrikes, U.S. intelligence assessments say, Iran’s regime likely will remain in place for now, weakened but more hard-line, with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps security forces exerting greater control. The United States and Israel have significantly degraded Iran’s missile capability and navy, removed the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wiped out scores of top military and intelligence leaders. Iran’s viselike grip on the Strait of Hormuz has slowed shipping traffic to a trickle, creating a historic oil disruption. Nonetheless, officials and analysts say, there are no overt signs of cracks or defections within Iran’s power structure. Inside Iran, regime supporters have grown more hard-line in two weeks of war, according to Aliasghar Shafieian, an adviser to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

After a long, stressful wait until Selection Sunday, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team is officially headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. An NCAA Tournament bid was no sure thing for Virginia, which had to sweat it out on Selection Sunday after dropping its final three games of the season, including a one-and-done loss in the ACC Tournament to Clemson. A strong 11-7 record in the ACC — a conference that produced a league-record nine NCAA Tournament bids — also gave the ’Hoos a strong case to be included in the field. Though the ’Hoos were hoping for a longer stay in Duluth for the ACC Tournament, the 10-day break until Selection Sunday could be useful for a group that is looking to re-find its identity going into the NCAA Tournament. Virginia’s superstar point guard will be making her first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning First-Team All-ACC honors again this year.

Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementHere is an excerpt:Donald TRUMP SLAMS Pope Leo XIV: "Sit down — you're just the Pope, mind your own business!" Accessed 16 Mar. Accessed 16 Mar. Accessed 16 Mar. Accessed 16 Mar.

In recent months, Secretary Kennedy directed the CDC to change its website to include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately,” the senators concluded. At your direction, the CDC changed its website, “Autism and Vaccines,” to include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately. Sincerely,[1] CBS News, CDC website is changed to include false claim about autism and vaccines, (Nov. 20, 2025)https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-website-change-vaccines-autism/[2] The New York Times, Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C.

This site is made possible by member support. 💞Big thanks to Arcustech for hosting the site and offering amazing tech support. When you buy through links on kottke.org, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for supporting the site! home of fine hypertext products since 1998.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters at the White House, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Washington. via Associated PressDonald Trump’s press secretary has claimed other countries should help the US in the Iran crisis because they are “benefitting greatly” from the war. AdvertisementA reporter asked Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt why nations who were not informed of the US-Israel strikes on Iran in advance should risk their own militaries to help the war. AdvertisementSenior figures in the British government have also been unable to explain exactly why the US decided to bomb Iran. “The fact they are doing so just underscores why President Trump needed to take this action in the first place.”Advertisement

CountryUnited States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Ara

Most U.S. allies have refused Trump's calls to send warships to protect merchant vessels in the critical oil shipping lane amid tensions with Iran. Trump declined to name the 'numerous countries' he said had agreed to help, but was annoyed that most longtime allies were hesitant about joining his international police force. Trump has threatened retaliation against reluctant allies, suggesting Congress could have a role, but has also sent mixed messages about how much allied help he actually needs. The players Donald Trump The President of the United States who is calling on allies to help guard the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran. Adam Schiff A Democratic Senator from California who expressed skepticism that China and other countries enlisted by Trump will actually escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented widespread human rights violations in multiple regions of the country, including Oromia and Amhara. Despite the gravity of these developments, the international response has often been perceived as limited compared with the scale of the humanitarian and human rights concerns involved. Atrocities in Arsi: A Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia’s Oromia RegionThe country of Ethiopia has been engulfed in war, massacres, and displacement at an alarming rate since Prime Minister Abiy came to power. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has documented a pattern of attacks affecting civilians in the area in its March 2026 reporting. Particularly troubling are reports of attacks against civilians in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region.