Everything we know on the fifth day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their jointoperation on Iran, killingmore than 1,000 people, triggering retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighboring Gulf states and plunging the region into fear and uncertainty.

Here's what to know on day five.

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What are the main headlines?

• US sinks Iranian ship: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's navy said it has recovered "several bodies" but the toll is not yet clear.

• Turkish interception: NATO air defense systems shot down an Iranian missile that was traveling towards Turkey's airspace, the Turkish presidency said. This is believed to be the first time NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile traveling towards a member country's airspace since the conflict in the Middle East broke out over the weekend.

• Fresh strikes: The Israeli military said it again attacked Tehran, the tenth wave of strikes since the conflict began. US President Donald Trump has praised the joint operation, claiming Iran's military installations had been essentially "knocked out," from its navy to its air force and more. More strikes are expected; Hegseth said the US operation is still in its "early days."

• Markets roiled: Asian stocks fell sharply Wednesday, with a record selloff in Seoul, as investors fretted about rising oil prices in a region heavily dependent on imports from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point, is effectively shut off. But some European markets moved into positive territory.

• In the US: The Senate is set to vote today on whether to consider a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to continue military action in Iran without congressional approval amid the rapidly escalating conflict. The White House has given contradictory accounts on why the US attacked Iran. A Democrat senator emerging from a briefing said he had "no idea" what the US objective was.

What's happening in Iran?

• Fresh Israeli strikes: Tehran residents again woke up to the aftermath of Israeli strikes. "They hit quite hard last night, it was a bad night," a resident said. The Israeli military said one of its jets shot down an Iranian jet, in what it described as the first air-to-air combat kill of a piloted aircraft.

• Next supreme leader: Senior Iranian officials have been meeting virtually to select a new supreme leader after the initial US-Israel strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is among a small handful of clerics tipped as likely successors. But timings are unclear. Israel warned that any new leader would be "an unequivocal target for elimination."

• Funeral cancelled: The mourning ceremony for Khamenei, set to begin Wednesday evening, has been postponed, state media reported. Three days of mourning had previously been announced and the cancellation is a blow for a regime trying to project an image of stability and continuity.

• Kurds: The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, multiple people familiar with the plan told CNN. Iranian Kurdish armed groups have thousands of forces operating along the Iraq-Iran border and some have hinted at imminent action.

• Death toll climbs: More than 1,000 people, including children, have been killed in Iran since Saturday, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The group said its report is preliminary, and the number could rise. Iran has been under an internet blackout for more than 100 hours, making it difficult for Iranians to communicate with the outside world.

What's happening around the region and beyond?

• Attacks on Lebanon: Israel is also striking Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and issuing evacuation orders for dozens of villages. Lebanese state media said at least five people in a strike on a four-story residential building in the Lebanese city of Baalbek while smoke has been seen rising over Beirut airport.

• Iran strikes back: Arab states in the Persian Gulf are bearing the brunt of Tehran's ferocious retaliation. Countries such as Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones in recent days – raising questions about how long their air defenses can keep up, and how many more weapons remain in Iran's depleted arsenal. The volume of Iran's missile launches and drone strikes has dropped by 86% and 73% respectively since the first day of the war, top US general Dan Caine said Wednesday.

• US facilities targeted: The US has closed embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon, after several were hit with Iranian strikes. A CIA station in Saudi Arabia, and a US military base in Qatar – the largest in the Middle East – were also hit. Non-emergency US government personnel in several Middle Eastern countries have been ordered to leave.

• Foreign powers: China's foreign minister called for an "immediate cessation" of the US and Israeli action in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, the ministry said. The country has lost two international allies this year through US action. France meanwhile has deployed Rafale fighter jets over the skies of the United Arab Emirates to protect its military bases there.

• Senate vote: The Senate will vote as soon as Wednesday on a resolution requiring Trump get congressional approval to continue the military campaign; the House will vote on a similar measure on Thursday. Six American service members have been killed by Iranian strikes since Saturday, a number Trump already warned is likely to increase.

• Oil trade rocked: Oil and natural gas prices are jumping while stock markets are tumbling. The Middle East is a major producer of both oil and natural gas, but its energy exports have now been largely cut off from the rest of the world by an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Why did the US and Israel attack Iran?

• US and Israel's claims: Officials from both countries have put out different statements in recent days over why they launched their attack – including the need to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and the claim they were responding to potential preemptive attacks by Iran.

• Fact check: The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has countered these claims – telling CNN that Iran was not days or weeks away from having atomic weapons. Trump himself has repeatedly said that Tehran's nuclear program was "obliterated" by US strikes on Iran last summer. And US intelligence suggests Iran would need until 2035 to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, if it chose to pursue one.

This story has been updated.

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Everything we know on the fifth day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their jointoperation on Iran, k...

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Where was Fred Trump born? Not Germany, as the president indicated

PresidentDonald Trumpnearly said his father was born in Germany, a gaffe he has made in the past.

Trump met withGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merzon March 3 in the Oval Office. They were speaking about theUnited Kingdom'sresponse to thewar in Iran, which Trump criticized before talking about his heritage.

"I love that country. I love it. My mother was born there," he said, referencing Scotland, which is part of the UK. "My father was born..." Trump said, gesturing to Merz, before trailing off with saying, "he knows all about my father. My father was born there."

Trump has referred tohis father as Germanin the past, though Fred Trump was born in New York.

"My father was born in Germany," Trump said at a July 2025 bilateral meeting withUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He went on to clarify, "Or is...his parents were just out."

Here is what to know about Trump's European heritage:

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More:Who's who in the Trump family? All 5 kids were at the SOTU

Trump's second term saw aggressive immigration and trade moves, federal downsizing, and assertive foreign interventions in Venezuela and Iran. President Donald Trump has doubled down on an aggressive immigration agenda, emphasizing record-low levels of illegal border crossings and a sweeping expansion of enforcement. In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump highlighted a nine‑month period in which, he claimed, "zero illegal aliens" were admitted into the U.S.—a statement that fact-checkers noted conflated admission with release on parole, though data does show no parole releases during that period.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The administration has also promoted major enforcement gains: significant declines in illegal crossings, a dramatic reduction in interior releases, expanded deportation operations, and tightened border controls, according to a February 2026 White House summary of its immigration actions. More broadly, the administration continues implementing executive actions that restrict entry at the southern border and increase immigration enforcement nationwide, including policies tied to TrumpÕs 2025 proclamation invoking federal authority to suspend certain entries. [whitehouse.gov]

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> President Donald Trump has intensified his tariff‑driven economic strategy in his second term, expanding duties across global partners while positioning tariffs as a central tool to bolster U.S. industry. Despite broad tariff hikes, the U.S. trade deficit surged in late 2025, reaching a record goods shortfall even as the administration sought to curb imports and revive domestic manufacturing—a goal undercut by a decline in factory employment during the same period.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> President Donald Trump has undertaken an unprecedented downsizing and restructuring of the federal government during his second term, marked by aggressive workforce reductions, major agency overhauls, and expanded executive authority over civil service rules.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Federal workforce cuts accelerated sharply in 2025, with estimates showing reductions ranging from 220,000 to more than 300,000 employees through voluntary departure incentives, pressure campaigns, buyouts, and targeted firingsÑresulting in the smallest federal workforce share recorded since the 1930s.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created at the start of President Trump's second term to drive sweeping federal workforce reductions. DOGE spearheaded mass buyouts, layoffs, and restructuring across agencies, including the rollout of the Deferred Resignation Program and guidance encouraging the firing of probationary employees. Its initiatives contributed to a net loss of more than 150,000 federal workers early in Trump's second term, with broader governmentwide workforce reductions continuing into 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Elon Musk was appointed to lead DOGE and initially served as the public face of Trump's government‑shrinkage agenda. However, his influence declined significantly after he stepped away from the department and entered a public feud with President Trump. Many DOGE staffers left government during this period, and DOGE became associated with controversial actions including the dismantling of USAID and alleged improper access to agency data. Musk originally claimed DOGE would identify $2 trillion in government savings, but the department's website later estimated only $215 billion, a figure analysts say was overstated.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill", signed July 4, 2025, reshaped federal tax law by extending lower individual tax rates from the 2017 TCJA, increasing standard deductions, and adding new temporary deductions for tips and overtime.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The law also phases out clean‑energy incentives and cuts programs like Medicaid and SNAP, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting a $4.1 trillion increase in deficits over 10 years due to the package.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> President Trump has aligned many social policies with the goals of Project 2025, targeting reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, DEI programs, and gender‑affirming care. His administration has signed executive orders eliminating transgender protections, removing DEI offices across federal agencies, and directing schools to deny funding if they allow transgender girls to compete in girls' sports. He has also pursued efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict reproductive‑health access—though not all proposed measures have succeeded.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Trump has moved aggressively to remake federal cultural institutions, ordering the removal of what he calls "anti‑American ideology" from museums, national parks, and research centers. Actions include restoring Confederate statues, removing slavery‑related exhibits and Native‑American history signage from national parks, and pressuring institutions like the Smithsonian and Kennedy Center while installing political allies onto boards. Civil‑rights groups warn these moves risk erasing critical historical truths and reversing decades of social progress

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> During his second term, President Donald Trump has systematically dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. Executive orders have eliminated DEI offices and policies, with agencies placing all DEI‑related staff on administrative leave and shutting down DEI programs entirely. His administration also removed DEI departments at major cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art in early 2025. Trump has framed DEI initiatives as "anti‑American ideology," directing agencies and cultural institutions to strip references to DEI, sexual orientation and gender identity from rules, grants, and regulations. These moves reflect a broader cultural agenda aimed at reversing equity‑focused policies across education, federal agencies, and the arts sector.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered a large‑scale U.S. military operation in Venezuela—Operation Absolute Resolve—resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. forces conducted coordinated strikes across northern Venezuela to suppress air defenses before extracting the pair, who were flown to New York to face narco‑terrorism–related charges. The Trump administration framed the action as a law‑enforcement mission with military support, asserting inherent presidential authority, while Venezuela and several regional governments condemned it as a violation of sovereignty.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> In late February and early March 2026, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had begun "major combat operations in Iran," launching strikes alongside Israel targeting Iranian leadership, military infrastructure, and missile capabilities. The joint assault targeted high‑level officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, and was framed by Trump as necessary to eliminate "imminent threats" and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Trump second term marked by turbulent moves. See photos

Trump's second term saw aggressive immigration and trade moves, federal downsizing, and assertive foreign interventions in Venezuelaand Iran. President Donald Trump has doubled down on an aggressiveimmigrationagenda, emphasizing record-low levels of illegal border crossings and a sweeping expansion of enforcement. In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump highlighted a nine‑month period in which, he claimed, "zero illegal aliens" were admitted into the U.S.—a statement that fact-checkers noted conflated admission with release on parole, though data does show no parole releases during that period.

Where was Fred Trump born?

President Trump's father Fred Trump was born in New York in 1905. Hedeveloped late-onset Alzheimer's diseaseand died in 1999 at the age of 93.

Fred Trump's father (the president's grandfather) emigrated from Germany in 1885, owned a couple of businesses, and returned to Germany to court his neighbor, according to hisNew York Times obituary. The two were married in 1902 and returned to New York, where they had Fred and two other children.

In a White House visit last year, Merz presented Trump with a framed copy of his grandfather's German birth certificate from 1869.

Trump alsosaid in 2019that his father was "born in a very wonderful place in Germany."

Where wasDonald Trump's mother born?

President Trump's motherMary Anne MacLeodwas born in Scotland and immigrated to New York in the 1930s.

Trump has often spoken warmly ofScotland, and the Trump Organization has a few golf courses there. Trump went to Trump Turnberry andTrump International Scotland near Aberdeenlast summer, ending his Scotland trip with a ribbon-cutting at a new course.

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her onX (Twitter),BlueskyandTikTok.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Did Trump say his father was born in Germany? Yes, many times

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Where was Fred Trump born? Not Germany, as the president indicated

PresidentDonald Trumpnearly said his father was born in Germany, a gaffe he has made in the past. Trump met wi...

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Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, frontrunner to be Iran's supreme leader?

March 4 (Reuters) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba has emerged as frontrunner to succeed his late father as Iran's supreme leader after years spent forging close ties with the elite Revolutionary Guards and building influence in the clerical establishment.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has survived the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran and is seen by Iran's establishment as ‌a potential successor to his father, who was killed in an airstrike on Saturday, two Iranian sources said on Wednesday.

A powerful mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba has opposed reformers seeking to ‌engage with the West as it tries to curb Iran's nuclear programme, and has long greater freedoms.

His close ties with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) give him added leverage across Iran's political and security apparatus and he has built up influence behind the ​scenes as his father's "gatekeeper", sources familiar with the matter said.

"He has strong constituency and support within the IRGC, in particular amongst the younger radical generations," said Kasra Aarabi, head of researching the IRGC at United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based policy organisation.

"So if Mojtaba is alive, there is a high chance that he will succeed (his father)," he said, describing Mojtaba as already operating as a "mini supreme leader".

DECISION ON SUPREME LEADER EXPECTED SOON

The Assembly of Experts that will select the new leader is "close to a conclusion" and will announce its decision soon, Assembly member Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami told state TV on Wednesday, without naming the candidates.

The supreme leader ‌has the final say on matters of state, including foreign policy ⁠and Iran's nuclear programme. Western powers want to prevent Tehran developing nuclear arms. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only.

If elected, Mojtaba will face pressure from U.S. sanctions that have hammered the economy and could face opposition from Iranians who have shown they are ready to stage mass protests to press ⁠their demands for greater freedoms despite bloody crackdowns by the authorities.

Mojtaba was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad and grew up as his father was helping lead the opposition to the Shah. As a young man, he served in the Iran-Iraq war.

Mojtaba studied under religious conservatives in the seminaries of Qom, Iran's center of Shi'ite theological learning, and has the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam.

He has never held a formal position in the ​Islamic ​Republic's government, despite being widely seen as the gatekeeper to his father. He has appeared at loyalist rallies, but ​has rarely spoken in public.

His role has long been a source of controversy ‌in Iran, with critics rejecting any hint of dynastic politics in a country that overthrew a U.S.-backed monarch in 1979.

US SANCTIONS

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, saying he represented the supreme leader in "an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position" aside from working in his father's office.

Its website said Khamenei had delegated some of his responsibilities to Mojtaba, whom it said had worked closely with the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force and the Basij, a religious militia affiliated with the Guards, "to advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives".

Mojtaba was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress ‌codes.

In 2024, a video was widely shared in which he announced the suspension of Islamic jurisprudence classes he was ​teaching at Qom, fuelling speculation about the reasons.

Mojtaba bears a strong resemblance to his father, and wears the black turban ​of a sayyed, indicating his family traces its lineage to the Prophet Mohammad.

Critics say Mojtaba ​lacks the clerical credentials to be supreme leader - Hojjatoleslam is a notch below the rank of Ayatollah, the position held by his father and Ruhollah Khomeini, ‌who founded the Islamic Republic.

But he has remained in the frame, particularly after ​another leading candidate for the role - the former President ​Ebrahim Raisi - died in a helicopter crash in 2024.

A U.S. diplomatic cable written in 2007 and published by WikiLeaks cited three Iranian sources describing Mojtaba as an avenue to reach Khamenei.

Mojtaba was widely believed to have been behind the sudden rise of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected president in 2005.

Mojtaba backed Ahmadinejad in 2009 when he won a second term ​in a disputed election which resulted in anti-government protests that were violently ‌suppressed by the Basij and other security forces.

Mehdi Karroubi, a moderate cleric who ran in the election, wrote a letter to Khamenei at the time objecting to what ​he alleged was Mojtaba's role in supporting Ahmadinejad. Khamenei rejected the accusation.

Mojtaba's wife, who was killed in Saturday's airstrikes, was the daughter of a prominent hardliner, the former ​parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel.

(Writing by Tom Perry and Michael Georgy and Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

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March 04, 2026

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, frontrunner to be Iran's supreme leader?

March 4 (Reuters) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba has emerged as frontrunner to succeed his late father as Ira...

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March Madness bubble watch: Pressure builds in final week of regular season

It's put up or shut up time for teams on thebubble of the NCAA Tournament, as the final week of themen's college basketballregular season arrives.

Those still uncertain of reachingMarch Madnessare feeling the magnitude of the moment, as every result is heightened ahead ofSelection Sunday. Most have just a few games left beforeconference tournamentsbegin, and one team is already in do-or-die mode.

Title contenders:Why these 11 teams could dominate March Madness

RedHawks' curious case:Why Miami Ohio should — and shouldn't — be in f it loses MAC

Here are the teams on the bubble in the latestUSA TODAY Sports Bracketology, and what's ahead of them as they try to secure a spot in the bracket.

Texas A&M

• Record: 20-10 (10-7)

• NET Ranking: 43

• Quad 1 record: 5-6

• Projected seed: No. 11

• Quality wins: at Texas, at Georgia, vs. Kentucky

• Bad losses: at Oklahoma State

A team that started SEC play 7-1 is in trouble with a 3-6 record in its past nine games, although it did just beat Kentucky. What's really hurt Texas A&M is it doesn't have a major win as no victory came against a ranked foe. The Aggies don't have to feel entirely scared of their outlook, but it needs to beat LSU (March 7) and win one SEC tournament game to feel comfortable.

Auburn

• Record: 16-14 (7-10)

• NET Ranking: 38

• Quad 1 record: 5-11

• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)

• Quality wins: vs. St John's (neutral), vs. Arkansas, at Florida

• Bad losses: vs. Mississippi, at Mississippi State

The most polarizing team in the tournament conversation, Auburn is in the field thanks to a strong NET ranking and some major victories, even though it doesn't have a record of a March Madness contender. Projected to make the field, the Tigers can't afford more losses to squeak into the bracket. Regardless of what happens, they will be a major talking point.

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Santa Clara

• Record: 24-7 (15-3)

• NET Ranking: 41

• Quad 1 record: 1-5

• Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)

• Quality wins: vs. Saint Mary's

• Bad losses: vs. Loyola Chicago (neutral), vs. Arizona State (neutral)

The Broncos finished the regular season in third place of the West Coast Conference. Even though it has the dreaded Quad 4 loss, Santa Clara was able to get a win against co-conference champion Saint Mary's. It doesn't play until the WCC quarterfinals March 8, and it must win that game to feel confident. If it's able to beat the Gaels to advance to the title game, that could lock up a spot.

UCLA

• Record: 20-10 (12-7)

• NET Ranking: 39

• Quad 1 record: 4-8

• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)

• Quality wins: vs. Purdue, vs. Illinois, vs. Nebraska

• Bad losses: vs. California (neutral), vs. Indiana, at Minnesota

Just when UCLA was getting off of the bubble thanks to a big win against Illinois, the Bruins rejoined the group with a road loss at Minnesota. Luckily, they returned home for a major beatdown of Nebraska to push them back in comfortable territory. Now beat crosstown rival Southern California on March 7 to boost the Quad 1 record and UCLA is feeling good going into the Big Ten tournament.

New Mexico

• Record: 22-7 (13-5)

• NET Ranking: 42

• Quad 1 record: 2-5

• Projected seed: No. 11 (first four)

• Quality wins: at Virginia Commonwealth, vs. San Diego State

• Bad losses: at New Mexico State, vs. Boise State

The Lobos could really have used a win at Nevada to boost the Quad 1 record, but they responded emphatically to beat San Diego State at home in what was a major bubble battle, a key reason New Mexico is in the projected field. Now Eric Olen's team has to beat Colorado State (March 4), and a major test awaits in a trip to Utah State (March 7), where it can clinch a share of the regular season title.

Indiana

• Record: 17-12 (8-10)

• NET Ranking: 40

• Quad 1 record: 2-11

• Projected seed: First four out

• Quality wins: vs. Purdue, at UCLA

• Bad losses: at Minnesota, vs. Northwestern

After riding high to start February, the Hoosiers came crashing down with four straight losses. Yes, three of them came against top-15 teams, but the home defeat to Northwestern was inexcusable and really set them back. Now Indiana has to win its last two, which won't be easy; playing a sneaky Minnesota team (March 4) and then at Ohio State (March 7) in a massive bubble game.

San Diego State

• Record: 19-10 (13-6)

• NET Ranking: 44

• Quad 1 record: 2-6

• Projected seed: First four out

• Quality wins: vs. Utah State

• Bad losses: vs. Troy, vs. Grand Canyon (twice), at Colorado State

You can look at San Diego State's recent results with glass half full or glass half empty. Positive is it beat Mountain West leader Utah State and Boise State for two Quad 1 wins. The negative is it's the Aztecs' only wins in the past five games, with a really bad performance in the rematch with Boise State. SDSU remains in limbo, and it needs at least two more wins to creep back in the bracket projection.

Virginia Commonwealth

• Record: 23-7 (14-3)

• NET Ranking: 47

• Quad 1 record: 1-5

• Projected seed: First four out

• Quality wins: vs. South Florida (neutral)

• Bad losses: at George Mason

Getting a win over Saint Louis would've been a major boost for the Rams, but they were unable to cash-in on their second opportunity. After avenging a loss to George Mason, VCU gets an excellent chance to add a Quad 1 win in the regular season finale at Dayton (March 6), though it's far from done since it will have to put up a solid showing in the Atlantic 10 tournament.

California

• Record: 20-9 (8-8)

• NET Ranking: 63

• Quad 1 record: 4-4

• Projected seed: First four out

• Quality wins: vs. UCLA (neutral), vs. North Carolina, at Miami

• Bad losses: vs. Pittsburgh, at Kansas State, at Florida State, at Syracuse

All of the momentum Cal built was immediately eviscerated with a horrible double-digit Quad 3 home loss to Pittsburgh. The Golden Bears couldn't afford it as their NET ranking is already extremely high, and it now must win its last two games at Georgia Tech (March 4) and Wake Forest (March 7) before making considerable noise in the ACC tournament to move up the bubble.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:March Madness bubble watch for final week of regular season

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March Madness bubble watch: Pressure builds in final week of regular season

It's put up or shut up time for teams on thebubble of the NCAA Tournament, as the final week of themen's college ...

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From the Duke to Benedict, ranking 'Bridgerton's' love confessions

When it comes to delivering romantic confessions that leave hearts racing and senses tingling,"Bridgerton"knows how it's done.

Adapted fromJulia Quinn's books, the Netflix hit series from Shondaland now hasfour seasons. Each season traces the love story of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, giving audiences memorable heart-fluttering and swoon-worthy moments, cementing it as one of the streamer's most popular shows.

Theseries debuted in 2020with the passionate love story between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter and fourth child of the illustrious Bridgerton family in Regency-era England, and the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page).Season 2 followedwith Daphne's brother Anthony's (Jonathan Bailey) search for a wife, while in Season 3 Colin (Luke Newton) took the baton.

Season 4, which unveiled its second part on Feb. 26, put thespotlight on Benedict(Luke Thompson) as he fell for the illegitimate child of nobility Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), forced to be a maid by her stepmother.

Netflix has alreadyrenewed "Bridgerton" for a fifth and sixth season. This does not include "Bridgerton" universe spin-offs such as "Queen Charlotte."

With four siblings down and four left, the series has reached its mid-point, as far as the immediate Bridgerton family is concerned, so here's a definitive ranking of all the romantic confessions the series has delivered so far.

'Bridgerton' Season 5:Everything we know so far

Cue the wedding bells: Romance is taking center stage in 2026 as these celebrities marked the next chapter in their love stories with engagements and marriages.

After stars like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement last year, eyes are on what other celebrities will tie the knot.

Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson tied the know in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 14. Hawke's parents, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, as well as her "Stranger Things" costars at her side, according to photos published by People magazine.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Actress-turned-singer Dove Cameron and Måneskin frontman Damiano David kicked off 2026 by announcing their engagement on a Jan. 3 Instagram post.

"the 2 best years of my life. i am brought to tears at least once a week because life has become so beautiful with you in it. i love you in a way no words could ever express, but i will never stop trying," Cameron wrote sharing a gallery of the pair shamelessly showing affection toward one another.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Vanna White married her longtime partner, John Donaldson, in a private ceremony after more than 14 years together.

The "Wheel of Fortune" co-host revealed her newlywed status on social media on Jan. 21 with a photo of her husband carrying her bridal-style as she's wearing a beaded white gown.

"Surprise! We got married!" she wrote.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rick Harrison kicked off 2026 by adding a wedding band to his ring finger. The 60-year-old "Pawn Stars" patriarch married fiancée Angie Polushkin, a 42-year-old nurse, on Jan. 3, Harrison's representative confirmed to USA TODAY.

The couple told People and TMZ that they'd exchanged their "I dos" in front of an Elvis impersonator at Las Vegas' Little White Chapel. A bigger wedding celebration will take place later in January, the couple told People, with Harrison revealing to TMZ that the event will take place in Cancún, Mexico. The couple, who'd met at the beginning of 2024, previously revealed their engagement in March.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Video game producer John-Michael Sudsina and comedian Joel Kim Booster got married after meeting in 2021, the New York Times reported on Jan. 13.

The pair held their wedding at the Exploratorium, an interactive science museum in San Francisco, on Dec. 30, 2025.

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Vanna White, Maya Hawke and more celeb engagements, marriages in 2026

Cue the wedding bells: Romance is taking center stage in 2026 as these celebrities marked the next chapter in their love stories with engagements and marriages.After stars likeTaylor SwiftandTravis Kelceannounced their engagement last year, eyes are on what other celebrities will tie the knot.Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutsontied the know in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 14. Hawke's parents,Uma ThurmanandEthan Hawke, as well as her "Stranger Things" costars at her side, according to photos published byPeoplemagazine.

4. Benedict Bridgerton (Season 4)

While Benedict initially fumbled,asking Sophie to be his mistress, he made sure not to mess it up the second time around, laying bare his heart and soul as he told Sophie she was the person he was "searching for all his life."

"There isn't a single moment you do not fill my mind," Benedict told Sophie. "I've heard every qualm you've raised about being with me. And I wish there was some other way for us to be together. But the thought of spending a single day without you torments my soul. You deserve the very world. But how else am I supposed to be with the woman society has made it impossible for me to be with? The woman I was foolish enough to fall in love with."

When Sophie cut him off saying he "cannot," Benedict responded saying that though society bans him from even thinking of a maid, she has yet "taken possession of me, shot me back to life, turned me from someone who could not sit still for a moment to one who wishes to be in one single place beside you for as long as I might live."

When reminded he will eventually need to take a wife to fulfil his family and society's demands, Benedict said his family already has an heir, so he "would not marry."

"I could not look twice at anyone else," he told Sophie. "If only you would love me back. You are not that kite in my study. You're the person I have been searching for all my life. I love you. I love you. I love you."

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3. Colin Bridgerton (Season 3)

While attempting to teach his childhood bestie Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) how to woo a suitor and finally find a match, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the third child of the Bridgerton family, realizes that he's been in love with his best friend all along. Though it does take a glow-up on Penelope's part for him to realize that. But when he finally does, he runs after her, jumping onto her carriage and declaring his love for her.

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"These past few weeks have been full of confounding feelings," Colin tells a confused Penelope.

"Feelings like a total inability to stop thinking about you. About that kiss," Colin announced. "Feelings like dreaming of you when I'm asleep, and in fact, preferring sleep because that is where I might find you. A feeling that is like torture, but one which I cannot, will not, do not want to give up."

The heartfelt confession culminates in thepassionate carriage scenebetween the two that Coughlan described to USA TODAY as "romantic," "suspenseful," and "sexy."

'It's sexy':Nicola Coughlan on what makes that 'Bridgerton' carriage scene special

2. Simon Basset (Season 1)

The season where it all started.

When seeking the queen's approval for their match, the Duke of Hastings delivered a heart-fluttering speech that had everyone weak in the knees.

"It was not love at first sight for either of us," Simon told the queen. "There was attraction certainly, at least on my part. But Miss Bridgerton thought me presumptuous, arrogant, insincere, all fair, really. I thought her a prim young lady barely out of leading strings. Not to mention the sister of my best friend and so romance was entirely out of the question for both of us. But in so removing it, we found something far greater, we found friendship."

He continued: "To meet a beautiful woman is one thing, but to meet your best friend and the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart. It is with my sincerest apologies, I must say it took the prince coming along for me to realize I did not want Miss Bridgerton to only be my friend, I wanted her to be my wife. I want her to be my wife," he declared as everyone held their breath.

It was at that moment that Page sealed the duke's spot in romantic drama history.

Later, after the two married,Simon told Daphnehe could not stop thinking about her and that he "burns" for her.

"From the mornings you ease, to the evenings you quiet, to the dreams you inhabit, my thoughts of you never end. I am yours Daphne. I have always been yours," Simon tells his now-wife.

1. Anthony Bridgerton (Season 2)

"You are the bane of my existence. And the object of all my desires."

Everyone remembers where they were when Viscount Anthony Bridgerton delivered this iconic line to Miss Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), despite courting her sister Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) at the time. The dialogue is perhaps one of the most iconic in "Bridgerton's" four-season history and perfectly encapsulates the crackling chemistry between the two leads.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Bridgerton' swoon-worthy love confessions ranked

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March 04, 2026

From the Duke to Benedict, ranking 'Bridgerton's' love confessions

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Jalen Tyson, James Harden lead Cavs past Pistons 113-109 without injured star Donovan Mitchell

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jaylon Tyson scored 22 points, James Harden added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged a recent loss in Detroit by beating the East-leading Pistons 113-109 on Tuesday night despite playing without injured star Donovan Mitchell.

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Evan Mobley also had 18 points and Dennis Schroder 15 for the Cavs, who split their four regular-season games with Detroit.

Mitchell sat out his fourth straight game with a nagging groin strain. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the seven-time All-Star is "trending better" but doesn't know when he'll be back to build chemistry for the postseason with Harden, who was acquired at the trade deadline.

Jalen Duren added 24 points and 14 rebounds and Tobias Harris scored 19 points — all after halftime — for the Pistons, who had their road winning streak stopped at six games. Cade Cunningham dished out 14 assists but scored only 10 on 4-of-16 shooting for Detroit.

The Pistons cut an 11-point deficit to one in the fourth, but Sam Merrill hit a big 3-pointer to help the Cavs hang on.

While it was the last meeting between Detroit and Cleveland before the playoffs, their rivalry has been reborn with both teams in Eastern Conference title contention.

Following the Cavs' overtime road loss last week, an unnamed Cleveland player chirped the Pistons "are not in our class."

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Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired by the Cavs in 2024, dismissed the bravado before Tuesday's game.

"If you mean it," he said, "you don't say it anonymously."

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen, who has been having one of the best stretches of his career, suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and didn't return. When asked about his condition on his way out of Rocket Arena, Allen said: "I'll be all right."

Detroit's Isaiah Stewart returned from a seven-game league suspension and played 22 minutes.

Up next

Pistons: At San Antonio on Thursday.

Cavaliers: Host Boston on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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March 04, 2026

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Top-ranked tennis player Aryna Sabalenka announces engagement to Georgios Frangulis

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked tennis playerAryna Sabalenkahas announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis.

Sabalenka posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, accompanied with the words "You & me, forever" along with a ring and heart emoji.

The news quickly drew congratulations from fellow tennis players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Amanda Anisimova, a possible opponent for Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at the forthcoming Indian Wells tournament in the Southern California desert.

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The tournament that opens on Wednesday will be Sabalenka's first since she reached the final at the Australian Open, whereshe lost to Elena Rybakina6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Jan 31.

AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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March 04, 2026

Top-ranked tennis player Aryna Sabalenka announces engagement to Georgios Frangulis

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked tennis playerAryna Sabalenkahas announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman ...

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