WWE has made a strategic decision to remove the championship title from Cody Rhodes. This move aims to boost his participation in significant upcoming matches like the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. WWE plans for Cody Rhodes to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania, although plans may change.
Key Facts
WWE has shifted the title away from Cody Rhodes.
The intention is to enhance his role in events like the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber.
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton is anticipated for WrestleMania.
Reports suggest these plans were discussed and known to Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton as early as January.
The decision was made to leverage Rhodes' popularity for major events.
WWE's creative decisions are subject to change and are not final until the event.
The company's goal is to maintain fan interest while adjusting for unforeseen changes.
The Chicago Bears are seen as likely candidates to trade for Las Vegas Raiders' player Maxx Crosby during the NFL draft. They may also trade up to secure a higher draft pick to select a player named Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The Bears are working to improve their defensive lineup.
Key Facts
The Chicago Bears might trade to get Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Bears are favorites to trade up from pick No. 25 to pick No. 20 in the NFL draft.
Chicago plans to use the No. 20 pick to choose Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a safety from Toledo.
The Dallas Cowboys currently hold the No. 20 pick after a trade with the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears had one of the worst-ranked defenses in 2025 but led the NFL in turnovers.
Bears players Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright, known for their interceptions, will soon be free agents.
McNeil-Warren is ranked as the 15th-best prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Phillies are considering improving their outfield by trading for Byron Buxton, a star player from the Minnesota Twins with 35 home runs last season. The proposed trade includes young players Justin Crawford, Aaron Escobar, and Gage Wood, as the Phillies aim to enhance their chances of reaching the World Series.
Key Facts
The Phillies have had ongoing issues with their outfield performance.
Previous attempts to improve included adding Max Kepler and Harrison Bader, but they did not remain with the team.
Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report suggested the Phillies trade for Byron Buxton.
Byron Buxton hit 35 home runs last season and is under contract through 2028.
The proposed trade would involve three of the Phillies' top prospects.
Byron Buxton has a no-trade clause but may be open to a move.
The Phillies aim to compete with top teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
President Trump's administration will pay interest on tariff refunds after a Supreme Court ruling. The court found that President Trump unlawfully used a law to impose certain tariffs. The details of how the refund process will work are not yet clear.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump unlawfully imposed certain tariffs.
The ruling was decided by a 6–3 vote.
The administration acknowledged it will pay interest on the tariff refunds.
The exact process for refunding the tariffs has not been established.
Billions of dollars were collected from importers through these tariffs.
The administration has not confirmed it will return all collected funds.
Kristaps Porzingis, a player for the Golden State Warriors, traveled with the team to Houston but will not play in the upcoming game against the Rockets. He has missed the last five games due to illness. Porzingis joined the Warriors in February and played one game before missing subsequent matches.
Key Facts
Kristaps Porzingis is not playing in the Warriors' game against the Houston Rockets due to illness.
He has missed the last five games and has been dealing with multiple health setbacks this season.
Porzingis joined the Golden State Warriors' roster on February 5, 2026.
He previously played for the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks this season.
He played one game for the Warriors on February 19, scoring 12 points against the Celtics.
The Warriors initially considered trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo but settled on Porzingis.
Porzingis is traveling with the team, hinting he may return to the court during the ongoing road trip.
Several popular restaurant chains, including Wendy's, Pizza Hut, and Papa Johns, are closing some of their locations in March. These closures are a response to financial pressures such as rising costs and changing consumer habits. The closures will focus on underperforming sites and old locations that no longer fit current business strategies.
Key Facts
Wendy's plans to close 300 to 358 U.S. locations by mid-2026, focusing on older sites as part of its "Project Fresh" strategy.
Pizza Hut will close about 250 U.S. restaurants by mid-2026, moving away from large dine-in spots to smaller delivery and carry-out units.
Papa Johns plans to shut approximately 200 restaurants by 2026, with some closures in March.
March is a common time for closures due to lease expirations and post-holiday financial evaluations.
Rising food prices and labor costs have increased financial pressure on restaurants.
"Food-away-from-home" prices went up about 4% over the last year, and operating costs for restaurants rose about 35% over five years.
Many restaurants expanded during the pandemic but are now reducing their size due to economic slowdowns.
Some experts predict more consolidation in the fast-food industry to manage costs better.
The United States baseball team made a lineup change in an exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic. Gunnar Henderson replaced Brice Turang at third base, causing Alex Bregman to move to second base, a position he rarely plays.
Key Facts
The U.S. baseball team played an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies.
Gunnar Henderson started at third base, replacing Brice Turang from the previous game.
Alex Bregman moved to second base, which he rarely plays, having only done so nine times in his professional career.
The last time Bregman played second base in Major League Baseball was in 2018.
Brice Turang and Gunnar Henderson are expected to share playing time in the upcoming games.
Mark DeRosa is the manager making the lineup decisions for the U.S. team.
Brice Turang has a Platinum Glove Award for his fielding abilities, marking him as one of the best defenders.
The Philadelphia Eagles are considering trading defensive tackle Jordan Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars to make room in their budget for new players. Davis helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl and is approaching free agency. The trade would help the Eagles manage their team finances and allow the Jaguars to improve their defensive line.
Key Facts
The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl a little over a year ago.
The Eagles lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round of the 2025 playoffs.
Jordan Davis, who played a key role in the Eagles' Super Bowl victory, may be traded.
Davis is in the last year of his rookie contract, which counts for $12.93 million against the salary cap in 2026.
The Eagles are looking to free up cap space to retain player Jaelan Phillips, potentially costing $18 million per year.
Jacksonville has 10 selections in the 2026 NFL draft and is interested in improving its defensive lineup.
Trading for Davis would require Jacksonville to manage their budget to fit this new addition.
Spain has denied claims by the White House that it has agreed to work with the U.S. military amid the conflict with Iran. President Trump had warned of trade consequences for Spain's initial refusal, but Spain maintains its opposition to the war. Spain's Foreign Minister asserted that there has been no change in their position.
Key Facts
The White House claimed Spain agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military concerning the war with Iran.
Spain's Foreign Minister denied this claim, saying nothing has changed in their stance.
President Trump threatened to halt all trade with Spain over its opposition to the war.
Spain's Prime Minister reiterated the country's opposition to war and violations of international law.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Spain for opposing military aggression.
Japanese speedskater Miho Takagi, who has won more Winter Olympic medals than any other Japanese athlete, announced her retirement at age 31. Her last competition will be the World Championships in the Netherlands starting March 5.
Key Facts
Miho Takagi is Japan's most successful Winter Olympian with 10 medals.
She announced her retirement in an Instagram post on March 4.
Her final event will be the World Championships in Thialf, Netherlands.
Takagi won a bronze medal in the women's 1,000 meters, 500 meters, and team pursuit in recent competitions.
She did not qualify for the 2014 Sochi Olympics but won three medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
Japan won a record 24 medals at the recent Milan-Cortina Games.
Takagi debuted at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics when she was 15 years old.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he criticized the media for their coverage of U.S. troop deaths. Hegseth claimed the media misrepresented his comments to make President Trump look bad, which Leavitt supported by saying the media focuses on negative portrayals.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about media coverage of U.S. troop deaths.
Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting his comments.
Hegseth claimed the media wants to show President Trump negatively.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Hegseth's remarks.
Leavitt accused CNN's Kaitlan Collins of being disingenuous about Hegseth's words.
This incident is part of ongoing tensions between the current administration and the media.
Debut author Claire Lynch won the gold prize at the Nero Book Awards for her novel, "A Family Matter," inspired by real-life cases of family separations involving lesbian women in the 1980s. The book was praised by judges for its engaging storytelling and humor.
Key Facts
Claire Lynch's novel "A Family Matter" won the gold prize at the Nero Book Awards.
The book was inspired by cases where lesbian women lost custody of their children in the 1980s.
The story alternates between a father and daughter in the present and their past in 1982.
Author Claire Lynch is an honorary professor at Brunel University of London.
Judges praised the novel for its humor, storytelling, and character development.
Lynch used real court case transcripts and articles for her research.
Lynch received a £30,000 prize as part of the award.
This is the first debut novel to win the overall prize at the Nero Book Awards since 2013.
The Minnesota Vikings are considering new quarterback options after J.J. McCarthy's performance in the 2025 season. They are reportedly interested in veteran quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick suggests that if the Vikings sign Murray, it could mean J.J. McCarthy's time with the team is coming to an end.
Key Facts
J.J. McCarthy was the Vikings' starting quarterback with a 6-4 record this season.
McCarthy had a passer rating of 72.6, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
The Vikings are interested in possibly signing Carson Wentz, who started five games for them this season.
Kyler Murray, a former Offensive Rookie of the Year, is expected to be released by the Arizona Cardinals.
Murray has career stats of 20,460 passing yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions, along with 3,193 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.
ESPN's Louis Riddick believes signing Murray indicates the Vikings want a more experienced quarterback to lead the team.
Riddick suggests bringing in Murray might mean McCarthy's time with the Vikings could be ending.
The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on a resolution aimed at limiting President Trump's ability to conduct war with Iran without Congress's approval. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, are concerned about the possibility of deploying troops, while Republicans generally support Trump's military actions. The vote will determine whether the Senate debates the resolution further before a final decision.
Key Facts
The Senate is voting on a resolution to control President Trump's authority in the Iran conflict.
Democrat Chuck Schumer voices concern about possible troop deployment to Iran.
Democrats criticize what they see as inconsistent reasons for the war with Iran.
The Pentagon confirms more U.S. military resources are being sent to the region.
President Trump's administration cites various threats from Iran to justify action.
Constitutional scholars debate the extent of presidential power in military matters.
There are historical parallels drawn to the Iraq war's uncertain end.
Republicans mostly support Trump's actions, while Democrats push for congressional oversight.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a possible candidate to become the next leader of Iran. He has not held any official government position but is influential and is seen as a potential successor after recent events increased his prominence.
Key Facts
Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He is considered a contender for the position of Iran's next supreme leader.
Mojtaba has never been elected or appointed to a government role.
An Israeli airstrike killed his father and wife recently.
He is believed to be in hiding amid ongoing military strikes.
His potential leadership is seen as being similar to Iran's earlier hereditary monarchy.
The Assembly of Experts, an Iranian clerical body, will choose the next supreme leader.
Mojtaba grew up during a period of dissent against the Shah of Iran.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. McDuffie, known for his strong performance, is expected to sign a new contract with the Rams that could make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Key Facts
Trent McDuffie was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
McDuffie is recognized as one of the top cornerbacks, with impressive achievements like 25-plus passes defended and 34 quarterback pressures.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for several future draft picks.
The Rams plan to offer McDuffie a new contract, potentially making him the highest-paid cornerback at over $30.1 million.
The Chiefs prioritized other players, making it difficult to keep McDuffie.
McDuffie's hometown is near the Rams' stadium, and he will reunite with a former coach at the Rams.
The NFL's new league year begins on March 11, marking the start of free agency.
Iran has experienced ongoing military strikes by the U.S. and Israel targeting military and political sites. This has affected daily life in cities like Tehran and Minab, with casualties reported and many residents staying indoors. Access to independent information is limited due to restricted visas and internet blackouts.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Israel began targeting Iran on February 28.
Tehran and other areas have experienced heavy bombardment.
Over 160 people died, including children, in a strike on a school in Minab.
The U.S. is investigating civilian casualties but asserts it does not target civilians.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the first wave of strikes.
The attacks have resulted in increased security measures and shortages of essentials like food and fuel.
Information from inside Iran is limited due to visa restrictions and internet blackouts.
Local residents report high security presence and threats from authorities against protests.
President Trump is likely to endorse Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Senate race. This comes after neither Cornyn nor his opponent, Ken Paxton, won enough votes in the primary to avoid a runoff. There is significant pressure on Trump to endorse Cornyn over Paxton due to the latter's scandals.
Key Facts
President Trump is expected to endorse Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Senate race.
Cornyn and Ken Paxton did not secure a majority in the primary, leading to a runoff election.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been encouraging Trump to support Cornyn.
Thune believes Cornyn is a stronger candidate due to Paxton's scandals.
The Senate Leadership Fund has spent a lot of money supporting Cornyn.
Trump has been hesitant to choose sides, viewing both candidates as allies.
Trump's advisers and Texas Republicans want him to endorse Cornyn because they think Paxton's scandals could harm his election chances.
Neither Cornyn nor Paxton has agreed to drop out if they do not get Trump's endorsement.
The United States and Israel have started a military conflict with Iran. Experts believe that while Iran is weaker, it can cause significant disruption. There are concerns about unclear U.S. goals and Israel's aim for regional dominance.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Israel are jointly involved in a war against Iran.
Vali Nasr is a professor who studies the Middle East and international affairs.
Nasr suggests that the U.S. may not fully control the situation.
Iran is considered weaker than the U.S. and Israel but can still cause long-term chaos.
There is uncertainty about the exact objectives of the U.S. in this conflict.
Israel aims to become the leading power in the Middle East.
Mojtaba Khamenei is considered a leading candidate to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran's supreme leader after the latter's death during conflict with the United States and Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei has strong ties to Iran's powerful military group, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and is associated with various internal controversies. There is no official announcement about his succession, and he remains a figure known more for his influence than public presence.
Key Facts
Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has been suggested as a possible successor to his father as Iran's supreme leader.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during an attack linked to the ongoing war with the US and Israel.
Mojtaba Khamenei has never held an elected office or faced a public vote.
He has strong connections with the IRGC, which is a key military force in Iran.
Critics have tied Mojtaba to election manipulation and suppressing protests, notably during the 2009 Green Movement.
Western reports claim he controls significant assets through a network connected to Iran's government, despite being under international sanctions.
There is no official confirmation of Mojtaba's succession, but his rise to power would suggest continued hardline policies by Iran's government.
