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Iranian agent guilty in plot to kill Trump

'Killer' asteroid will skirt the moon

It looks as ifthe moon is in the clear. NASA has determined that asteroid 2024 YR4 − the same "city killer" that had appeared to be at risk ofcolliding with Earth on Dec. 22, 2032, before new calculations showed it would miss us − also will spare our neighbor. The space rock, about the size of a 15-story building, would not jolt the moon off its orbit if it hit; still, one team of scientists was worried enough that it proposednuking the asteroid. Not to fear, though: New observations show YR4 will miss the moon by 13,200 miles − by cosmic standards, still a very close shave.

Uber is going 'women only'

Uber is allowingwomen to stick togetherwhen they ride. The service has rolled out Women Preferences, a feature that allows female riders and teens to choose a female driver, plus let female drivers choose female riders −"because women asked for it,"Uber says. Riders can access Women Preferencesdirectly on the Uber app; if the wait time is too long, they can choose a standard ride or book a trip later. Similarly, drivers can turn on a Women Rider Preference in the Uber Driver app settings. The expansion comes as Uber has faced scrutiny over thousands of sexual assault lawsuits and rider safety overall.

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1968: "Oliver!" | Mark Lester plays the titular orphan in the film based on Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 1999: "American Beauty" | Kevin Spacey, with Mena Suvari, won the best-actor Oscar.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2000: "Gladiator" | Russell Crowe won the best-actor Oscar.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2003: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" | Ian McKellen helped complete the Middle-earth trilogy. This is the third film to win the all-time high of 11 Oscars, and the only fantasy film ever to win the Academy's top prize.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2006: "The Departed" | Leonardo DiCaprio, left, and Jack Nicholson star in this film that also won Martin Scorsese a directing Oscar.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2008: "Slumdog Millionaire" | The movie set in India, with Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, won eight Oscars, none in acting categories.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2009: "The Hurt Locker" | Jeremy Renner received a best-actor nomination but did not win. The film, however, won six Oscars, and Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for directing.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2011: "The Artist" | Jean Dujardin won the Oscar for best actor while Bérénice Bejo received a best-supporting actress nomination. The (mostly) silent film won five Academy Awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2012: "Argo" | Ben Affleck produced, directed and starred in this best picture based on the real-life rescue of American embassy workers in Iran in 1980.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2016: "Moonlight" | In the wildest Oscars ending ever, "La La Land" was erroneously announced as best picture. But in reality, the vote went to "Moonlight," the coming-of-age drama starring Mahershala Ali, right, and Alex Hibbert. The film won three Oscars, including best supporting actor for Ali and screenplay for director Barry Jenkins.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2017: "The Shape of Water" | A voiceless janitor, played by Sally Hawkins, and her co-worker, Octavia Spencer, work in a secret government laboratory in 1960s Baltimore. The romantic fantasy earned 13 Oscar nominations and won four.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2018: "Green Book" | Mahershala Ali stars as classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and Viggo Mortensen is Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, his driver and bodyguard in the 1960s Deep South. Ali won the Oscar for best supporting actor.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2020: "Nomadland" | Frances McDormand stars as a nomad who lives out of her van after she loses her husband and her home when their Nevada mining town is wiped out in an economic collapse. The film won three Oscars, including best actress for McDormand and best director for Chloé Zhao, who made Oscar history as first woman of color to win the category.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2024: "Anora" | A Brooklyn sex worker (Mikey Madison) elopes with a Russian oligarch's son (Mark Eydelshteyn). The film won five Oscars, including best actress for Madison and best director (Sean Baker).

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

Every Oscar best-picture winner, ever

'Jeopardy!' takes a jab at Timothée Chalamet

It looks as if some offhand remarks Timothée Chalamet made about the classical performing artshave landed him in "Jeopardy!" The Oscar-nominated actor, joining Matthew McConaughey for a CNN and Variety town hall on acting and the arts, remarked:"I don't want to be working in ballet,or opera, or things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.'" The ballet and opera community took notice − and, perhaps, so did the people at "Jeopardy!" who, on theirMarch 9 episode, offered a "ballet and opera" category.

Oscar predictions:Who will win 2026 Academy Awards – and who should?

Heat's Bam Adebayo lights up the scoreboard

TheMiami Heat's Bam Adebayo gave Wilt Chamberlain's single-game scoring record a run for its money, falling short but still racking upsome eye-popping records of his own. The 6-foot-9 center racked up 83 points against the Washington Wizards, second-most in NBA history behindChamberlain's historic 100 pointsin 1962 and edging pastKobe Bryant's 81 pointsin 2006. Along the way, Adebayo hit 36 free throws, a record, on 43 free throw attempts − another record. He also recorded 22 3-point attempts, tied for third all-time. The Heat won 150‑129.− Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Iran war ramps up, Uber goes 'women only': Week in review

The "Access Hollywood" host, with freshly bleached blonde hair, sat down virtually from his Los Angeles pad to discuss his hit podcast "House Guest" and his pair of nominations in the celebration of Black American achievement.

The red-carpet reporter, 39, was up for the popular audio series filmed at his home. "I want to win," Evans told USA TODAY on Feb. 26, adding that he loved thinking about "what it would do to all of those people out there who have like an idea or a dream."

Since his self-funded show launched in June 2024, Evans has aired revealing talks for his fan base of "neighbors" with a revolving roster of VIPs, including Destiny's Child memberKelly Rowland, comedian Chelsea Handler, "Saturday Night Live" alum Leslie Jones andBeyoncé'smom, businesswoman Tina Knowles.

Could she be Democrats' greatest Hope?Meet Tim Walz's TikTok famous daughter.

But his most notable get came in September when he sat down with formerVice President Kamala Harris– and shared salty slices of her favorite, anchovy pizza, prepared by Evans – during a taping of "House Guest."

Tina Knowles now selling Mama Tina'sGumbo at Houston Rodeo

The interview featured Harris seemingly at her most candid, marrying the worlds of pop culture and politics. The former VP expressed her thoughts aboutPresident Donald Trump, dished about her marriage to former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and kicked off her fall press tour for the bestselling campaign memoir "107 Days."

How 'no backup plan' led to Hollywood fame

Evans, a New Jersey native, took the long road to podcasting stardom. He spent the bulk of his childhood in Indianapolis.According to a Mr. Feelgood essay from 2021, Evans received a full scholarship to Purdue University and started his undergrad in Indiana, but dropped out to pursue Hollywood dreams.

Evans remembered his namesake uncle talking to him as he packed a car to leave Indiana for Los Angeles.

How Aaron Parnas rose to news influencerfame on Instagram, TikTok

"He was watching, he said to me, 'So if this don't work out, what's the backup plan?' I said, 'Man, there is no backup plan.'" Evans' career began at 19, as the youngest person in history to emcee the Indiana Pacers' NBA games and the WNBA's Indiana Fever home matchups.

In 2012, Evans began anchoring the national broadcast "Channel One News," which counts among its alumni CNN's Anderson Cooper, Fox's Brian Kilmeade, former E! News star Maria Menounos and sisters Lisa and Laura Ling.

'I want to see someone in a way I've never seen them'

A big break arrived in 2015 when Evans'first "Access" interviewfeatured pop superstarTaylor Swiftduring her "1989" era. "The interview was supposed to be a seven-minute interview," he recalled. "It ended up being like a 22-minute interview." He officially joined "Access" as East Coast correspondent, and, as his star rose at the network, he hosted the NBC competition "World of Dance" and the entrepreneurial contest "America's Big Deal."Evans eventually signed a talent and development deal with parent company NBCUniversalin 2021.

Evans now co-hosts "Access" along with Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover and Zuri Hall. He also independently launched "House Guest" in 2024 with production partner Dale Wilkinson and theirSummer Break Studios.

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"I want to experience someone in a way I've never experienced them, and so the best way to do that is to invite them to your home," Evans said of the homebound concept. Episodes are released every other Friday at 8 PM ET.

"House Guest" became an instant hit, scoring buzzy appearances, beginning with his first invitee, "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo. The idea, he said, was to offer a different entry point for celebrity interviews: "It was like, 'OK, so we can also keep doing this rat race, or we can give up that race altogether and nurture this, our garden," Evans said.

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Other visitors include actor Taye Diggs, R&B songstress Muni Long, actress Meagan Good, multihyphenates Andra Day and Keke Palmer, plus the other Scott Evans – a friend of Evans – who was cast in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie."

Summer Break Studios opens door to 'House Guest' universe

The most special guest in his view arrived at Evans' home on Sept. 13, 2025. Harris' team called and said she wanted one of her first public interviews after leaving the vice presidency tobe on "House Guest."

She brought a large bag of nacho cheese Doritos, a beloved Harris fare, for Evans' celebrated chip drawer and a scented candle featuring her own signature aroma with hints of jasmine fromLos Angeles-based candle company Voyage et Cie. Evans thought it was "cool" that Harris was in tune with the show's themes.

In a white blazer, a matching T-shirt and blue jeans, Harris told Evans he needed his own signature scent, declaring his flavor profile "woodsy." Evans cooked an anchovy pizza in an oven bought for the occasion and the pair spilt the tea over French fries.

Opening up to Evans about writing "107 Days," Harris told the host that "it's probably more candid than I have been in a long time." She went on to say, "I shared more than I normally have." She shared more than usual during her "House Guest" appearance, too.

'House Guest' to go on tour in Atlanta, Chicago and New York

Referring to a viral video comedian Wanda Sykes released after the 2024 debate between Trump and Harris, in which she sympathized with the vice president, Harris seemingly agreed that she did want to call Trump an expletive in that moment. "You saw it, right? When she did that?" she asked Evans, who replied in part, "I can't imagine that's actually where you were in that moment on that stage." Harris pursed her lips, looking directly at the "House Guest" host.

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"Okay, I could be corrected!" he proclaimed. The casual video went viral on social media. In other interviews about "107 Days," Harris was more buttoned up.

Evans walked the red carpet at the NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 26, almost exactly six months after the Harris episode dropped on Sept. 25 of last year. He lost the award for best host to former CNN star Don Lemon and Jennifer Hudson won the trophy for best talk show.

But the following week, Evans returned to the red carpet to interview celebrities at The Actor Awards, formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Bravo breakout starPaige DeSorbo. NBC cancelled "Access" on Friday, March 13, according toThe Hollywood Reporter."House Guest" willhead out on a live tour– taking his home setup to listeners' hometowns – in New York on April 1, Atlanta on April 12, and a May 3 stop in Chicago.

While backing up his car all those years ago, Evans told his Uncle Scott he had no backup plan. And now his neighborhood reaches all around the world.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Scott Evans of 'Access' put Kamala Harris at ease on 'House Guest'

Those concerns were echoed in part by former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who toldCNBCthe nation is operating in a "heightened security threat environment because of the fact that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism."

Meanwhile,Transportation Security Administrationofficers charged with screening airline passengers for security threats are working without pay − another potential worry for air travel security.

Johnson didn't say travelers actually are at a higher risk. But he is among experts raising a number of concerns, including "lone actors inspired by terrorist organizations."

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Though the potential targets are not limited to air travel and some experts say the risk to aviation remains low, Johnson said threats could come at a time when TSA is under "a tremendous amount of stress."

Roughly 50,000 TSA officersare working without regular pay after Congress failed to pass funding for DHS, which oversees TSA, sparking the partial shutdown in mid-February. TSA officers missed their first full paycheck March 13 after receiving partial checks on Feb. 28.

"These are the people we depend upon to look for bombs and explosive devices on the airplane you're about to get on with your family," Johnson said. "They live paycheck to paycheck when they're getting paid. Morale traditionally in TSA is low and now we're forcing them to go to work without being paid at all."

The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the White House, where an official speaking on background said the entire administration is closely monitoring all intelligence and remains vigilant to deter potential threats if they arise.

The risk of terrorism has risen due to Iran war, experts say

Robert Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago who compiled the first database of suicide attacks around the world after the terrorist hijackings on Sept. 11, 2001, told USA TODAY the threat of terror campaigns would grow in the coming months.

Pape said threats would escalate since the start of the war through the economic shocks to the oil supply and leading toward the growing expectation of terror attacks.

"The longer this war goes on, the greater the risk," Pape said. "That's what the Trump administration has bitten off."

Pape, who continues to track terror at the University of Chicago's Project on Security and Threats, has aSubstack called "The Escalation Trap"warning about the implications of the Iran war. He said a core driver for terror campaigns is when the attacker believes a foreign government is trying to change the attacker's political system, such as with Israel's control over southern Lebanon or the U.S. strikes on Iran.

"You put those two things together, it's hardly a surprise we have a series of seven or eight events since Saturday Feb. 28," Pape said, such as theshooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, and theattack on a Michigan synagogue. "The full dangers will start to materialize in the coming months, if it goes on."

Jeff Price, an aviation security expert who is a professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver, said the threat of domestic terror attacks from Iran is "absolutely" higher because of the war.

"The war in Iran can inspire attacks from people who may have been on the brink of committing a terrorist act, and the war emboldens them to finally crossing that line," Price told USA TODAY. "The war motivates sympathizers, lone actors and groups already in the U.S. to conduct retaliatory attacks against government agencies, major infrastructure, and other targets of opportunity."

Elizabeth Stephens, managing director ofGeopolitical Risk Advisory, agreed that the risk of an increase of threats across the country from "lone wolf" actors have risen due to the conflict in Iran. If they attack, she said these perpetrators are likely to use guns or improvised explosive devices.

"The potential for suicide bombers coming from Iran is high now, because that's one way in which they can effectively attack the U.S.," Stephens said.

More:US is 'on top' of possible Iran sleeper cells, Trump says. What are they?

Security officials say "lone wolf" terrorists are a perennial concern because of thedifficulty identifying and thwarting someoneacting on their own to hurt Americans.

Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Florida, was suspected of links to the Islamic State after hekilled 49 people and injured 53 others in an Orlando night-club shootingon June 2, 2016. Mateen worked in security and the FBI had investigated him in 2013 for making "inflammatory comments" at work. In 2014, he again came to the FBI's attention because of an association with Moner Mohammad Abusalha, an American who carried out a suicide bombing in Syria that year, but the relationship was determined to be minimal.

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The attack in Florida came after a husband-wife shooting team unleashed a hail of gunfire in San Bernardino, California.Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malikhad a new baby girl and lived in a prosperous community. But they stockpiled guns, ammunition and bombs before shooting 14 people to death and wounding 20 others at a holiday party Dec. 2, 2015, at a center for developmentally disabled people.

Iran has long targeted the US, but fear of 'sleeper cells' is rising

Iran and its network of proxies have targeted the United States for decades, according toGeorge Washington University's Project on Extremism. Iranian assassinations date to the 1980 killing of a dissident in Bethesda, Maryland.

In more recent years, Iran targeted U.S. diplomats and high-ranking officials. Tensions escalated after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on Feb. 28.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told reporters March 2the military is prepared for terrorists who might try to attack the United States. He said the Iranian regime "seeks to export that ideology and try to sow terror."

"We're ready for that," Hegseth said. "We've seen those types of folks before and the American people can rest assured that we're vigilant on that."

President Donald Trump told reporters March 9 in Miamithat Iran has also been trying "for a long time" to activate so-called"sleeper cells" of long-dormant terrorists hiding in the United States.Trump urged Democrats to reopen DHS because the partial shutdown hinders the government's ability to combat terrorists.

"We know a lot about them, but the shutdown doesn't allow us to do what we have to do," Trump said.

Sleeper cells don't have to be highly organized to be successful, Price said.

"Sleeper cells are definitely a concern," Price said. "Even loosely organized small ad hoc groups can get their act together enough to attempt an attack."

Threat to aviation is 'very, very low,' some experts say

The funding lapse at DHS has raised concerns about aviation safety as TSA staffing shortages and absenteeism loom and airport security linesstretch longer. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on social media that "300 [TSA] officers quit" amid the funding lapse.

While the lack of funding for TSA is a concern, the probability of an attack on a U.S. airport or airplane, particularly from a lone wolf actor, is still "very, very low" considering the high level of sophistication needed to get past security, Stephens said.

"Staff shortages and long lines and low morale always increase risk, but they're increasing it by a fraction of a percent because the security at U.S. airports is of such a high standard," said Stephens. "But to me it seems nonsensical that a government wouldn't pay its security staff."

Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation, echoed that sentiment saying he is confident that TSA could handle any potential increase in threats to air travel.

Shahidi said TSA has greatly strengthened its screening process in recent years and the technology, procedures and protocols in place aren't going to change because of the partial shutdown. If less officers show up for work, he said it will slow down that process and could even lead toflight cuts like those seen during the government shutdown in late 2025.

TSA previously told USA TODAY "travelers are facing TSA lines of up to nearly 3 hours long at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel."

But the delays won't make passengers less safe, according to Shahidi, who recently traveled through the Atlanta airport, one of the major hubs that has reportedly seen wait times exceed an hour during peak periods.

"It's going to create inconvenience for the passengers and delays and that's certainly a concern," Shahidi said. "But from a safety perspective, we don't really see an issue there."

Other experts weren't so sure.

Price said the risk toward aviation is greater because of the symbolism, potentially generating a massive response on the traveling public. A bad actor could, for example, "effectively shut down the US aviation system with a bag full of burner phones by calling in bomb threats all day long," Price said.

"TSA not getting paid represents a significant risk to the traveling public," Price said. "When security personnel are worrying about where their next meal will come from and how they will take care of their family, they aren't thinking about their job."

Contributing:Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Are flights safe? Terror concerns grow amid Iran war, TSA shutdown.

The 13th-ranked Red Storm (27-6) advanced to Saturday's title game and will face second-seed UConn after the Huskies handled 11th-seeded Georgetown 67-51 later Friday. St. John's advanced to the title game in consecutive seasons for the third time in school history and first time since losing to UConn in 1999 and beating the Huskies the following season. This will be the first time the two teams have faced off in the Big East tournament finals since then.

After being swept by the Red Storm in three matchups, the Pirates (21-12) will wait until Sunday's selection show to find out if they will make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team for the first time since 2022. Seton Hall entered the game with a NET rating of 53 but fell to 1-6 in Quad One games.

Ejiofor finished 8-of-14 shooting after scoring 21 in Thursday's 13-point win over Providence. He had a pair of dunks along with four layups for his fourth straight 20-point showing and 11th overall.

Reserve Joson Sanon added 15 and hit three 3-pointers as the Red Storm beat Seton Hall for the sixth straight time. Dillon Mitchell added 13 on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists while Bryce Hopkins chipped in 13 and a team-leading seven rebounds.

The Red Storm shot 52.1% from the field and made 24 of 30 free-throw attempts (80%). St. John's operated mostly inside the paint as it tied a season low by attempting 12 3-pointers.

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Adam Clark led the Pirates with 17 points but shot 6 of 18 with 11 assists and also committed four of Seton Hall's 12 turnovers. Jacob Dar added 13 points while Mike Williams III and Najai Hines contributed 10 apiece for the Pirates, who trailed by 19 twice in the second half and cut the lead to six before St. John's secured the win.

The Pirates shot 41.5%, misfired on 15 of 20 3-point tries and were unable to reach the championship game for the first time since 2019.

The Red Storm scored the game's first eight points, with Ejiofor's baseline dunk prompting a Seton Hall timeout with 17:06 left. Seton Hall hung around and trailed 38-30 by halftime.

The Red Storm took its second 19-point lead when Ruben Prey hit a free throw with 9:56 left.

Seton Hall attempted a comeback, ripping off seven straight points to get within 55-43 following a layup by Hines with 7:42 left. The Pirates kept rallying and A.J. Staton-McCray hit an open corner 3 with 4:41 left to slice the deficit to 62-56.

Ejiofor broke free for a layup on the next possession and St. John's sank five free throws over the next two minutes to extend the lead to 69-56 before finishing it off.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media