Iran has been experiencing unprecedented levels of protests and civil unrest since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman was arrested by the country’s “morality police” for supposedly wearing an “improper” form of hijab during a visit to Tehran. She was allegedly beaten severely while in custody. The beatings are believed to have led to her death from a fatal head injury, but Iranian authorities have denied the accusation....

The New York Times reported that senior intelligence officials familiar with talks between Israel and the U.S. over the incident said that Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, was behind the attack. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with discussions about the operation, also reported that Mossad executed the attack. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the incident and Newsweek has not been able to independently verify claims about Israel’s involvement....

Zarif took to Twitter—which is banned in Iran although senior regime figures use the social network—to warn Blinken and by extension President Joe Biden not to slip back into the “sordid mess” of Washington-Tehran relations under his predecessor Donald Trump. “Reality check for @SecBlinken: The US violated JCPOA, blocked food/medicine to Iranians, punished adherence to UNSCR 2231,” Zarif wrote. “Throughout that sordid mess, Iran abided by JCPOA, only took foreseen remedial measures....

In Iran, the administration is continuing its “maximum pressure” campaign, seeking to collapse the nation’s economy before the end of Trump’s term. Unable to force Tehran to make a new nuclear deal, Trump appears set on making the regime pay as steep a price as possible before he leaves the White House. The president even asked for military strike options on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Tehran maintains are purely for pursuing civilian power, according to The New York Times....

“We must be careful that this war does not turn into a regional war,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting Wednesday, “and those who pour gasoline on this war should pay attention that its continuation is not in the interest of any country, and this war must end through political ways.” Referring to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is led by ethnic Armenians but internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Rouhani said that “occupation is not acceptable for us and war is not either....

Footage that was reportedly filmed in Northern Iran allegedly shows bystanders accusing the Guards, part of the Iranian army, of using a Soviet-era machine gun to target demonstrators. The clip couldn’t immediately be independently verified. Iranian journalist Sima Sabet, who has worked for the BBC World Service and now works for the Persian-language TV channel Iran International based out of London, shared the clip on Twitter. It had originally been tweeted by her Iran International colleague Saman Rasoulpour....

According to BBC journalist Kian Sharifi, the Iranian paper Vatan-e Emruz used a “questionable” image and headline to discuss the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders in the U.S. Sharifi tweeted on Saturday: “Iranian hardline newspaper Vatan-e Emruz marks the 20th anniversary of the #September11 attacks with a questionable front-page cartoon titled “Demise”. The headline in red reads: “9/11: The beginning of America’s end.'”...

“This is an historic choice, with ramifications for Americans not even born yet,” McCain recently told students at Virginia Military Institute who were about to graduate from gray cadet uniforms to desert camouflage. A premature U.S. withdrawal would create “a Wild West for terrorists” who believe “we Americans are their ultimate target.” For the Iraqis, warned McCain, a U.S. pullout would lead to “genocide” in which “we would be complicit....

Only last fall, Chalabi had resurrected his turbulent political career when the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, with backing from U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus, named him to head a committee charged with restoring essential services, including electricity and public safety, to Iraqi communities. “He was going to be the guy to turn the lights on in Baghdad,” said a former U.S. intelligence official who has closely followed developments in Iraq....

His problem: he’s hard to categorize. He’s not a Kurdish nationalist leader with guerrilla followers in colorful clothes. Or a longtime CIA asset. Or the brother of an assassinated ayatollah. Or a onetime convicted swindler who talked his way to the hearts of American neoconservatives. So from the outside, al-Rubaie tends to blend in with the other mostly faceless characters in the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council that was appointed last summer by the United States....

Instead, he awaits word on whether he'll make the cut and get to live out his dream of being a professional baseball player. The 28-year-old was in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday morning, running through drills at a tryout with the Birmingham Barons — the Double-A affiliate of the White Sox. He hopes to make the team as a second baseman. Like any prospective player, Jacobs was optimistic. "Do something that you enjoy and pursue your dreams," he said of his mindset....

Coleman suffered a double leg-break in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales on Friday after finding himself on the receiving end of a hefty Neil Taylor tackle and he expected to be out of action until at least 2018. Argentina drop Sergio Aguero The Boys in Green were held to a 0-0 draw at the Aviva Stadium, meaning they remain unbeaten in their quest for qualification. However, the result sees them drop off top spot in Group D, though they are still level with leaders Serbia on 11 points....

Because no two people are alike, there is no one-size-fits-all diet recommendation. For example, people with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) may not have the same triggers as those with constipation-predominant IBS (IBD-C). With that said, there are several diet approaches that appear to provide relief for the various IBS sub-types. Some may require tailoring to ensure sustained relief, but, with a little patience and some trial and error, you’ll eventually find the eating plan that can help keep your IBS symptoms under control....

Is this everything you hoped it would be? Is a tie really preferable to the Packers being rewarded with a victory after taking the opening drive of overtime 77 yards, including a spectacular grab by wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, from their own 21 to the Vikings’ 2-yard line? But that's too easy to do, right, and not worthy of a win? You'd have a very tough time convincing any player or coach who participated in that game that the new rules are a good thing....

After testing positive for COVID-19, Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All-Star game as mandated by the league’s current protocols. The Capitals announced Ovechkin’s diagnosis on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of the Capitals matchup with the Oilers. Capitals teammate Tom Wilson replaces Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin on the Metropolitan Division roster, the NHL announced. Ovechkin was voted as captain for the Metropolitan Division team for the matchup this weekend, and received the most votes among all NHL players....

Why the Democratic debate moderators didn’t consider the question worth asking this week is curious. We know where President Donald Trump stands. It would be interesting to hear how those seeking to replace him would respond. And, given the proliferation of identity politics based on exclusion from, rather than participation in, the American experience, it’s highly relevant. The Democrats who want to be president are exploiting greed, envy and the feeling that somehow, somewhere, other people are sitting in a room and dividing up the national spoils without giving others a share....

Brad Keselowski tries to shy away from such comparisons. But it’s there. MORE: Gordon’s message, Keselowski’s response | Worst NASCAR fights | Could Hendrick rehire Keselowski? It’s there with one shining example after another. His hard charge to the front at Texas, which resulted in contact with Jeff Gordon. Standing his ground when Gordon and his crew attacked him on pit road and shrugging it off like it’s just part of the gig....

Breastfeeding at Diagnosis Because cancer is difficult to detect in a lactating breast, it is unusual—though not impossible—for women to be diagnosed during the time they are breastfeeding. Should this happen, it does not automatically mean the end of breastfeeding. For example, diagnostic procedures (such as a needle biopsy) do not generally pose an obstacle to continued breastfeeding. At this point, you may want to pump and store breast milk, or research and select a baby formula, so you can bridge the gap if your treatment regimen ends up requiring you to put breastfeeding on hold....

A year after all of college basketball missed out on the 2020 NCAA Tournament, the Blue Devils could once again be absent from March Madness. At 13-11 on the season, Duke likely needed an ACC Tournament championship — or, at least, a berth in the title game — to earn a bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament. However, coach Mike Krzyzewski and Co. had their season cut short again Thursday after it was reported the team had a COVID-19 positive....

The fact that McNabb said last November that NASCAR drivers aren't athletes, though, made this a little different than typical national TV talent visiting the garage. It added an extra bit of attention to an already overblown story. MORE: Does Fox have the best or worst NASCAR TV announcers? | Busch wins wild race | Danica gets solid finish | Hamlin illness NASCAR views McNabb's appearance as an opportunity to educate a star of a major sports network (Fox Sports 1) — and a panelist on its signature show (Fox Sports Live!...