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Turnout is expected to be low, reflecting significant anger over poor economic conditions, brutal repression of protests last year and the accidental shooting down of a passenger plane outside Tehran in January. Regime officials—including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—have urged citizens to vote, though Iran’s democracy is tightly controlled by Khamenei and the 12-man Guardian Council he appoints. The group vets and approves potential candidates, and this year has barred some 9,000 of 16,000 prospective lawmakers....

Khamenei told worshippers at Tehran’s Mosalla mosque that the regime would learn from the experiences of the past month. His address came as the government grappled with fresh protests linked to the shooting down of Ukraine Airlines International flight PS752, in which 176 people were killed. Khamenei said the past two weeks were “not ordinary days,” according to the Tehran Times. He added, “Bitter adventures, sweet adventures and incidents that taught lessons happened to the Iranian nation....

The Treasury Department announced Monday that it was placing sanctions on Mohammed Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, two individuals said to be Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security operatives involved in Robert Levinson’s abduction, detention and likely death, sometime after he left his Kish Island hotel in 2007. “The abduction of Mr. Levinson in Iran is an outrageous example of the Iranian regime’s willingness to commit unjust acts,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in an accompanying press release....

News and footage of the encounter emerged on social media and semi-official Iranian news outlets Thursday, showing what appeared to be fighter jets flying near Mahan Air Flight IRM1153, an Airbus A310-304 headed to the Lebanese capital of Beirut from Tehran. Scenes of chaos onboard the airliner erupted as passengers, while the aircraft appeared to rapidly lose altitude, eliciting shouts and screams and causing at least one injury as a man could be seen with blood on his head....

ISIS’ Khorasan affiliate, known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility on Friday for a suicide bombing that killed more than 50 worshippers at a Shiite Muslim mosque in the city of Kandahar. The attackers were identified as Anas al-Khorasani and Abu Ali al-Balochi, likely monickers to connect the two historical regions of Khorasan and Balochistan comprising parts Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The operation came a week after the jihadis targeted another gathering of Shiite Muslims, most of whom hail from Afghanistan’s Hazara community, in the city of Kunduz, killing up to 100 people and injuring scores more....

We’re utterly surprised," a senior U.N. diplomat told me. “We thought that after the war, the United States would try to dump Iraq on the world’s lap and the rest of the world would object, saying, ‘This is your mess, you clean it up.’ The opposite is happening. The rest of the world is saying, ‘We’re willing to help,’ but Washington is determined to run Iraq itself.” And what are we getting for this privilege?...

A group of black-clad men, the signature outfit of the Mahdi Army militia, loitered near the guard shack the next day. Two of Duleimi’s classmates had recently been kidnapped, and one was later found dead. So Duleimi (who, like all Iraqis quoted in this story, asked not to use his real name, for safety) fled when one of the militiamen headed toward him. He hasn’t gone back. “I’m still wanted by those Mahdi Army members,” he says....

Even ardent pro-life activists might consider a 14-year-old rape victim an exceptional case. But in Ireland, rape victims are not exempt from a nine-year-old constitutional ban on abortions. More than 4,000 women a year still risk legal action by taking weekend abortion trips to England, but this case marks the first time anyone has been caught, much less prevented in advance from terminating a pregnancy. Two out of three voters supported the constitutional amendment back in 1983, but the latest controversy threatens to reopen an intensely bitter debate....

Going for a third victory out of three against the Southern Hemisphere’s traditional rugby playing powers, Ireland were dealt a blow before a ball had been kicked, with their captain and World Rugby player of the year nominee Johnny Sexton ruled out, having picked up a calf injury in the warm-up. 22-year-old Jack Crowley came into the XV to make his first start, and kicked a 10th minute penalty to get Ireland on the board....

After his side held last year’s finalists Selangor to a 1-1 draw in their Malaysia Cup group opener on Tuesday, Terengganu boss Irfan Bakti Abu Salim admitted that he has had assistance for the match. Speaking in the post-match press conference; Irfan admitted that he had been fed information on Selangor by the head coach of another Terengganu-based side; T-Team FC, Rahmad Darmawan. Last Saturday, Rahmad’s charges were beaten 4-2 by the Red Giants in their Super League match, and he apparently handed the scouting information gathered from the encounter to assist the Premier League side in their match on Tuesday....

They payment was not a fourth stimulus check, but rather a refund for taxpayers who overpaid taxes on unemployment compensation in 2020. Millions of tax returns had to be adjusted after the American Rescue Plan Act, which became law in March, excluded up to $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from taxable income. As a result, those who filed their taxes before the law took effect are owed refunds. The exclusion applied to individuals and married couples whose modified adjusted gross income was less than $150,000, the IRS said....

The 46th season of the NBC sketch comedy show premieres on Saturday, and get this: It’s filming live at its Studio 8H home inside New York’s Rockefeller Center. It will even have a studio audience. Of course, showrunners are taking all precautions. Audience members will be required to take a mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival. They’ll have to have their temperatures checked too; any ticket holder with a temperature of 100....

As Los Angeles heads north, all eyes are on Anthony Davis, who was recently named player of the week for his jaw-dropping efforts in recent games. Last Friday, Davis finished with 44 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers past the Bucks only to outdo himself with 55 points and 17 rebounds in a win over the Wizards on Sunday. This season, Davis is averaging a team-high 27.3 points and 12....

Syd, formerly known as Syd tha Kyd, has writing credits on Beyoncé’s newest album, Renaissance. The rapper shared a photo to her Instagram stories of a bouquet of white orchids. The flowers were sent to her with a note thanking her for her contribution to “the film.” The songwriter tagged Beyoncé in the post. “Thank you for contributing so much to the film. I’m looking at the footage and you’re incredible… I’m forever grateful - B,” the note read....

With the Biden presidency approaching the one-year mark this week, it’s appropriate to ask whether his promises on the campaign trail have been realized. As one might expect in the first year of any administration, the record is mixed. In some respects, Biden didn’t waste any time. U.S. drone strikes have declined precipitously over the last 12 months, a result in part on the White House tightening the rules governing operations....

A date with Morocco stills looms ahead on Thursday as group play wraps up. However, the next chance for the team to play in the men’s FIFA tournament will come in 2026. With the United States, Canada and Mexico set to jointly host the 2026 event, there’s slowly more information trickling out regarding how the tournament will work. And Canada is not necessarily locked into a spot, despite being one of the three host countries....

Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s taken notice of CBG. (Full disclosure: I first noticed CBG this past November while buying my usual supply of CBD oil, which I use for sleep and relaxation.) Early converts claim CBG produces the same calming, pain-reducing effects as CBD, except it’s even more powerful–kind of like CBD on natural, wholistic steroids. One thing is certain, the early response from consumers has been enthusiastic....

We’ll continue to update this article with news on McCaffrey until the official active/inactive report comes out on Sunday around 2:55 p.m. ET. WEEK 7 INJURY UPDATES:WRs | Swift | Andrews | Waddle Is Christian McCaffrey playing Week 7? UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday night that McCaffrey is expected to play against Kansas City in a “package of plays.” UPDATE 2: McCaffrey is officially ACTIVE. Despite showing up to the team’s facility for the first time on Friday afternoon (just in time for practice), McCaffrey has a real shot to play this Sunday against the Chiefs, based on reports from Jordan Schultz....

We’ll continue to update this article with news on Hubbard until the official active/inactive report comes out on Thursday around 6:50 p.m. ET. MORE TNF: DK lineup | FD lineup | Start ’em, sit ’em Is Chuba Hubbard playing Thursday night Week 10? UPDATE: Hubbard (ankle) practiced in full on Tuesday, boosting his chances of playing this Thursday. UPDATE 2: Hubbard (ankle) practiced in full again on Wednesday and is officially “questionable” for Thursday’s game....