JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 933

Los Angeles — Paul Thomas Anderson won the Academy Award for Best Director on March 15 for One Battle After Another, which also earned him Best Adapted Screenplay and a producer credit on Best Picture. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and Teyana Taylor, led nominations and earned multiple trophies at the 98th Academy Awards. Anderson dedicated them to close collaborators. The film has drawn attention for its political themes and surpassed US$200 million globally. The awards and reactions were documented during the ceremony and reported by international outlets. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

MIAMI, Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday, advancing to its third straight title game. Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony hit solo home runs, and starter Paul Skenes allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings while the bullpen preserved the lead. Junior Caminero hit a solo homer for the Dominican Republic and set a tournament record with the nation's 15th home run. The United States will face the winner of Monday's semifinal between Italy and Venezuela in Tuesday's championship game. Box scores confirmed reports. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Afghan asylum-seeker Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal outside his Dallas home March 13; medical staff transported him to Parkland Hospital where he died on March 14. Paktyawal, 41, had worked with US forces and arrived under an evacuation program in 2021; his asylum case remained pending and family reported no chronic illness. ICE said staff observed acute tongue swelling during breakfast and that his death is already under active investigation; the agency noted no reported medical history at arrest. Family groups and advocates are calling for independent inquiries. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Arlington, Texas — Kyle Kirkwood overtook Alex Palou with a decisive inside pass on Lap 55 and held the lead to win the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on Sunday. The victory under caution gave Kirkwood his sixth career win, fifth on a street course, and elevated him to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points lead. Andretti Global placed three cars in the top four; Will Power finished third and Marcus Ericsson, who started on pole, finished fourth after leading 15 laps. Late cautions compressed the field and affected final restart. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Miami Open this weekend after reporting a right shoulder injury, tournament officials announced Sunday. Djokovic, a six-time Miami champion and eight-time finalist tied with Andre Agassi, is ranked No. 3 and a 24-time Grand Slam winner. He played Indian Wells last week, reaching the fourth round in singles and the second round in doubles, and reached the Australian Open final earlier this year. Tournament organizers will release the men's draw Monday; Djokovic posted on social media that he is balancing schedule and recovery planning. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Nashville. Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. scored 30 points and dished 11 assists, leading No. 17 Arkansas to an 86-75 victory over 22nd-ranked Vanderbilt on Sunday, securing the Razorbacks' first SEC Tournament championship and automatic NCAA Tournament berth since 2000. Arkansas produced a decisive 12-0 run in the final minutes to seal the game. Billy Richmond III added 18 points; Trevon Brazile scored 16. Vanderbilt finished 26-8. The victory also marked coach John Calipari's first SEC tournament title with Arkansas and his 16th combined conference tournament championship. The win snapped Arkansas' four-game skid. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States. Emergency officials and weather services warned residents across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic that a strong cold front will produce fast-moving severe storms Sunday night into this Monday. Forecasters issued Wind Advisories and SPC risk upgrades, prompting community safe rooms to open in DeSoto County and First Alert designations in Alabama, South Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. Forecasts cited threats of damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes, with storm timing varying by region from late night into Monday evening. Officials urged preparedness, multiple alert methods, and sheltering for vulnerable residents. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles — The 98th Academy Awards unfolded Monday this year at the Dolby Theatre, where Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners led nominations. The ABC telecast began at 7 p.m. ET and streamed on Hulu, with Conan O’Brien returning as host. Security measures increased amid regional conflict cited by broadcasters. One Battle After Another won six awards; Sinners won four. Michael B. Jordan took Best Actor and Jessie Buckley won Best Actress. The ceremony included red carpet coverage; YouTube becomes the Oscars’ broadcast partner in 2029. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, President Donald Trump threatened additional strikes on Iran's Kharg Island and pressed allies this week to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, officials and media reported. US forces executed a precision strike on Kharg on March 13, Centcom said, destroying more than 90 military targets while preserving oil infrastructure. In a March 14 NBC interview, Trump said he would not accept current terms for a ceasefire. Israeli strikes continued, Tehran vowed to keep Hormuz closed, and administration officials said the campaign could end within weeks. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina enters the 2026 NCAA women's tournament as a No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 4 Regional, and will host the winner of the No. 16 play-in between Samford and Southern on March 21 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. The selection show aired Sunday, March 15, after the NCAA released top 16 seeds a day earlier. UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed; UCLA, Texas and South Carolina comprise the four No. 1s. Samford secured its tournament spot by winning the SoCon tournament, with local fan events announced. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.