--- description: Paul Manafort, who chaired President Donald Trump’s campaign, allegedly had ties to Russia. These are today's top stories. title: Top Stories: Paul Manafort, Chuck Barris and Nowruz image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf831faabd14715fd/6988bf5b97cdffc2cf6afe5f/nowruz1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [the morning brief](/tag/the-morning-brief/) ## the morning brief Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Morning Brief: Paul Manafort, Chuck Barris and Nowruz Festivities  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 22, 2017 12:44 PM CUT  Children wearing traditional costumes for Nowruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21, 2017. Children wearing traditional costumes for Nowruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21, 2017.Tabyldy Kadyrbekov—AP  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 22, 2017 12:44 PM CUT Good morning. These are today’s top stories: ## Paul Manafort has Russian ties, new docs allege [Paul Manafort](http://time.com/4708862/paul-manafort-donald-trump-vladmir-putin-russia-us/?xid=homepage "undefined"), who chaired President Donald Trump’s campaign early last summer, is under scrutiny after documents obtained by the Associated Press reportedly show he worked indirectly in secret to benefit Russia a decade ago. Manafort has previously denied ever working to advance Russian interests. ## 2 children dead in China school stampede At least two children were killed and another 20 were injured after a [stampede of students](http://time.com/4708839/china-henan-school-stampede/?xid=homepage "undefined") broke out at an elementary school in central China’s Henan province this morning, state media reported. It’s unclear what caused the panic. ## Nowruz festivities begin around the world People of Persian ancestry across the globe are celebrating [Nowruz](http://time.com/4708771/google-doodle-nowruz-kazakhstan/ "undefined"), the Persian New Year, which marks spring’s arrival. In Persian, _now_ means new and _ruz_ means day. Many people traditionally celebrate by holding feasts, cleaning their houses or visiting loved ones. **Also:** Game show creator **Chuck Barris**, who was behind [_The Gong Show_](http://time.com/4708869/gong-show-chuck-barris-dies/?xid=homepage "undefined") and _The Newlywed Game_, has **died** at 87. **North Korea** has conducted another **missile test**, but it [failed](http://time.com/4708789/north-korea-failed-missile-test-sanctions/?xid=homepage "undefined"). The **infant mortality rate** in the U.S. has [reached](http://fortune.com/2017/03/21/infant-mortality-rate-new-low-report/ "undefined") a **new low.** **Apple** is [launching](http://time.com/4707774/apple-new-ipad/ "undefined") a **cheaper new iPad,** a [special edition](http://time.com/4707873/apple-iphone-7-special-edition-red/ "undefined") **red iPhone 7** and a free **video editing** [app](http://time.com/4707220/apple-clips-video-editing/ "undefined"). [Consumer Watchdog](http://time.com/money/4707814/consumer-watchdog-amazon-list-prices-bogus/ "undefined") says **Amazon’s list prices** are “entirely **bogus**.” Former U.S. District Attorney **Preet Bharara** has landed a **new job** at [NYU School of Law](http://fortune.com/2017/03/21/preet-bharara-nyu-law-school/ "undefined") after Trump fired him. The **Labrador Retriever** is the **most popular dog** breed in America for the 26th [consecutive](http://time.com/4707809/labrador-retriever-most-popular-dog-breed-akc/ "undefined") year. _The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at_ [_melissa.chan@time.com_](mailto:melissa.chan@time.com "undefined")_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4707976/paul-manafort-chuck-barris-nowruz/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4707976/paul-manafort-chuck-barris-nowruz/"},"headline":"The Morning Brief: Paul Manafort, Chuck Barris and Nowruz Festivities","datePublished":"2017-03-22T12:44:02.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T10:49:07.446Z","description":"Here's what's going on in the news Wednesday","url":"https://time.com/4707976/paul-manafort-chuck-barris-nowruz/","keywords":["the morning brief","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf831faabd14715fd/6988bf5b97cdffc2cf6afe5f/nowruz1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Chan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-chan/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf831faabd14715fd/6988bf5b97cdffc2cf6afe5f/nowruz1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Nowruz celebrations in Kyrgyzstan","caption":"Nowruz celebrations in Kyrgyzstan","creditText":"Tabyldy Kadyrbekov—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/the-morning-brief/","name":"the morning brief"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4707976/paul-manafort-chuck-barris-nowruz/","name":"The Morning Brief: Paul Manafort, Chuck Barris and Nowruz Festivities"}}]}] ```