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Oil futures surge 20% past $110 as war fears hammer Asian stocks, bitcoin steady near $67K #past #Asian_stocks #hammer_Asian #Oil_futures #futures_surge

Bat, belief and backing — How Abhishek Sharma found form in T20 World Cup finalAbhhishek Sharma had struggled for form throughout the T20 World Cup, but came good in the final, hitting a 21-ball 52 in India’s 96-run win over New Zealand. Abhhishek Sharma had struggled for form throughout the T20 World Cup, but came good in the final, hitting a 21-ball 52 in India’s 96-run win over New Zealand. #World_Cup #Abhishek_Sharma #World #Cup #Zealand #Sharma #Sharma_found #Cup_finalAbhhishek #finalAbhhishek_Sharma #found_form

Summit League Preview: NDSU vs. UND North Dakota State men's basketball is back in the Summit League championship game for the 10th time in 14 years. The Bison take on in-state rival North Dakota at 8 p.m. tonight inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center. NDSU cruised to a 74-50 semifinal win over Omaha on Saturday night, holding the defending league champions to 30% shooting. The big men dominated for the Bison as Treyson Anderson had 16 points on just eight field goal attempts while Noah Feddersen had his second straight double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds. A win for NDSU would be its first Summit League Tournament title since 2020. The Bison swept the Fighting Hawks by an average margin of victory of 25 points during the regular season. A dominant second half guided NDSU to an 83-66 win in Grand Forks before a blowout 96-63 win in front of a record crowd at the SHAC just eight days ago. The Bison made 16 threes in that game, seven by Tay Smith, and held UND to 31% shooting. The Bison and Fighting Hawks last met in the Summit League Tournament for the 2020 championship game. NDSU blew out UND, 89-53, in that game en route to its fifth Summit title. Through two tournament games, NDSU has held its opponents to 34.3% shooting and 29 turnovers. UND, the 3 seed in this year's tournament, came away with a 67-66 upset win over No. 2 seed St. Thomas last night. The Hawks trailed by seven, 47-40, in the second half, but ended the game on a 27-19 run. Eli King came away with an errant Austin Herro pass and George Natsvlishvili hit a free throw with 0.1 second to play, giving UND its second berth into the Summit League title game. Greyson Uelmen had another solid performance, scoring 2,8 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Uelmen averaged 14.#denny_sanford_premier_center #north_dakota_state #university_of_north_dakota #summit_league_tournament #summit_league_championship_game

North Dakota State vs North Dakota Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's Summit League Final The Summit League college basketball tournament reached its final tonight as the No. 3 seed North Dakota Fighting Hawks faced the No. 1 seed North Dakota State Bison in a high-stakes matchup with NCAA Tournament implications. Analyst JD Yonke of Covers.com tipped the scales in favor of the underdog Fighting Hawks, citing their recent hot streak and strong performance in the tournament. The Bison, a dominant force in the Summit League with a 14-2 conference record, entered as favorites. However, Yonke leaned on the Fighting Hawks’ momentum, noting their 13-6 record in their last 19 games and their ability to cover spreads in 15 of their last 20 contests. The Fighting Hawks’ recent success included decisive wins over top-ranked teams, such as Denver and St. Thomas, where they outperformed expectations. The betting line favored North Dakota State by 9.5 points (-116), but Yonke’s prediction leaned toward the Fighting Hawks as the more reliable choice. The analysis highlighted North Dakota’s defensive resilience, particularly in the tournament, where they held Denver to 67 points and St. Thomas to 66. Meanwhile, the Bison’s defensive prowess was underscored by their ability to limit opponents to 65 points or fewer in their last three games, including a dominant performance against Omaha. Key factors in the matchup included the Fighting Hawks’ second-half dominance, where they covered the full-game spread in 15 of their last 20 contests. The Bison, however, had a strong first-half record, covering the spread in 17 of their last 25 games. Yonke suggested a potential strategy for a same-game parlay, favoring the Fighting Hawks’ second-half surge and the Bison’s first-half strength.#north_dakota_fighting_hawks #north_dakota_state_bison #summit_league #denny_sanford_premier_center #sioux_falls

Students, veterans, politicians rally on Pentacrest over Iran war More than 40 individuals, including Iowa City residents and University of Iowa students, gathered on the Pentacrest on March 8 to protest U.S. military involvement in Iran. The demonstration followed a prolonged conflict that began in late February, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian targets, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and allied nations in the Middle East, including Israel and several Gulf states. At least six U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a base in Kuwait on March 1, with two of the casualties from Iowa. Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as its new supreme leader, according to NBC News. Protesters outside the Old Capitol carried posters demanding an end to the conflict, with slogans such as “Stop Israel Before WW3” and “Give peace a chance.” American and Palestinian flags waved alongside a dove emblem, as demonstrators called for an end to the war. For many attendees, the protest evoked memories of past anti-war movements, including the Vietnam War. Allan Hogue, a Vietnam War veteran, reflected on his military experience and warned that continued public opposition could prevent a similarly prolonged conflict. “We do not need an unwinnable, forever war,” Hogue said. “We lost the war, and we left in disgrace. We learned nothing.” Sue Thompson, who organizes protests with Veterans for Peace, a nonprofit advocating nonviolent solutions, criticized the attacks as distractions from other national issues.#mojtaba_khamenei #pentacrest #allan_hogue #veterans_for_peace #travis_terrell

Iowa City Protesters Rally for Peace and the End of War in Iran Nearly 60 people gathered on the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest on March 8, 2026, to protest the ongoing war in Iran. The demonstration, organized by local activists and the Veterans Peace chapter, was part of a broader U.S. movement opposing military actions against the country. Protesters gathered under the banner of “Iowa City Peace Rally Against WAR,” with classic rock anthems like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” echoing through the crowd. The event drew honks from passersby, underscoring the public’s engagement with the issue. The protest condemned the U.S. and Israeli military strikes that began on February 28, 2026, which targeted Iran’s infrastructure and leadership. The campaign resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with dozens of senior officials, and the destruction of over 1,250 targets within the country. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases, Israel, and other Middle Eastern nations, killing six American servicemen, including Major Jeffrey O’Brien of Waukee, in an attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. Organizers framed the conflict as an unprovoked escalation that violated both U.S. constitutional principles and international law. Sue Thompson, a protest organizer, criticized the president’s decision to initiate military action against Iran without congressional approval, calling it a direct breach of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. “We are at war,” Thompson stated, “but there is no imminent threat to the United States or its forces. This is illegal and dangerous, and it demands immediate accountability.#ayatollah_ali_khamenei #iowa_city #university_of_iowa #veterans_peace #major_jeffrey_obrien

Sen. Joni Ernst speaks at Politics and Eggs event at New Hampshire Institute of Politics Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, addressed attendees at a Politics and Eggs event hosted by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on Friday. The event took place in the Granite State, where Ernst reflected on recent developments in her home state. She noted that the past week had been particularly challenging due to the deaths of two Iowans among U.S. service members killed in the early stages of military action against Iran. Ernst expressed her belief that the conflict would ultimately contribute to greater regional security. She emphasized the importance of the U.S. commitment to protecting its citizens from threats posed by Iran and its allies. “Our commander in chief is ensuring that neither Iran nor its proxies can ever take another one of our citizens’ lives,” she stated. “This objective is clear: no American should have to live under the threat of Iran-backed terror.” She also reiterated her opposition to prolonged warfare, stating, “Like every American, I have no desire to see a long, drawn-out war.” The senator also announced her intention to retire from public office at the end of the year. She highlighted her unique position as the first woman combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, a distinction she has carried throughout her career. Her remarks underscored her focus on national security and the need for decisive action to safeguard American interests while balancing the desire to avoid unnecessary conflict. The event, which combined political discussion with a nod to local tradition, provided a platform for Ernst to address both current challenges and her future plans.#iowa #sen_joni_ernst #new_hampshire_institute_of_politics #politics_and_eggs #granite_state

Dominican Republic hits four HRs in WBC rout of Netherlands The Dominican Republic dominated the Netherlands with a 12-1 victory in seven innings Sunday, securing a double-digit lead that triggered the mercy rule in the World Baseball Classic. Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero, and Austin Wells each hit home runs, propelling the Dominican team to a commanding win in Group D play. The game concluded in the bottom of the seventh when Soto’s two-run blast extended the Dominican Republic’s lead to 12-1, marking the third instance of a mercy rule ending in the tournament. The Dominicans outscored their opponents 24-4 in their first two games at loanDepot Park, showcasing their offensive prowess. Starter Luis Severino pitched four innings, allowing one run and three hits while striking out five. The team’s offensive surge began in the fifth inning, where Caminero hit a three-run homer and Wells added a two-run blast. Marte’s sacrifice fly further expanded the lead to 10-1. Caminero’s second home run of the tournament reached an exit velocity of 115.8 mph, highlighting his power. The Dominican Republic struck early in the first inning, capitalizing on a two-run opportunity against Netherlands starter Arij Fransen. Guerrero’s RBI single and Marte’s unearned run from third on a throwing error by Xander Bogaerts gave the Dominicans an early 2-0 lead. Didi Gregorius narrowed the gap for the Netherlands with a solo homer in the second inning, but Guerrero’s two-run drive in the third made it 4-1. The Netherlands’ struggles continued as the Dominican Republic’s offense kept churning out runs. The team’s ability to capitalize on scoring chances and defensive errors proved decisive in the rout.#dominican_republic #world_baseball_classic #juan_soto #vladimir_guerrero_jr #junior_caminero

Mets’ Juan Soto reflects on hitting game-ending homer in Dominican Republic’s win over Netherlands Juan Soto of the New York Mets took pride in his game-winning home run during the Dominican Republic’s victory over the Netherlands in an international exhibition match. The moment, which secured a crucial win for his national team, marked a significant milestone in Soto’s career. Speaking about the achievement, Soto described it as “one of the most important and beautiful times in my career,” highlighting the emotional weight of the moment. The home run came in a pivotal moment of the game, with the Dominican Republic trailing in the late innings. Soto’s clutch hit not only tied the game but ultimately propelled his team to victory. The win was particularly meaningful for the Dominican Republic, as it showcased their competitive spirit on the global stage. Soto’s performance underscored his ability to deliver under pressure, a trait that has defined his career in Major League Baseball. Soto’s reflection on the moment emphasized the blend of personal achievement and team success. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and the pride that comes with contributing to a collective victory. The game also served as a platform for Soto to connect with fans and teammates, reinforcing the camaraderie that defines international competition. The Dominican Republic’s win over the Netherlands was a testament to the team’s preparation and resilience. Soto’s home run became a focal point of the celebration, symbolizing the blend of skill, strategy, and determination that characterized the match. For Soto, the moment was a reminder of the impact athletes can have beyond the field, inspiring fans and fellow players alike.#netherlands #dominican_republic #juan_soto #new_york_mets #international_exhibition_match