An Iranian official, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that U.S. financial institutions linked to military funding could be seen as military targets. His statement mentioned U.S. Treasury bonds and served as a warning to investors. The situation follows ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, with a recent warning from President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
Iran's parliament speaker suggested U.S. financial entities could be targets if linked to military funding.
He claimed U.S. Treasury bonds are "soaked in Iranians’ blood."
This warning extends beyond military bases to financial sectors.
The Iranian official involved is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former military commander.
The U.S. Treasury securities are crucial to the global financial system.
Previous warnings included threats to U.S. and Israeli infrastructure.
President Trump recently demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Retaliatory threats have been made against energy facilities if Iran's infrastructure is attacked.
The New York Yankees traded infielder Jorbit Vivas to the Washington Nationals just before the season started. Vivas had few opportunities to play for the Yankees, so they swapped him for pitching prospect Sean Paul Liñan from the Nationals.
Key Facts
Jorbit Vivas is a 25-year-old infielder who played 29 games for the Yankees last season.
The Yankees traded Vivas because he was out of minor-league options and unlikely to make the team's opening day roster.
Vivas was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Sean Paul Liñan, a pitching prospect.
Sean Paul Liñan is the No. 27 prospect in the Nationals' system and is known for his strong performance in the minor leagues.
Vivas had a game-winning home run for the Yankees last May but had limited major league success overall.
The trade allows Vivas a better chance to play with the Nationals early in the season.
The New York Mets' outfielder Mike Tauchman injured his knee and needs surgery, ending his season before it starts. As a result, top prospect Carson Benge is expected to take Tauchman's place on the team.
Key Facts
Mike Tauchman injured his left knee during a spring training game.
He has a meniscus tear and needs surgery, which ends his season.
Tauchman signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in February.
Carson Benge, the Mets' 2024 first-round pick and No. 2 prospect, is likely to join the team.
Benge performed well in spring training with a .368 batting average.
Benge struggled in Triple-A but improved during spring training.
The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly signed their top pitcher, Cristopher Sánchez, to a six-year contract extension. The deal is reported to be worth $107 million and includes performance bonuses. This extension keeps Sánchez with the team through the 2032 season.
Key Facts
Cristopher Sánchez signed a six-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The extension includes a club option for 2033.
Sánchez will earn a guaranteed $107 million through 2032.
The deal has more than $13 million in performance incentives.
Sánchez is 29 years old and had a successful season, finishing second in National League Cy Young voting.
Last season, he had 212 strikeouts with a 2.50 ERA in 202 innings.
The Phillies now have Sánchez under contract beyond Bryce Harper's deal, which ends in 2031.
The extension comes as the Detroit Tigers have not extended their pitcher, Tarik Skubal.
The San Francisco Giants have signed Ryan Borucki, a 31-year-old pitcher, to strengthen their bullpen. Borucki, a left-handed reliever, previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays and will join the Giants on a one-year contract.
Key Facts
The San Francisco Giants signed Ryan Borucki for their bullpen.
Borucki is 31 years old and a left-handed pitcher.
He previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays and began his MLB career with them in 2018.
The Giants' bullpen needs support due to injuries, particularly a shortage of left-handed pitchers.
Borucki had a 5.28 ERA in 35 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.
After returning to Toronto, Borucki did not allow any runs in 4 1/3 innings.
He joins the Giants on a one-year contract and will be the No. 2 left-handed pitcher behind Erik Miller.
The team made room for him by transferring Hayden Birdsong to the 60-day injured list.
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team won against Gonzaga, moving from the First Four to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Sean Miller dismisses the "Cinderella" label, noting the tough competition in their conference.
Key Facts
Texas Longhorns won their First Four game against NC State.
They advanced in the NCAA Tournament by defeating No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga.
The victory over Gonzaga ended a five-year streak since a team progressed from the First Four to the Sweet 16.
Head coach Sean Miller rejects the "Cinderella" story label for his team.
Texas finished the regular season with a record of 18 wins and 14 losses.
They had a balanced 9-9 record in conference play in the SEC.
Texas will play No. 2 Purdue in the next round of the tournament.
The Miami Marlins received difficult news as two key players, Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz, will start the season on the injured list. Stowers is recovering from a hamstring strain and will likely miss three to four weeks, while Ruiz may be out longer due to his injury.
Key Facts
Kyle Stowers has a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will miss three to four weeks.
Esteury Ruiz is also injured, and his absence might be longer than Stowers'.
Stowers had a strong previous season with 25 home runs and a .912 OPS.
Stowers was a key player for Miami last season, leading them with a 3.6 rWAR.
Ruiz was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December.
Ruiz set an American League record with 67 stolen bases in 2023.
The Marlins finished third in the NL East last season.
The article discusses the betting odds and predictions for the final day of the first weekend during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. It includes detailed betting information for several games, including matchups between teams such as St. John's vs. Kansas and Kentucky vs. Iowa State. The piece also provides specific betting recommendations and predictions for each game.
Key Facts
The article focuses on the 2026 NCAA Tournament's second round games.
Key matchups include St. John's against Kansas and Kentucky versus Iowa State.
Oddsmakers have set close spreads, meaning they expect the games to be competitive.
Iowa State will play without player Joshua Jefferson due to an ankle injury.
St. John's player Zuby Ejiofor is highlighted as significant against his former team, Kansas.
The article includes betting advice, such as favoring St. John's to advance and taking the "Under" in their game with Kansas.
Additional predictions include Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, UCLA, and Texas Tech advancing in their respective games.
Randy Arozarena, a baseball player, apologized to his teammate Cal Raleigh for comments he made during the World Baseball Classic. Arozarena initially criticized Raleigh for ignoring a handshake, but later called him a brother and teammate. The Seattle Mariners team manager expressed no surprise at the apology.
Key Facts
Randy Arozarena made a public apology through the Seattle Mariners.
The apology was for comments he made during the World Baseball Classic.
Arozarena initially criticized teammate Cal Raleigh during a game.
The issue arose when Raleigh did not respond to a handshake gesture.
Arozarena later described Raleigh as a brother and teammate.
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson said he expected Arozarena to apologize.
The Mariners aim to start their new season at T-Mobile Park against the Cleveland Guardians.
A strong geomagnetic storm is making the northern lights visible in more places than usual, especially in northern parts of the United States and Canada. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) advises using their real-time maps to find the best viewing spots.
Key Facts
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center reported a G3 geomagnetic storm on Sunday.
The storm increases the chance of seeing northern lights further south than normal.
SWPC provides real-time maps on their Aurora Dashboard for viewing guidance.
A geomagnetic storm affects Earth's magnetosphere due to solar activity.
Visibility of the northern lights depends on several factors like cloud cover and light pollution.
Best viewing occurs in northern U.S. states like Michigan, Maine, and Washington.
The strong storm might also affect radio signals but does not hinder nighttime aurora views.
The Aurora Dashboard offers 30-minute forecast maps for real-time tracking.
The article explains a promotion by FanDuel for new users who can receive up to $3,000 in bonus bets over ten days during the NCAA Tournament. This offer is available for wagers on the game between St. John's Red Storm and Kansas Jayhawks and other college basketball games. Users can activate the offer by signing up for a new account without needing a promo code.
Key Facts
New FanDuel users can receive up to $300 in bonus bets every day for ten days.
The promotion applies to the NCAA Tournament, including the St. John's vs. Kansas game.
No promo code is needed to activate the offer; users just sign up for a new account.
St. John's Red Storm and Kansas Jayhawks face off on March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
The game between the 5-seed St. John's and 4-seed Kansas will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
St. John's is currently on a hot streak, winning 19 of their last 20 games.
Kansas Jayhawks feature freshman Darryn Peterson, who had a strong performance in the first round.
The promotional offer expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 6.
NCAA basketball coach Gerry McNamara is leaving Siena after leading the team in a close game against Duke. McNamara is set to become the head coach at Syracuse University, where he previously played and coached.
Key Facts
Gerry McNamara was the head coach for Siena's basketball team.
Siena played against Duke in the NCAA Tournament, losing 71-65.
McNamara acknowledged the effort his team gave during the game.
Three days after the game, McNamara is expected to become the head coach at Syracuse, his alma mater.
McNamara played for Syracuse, winning a national championship and making four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Before coaching Siena, McNamara was an assistant and associate head coach at Syracuse.
During the 2025-26 season, he improved Siena's record to 23-12 and led them to the NCAA Tournament.
Kevin Durant, a player for the Houston Rockets, has passed Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list, becoming the fifth-highest scorer in league history. Durant's achievement occurred during a game against the Miami Heat, where he scored 27 points to reach this milestone.
Key Facts
Kevin Durant now ranks fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
He surpassed Michael Jordan, who had 32,293 points in his career.
Durant's achievement happened during his 18th season.
LeBron James, who is still playing, leads the all-time scoring list.
James Harden ranks ninth on the all-time scoring list.
Durant joined the Houston Rockets after previously playing for Oklahoma City, Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.
Kobe Bryant, who is ahead of Durant on the list, retired with 33,643 points.
Durant needs 1,351 points to overtake Kobe Bryant for fourth place.
The Arkansas Razorbacks' freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. scored a record 60 points in the first two NCAA Tournament games, the most ever by a freshman. He led his team to victory in a high-scoring game against High Point and is considered a top contender for future NBA drafts and player honors.
Key Facts
Arkansas Razorbacks won against High Point Panthers 94-88 in an NCAA Tournament game.
Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 36 points in the game.
Acuff’s 60 points across the first two tournament games set a new freshman record for March Madness.
He is a potential top pick for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Acuff is in contention for National Player of the Year honors.
This season, he has averaged 23.3 points per game.
Acuff has won the SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year awards.
The Razorbacks’ next game is on March 26 against either Utah State or Arizona.
Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming third album, referred to as OR3, includes a song inspired by the TV show "Sex and the City." The song reflects a scene from the show involving characters Miranda and Steve, highlighting feelings of longing and attachment.
Key Facts
Olivia Rodrigo is the cover star of British Vogue's April 2026 issue.
Rodrigo is working on her third album, which she describes as having "sad love songs."
She played three songs from this album to a writer, with one inspired by "Sex and the City."
The specific scene is from the second-season finale aired on October 3, 1999, involving characters Miranda and Steve.
Rodrigo related to Miranda's line, "Whenever something funny happens, I always want to tell you about it."
Rodrigo's new album is referred to as OR3 until its official title is announced.
Lakers player Luka Doncic received a technical foul during a close win against the Orlando Magic, leading to a potential suspension. Head coach JJ Redick criticized the referees' decision and hopes to get the technical overturned. The game, marked by a heated exchange and numerous fouls, was described by Redick as one of the "weirdest" he has experienced.
Key Facts
Luka Doncic received his 16th technical foul of the season, resulting in an automatic suspension.
The Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 105-104.
Head coach JJ Redick believes the technical foul was unwarranted and might seek to have it overturned.
Redick criticized the overall officiating of the game.
The Lakers had 20 fouls, while the Magic had 27, affecting free throw opportunities.
The game included a heated exchange between Luka Doncic and Goga Bitadze.
The Lakers have won nine consecutive games.
The Lakers' next game is against the Detroit Pistons.
The Senate voted to move forward with Markwayne Mullin's nomination to become the leader of the Department of Homeland Security. The vote was 54-37, and Mullin is expected to be confirmed this week to replace Kristi Noem.
Key Facts
The Senate vote to advance Mullin’s nomination was 54 in favor and 37 against.
Markwayne Mullin is currently a first-term senator.
Mullin will replace Kristi Noem as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Noem will step down from her position at the end of the month.
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Mullin's nomination with an 8-7 vote.
Committee chairman Rand Paul opposed Mullin's nomination.
The Goodyear 400 NASCAR race will take place at Darlington Raceway on March 22, 2026. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace lead the standings and are starting in the top positions for the race. The event will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and available to stream on Fubo.
Key Facts
The Goodyear 400 will happen on March 22, 2026, at Darlington Raceway.
Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are the top two drivers in the standings.
Reddick secured the pole position by reaching over 169 mph despite hitting the wall during qualifying.
The race includes 293 laps divided into three stages: 90, 95, and 108 laps.
Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson start on the second row of the grid.
Reddick has won the first three races of the current NASCAR season.
The race will be shown on FOX Sports 1 and can be streamed on Fubo.
The article discusses a promotional offer for sports betting on college basketball games. It provides details about a $200 no-sweat bonus for new users who register with the Betr platform using the promo code "NEWSWEEK". The offer allows participants to potentially receive a refund in Betr Bucks on their first two entries if they lose.
Key Facts
A promotional offer is available for new users of the Betr platform.
The offer includes a $200 no-sweat bonus for NCAA basketball tournament games.
Users must enter the promo code "NEWSWEEK" to benefit from the promotion.
The promotion applies to the first two entries, with refunds available in Betr Bucks if they lose.
To qualify, users must be new customers, meet age requirements, and be in a participating state.
Bettors need to create an account and enter personal information to register.
Prop bets for specific players and their game performances are discussed in the article.
The article discusses a promotional offer from Sleeper, a sports betting platform. New users can use the promo code NEWSWEEKXL to receive a bonus or deposit match when making picks for college basketball games, including the UCLA-UConn and Miami-Purdue matchups.
Key Facts
Sleeper is offering new users a $20 bonus or up to a $100 deposit match using promo code NEWSWEEKXL.
To qualify, users must be new to Sleeper and meet age and location requirements.
The promotion can be used to make picks in college basketball games.
Prominent matchups mentioned include UCLA-UConn and Miami-Purdue.
Miami's forward Malik Reneau and Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn are highlighted as players with notable point projections.
UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. is noted for his recent strong performance.
