Category: News
Chicago Bulls edge Phoenix Suns 105-103 behind Collin Sexton’s season-high 30 points in opener of 5-game trip
PHOENIX — Collin Sexton scored a season-high 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with less than six minutes to play, the Suns pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker’s 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns their first lead but missed a running layup, with Amir Coffey fouling the Bulls’ Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to play. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for the Bulls in the opener of a five-game trip. Sexton, acquired on Feb. 4 from the Charlotte Hornets as part of the Coby White trade, was 11-of-19 shooting to surpass his previous season high of 22 points, which he did three times with his former team.
The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they suffered ankle injuries in a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Booker led the Suns with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Seventh in the West, the Suns had won two straight. They are without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
Up next
Bulls: at Sacramento Kings on Saturday night
Suns: vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/chicago-bulls-phoenix-suns-collin-sexton/
Bulls resisten ante Suns, se imponen por 105-103 y logran su 2da victoria en 3 partidos
PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton anotó 30 puntos y los Bulls de Chicago resistieron ante los Suns de Phoenix para imponerse el jueves por 105-103, con lo cual lograron su segunda victoria en tres partidos tras una racha de 11 derrotas consecutivas.
Phoenix, que perdía por 12 unidades con menos de seis minutos por jugar, se acercó 104-103 con un triple de Devin Booker a falta de 23 segundos.
Jalen Green tuvo la oportunidad de darles a los Suns su primera ventaja, pero falló una bandeja en carrera. También por Phoenix, Amir Coffey cometió una falta sobre Nick Richards con 4,1 segundos por jugar.
Richards encestó el primer tiro libre y falló el segundo, y un forcejeo por el rebote consumió el tiempo restante.
Tre Jones sumó 21 puntos y Guerschon Yabusele aportó 16 por Chicago en el inicio de una gira de cinco partidos. Los Bulls no contaron con Matas Buzelis ni Josh Giddey, dos noches después de que sufrieron lesiones de tobillo en una derrota en casa ante Oklahoma City.
Booker lideró a Phoenix con 27 puntos en su segundo partido tras perderse cuatro por una lesión en la cadera derecha. Grayson Allen añadió 21 puntos.
Green terminó con 12 puntos con 5 de 20 en tiros de campo. Acertó 1 de 8 desde la línea de 3 puntos.
Phoenix, séptimo en el Oeste, había ganado dos duelos seguidos. Los Suns no cuentan con Dillon Brooks debido a una fractura en la mano izquierda. _____
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
After returning from broken hand, St .Edward’s Layne Dawson levels up on defense at state. ‘Sky’s the limit.’
NORMAL — When junior forward Layne Dawson missed six weeks earlier this season with a broken hand, her offensive game for St. Edward was going to take the biggest hit.
What didn’t suffer, however, was her main job. And that’s playing defense.
Michelle Dawson, the Green Wave’s head coach and also Layne’s mother, confirmed that her daughter still ran every single sprint in practice to stay sharp.
“It’s definitely great to be back,” Layne said. “I’m happy I can contribute my part to the team. I just like the fact that we can get the ball back (defensively), and when we do, it helps us score.”
Dawson was a pest to Byron all game during Thursday’s Class 2A state semifinal.
She also came through with nine points and 10 rebounds, but Byron was able to fend off a late charge in the fourth quarter by the Green Wave to advance with a 49-43 win at CEFCU Arena.
St. Edward’s Savannah Lynch (2) drives to the basket as Byron’s Alya Roschi (1) defends during a Class 2A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Thursday, March 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)
Savannah Lynch led St. Edward (27-10) with 21 points, while Jordin Sauls added seven points and four blocked shots. Aubrie Fuller paced Byron (33-2) with 21 points. Malia Morton had 14.
Lynch followed up with 20 points as the Green Wave lost 53-33 in the third-place game to Pleasant Plains (31-3). Byron plays Breese Central (31-3) at noon Saturday for the state title.
Michelle Dawson, meanwhile, pointed out that Layne’s twin sister, Taylor, and Sarah Gurley combined to try and fill the gap at Layne’s position during her absence.
It kept the Green Wave afloat, but they became whole again when Layne returned.
St. Edward’s Layne Dawson (22) drives into the lane as Byron’s Alya Roschi (1) defends during a Class 2A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Thursday, March 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)
“Nobody truly replaces Layne on defense,” Michelle Dawson said. “That’s kind of been her M.O. since freshman year. But It was an adjustment coming off a broken hand.
“She was off the whole month of January. She wasn’t quite back to normal yet, but her defensive pressure and especially rebounding were there.”
Layne Dawson’s main defensive assignment in Thursday’s semifinal was the ultra-quick Morton, who said Dawson and Co. made things difficult for her and the Tigers.
“They’re compact, so it was really hard because we’re a good driving team,” Morton said. “We have Aubrie who can knock down the three, so that made it easier to drive to the basket.
St. Edward’s Sanaii McPherson (24) powers past Byron’s Alya Roschi (1) during a Class 2A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Thursday, March 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)
“But it was tough to play against.”
That pressure helped hold Byron to a season-low four points in the first quarter. When Lynch got going in the second, all of a sudden St. Edward led 15-4 with 2:53 left in the quarter.
The Green Wave lost 57-41 at Byron in the regular-season finale.
“I think this is what a state semifinal should look like,” Byron coach Eric Yerly said. “You had great players going at each other. Give them credit. We just played St. Ed about three weeks ago.
St. Edward’s Layne Dawson (22) makes a no-look pass against Byron during a Class 2A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Thursday, March 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)
“They showed up (Thursday) and wanted to win.”
Lynch led the comeback in the fourth as well. Byron led 43-37 before Lynch scored six straight points to force a 43-43 tie with 1:29 left. The Green Wave never scored again, though.
“I think going into the fourth quarter we knew we had to make a big run and come back,” Lynch said. “The whole game I was kind of hiding around, but I felt like I needed to step up, so I did that.”
And while it was tough to watch her daughter on the sidelines earlier this season, Michelle Dawson knows what the future could hold.
St. Edward’s Layne Dawson (22) puts up a shot from close range against Byron during a Class 2A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Thursday, March 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)
“Layne and her athleticism, the sky’s the limit to what she’s going to accomplish next year,” Michelle said. “That little setback was, being out those six weeks, but she never stopped working.”
It also helped mom to experience state with her daughters and their friends.
“We never get to be a parent and just relax and enjoy state,” Michelle said. “But it’s all worth it because we’re in every moment of it. We have the chance to experience this with them.
“It just makes it so special having Taylor and Layne on the court.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/layne-dawson-st-edward-state-basketball/
Wembanyama anota 38 puntos y captura 16 rebotes en triunfo de Spurs 121-106 ante Pistons
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama anotó 38 puntos, capturó 16 rebotes y registró cinco tapones, y los Spurs de San Antonio nunca estuvieron abajo en el marcador al completar una barrida sobre Detroit, al vencer la noche del jueves por 121-106 a los Pistons.
De’Aaron Fox sumó 29 puntos, y Stephon Castle aportó 11 puntos y 12 asistencias en el primer partido de San Antonio en casa tras un viaje de casi un mes.
Cade Cunningham consiguió 26 puntos e Isaiah Stewart añadió 18 en la segunda derrota consecutiva de Detroit. Los Pistons, que cerraron su gira con marca de 1-2, se mantuvieron en la cima de la Conferencia Este con 45-16.
Un posible duelo de Finales de la NBA derivó en otra victoria por doble dígito para los Spurs, que atraviesan un gran momento.
San Antonio ha ganado 13 de 14 partidos, incluida una victoria 114-103 sobre los Pistons el 23 de febrero en Detroit, y se mantiene segundo en el Oeste con 45-17.
Detroit perdió a Ausur Thompson a los dos minutos de iniciado el partido, cuando se torció el tobillo derecho.
San Antonio acertó 13 de 37 en triples para un 35%.
Wembanyama encestó 4 de 10 triples mientras jugaba ante 30 compatriotas suyos que viajaron desde Francia para asistir a la estadía de seis partidos en casa de San Antonio.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Ataques israelíes apuntan a Irán y Líbano; EEUU advierte que el bombardeo “aumentará drásticamente”
Por JON GAMBRELL, RUSS BYNUM y SALLY ABOU ALJOUD
DUBÁI, Emiratos Árabes Unidos (AP) — Intensos ataques aéreos israelíes golpearon las capitales de Irán y Líbano a primera hora del viernes, mientras Estados Unidos aparentemente atacó en el mar un portadrones iraní, intensificando su campaña dirigida contra la flota de buques de guerra de la República Islámica.
Irán lanzó nuevos ataques de represalia en Oriente Medio al final de una semana completa de bombardeos, que el secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos, Pete Hegseth, advirtió que estaba “a punto de incrementarse drásticamente”.
Las fuerzas armadas de Israel informaron el viernes en la mañana que habían comenzado “una ola de ataques a gran escala” sobre Teherán. Testigos describieron los ataques aéreos israelíes como particularmente intensos, y las viviendas se sacudían. Otros reportaron explosiones alrededor de la ciudad iraní de Kermanshah, en un área que alberga varias bases de misiles.
El ejército israelí señaló que los ataques ya han destruido la mayor parte de las defensas aéreas y los lanzamisiles de Irán.
La guerra se ha intensificado hasta afectar a países de todo Oriente Medio y más allá. Irán lanzó ataques con misiles y drones contra Kuwait, Qatar, Arabia Saudí y Bahréin a primera hora del viernes, países que albergan fuerzas de Estados Unidos. De momento no había reportes de víctimas.
En Líbano, donde la guerra ha intensificado los combates entre Israel y los milicianos de Hezbollah, aliado de Irán, Israel lanzó una serie de ataques aéreos desde la noche del jueves hasta el viernes en los suburbios del sur de Beirut y otras zonas. Las carreteras estaban llenas de automovilistas que intentaban huir o hallar algún refugio.
Estados Unidos e Israel han golpeado a Irán con ataques en todo el país, dirigidos contra sus capacidades militares, su liderazgo y su programa nuclear.
Los ataques iraníes han apuntado a sus vecinos árabes, han interrumpido suministros de petróleo y han complicado el transporte aéreo mundial. En la guerra han muerto al menos 1.230 personas en Irán, más de 120 en Líbano y aproximadamente una docena en Israel, según funcionarios de esos países. Seis efectivos estadounidenses han fallecido.
Estados Unidos dice que atacó un portadrones iraní
Las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses informaron a primera hora del viernes que atacaron un portadrones iraní, el cual se incendió.
El Comando Central de Estados Unidos difundió imágenes en blanco y negro del portadrones en llamas. El ejército iraní no reconoció de momento el ataque.
El portadrones, el IRIS Shahid Bagheri, es un buque portacontenedores convertido, con una pista de 180 metros de largo (196 yardas) para drones. Según reportes de la época de su inauguración en 2005, la embarcación puede recorrer hasta 22.000 millas náuticas sin necesidad de reabastecerse en puertos.
El almirante Brad Cooper, jefe del Comando Central de Estados Unidos, describió el portadrones como “aproximadamente del tamaño de un portaaviones de la Segunda Guerra Mundial”.
“Y, mientras hablamos, está en llamas”, declaró Cooper a los periodistas.
Hegseth, que habló junto a Cooper, dio pocos detalles el jueves cuando prometió un incremento en los ataques.
“Son más escuadrones de cazas, son más capacidades, son más capacidades defensivas”, manifestó Hegseth. “Y son más oleadas de bombarderos con mayor frecuencia”.
Irán apunta a países que albergan fuerzas de Estados Unidos
El Ministerio de Defensa de Qatar informó a primera hora del viernes que interceptó un ataque con drones dirigido contra la base aérea de Al Udeid, que alberga el cuartel general avanzado del Comando Central de Estados Unidos.
Arabia Saudí interceptó y destruyó tres misiles balísticos disparados el viernes en la madrugada hacia la base aérea Príncipe Sultán, al sur de Riad, que alberga fuerzas de Estados Unidos, dijo un portavoz del Ministerio de Defensa saudí.
Sonaron sirenas antiaéreas en Bahréin, donde el Ministerio del Interior indicó que los ataques iraníes estuvieron dirigidos a dos hoteles y un edificio residencial. Señaló que no hubo víctimas. En Kuwait, donde los seis soldados de Estados Unidos murieron el domingo, el ejército kuwaití dijo que sus defensas aéreas se activaron cuando ataques con misiles y drones violaron su espacio aéreo.
Trump vuelve a instar a los iraníes a “recuperar” su país
En breves declaraciones en la Casa Blanca el jueves, el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump volvió a instar al pueblo iraní a “ayudar a recuperar su país”. Esta vez prometió que Estados Unidos les concedería “inmunidad” en medio de la guerra y de los peligros persistentes bajo el actual régimen iraní.
“Así que estarán perfectamente a salvo con inmunidad total”, declaró Trump, sin dar detalles sobre lo que eso significaba. “O se enfrentarán a una muerte absolutamente garantizada”.
En una entrevista con el sitio de noticias Axios, el mandatario dijo que debería participar en la elección del nuevo líder supremo de Irán para reemplazar al ayatolá Ali Jamenei, quien murió en los ataques iniciales de la guerra. Trump habló de manera despectiva acerca de que el hijo de Jamenei, Mojtaba Jamenei, sea el principal candidato para reemplazar a su padre, y lo calificó de “peso ligero”.
“Queremos a alguien que lleve armonía y paz a Irán”, afirmó Trump.
Un funcionario iraní dice que no hay confianza para reanudar conversaciones con Washington
Irán no ha solicitado conversaciones con Estados Unidos para poner fin a la guerra en expansión, dijo el jueves a The Associated Press el embajador iraní en Egipto. El embajador Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour negó los comentarios de Trump de que Teherán quiere negociar.
Indicó que la falta de confianza hace imposible ese acercamiento después de que las conversaciones para un posible acuerdo nuclear fracasaran dos veces y terminaran en guerra.
“No habrá confianza en Trump”, sostuvo Ferdousi Pour.
Mientras tanto, el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores iraní, Abbas Araghchi, acusó a la Armada estadounidense de cometer “una atrocidad en el mar” por hundir la fragata iraní IRIS Dena en el océano Índico, matando al menos a 87 tripulantes.
El buque iraní regresaba de un ejercicio organizado por la Armada india, en el que también participó Estados Unidos. Autoridades de Sri Lanka dijeron que 32 tripulantes fueron rescatados. Araghchi afirmó que llevaba “casi 130” tripulantes.
Más tarde, un clérigo iraní pidió en la televisión estatal que se derramara sangre tanto israelí como “de Trump”.
Israel golpea Líbano con múltiples ataques aéreos en los alrededores de Beirut
Israel llevó a cabo al menos 11 ataques aéreos desde la noche del jueves y a primera hora del viernes, dirigidos contra los suburbios del sur de Beirut. Se desataron incendios cerca de una gasolinera.
El ejército israelí emitió una advertencia el jueves por la noche, instando a los residentes a “salvar sus vidas y evacuar sus hogares de inmediato”. Dos hospitales evacuaron a pacientes y personal. No se reportaron víctimas.
El Ministerio de Salud libanés indicó que la cifra de muertos ha aumentado a 123 desde el resurgimiento de las hostilidades entre Israel y Hezbollah, que atacó a Israel en los primeros días de la guerra.
Un portavoz de la fuerza de paz de la ONU en el sur de Líbano, Tilak Pokharel, dijo el jueves que los cascos azules habían visto y escuchado enfrentamientos, incluidos combates terrestres, en el sur de Líbano, a medida que más fuerzas israelíes han cruzado la frontera.
___
Bynum informó desde Savannah, Georgia, y Abou AlJoud desde Beirut. Periodistas de la AP en todo el mundo contribuyeron.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Gran clavada de Anthony Edwards ayuda a Timberwolves en triunfo 115-107 frente a Raptors
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards anotó 22 puntos, incluidos dos con una impresionante volcada a dos manos por encima de RJ Barrett, y los Timberwolves de Minnesota vencieron el jueves 115-107 a los Raptors de Toronto para sumar su quinta victoria consecutiva.
En el tercer cuarto, Edwards se valió de un drible para liberarse en la pintura, se elevó muy por encima del aro y clavó el balón, Festejó con flexiones de los músculos y un grito en dirección de Barrett, quien le dio un pequeño empujón mientras ambos corrían de regreso por la cancha.
Luego de una actuación de 41 puntos en la victoria de Minnesota por 117-110 sobre Memphis la noche del martes, Edwards tuvo una noche eficiente, al encestar 8 de 12 tiros de campo y 5 de 8 desde la línea de 3 puntos.
Tras la derrota de Houston ante Golden State en tiempo extra, los Timberwolves (40-23) se colocaron un juego por delante de los Rockets en el tercer puesto de la Conferencia Oeste.
Rudy Gobert aportó 18 puntos y 12 rebotes, Julius Randle anotó 17 y Donte DiVincenzo sumó 16 unidades por los Wolves.
Barrett encabezó a los Raptors con 25 puntos e Immanuel Quickley agregó 18. Toronto ha perdido cuatro de cinco encuentros, pero se mantiene quinto en el Este.
_____
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
What Happens Next In Iran? Decapitation, Quagmire Or WWIII?
What Happens Next In Iran? Decapitation, Quagmire Or WWIII?
Authored by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us
Before I begin this analysis of the situation in the Middle East and its consequences, I want to warn people that this examination is going to be largely secular and nuanced; which means people on both sides of the divide are going to piss and moan about it. Frankly, I don’t care.
To be clear, I’m not interested in the “plight” of the Palestinians, the Islamic regime in Iran or the conspiracy theories of “groypers.” I find appeals of empathy and compassion for Islamic societies to be naive – They are perfectly indifferent and hostile to the west, they always have been. They have also formed political alliances with far-left organizations in the US and Europe with the intent to burn the west to the ground. I do not waste my time worrying about them.
In fairness, I also don’t care about the Israeli government and I have no vested interest in whether or not they survive. In the past, Israeli supported organizations have helped in the formation of militant leftist groups and anti-conservative sentiments in the US. The fact that leftist activists have turned on Israel in recent years is rather poetic.
I recognize many Christians would disagree with this position in the belief that Israel is the only western ally keeping watch over the Holy Land. I argue that it should be western Christians (not Israelis) in charge of the region, given it was ours (through the Holy Roman Empire) for centuries, until the Muslim hordes invaded.
I’m also aware that there are numerous disinformation agents online who are paid by both sides. Israel as well as Islamic governments run these digital operations constantly. They expend vast amounts of money to employ armies of social media shills. Their singular job is to disrupt sincere discussion and sway American opinion to support one side or the other.
This tells me a lot about how important the US population is to the geopolitical future of the world. Everyone wants us to pick their team or hate their opponent.
What I care about first and foremost is how geopolitical events and our involvement will affect America and American interests. What I have learned in recent years, though, is that it’s easy enough to predict events but not necessarily outcomes. There are people out there that think every international conflict or crisis is going to end in global doom.
None of them have so far. Of course, all it takes is the right crisis to trigger a Black Swan. This is where I think many of us in the alternative media build lighthouses, warding ships away from the rocky shores of any incident that might become a world-ending singularity.
It’s important to understand that dramatic geopolitical shifts have the potential to act as “linchpins”, impacting our lives through a chain of dominoes that is not immediately apparent until years later. Potential does not mean certainty. As I’ve been pointing out for many years now – collapse is a process, not an event.
In spring of 2024 in my article “Iran vs Israel: What Happens Next Now That Shots Have Been Fired?” I predicted the development of an unavoidable war footing between Iran and the US (with Israel as instigator or convenient rationale) and I argued that this would escalate in the spring of 2025. I was one year off.
In that article I predicted initial air strikes of primary targets. I predicted Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz (which has now happened). I predicted a ground invasion into Lebanon by Israel (which has not happened yet), followed by the eventual ground invasion by US and Israeli forces into Iran.
Immediate consequences could include a spike in oil and gas prices (over 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz). Then there’s elevated possibility of planned and autonomous terror attacks (the recent mass shooting in Austin, TX appears to be the first). There’s the danger of a potential military draft should the war carry on for more than a couple years or if it turns into an occupation dealing with a large insurgency.
Finally, there is the growing chance of increasing hostility with Russia and China leading to an eventual catalyst that causes world war. This is a worst-case scenario viewpoint of the conflict, and not necessarily the most likely outcome.
For example, in Venezuela, black pillers wailed and raged over Donald Trump’s black-bag operation that resulted in the capture of illegitimate dictator Nicolas Maduro. They claimed with certainty that this action would initiate Vietnam Part II. They were entirely wrong.
Millions of Venezuelans around the world rejoiced and the Venezuelan population has done nothing in the name of bringing Maduro back. Trump’s critics ignored the applause from Venezuelan nationals and argued that their opinions don’t matter.
Why? Because their support of Trump’s invasion is inconvenient to the narrative that he’s a “mindless warmonger” and that he is “betraying his voter base.” This is a childish response to complex geopolitical dynamics.
Many dictatorships deserve to die. The libertarian methodology of sitting around and doing nothing while bitching about the people who take action is growing stale. The American public is not inspired by passivity. This does not mean we should go to war with Iran, per se, but I think US patriots are done with ego-stroking debates on constitutional and ideological theory. They want to see results.
If moral justification is the issue, then there is a fair case to be made for the decapitation of the Islamic regime in Iran. The Iranian government engages in the same brutal theocratic oppression we have seen with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but on an industrial scale. If you are a woman, a political dissident or a religious minority in Iran, you have no rights and can be arrested or murdered for any reason at any given moment.
Just because Muslims happen to agree with conservatives that transgender activists are predatory lunatics does not mean we have anything else in common.
Most critics will argue that regime change in Iran is only meant to benefit Israel and not the Iranian people. It actually benefits MANY countries, not just Israel. I would also argue that Trump’s REAL goal is probably to further isolate China from its international oil sources, while Israel is a secondary concern (or a useful excuse).
Trump’s decapitation strategy against Venezuela, his policies on the Panama Canal and his Iran strikes conveniently cut China off from around 20% of its oil resources. This is significant and could change China’s military development efforts dramatically. That said, just because Trump was right on Venezuela does not mean he will be right on Iran.
The US is very good at taking out enemy leadership and blowing stuff up. We are completely inept when it comes to occupation and this is where we always lose. Occupation requires majority support of the foreign population. Without it, there is no point.
In Iran, Trump MIGHT have it. We have to wait and see what the Iranian population does in reaction to the decapitation strikes. If too large a percentage of the populace throws support behind the Islamists, then the limited strikes will have to evolve into a ground war, and a ground war without domestic alliances would turn into a quagmire.
Then there’s the question of the Strait of Hormuz. Clearing the strait and keeping it operational will be difficult. Iran can run interference on oil shipping for months merely by targeting tankers with thousand of drones. I don’t have to explain what one Shahed drone can do to a ship loaded with combustible oil.
If it was my operation, I would target the strait with long range artillery or ballistic missiles supported by drone spotters. All it takes is one large sunken ship to close the Hormuz for weeks. This is a problem IF Trump’s strikes on top officials do not inspire a popular revolution.
The Hormuz closure will mean higher gas prices (though, I suspect part of Trump’s strategy is to use Venezuelan oil exports to offset the Hormuz bottleneck). If Trump can’t keep prices relatively low, then the American public will be very unhappy. We already spent four years suffering under Biden’s inflation. We can’t absorb any more.
Russian and Chinese involvement in the region appears to be limited to weapon sales and logistics. Russia does have a Strategic Partnership Treaty with Iran, but it does not contain a mutual defense clause. I worry far more that elitists in Europe are doing everything in their power to start a world war with Russia by interfering in Ukraine.
Speaking of the OTHER conflict in the east, it’s interesting to me that, under the Biden Administration, Democrats avidly and rabidly demanded direct confrontation with Russia over Ukraine. Like Iran, it’s just another country that has little to do with us, yet they were happy to risk nuclear conflagration over that foreign entanglement. This is why I don’t take leftists seriously at all when it comes to their anti-war rhetoric.
As far as Israel is concerned, yeah, they make off like bandits in this situation. They know they do. I’m sure they are secretly proud of that fact. They would never be able to fight this war alone. But I’m not going to cry over the destruction of a Muslim theocracy just because Israel gains something from it.
The issue is America, and whether or not this war will escalate out of control and turn into a global crisis that harms us. I will admit that Trump has displayed a knack for executing limited military operations with far-reaching effects at limited cost. He has proven the blackpillers wrong on several occasions.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth asserts that there will be no quagmire. If this is possible to pull off, then it will be the Trump Administration’s greatest magic trick yet.
If it’s not possible, then the outcome will be chaos and civil breakdown in Iran followed by balkanization, tribal warfare and widespread insurgency far outside the boundaries of the country. Trying to clean up the mess would likely result in the same kind of failed occupation the US experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s a gamble that risks a sharp division within the conservative base. It also risks the extremist left coming back into power. Any major disaster on Trump’s watch could serve the interests of globalists seeking to exploit a crisis to further demonize the concepts of nationalism and conservatism.
At that point, the only solution would have to be a total and unrelenting crusade, with or without the Trump Admin.
If we want to protect our children and the future in general, the leftist cult can never be allowed to take power again. Third world migrants cannot be allowed to stay in the US. And, globalists can’t be allowed to remain as social engineers influencing world events.
There are many people who oppose the elites who also see a substantial failure by Trump as an opportunity to “kick off the boogaloo.” They see chaos as a chance to finally put the greater underlying war against the globalists and multiculturalists to rest. I’m not sure I disagree. What I do know is that this would cost a considerable number of innocent lives, but maybe it can’t be avoided.
The success or failure of the Trump Presidency changes little in terms of our ultimate responsibility to ensure that the globalists face justice.
For now, I am erring on the side of an Iranian government collapse and a win for Trump after a couple months of limited strikes and covert ops. In the meantime I expect a wave of attempted terror attacks, even more NGO paid riots by leftists activists and probably an emergency effort by DHS to deport most Muslim immigrants from the country. The cynics say “nothing ever happens”, except when something happens. Keep your head on a swivel.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 23:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/what-happens-next-iran-decapitation-quagmire-or-wwiii
La Fórmula 1 abre su temporada en el GP de Australia con muchas preguntas
Por STEWART BELL
MELBOURNE (AP) — Las multitudes se abrieron paso hacia el Albert Park de Melbourne el viernes para presenciar el primer día de prácticas de la Fórmula 1 en el arranque de la temporada 2026. Y en el aire flotaban preguntas. Muchas.
La primera, y más apremiante, en el hito del 40º Gran Premio de Australia era la posible postergación o cancelación de las próximas carreras de la F1 en Oriente Medio, el 12 y el 19 de abril en Bahréin y Arabia Saudí.
Ello se debería a que la guerra en la que están involucrados Estados Unidos, Israel e Irán, ha dificultado los viajes por el cierre de espacios aéreos y ha vuelto peligroso estar en la región. El organismo rector de la F1, la FIA, ya ha postergado la prueba inaugural en Qatar de la principal categoría de autos deportivos,World Endurance Championship, que estaba prevista para celebrarse del 26 al 28 de marzo.
Tanto la FIA como Formula One Management, titular de los derechos comerciales de este deporte, están monitoreando la situación en tiempo real —con foco en la seguridad y el bienestar de todos los involucrados. No obstante, se espera un anuncio pronto.
En el paddock de la F1, sin embargo, donde el rendimiento es el rey, la mayor incógnita es el nuevo orden jerárquico del deporte tras la reconfiguración provocada por el nuevo reglamento técnico, incluida la posición de la nueva escudería emergente estadounidense Cadillac, patrocinada por General Motors y donde correrá el piloto mexicano Sergio “Checo” Pérez.
La F1 entra en una nueva era este año, con cambios sin precedentes tanto en el chasis como en la unidad de potencia, que ahora presenta un reparto de entrega de casi 50:50 entre el motor V6 turbo de 1,6 litros y la energía eléctrica recuperada de los frenos, algo que exige a los pilotos un estilo de conducción nuevo y, a menudo, contraintuitivo.
Leclerc lideró las pruebas de pretemporada
Charles Leclerc de Ferrari fue el más rápido en la última prueba de pretemporada en Bahréin, con poco más de ocho décimas de segundo de ventaja sobre el joven de Mercedes Kimi Antonelli. Pero es el equipo de las Flechas de Plata el que llega a la cita como favorito, con base en una supuesta ventaja de motor que aún no ha utilizado a plena potencia.
Si Mercedes enciende la pista con un ritmo abrasador y dominante, se espera, no obstante, que sea George Russell —y no Antonelli— quien encabece el ataque. El piloto británico suma cinco victorias en su carrera y se había mostrado muy relajado en la antesala de las dos sesiones de prácticas del viernes.
“El auto está rindiendo como esperábamos. Lo más importante fue ver que la correlación (entre el túnel de viento y la pista) es buena; no hay grandes sustos con el auto”, señaló Russell. “Lo puse en pista y tanto Kimi como yo quedamos contentos con la forma en que se comportaba”.
Se espera, sin embargo, que Ferrari sea rápido y que esté en la pelea por su primera victoria en suelo australiano desde 2022, gracias a un auto ágil y a un turbo más pequeño que requiere menos tiempo de carga para entregar rendimiento y lograr salidas fulgurantes.
“Hicimos un gran kilometraje en las pruebas de invierno”, comentó el revitalizado Lewis Hamilton, siete veces campeón del mundo. “Se ha hecho una cantidad increíble de trabajo por parte del equipo (Ferrari) en la fábrica, pero también al ejecutar esas pruebas, y hemos aprendido mucho del año pasado”.
_____
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Magic supera 115-114 a Mavericks con volcada final de Wendell Carter Jr. Vuelve Flagg
ORLANDO, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — Wendell Carter Jr. logró una volcada para tomar la delantera cuando quedaban 1,4 segundos, y el Magic de Orlando superó el jueves 115-114 a los Mavericks de Dallas para empañar el regreso de Cooper Flagg tras una lesión.
Flagg completó una jugada de tres puntos cuando restaban 37,3 segundos lo que le dio a Dallas una ventaja de cuatro, pero Orlando anotó los últimos cinco tantos. Jalen Suggs encestó un triple cuando quedaban 32,2 segundos.
Después de que Flagg falló un tiro en suspensión, Suggs asistió a Carter en la pintura para la clavada decisiva.
El brasileño Tristan da Silva lideró al Magic con 19 puntos. Suggs terminó con 17 unidades y siete asistencias, Paolo Banchero aportó 16 puntos y 12 rebotes, y Carter anotó 15.
Flagg sumó 18 puntos al embocar 7 de 22 tiros de campo en 26 minutos. La primera selección del draft de la NBA y el novato con más puntos de la liga se había perdido los ocho partidos anteriores por un esguince en el pie izquierdo.
Klay Thompson anotó 24 puntos por los Mavericks, al ingresar desde la banca y encestar siete triples. Khris Middleton anotó 10 de sus 19 puntos en el cuarto periodo, pero los Mavericks perdieron por 15ª vez en 17 partidos.
_____
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Big-Tech Signs Ratepayer-Protection Pledge
Big-Tech Signs Ratepayer-Protection Pledge
As the AI and data center explosion threatens to overwhelm the grid, the Trump administration organized a commitment from the hyperscalers driving that demand: pay your own way, or don’t build here.
*TRUMP: TELLING BIG TECH THEY NEED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN POWER
*TRUMP: NEGOTIATED NEW RATE PAYER PLEDGE ON DATA CENTER ENERGY
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 25, 2026
On March 4, the White House rolled out the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, signed by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI. The deal is simple and overdue: these companies must build, bring, or buy every new megawatt they need, and then some. No more socializing the costs onto ordinary ratepayers already hammered by years of green-mandate fallout.
The five core commitments are straightforward:
Full funding of new generation: Companies cover 100% of new power plants or purchases, with extra capacity added where possible to actually benefit the broader grid.
Infrastructure upgrades: All transmission and delivery upgrades required for their facilities get paid by them.
Take-or-pay rates: New, separate utility contracts mean they pay the full freight for the power and pipes whether they use every watt or not.
Local jobs and training: Hiring and skill programs in host communities.
Grid resilience backup: Backup generation available to utilities during shortages to prevent blackouts.
As we’ve long documented, from the growing revolt against data centers in political races, where affordability crushed every other issue, to our piece on Democrats still blaming tech while ignoring Biden-Harris green policies that sent Northeast bills soaring to national highs.
Households and small businesses love nothing more than staring down double-digit rate hikes and skipping rent payments just so Silicon Valley can train the next LLM models.
between exploding electricity bills and lack of jobs for grads, a new luddite revolution is coming – they will be burning down data centers within a year
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 25, 2025
Trump framed it bluntly in the accompanying proclamation: Americans shouldn’t subsidize private AI infrastructure. The pledge explicitly aims to leverage the boom for lower long-term costs and stronger reliability, not higher bills.
It should be noted this is just a “pledge”, and voluntary pledges from trillion-dollar tech giants have a habit of evolving. If enforced, the pledge could mark the first time the AI revolution actually lowers costs for the rest of us instead of raising them.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 23:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/big-tech-signs-ratepayer-protection-pledge
