Category: News
Los Lions traspasan a Montgomery a los Texans por Scruggs y selecciones de 4ta y 7ma ronda, dice AP
Por LARRY LAGE
Los Lions de Detroit traspasaron al corredor David Montgomery a los Texans de Houston a cambio del liniero ofensivo Juice Scruggs, además de selecciones de cuarta y séptima ronda, según una persona familiarizada con la situación.
La persona habló con The Associated Press el lunes bajo condición de anonimato porque el acuerdo no había sido anunciado y se oficializará cuando arranque la nueva temporada de la liga.
Detroit envió a un corredor veterano que quería más acarreos a cambio de una profundidad muy necesaria en la línea ofensiva y selecciones adicionales en el draft de la NFL del próximo mes.
Más tarde, los Lions dejaron en libertad al liniero ofensivo Graham Glasgow, de 33 años, quien fue titular en 14 partidos la temporada pasada y quien inició en 136 juegos en Detroit y con los Broncos de Denver desde 2016.
En Houston, Montgomery debería tener la oportunidad de ser titular.
Era suplente y tenía pocas posibilidades de jugar por delante de Jahymr Gibbs, un jugador de Pro Bowl en cada una de sus primeras tres temporadas en la NFL.
Montgomery terminó con mínimos de su carrera en acarreos (158) y yardas por tierra (716). Aun así, consiguió ocho touchdowns y su promedio de 4,5 yardas por acarreo solo quedó por detrás de su mejor marca personal de 4,6 yardas por intento en 2023, cuando sumó 1.015 yardas y 13 touchdowns por tierra durante su temporada de debut en Detroit.
Montgomery, de 28 años, acumula 6.115 yardas por tierra y 59 touchdowns, además de 1.890 yardas por recepción y cuatro anotaciones, a lo largo de cuatro temporadas con los Bears de Chicago y tres con los Lions.
Sin él en el roster, es probable que Detroit busque incorporar a un corredor suplente en la agencia libre este mes o en el draft en abril.
Houston seleccionó a Scruggs en la segunda ronda en 2023. Podría ser titular como centro o guardia en Detroit, donde renovar una línea ofensiva que alguna vez fue poderosa es una prioridad principal esta temporada baja, después de que la debilidad de esa unidad llevó al equipo a quedarse fuera de los playoffs.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Airports, Data Centers, Skyscrapers, & Power Plants: Are Desalination Plants Next Targets In U.S.-Iran War
Airports, Data Centers, Skyscrapers, & Power Plants: Are Desalination Plants Next Targets In U.S.-Iran War
“I think it’s fair to say this is a third Gulf war, isn’t it?” Economist defense editor Shashank Joshi wrote on X.
I think fair to say that this is a third Gulf war, isn’t it?
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 2, 2026
Beyond the ongoing exchange between U.S. and Israeli forces striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military targets and IRGC retaliation strikes against U.S. and allied bases across the Gulf and into Europe, including Cyprus, an increasingly uncomfortable reality is beginning to emerge: civilian and commercial targets do not appear to be off limits.
Developments we’ve been following today include drone strikes on Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura complex, the largest refinery in the country. Then, drone strikes on a commercial data center run by Amazon AWS in the United Arab Emirates (first-ever in modern warfare), as well as countless videos of IRGC missile and drone strikes on condo towers and other civilian soft targets.
🚨BREAKING: An Iranian missile has struck a luxury skyscraper in Bahrain reports suggest that this skyscraper is housing senior U.S. military command personnel.
Bahrain officials have not yet released any statements. pic.twitter.com/CQIQ2Yo7CC
— The British Patriot (@TheBritLad) March 2, 2026
Incredible Angle for Iranian Sahed drone striking a tower in Bahrain pic.twitter.com/YyzHOSatEd
— War Monitor Clips (@WarMonitorClips) February 28, 2026
Video shows high-rise tower in Bahrain struck by Iranian drone. Wondering if target was particular individual or company. Note the guest workers watching and recording. pic.twitter.com/FAwRSQGxUs
— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) February 28, 2026
Bloomberg commodity analyst Javier Blas wrote on X, “A lot of attention about ‘soft targets’ like hotels and airports. And about oil/gas facilities.”
“But please keep an eye on what may prove the most strategic asset for Persian Gulf countries: water desalination plants,” Blas warned.
US-IRAN WAR: A lot of attention about “soft targets” like hotels and airports. And about oil / gas facilities.
But please keep an eye on what may prove the most strategic asset for Persian Gulf countries: water desalination plants.
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) March 2, 2026
Desalination plants are critical infrastructure for many Gulf states because almost all freshwater in the region comes from either desalinating seawater or pumping deep aquifers. The highest dependence on these plants includes 90% in Kuwait, 86% in Oman, 70% in Saudi Arabia, and 42% in the UAE, coming from desalination.
Power plants are not off limits.
👀 Qatar’s defense ministry says Iran targeted a power plant and a facility at its main LNG production site
Another sign (after the Ras Tanura attack in Saudi earlier) that Iran now seems to be aiming at critical infrastructure and energy-export facilities in the Gulf https://t.co/HWc8qs0lKB
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 2, 2026
Under international humanitarian law, attacks may only be directed at military targets, not civilians or civilian objects as such. But as shown above, the IRGC’s targeting has proved otherwise.
Perhaps that’s why some Gulf states that have been on the fence about the war have chosen to join forces with the U.S. and Israel.
🚨 BREAKING: QATAR JOINS WAR AGAINST IRAN
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense says its air force shot down two Iranian SU-24 fighter jets, intercepted 7 ballistic missiles, and downed 5 drones launched from Iran.
All threats were destroyed before reaching their targets. pic.twitter.com/6WchzsFmWv
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 2, 2026
So if major desalination plants, or the transmission systems tied to them, were knocked offline in wartime, the result could quickly become a humanitarian emergency, especially in dense coastal cities. Let’s hope Blas did not give the IRGC any ideas on X.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 03/02/2026 – 18:00
Airports, Data Centers, Skyscrapers, & Power Plants: Are Desalination Plants Next Targets In U.S.-Iran War
Airports, Data Centers, Skyscrapers, & Power Plants: Are Desalination Plants Next Targets In U.S.-Iran War
“I think it’s fair to say this is a third Gulf war, isn’t it?” Economist defense editor Shashank Joshi wrote on X.
I think fair to say that this is a third Gulf war, isn’t it?
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 2, 2026
Beyond the ongoing exchange between U.S. and Israeli forces striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military targets and IRGC retaliation strikes against U.S. and allied bases across the Gulf and into Europe, including Cyprus, an increasingly uncomfortable reality is beginning to emerge: civilian and commercial targets do not appear to be off limits.
Developments we’ve been following today include drone strikes on Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura complex, the largest refinery in the country. Then, drone strikes on a commercial data center run by Amazon AWS in the United Arab Emirates (first-ever in modern warfare), as well as countless videos of IRGC missile and drone strikes on condo towers and other civilian soft targets.
🚨BREAKING: An Iranian missile has struck a luxury skyscraper in Bahrain reports suggest that this skyscraper is housing senior U.S. military command personnel.
Bahrain officials have not yet released any statements. pic.twitter.com/CQIQ2Yo7CC
— The British Patriot (@TheBritLad) March 2, 2026
Incredible Angle for Iranian Sahed drone striking a tower in Bahrain pic.twitter.com/YyzHOSatEd
— War Monitor Clips (@WarMonitorClips) February 28, 2026
Video shows high-rise tower in Bahrain struck by Iranian drone. Wondering if target was particular individual or company. Note the guest workers watching and recording. pic.twitter.com/FAwRSQGxUs
— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) February 28, 2026
Bloomberg commodity analyst Javier Blas wrote on X, “A lot of attention about ‘soft targets’ like hotels and airports. And about oil/gas facilities.”
“But please keep an eye on what may prove the most strategic asset for Persian Gulf countries: water desalination plants,” Blas warned.
US-IRAN WAR: A lot of attention about “soft targets” like hotels and airports. And about oil / gas facilities.
But please keep an eye on what may prove the most strategic asset for Persian Gulf countries: water desalination plants.
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) March 2, 2026
Desalination plants are critical infrastructure for many Gulf states because almost all freshwater in the region comes from either desalinating seawater or pumping deep aquifers. The highest dependence on these plants includes 90% in Kuwait, 86% in Oman, 70% in Saudi Arabia, and 42% in the UAE, coming from desalination.
Power plants are not off limits.
👀 Qatar’s defense ministry says Iran targeted a power plant and a facility at its main LNG production site
Another sign (after the Ras Tanura attack in Saudi earlier) that Iran now seems to be aiming at critical infrastructure and energy-export facilities in the Gulf https://t.co/HWc8qs0lKB
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 2, 2026
Under international humanitarian law, attacks may only be directed at military targets, not civilians or civilian objects as such. But as shown above, the IRGC’s targeting has proved otherwise.
Perhaps that’s why some Gulf states that have been on the fence about the war have chosen to join forces with the U.S. and Israel.
🚨 BREAKING: QATAR JOINS WAR AGAINST IRAN
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense says its air force shot down two Iranian SU-24 fighter jets, intercepted 7 ballistic missiles, and downed 5 drones launched from Iran.
All threats were destroyed before reaching their targets. pic.twitter.com/6WchzsFmWv
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 2, 2026
So if major desalination plants, or the transmission systems tied to them, were knocked offline in wartime, the result could quickly become a humanitarian emergency, especially in dense coastal cities. Let’s hope Blas did not give the IRGC any ideas on X.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 03/02/2026 – 18:00
2-and-no: North Carolina college has perfect game in softball, no-hitter in baseball on same day
The Elon Phoenix pulled off a rare double when the baseball team’s Aidan Stieglitz combined with two relievers for a no-hitter shortly after the softball team’s Anna Dew pitched a perfect game.
Saturday’s gems put the 7,000-student private school in North Carolina in the spotlight as stat geeks pored through record books to see when — or if — a school ever had two pitching performances of such magnitude occur on the same day. No one has come up with the answer, though ESPN reported it definitely hasn’t happened in the last three years.
“I was primarily a pitcher in college myself, so I can appreciate the effort,” said athletic director Jennifer Strawley, who played softball at Penn in the 1990s. “It doesn’t happen every day that you see a perfect game or a no-hitter and to have both on the same day. You also recognize it’s a total team effort and to get to that place, there are plays made behind them that led to the pitchers being able to enjoy that moment.”
Dew struck out six and threw just 79 pitches in an 8-0 win over Charleston Southern that ended after six innings because of the run rule. Dew’s perfect game was Elon’s first since 2022 and the season highlight for a team out to a 4-14 start after winning the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament and qualifying for an NCAA regional last season.
Stieglitz, a freshman making his first start, carried a perfect game into the eighth inning in a 3-0 win over Fairfield. He issued a two-out walk for Fairfield’s only baserunner. Mike Staiano got the final out of the eighth and RJ Latkowski pitched a clean ninth to finish Elon’s first no-hitter since 2017.
Strawley said she is on hand for most baseball and softball games but was out of town with the men’s and women’s basketball teams. She said she watched the perfect game and no-hitter on her phone.
“It’s just a really special moment for the student-athletes, for our coaches and our institution as a whole to have something like two unbelievable performances in the same day lead to a little bit of publicity for us,” she said.
In the polls
UCLA (9-2), LSU (11-1) and Texas (11-0) remain the top three teams in the D1Baseball.com rankings. UCLA and LSU are the top two in Baseball America with Mississippi State (11-1) third.
The Bruins dropped a midweek game to San Diego State before turning in the best weekend nationally by beating three ranked SEC opponents in Arlington, Texas. They were dominant in wins of 12-5 over Tennessee and 11-1 over Texas A&M before edging Mississippi State 8-7 in 10 innings.
LSU beat Dartmouth twice and Northeastern once, all at home. Texas knocked off Coastal Carolina, Baylor and Ohio State, all in Houston, and is among three unbeaten teams with New Mexico (12-0) and USC (11-0).
Epic showdown
UCLA’s win over Mississippi State on Sunday could go down as the best game of the regular season.
The highly anticipated matchup more than lived up to its billing. Roch Cholowsky’s two-run, two-out homer in the ninth tied it at 5-all, and pinch hitter Aidan Espinoza’s two-run triple was the key hit in the 10th. Easton Hawk was nails in relief, working out of a bases-loaded situation with one out in the ninth and retiring three of the last four batters in the 10th after Reed Stallman’s homer made it a one-run game.
“An instant classic,” UCLA coach John Savage said, according to D1Baseball. “They’re really good, and we were up and then we were down and it looked like down to the last out, then you’ve got your shortstop (Cholowsky) doing some remarkable things, man. I mean, I don’t know what to say. I’ve seen it before, but that one was pretty special.”
Cleanup spot
Florida won 7-2 and 8-4 at in-state rival Miami to continue its dominance in the series. The third game was canceled because of inclement weather Sunday. The Gators have won five straight series and 11 of the last 12 against Miami, including six in a row in Coral Gables since 2014. … Georgia Tech’s Ryan Zuckerman has four home runs, three coming in Sunday’s 14-6 win over Northwestern. Kollin Ritchie went deep three times for Oklahoma State in a 20-0 rout of Sam Houston State on Saturday. … Arkansas State’s 12-4 win over Arkansas on Tuesday marked the Red Wolves’ first win in seven games against the Razorbacks since 1947.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/college-baseball-softball-elon-no-hitters/
Jueza anula política de DHS que exige 7 días de aviso para que legisladores visiten cárceles del ICE
Por MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Una jueza federal acordó el lunes suspender temporalmente la versión más reciente de una política del gobierno de Trump que exige a los miembros del Congreso avisar con una semana de antelación antes de poder visitar centros de detención de inmigrantes.
La jueza de distrito Jia Cobb, en Washington, dictaminó que es probable que un grupo de legisladores demócratas logre demostrar que el requisito de aviso de siete días es ilegal y excede la autoridad del gobierno federal.
La jueza señaló que el gobierno federal no ha citado “ejemplos concretos de problemas de seguridad planteados por visitas del Congreso sin aviso previo”.
Trece miembros de la Cámara de Representantes presentaron una demanda para impugnar la política emitida el 8 de enero por la secretaria de Seguridad Nacional, Kristi Noem. Cobb había bloqueado una versión anterior de la política en diciembre. Determinó que muy probablemente es ilegal que el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) exija una semana de aviso a los miembros del Congreso que quieran visitar y observar las condiciones en instalaciones del ICE.
“Los demandantes están sin duda frustrados con los repetidos intentos de los demandados de imponer un requisito de aviso”, escribió Cobb. “Pero, al tomar nuevas medidas, los demandados están obligados a acatar los términos de la orden del tribunal y actuar de manera coherente con los principios jurídicos expuestos en esta opinión”.
Sin embargo, Noem restableció en secreto otro requisito de aviso un día después de que un agente del ICE disparara y matara a la ciudadana estadounidense Renee Good en Minneapolis. Era casi idéntico a la versión que Cobb bloqueó en diciembre.
Tres días después del homicidio, se impidió a tres legisladores demócratas de Minnesota visitar una instalación del ICE cerca de Minneapolis. El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) no reveló la nueva versión de la política hasta después de que las representantes Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison y Angie Craig fueran rechazadas inicialmente en la instalación, según los abogados de los demandantes.
Una ley prohíbe al gobierno usar fondos generales asignados para impedir que los miembros del Congreso ingresen a instalaciones del DHS con fines de supervisión. Cobb concluyó que es “altamente probable” que el gobierno del presidente Donald Trump haya utilizado fondos restringidos para promulgar y hacer cumplir la nueva política.
Cobb fue nominada al cargo por el expresidente Joe Biden.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Real Madrid pierde su segundo partido seguido y se rezaga a cuatro puntos del líder Barcelona
MADRID (AP) — El Real Madrid perdió por segundo partido consecutivo en La Liga española cuando una impresionante volea del delantero uruguayo Martín Satriano le dio el lunes a Getafe una sorpresiva victoria 1-0 en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
El resultado impidió que el club de la capital recortara la diferencia de cuatro puntos con el líder Barcelona.
Getafe había perdido sus ocho enfrentamientos ligueros anteriores con el Madrid y las atajadas tempranas del arquero David Soria evitaron que se quedara en desventaja.
Soria desvió por encima del travesaño un disparo de Arda Güler a mitad del primer tiempo, poco después de frustrar a Vinícius Júnior cuando quedó mano a mano.
El Madrid tuvo más la pelota, pero fue muy previsible y le faltó imaginación para generar jugadas de peligro También desperdició las pocas ocasiones que dispuso.
Getafe les pasó factura seis minutos antes del descanso. Un centro desde la derecha fue despejado de cabeza, pero el balón quedó a los pies de Satriano, quien prendió una volea al techo de la red desde 20 metros.
Fue el segundo gol en tres partidos para el uruguayo, que llegó cedido por el Olympique de Lyon durante el último mercado de fichajes.
“El partido salió perfecto. Sabíamos que habría situaciones, pero no tantas como a las que el Madrid está acostumbrado”, destacó José Bordalás, el técnico de Getafe. “El equipo trabajó fenomenal”.
El Madrid siguió dominando la posesión en el segundo tiempo. Antonio Rüdiger y el suplente Rodrygo estuvieron entre los que estuvieron cerca de conseguir el empate.
Pero no pudo encontrar la manera de superar la férrea retaguardia del Getafe y a un Soria en gran forma.
La tarea del Madrid se complicó aún más cuando el atacante argentino Franco Mastantuono fue expulsado por protestar en el tiempo añadido y, aunque la igualdad numérica se restableció en el último minuto cuando el getafense Adrián Liso también vio la tarjeta roja, llegó demasiado tarde como para tener algún impacto.
Getafe resistió para asegurar una victoria histórica, la primera en el Santiago Bernabéu desde 2008, y tres puntos vitales en su intento por mantenerse en La Liga.
“Tenemos que felicitar al equipo, hicimos un trabajo soberbio atrás y marcamos cuando tuvimos la oportunidad”, dijo Kiko Femenía, defensor de Getafe.
El conjunto azulón subió tres puntos en la tabla para ubicarse en el 11mo puesto, ocho puntos por encima de la zona de descenso.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Liberan a jefe de seguridad de la líder opositora venezolana María Corina Machado
CARACAS (AP) — Milciades Ávila, jefe de seguridad de la líder opositora venezolana María Corina Machado, fue liberado el lunes en el marco de una Ley de Amnistía aprobada recientemente en la Asamblea Nacional, confirmó la organización política de la Premio Nobel de la Paz 2025.
El jefe de seguridad de la fundadora y líder de la centroderechista Vente Venezuela fue detenido junto a Edwin Moya, también miembro del mismo equipo de seguridad, en septiembre de 2024, casi dos meses después de los comicios presidenciales del 28 de julio en los que el ahora depuesto mandatario Nicolás Maduro buscó la reelección para su tercer mandato y fue declarado ganador en un proceso electoral cuestionado por la oposición.
Ávila y Moya fueron liberados junto al activista de Vente Venezuela Julio Velazco en el marco de la Ley de Amnistía que posibilita la liberación masiva de presos por razones políticas.
Sus liberaciones —recogidas en imágenes difundidas por las redes sociales de Vente Venezuela— representan “un alivio para sus familias y una señal de que la presión y la firmeza dan resultados”, así como “un paso más en la lucha por la justicia en Venezuela”, dijo la organización política. “¡Seguimos! Hasta que todos los presos políticos sean libres”.
Las liberaciones se produjeron un día después que Machado —exdiputada por esa formación— anunció su retorno a Venezuela en las próximas semanas y aseguró que habrá elecciones en el país sudamericano.
En su cuenta en Instagram, Machado no mencionó una fecha para su regreso, pero afirmó que uno de los objetivos será “prepararnos para una nueva y gigantesca victoria electoral”.
La presidenta encargada Delcy Rodríguez ha advertido que Machado “tendrá que rendir cuenta” si vuelve a Venezuela.
La ley de Amnistía fue sancionada el 19 de febrero, apenas 20 días después de que Rodríguez la presentara para potenciar la convivencia en el país. Rodríguez fue juramentada el 5 de enero, dos días después de la captura y traslado del entonces presidente Nicolás Maduro y su esposa a Nueva York para enfrentar cargos federales de tráfico de droga.
El diputado oficialista Jorge Arreaza, presidente de la comisión especial de la Asamblea Nacional que está a cargo de velar por el cumplimiento de la ley, anunció el lunes que se han recibido 9.060 solicitudes de amnistía y otorgado “libertad plena” de momento a 3.383 personas que ya tenían una medida cautelar de presentación o de arresto domiciliario, y que otras 245, que estaban en prisión, también han recuperado su libertad plena desde que entró en vigor ese instrumento legal.
La Ley de Amnistía se aplica a dirigentes opositores, sindicalistas, activistas de derechos humanos, estudiantes, académicos y periodistas, entre otros. Excluye, en tanto, a los condenados por homicidio, narcotráfico, violaciones graves de derechos humanos y rebelión militar.
Bitcoin: Worthless Speculative Asset Or A True Monetary Alternative?
Bitcoin: Worthless Speculative Asset Or A True Monetary Alternative?
The recent correction in Bitcoin has created a familiar debate. Is it a worthless speculative asset or a true monetary alternative? At $67,000, the price may be volatile, but it is hardly worthless.
Bitcoin may be both a warning and an opportunity. It remains a strong hedge against the destruction of fiat money and financial repression for many citizens in the world, but it is also a volatile asset that can damage investors who believe its price can only rise.
For many investors, the recent correction in bitcoin is a concern. However, this is only if we look at bitcoin in US dollars, euros or world reserve currencies.
For citizens all over the world, from Cuba to Iran, suffering the elevated inflation and currency demolition created by their governments, bitcoin is certainly a haven.
The huge growth in bitcoin’s price over the past few years shows that many investors have lost faith in fiat currencies and the solvency of states that are getting more in debt.
Bitcoin and gold are showing that purchasing power is going down in a way that official CPI inflation measures aim to hide. Global money supply is rising faster than nominal GDP, and governments are reliant on deficits and financial repression.
Bitcoin is a teenager that is slowly becoming a digital, decentralised, and nonforfeitable asset for many savers. It makes it harder for governments and central banks to steal wealth through inflation.
Bitcoin adoption outpaces expectations
This doesn’t mean that Bitcoin is going to take over the US dollar as a reserve currency or immediately become an alternative to fiat currencies in the world.
It can’t supply the liquidity, depth, and network effects of the main reserve currency, and it can’t totally replace fiat currency in everyday economic activities.
However, Bitcoin has become, like gold, a limit on predatory fiscal policy and a visible example of the results of monetary disorder since it is outside the control of politics and bureaucracy.
Bitcoin is more like a tech startup than a regular currency when you look at its price. However, many state currencies are more volatile than Bitcoin and have lost all their purchasing power.
For an asset to be money, it must be a reserve of value, a generalised means of payment and a unit of measure. Dozens of state-issued currencies globally fulfil none of those criteria. Furthermore, money does not need to be issued by a state. That is simply a political construct.
Volatility is typical of what I call a teenager start-up currency. Some people can say that it has gone up a lot more than its current fundamentals or that it is still very inexpensive compared to its prospective market, depending on the assumptions they make of global adoption.
However, it is undeniable that bitcoin adoption today is much larger than what most predicted, both for transactions and as a reserve of value.
Investors need to keep in mind, though, that bitcoin is still very volatile and has significant execution risk. Understanding these challenges and how they work is essential, and the best thing to do is not to “chase the wave” but to look at it with a long-term view.
At the centre of the quest for independent money
The rise of spot Bitcoin ETFs has changed the way the market perceives Bitcoin risk by letting both institutions and individuals buy and sell it through regulated vehicles.
Inflows into ETFs have soared in the past two years, with major funds like BlackRock and Fidelity adding it into portfolios.
In recent weeks we have seen substantial net withdrawals from many US spot Bitcoin ETFs, driven by overleveraged bets. Investors should not confuse the positive factors of an ETF with a promise of stability or guaranteed price increases.
Cleaning leveraged ETF bets is a positive in the long run but may create short-term volatility. For short-term investors, adding excessive volatility with leverage is a recipe for disaster.
A 10% drop in a day can wipe away 30% of capital, and a significant price drop added to substantial margin calls can kill a position even if the long-term trend is good.
Margin calls, forced liquidations, and automated risk systems are symptoms of an excess of leveraged bets but also an opportunity to clean up the buyer base.
If you use Bitcoin as a hedge against the destruction of money instead of a speculative asset, you would be staying away from leveraged products.
Bitcoin is not yet a total substitute for equities, productive assets, or gold within a cohesive wealth preservation plan; rather, it is a complementary asset.
In a world where central bank balance sheets are getting bigger, government debt rises and the threat of digital currencies that may be used for monitoring and control is growing, keeping a small amount of decentralised, nonforfeitable assets makes sense, not as a fashion.
The most important thing is to think of Bitcoin as just another way to protect yourself, along with stocks in real businesses, real assets, and precious metals.
The main recommendations for investors are to never use leverage on an asset that is so volatile, size positions based on extreme drawdowns and know that price corrections caused by ETF flows or liquidations do not change the long-term adoption pattern.
If governments keep eroding the value of fiat money and making it harder for people to be financially independent, investors will look for ways to protect their wealth. Bitcoin may be young, but it remains at the centre of the quest for independent money, with all its risks and possibilities.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 03/02/2026 – 17:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/bitcoin-worthless-speculative-asset-or-true-monetary-alternative
Cuba detiene a 10 panameños acusados de fabricar propaganda “subversiva”
LA HABANA (AP) — Las autoridades cubanas detuvieron a 10 ciudadanos panameños acusados de fabricar propaganda subversiva, informó el gobierno de la isla el lunes.
El anuncio se produce apenas días después de que la unidad de guardafronteras de la isla intercambió disparos en aguas cubanas con hombres a bordo de una embarcación registrada en Estados Unidos.
El Ministerio del Interior de Cuba aseguró que los ciudadanos panameños recibieron un pago para ingresar a la isla “con el propósito de confeccionar letreros con contenido de carácter subversivo, contrarios al orden constitucional”.
Según las declaraciones iniciales de los detenidos, debían salir de Cuba “una vez cumplido el objetivo” y a su regreso recibirían un pago de entre 1.000 y 1.500 dólares cada uno, según el gobierno cubano.
Los detenidos, que fueron arrestados el sábado en La Habana, admitieron su responsabilidad, aseguró el ministerio. No se dieron a conocer más detalles, incluida la naturaleza de la supuesta propaganda.
El Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá se negó a comentar sobre el incidente el lunes.
Los arrestos se produjeron apenas días después de que el gobierno cubano dio a conocer que una embarcación con 10 cubanos fuertemente armados procedentes de Estados Unidos comenzaron a disparar contra miembros de la unidad guardafronteras en el norte de la isla. Los soldados respondieron a la agresión y abatieron a cuatro de los sospechosos, manifestaron las autoridades.
El gobierno de Cuba acusó a esos sospechosos de tratar de infiltrarse en la isla y desatar una ola de terrorismo, aunque el motivo exacto sigue sin estar claro.
Cuba ha dicho que mantiene una línea abierta de comunicación con Estados Unidos sobre el tiroteo al tiempo que ambos gobiernos continúan con sus respectivas investigaciones.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Chicago Cubs prospect Jefferson Rojas is showing off elite bat in impressive camp performance
MESA, Ariz. — Twenty minutes before squaring off in live batting practice last week, Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton had a message for prospect Jefferson Rojas.
Go easy on me this time.
Horton’s message became prophetic. Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, homered off the National League rookie of the year runner-up in live BP that day — an all-too-familiar sight for Horton.
“He owns me,” Horton said with a grin. “I think I’ve faced him seven times probably and he’s taken me deep three times, one on a fastball, one on a sinker and one on a slider, so, yeah, I wanted him to go easy on me and obviously he didn’t. Second live BP he took me deep twice.
“Like, all right, dude, we get it, you’re a good hitter,” Horton joked. “He’s a great player. I never got the chance to play with him, but just seeing what he does, the way he works, it’s impressive for a 20-year-old kid. I’m really excited to watch his future and see how that plays out for him.”
Rojas’ performance this spring has made him a standout in camp. An advanced hitter who reached Double A for the first time last year, being part of big-league camp and rising through the farm system has an arrival to the majors in the shortstop’s path.
Chicago Cubs shortstop Jefferson Rojas hits a sacrifice RBI during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers in a Cactus League game at Sloan Park on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
“It definitely feels closer getting to practice with players that play out there,” Rojas said through an interpreter.
Rojas’ hit tool is one of his best attributes. He is getting plenty of opportunities this spring for regular at-bats in Cactus League games and has taken advantage of those chances. Rojas made a couple of tweaks in the offseason, adjusting his posture to stand more upright and separating his hands more. In nine spring games through Monday, Rojas, who turns 21 in April, is 6-for-18 (.333) with one home run, three doubles, .400 on-base percentage and 1.067 OPS.
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“There’s obviously a lot of eyes on him, and for him to stay calm and stay steady and perform in spring and show us real development is really impressive,” director of player development Jason Kanzler told the Tribune. “Obviously, the more exposure he has to the highest levels of competition, the more familiar and calibrated he is with the end goal of what he needs to do in his development journey.
“We’re going to rely on him at some point in the future so it’s really great that he’s going to get to spend so much more time with them.”
One of the most encouraging parts of Rojas’ journey is the damage he’s doing offensively, predominantly against pitchers older than him. Since signing with the Cubs as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2022, Rojas has recorded only six of 1,368 minor-league plate appearances against a pitcher younger than him. Five of those came last year.
“The goal for that would be at the end of the year he’s ready to play in the major leagues, I think that’s how we would see it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s 20, so that’s an ambitious goal right there, but he’s having a great camp, and the way he’s kind of matured in the batter’s box over the last two years, getting spring training looks from him is really fun to see.”
The small diamond-encrusted goat pendant around his neck glitters in the Arizona sun as Rojas goes through his pregame batting practice. Gifted to him by his brother, Rojas always carries it with him. One day he hopes he’s wearing it when he steps onto the field at Wrigley for the first time as a big-leaguer.
“If God gives me the opportunity to be there, that would be incredible,” Rojas said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/chicago-cubs-prospect-jefferson-rojas/
