newswire (beta)

UK blocks China wind turbine project on ‘national security’ amid tense business climate Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Xiaofei Xu Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Britain’s decision to block a £1.5 billion (US$2 billion) plan by Chinese clean energy giant Mingyang to build the UK’s largest wind turbine factory in Scotland highlights the mounting challenges of doing business with China in an era of deepening global mistrust, analysts said. The move was likely the result of direct pressure from Washington, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The US-Israeli war in Iran and the subsequent energy crisis had raised hopes for the project to be... 21 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend: C2E2, Andersonville Restaurant Week And More Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 You can also shop a variety of indoor markets and craft events, watch an Indiana Jones flick accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic and enjoy an evening of jazz in South Shore. Kelli’s Lounge Fills Void In Bronzeville As Welcoming Third Space For Neighbors Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Kelli’s Chicago owner Kelli Dace said she's committed to supporting the neighborhood that raised her, offering a lowkey space for guests to have coffee during the day and cocktails at night. Trump eyes China deal, but dragging out talks risks backlash, warns former diplomat Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Orange Wang Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 US President Donald Trump is expected to aim for an “economic deal” with China when he is in Beijing, according to a former senior diplomat who served under the American leader during his first term. However if Beijing were to drag out trade negotiations with Washington for too long, it could risk Trump taking a much tougher turn against China, warned Stephen Biegun, who served as US deputy secretary of state from 2019 to 2021. “The president wants a deal, an economic deal, specifically,” he... DJI unveils its first 360-degree drone amid patent dispute with crosstown rival Insta360 Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Coco Feng Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China’s DJI announced its first 360-degree drone on Thursday, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a nascent market segment that is now at the centre of an escalating patent war. The new product, the DJI Avata 360, marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography. The drone features a front-mounted omnidirectional camera capable of capturing high dynamic range (HDR) images at 8K resolution and 60 frames per second, according to official... China’s CNOOC to boost oil and gas output amid Middle East strife Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Cheryl Arcibal,Themis Qi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the country’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, aims to further boost production this year amid geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. The plan came after the state-backed company reported an 11.5 per cent drop in net profit to 122.08 billion yuan (US$17.7 billion) in 2025, owing to low oil prices during the year, even though it produced record-high volumes of the commodities. Its revenue in the period also dipped by... Trump stays popular in Philippines despite Iran war fuel crisis Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Sam Beltran Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Even as the Philippines thrashes through the throes of an energy crisis born of the Iran war, Filipinos themselves largely appear uninterested in blaming the man who started it. Instead of Donald Trump, public ire has instead coalesced around Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his administration for failing to quell soaring prices. Fuel costs have rocketed across the archipelago since the United States and Israel first struck Iran on February 28, following the near-total closure of... As oil-shocked world turns to renewables, China will reap the rewards Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Andy Xie Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... EP Fresh Market, Edison Park’s New Grocery Store, Has A Coffee Bar And Taqueria Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The store opened in early March in the former Happy Foods, which closed more than three years ago. An April 18 grand opening will feature bagpipes and mariachi. Iran to allow Malaysian vessels to pass in Strait of Hormuz: Anwar Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Malaysia’s Prime Minister ⁠Anwar Ibrahim said ⁠on Thursday he had spoken to the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and other regional countries and said Malaysian vessels were now being allowed ‌to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Anwar in a televised address thanked Iran’s president for allowing the passage of Malaysian ships. “We are now in the process of releasing the Malaysian oil tankers and the ⁠workers involved so that they may continue their journey home,” ‌he said. Anwar said he talked... Watchdog To Host Hearing With Top Cop On Whether Chicago Police Helped Federal Immigration Agents Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The April 2 hearing comes as neighbors and officials push for an investigation. Supt. Larry Snelling was criticized for not participating in a previous meeting. Mike Pence To Speak At UChicago’s Institute Of Politics In April Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Pence will participate in a student-moderated panel and is expected to speak about the role of the executive branch, populism and more. Germany’s Merz floats EU-China trade deal as capitals soften on Beijing Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Finbarr Bermingham Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he can imagine a trade deal with China in the future, signalling a new softening stance towards Beijing in European capitals. “We have set quite a lot in motion when it comes to trade policy. I can also envisage further agreements, for example, in the longer term an agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” Merz said in the German parliament on Wednesday. Merz’s remarks underscore how surging trade and geopolitical tensions with Washington are... Former Logan Square Open Books Employees Criticize Management For Sudden Terminations Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The store closed this month. Its four former workers were only told on the same day they were let go, they said. Police Offer Free Steering Wheel Locks To NW Side Honda Civic Owners To Counter Airbag Thefts Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Car owners citywide have reported over 70 airbag thefts targeting Honda Civics and other Honda models between December and February, according to police. Finland’s president says Ukraine talks may be at ‘end of the road’ Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has close ties with both US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, fears US-led Ukraine peace talks may be over, he said in an interview published on Thursday. “It may be due to the war in Iran, which is drawing a lot of attention away from the war in Ukraine. But it may also be that the negotiations have come to a halt because they’ve reached the end of the road and are not making any further progress,” Stubb said in the... VW pulls Skoda brand from China after years of falling sales Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Themis Qi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Volkswagen will withdraw its mass-market car brand Skoda from mainland China after years of lacklustre sales, as international marques continue to lose their appeal in the world’s largest automotive market. “Skoda Auto has realigned its global strategy to focus on growth markets such as India and the Asean region,” a Volkswagen spokesperson said on Thursday in a written response to the South China Morning Post, without denying earlier reports that the Czech brand would cease selling new vehicles... What can the Iran war tell China about missile interception? Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Liu Zhen Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Beijing should develop an air-based interceptor system as missile threats escalate from Washington and its regional allies, as well as Taiwan and India, a mainland Chinese military magazine has urged, pointing to developments in the Iran war. The war in the Middle East, particularly the “nearly insurmountable challenges” posed by Iran’s ballistic missiles to Israel, is exposing the limitations of existing midcourse and terminal-phase missile defence systems, according to an analysis in the March... Bangladesh recovers 24 bodies after bus plunges into river Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Rescue teams including navy divers in Bangladesh have recovered 24 bodies from a bus that plunged into a river at a ferry crossing, officials said on Thursday. The bus sank into the deep waters of the Padma river in Goalanda on Wednesday, about 65km (40 miles) west of the capital Dhaka. It had around 50 passengers on board, many of whom managed to escape. A fire service report said that 24 bodies, including those of five children, had been recovered by midday on Thursday. Some were pulled out by... Cathay to increase fuel surcharge for all flights by 34% from April Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will increase its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34 per cent from April – the second increase in two weeks – citing “considerable pressure” as conflict in the Middle East impacts oil prices. The airline said on Thursday that the fuel surcharge for long-haul flights would increase by HK$396 (US$50.63) to HK$1,560, or 34 per cent from the current HK$1,164. The measure takes effect on Wednesday of next week. The increase also means the surcharge for... Pakistan steps in as Iran mediator while India watches from the wings Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Junaid Kathju Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As the Iran war reshapes West Asian geopolitics, Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as a backchannel mediator between Tehran and Washington, potentially sidelining India’s efforts to assert itself as a credible global diplomatic actor. India, despite its growing partnerships with the US, Israel and the Gulf states, has been absent from any meaningful conflict-resolution initiative on Iran. Umer Karim, a political science researcher at the University of Birmingham, said India’s strengthening... China’s lidar giants pivot to robotics as Jensen Huang praises Chinese supply chain Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Daniel Ren Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China’s two biggest makers of lidar sensors for cars, Hesai Group and RoboSense Technology, have ramped up investments in robotics products as the country consolidates its leading position in building a global supply chain for the fast-growing sector. Shanghai-based Hesai, the world’s largest producer of lidar sensors that help cars map terrain, planned to spend 200 million yuan (US$28.9 million) this year to design and manufacture “eyes and muscles” for robots, creating a new growth engine... Trump sets new China visit date as Iran war stokes economic risks Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 US President Donald Trump said he would visit China from May 14 to May 15, including a meeting with President Xi Jinping, after delaying the trip by about six weeks because of the war on Iran. The new schedule is a day shorter than the original three-day visit that was due to start on March 31. China didn’t join the White House in announcing the trip. It rarely makes statements about planned visits more than a few days ahead of the arrival date. “I look very much forward to spending time with... Iran war: Why a Trump climbdown won’t save Asia’s economies Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Nicholas Spiro Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 For the second year in a row, Asia’s vulnerability to global shocks is a source of concern. Almost exactly a year since US President Donald Trump launched his assault on the global trading system, the external dependencies of leading Asian economies have once again dimmed the outlook for the region. Early last year, analysts were worried about Asia’s heavy reliance on exports to the United States. Morgan Stanley pointed out that seven of the 10 countries running the largest trade surpluses with... As India and US seek to reset defence ties, Iran war threatens to be the wild card Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Maria Siow Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 A visit by a top American official to India this week has raised expectations that bilateral defence ties are getting “back on track” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But analysts warn that both sides are unlikely to reach full agreement on New Delhi’s energy and security concerns, while the US-Israeli war against Iran could unsettle the relationship. Speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India would play a central role in... ‘Demand shock’: China cannot escape the impact of a long Iran war, analyst warns Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ji Siqi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 While China appears better prepared than other countries to deal with the shocks brought by the US-Israel war on Iran, its economy would still come under pressure in the short term if its regional partners suffer, an executive with a global consultancy has said. “China might be more resilient, but China is not resilient to a demand shock,” said Denis Depoux, a global managing director at consultancy Roland Berger. “For example, if the economy is slowing down in Southeast Asia, if people stop... As Iran war rages, China links peace to economic growth at Boao Forum Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ji Siqi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... Iran war deflects attention from Ukraine as Russia starts spring offensive Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Associated Press Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbour Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side was easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian... Oil Wars: Speeding The Transition to Renewable Energy Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In purely economic terms, the big winners since the start of the US-Israel attack are American oil companies, such as Exxon, Chevron, and Occidental, seeing increased profits on safe domestic supplies without having to pay a war surcharge. As noted by the Financial Times, oil groups will reap a $63 billion windfall “from Gulf war disruption” if 2026 crude prices average $100/barrel. Companies without holdings in the Middle East, traders without tankers needing to transit the narrow Strait of Hormuz, and global arms dealers also benefit. More The post Oil Wars: Speeding The Transition to Renewable Energy appeared first on CounterPunch.org. How Microplastics Threaten Marine Ecosystems and the Food Chain Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, can be found in land, air, and water, and have infiltrated our food chain, resulting in far-reaching health consequences for humans and nonhumans alike. In 2020, scientists discovered the “highest level of microplastic ever recorded on the seafloor,” revealing the extent of their impact on the marine ecosystem. More The post How Microplastics Threaten Marine Ecosystems and the Food Chain appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The Weaponisation of Diaspora Psychopathy Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As Donald J. Trump, commander-in-chief of the American Empire and known associate of the child-sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, continues to ravage communities and people across the world; this time by starting an utterly unnecessary and deeply unpopular war with Iran at the behest of Israel, the efforts to justify his latest act of barbarity – More The post The Weaponisation of Diaspora Psychopathy appeared first on CounterPunch.org. What Trump’s Iran “Excursion” Cost US Allies Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In his recent social media diatribes, Donald Trump has complained that our allies are ungrateful for the war he has initiated against Iran. He is angered that they aren’t anxious to send in their military forces to win a war that he claims is already won. Trump also doesn’t seem to think it matters that More The post What Trump’s Iran “Excursion” Cost US Allies appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The Late Robert Mueller, Bill of Rights Executioner Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Obituaries on eminent Washingtonians usually omit the dreadful precedents they set that will vex Americans long after their death. Not this piece. Former FBI director Robert Mueller died last week at the age of 81. The New York Times eulogized him as a “button-down, lockjawed, rock-ribbed exemplar of a vanishing caste.”  In reality, Mueller was More The post The Late Robert Mueller, Bill of Rights Executioner appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Yes, Iran is Playing Chess — But Only After Rewriting the Rules of the Game Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The origins of chess are contested, but few dispute that while the game began in India, it was the Sassanian Persian Empire that refined it into a recognizable strategic system. It was Persia that codified its language, symbolism and intellectual framework: the shah (king), the rokh (rook), and shatranj, the modern chess game. This is More The post Yes, Iran is Playing Chess — But Only After Rewriting the Rules of the Game appeared first on CounterPunch.org. More Parleying Nonsense: Trump, Iran and Promised Negotiations Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 It’s almost not worth considering, but precisely because it comes from the White House, the mad manoeuvrings and silly airings of the US President must be taken seriously.  But only to a point.  Over the last week, a series of events have taken place demonstrating the growing alarm within the administration that things are simply not going More The post More Parleying Nonsense: Trump, Iran and Promised Negotiations appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Autarky: Terrible at Political Scale, But Great as Individual Self-Defense Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Since everyone seems to have a sticker shock story lately:  I rolled one of my motorcycles up to a gas pump yesterday and, for the first time ever, spent more than $5 to fill the tank (small bike, small tank — I paid $5.67 for 1.1 gallons of premium). The obvious reason is, well, obvious. More The post Autarky: Terrible at Political Scale, But Great as Individual Self-Defense appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The U.S. Killing Machine Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 When the U.S. goes to war, it goes to win – and to win, it kills and kills. The U.S-Israel war against Iran began on February 28, 2026.  On March 2nd, Sec. of “War” Pete Hegseth declared: “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without More The post The U.S. Killing Machine appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Surviving a Pan-Crisis Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 We are not facing separate crises, but the simultaneous collapse of multiple historical orders unfolding in the present. Not only international relations and political science scholars but also the broader communities of social sciences—and increasingly even the natural sciences—are confronting a profound and widely acknowledged crisis, which is not merely “theoretical,” “disciplinary,” or “scientific” in More The post Surviving a Pan-Crisis appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Leave and Destroy NATO,  It’s Long Overdue Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Previously unthinkable, amazing developments are afoot in the hyper-capitalist terror state that aspires to rule the world. On March 17, el jefe Donald Trump announced in a fit of pique that he might pull the U.S. out of NATO. This would be the single best move he could make – for all the wrong reasons, More The post Leave and Destroy NATO,  It’s Long Overdue appeared first on CounterPunch.org. For Donald Trump, Ignorance is Bliss Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In 2016, when reporter Katy Tur asked Donald Trump about his false claim that he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering the 9/11 attacks, he replied, “I have the world’s greatest memory. It’s one thing everyone agrees on.” However, when asked about this remark under oath in a deposition during the Trump University More The post For Donald Trump, Ignorance is Bliss appeared first on CounterPunch.org. UN designates African slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’ Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, despite opposition by the United States and some European countries. In a move advocates hailed as a step towards healing and possible reparations, the resolution was adopted to applause by a vote of 123 in favour, three against and 52 abstentions. The US, Israel and Argentina opposed the measure, while Britain and EU member states abstained. Ghana’s President John... It’s Time to Tax the Rich Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 With the deadline for paying federal income taxes fast approaching, the thoughts of American taxpayers turn naturally toward the age-old question: Why isn’t there a fairer tax system? Currently, in fact, campaigns for state tax-the-rich legislation are flourishing in California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia, and have already succeeded in getting More The post It’s Time to Tax the Rich appeared first on CounterPunch.org. US airport wait times longest in history after hundreds of unpaid officers leave Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Bloomberg Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Transportation Security Administration warned that US airport security was under severe strain as a weeks-long Department of Homeland Security funding shutdown drives staffing shortages, long wait times and mounting disruptions across the United States. “This has led to the highest wait times in TSA history, with some wait times greater than 4½ hours,” Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers on Wednesday, adding the agency has already lost more than 480 transportation security... China opens world’s largest ship data set that could be used to train drones Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Chao Kong Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 A Chinese military research team has released what it described as the first publicly available visible light-infrared ship detection data set, a resource that could sharpen maritime target recognition for drones, missiles or surveillance systems operating at night or in environments where radar is degraded or suppressed. The dual-modal ship detection (DMSD) data set contains more than 2,000 paired visible and infrared vessel images and nearly 20,000 annotated instances, according to the... China’s weight-loss drug makers take on global giants as Novo Nordisk patent expires Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Julie Zhang Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 At least 10 weight-loss injections and oral pills are lining up for regulatory approval in China, in a market projected to reach about US$14 billion by 2030. Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, which generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year, lost patent protection in China on March 20, clearing the way for rivals. The rush comes as China’s drug regulator accelerates approvals of innovative therapies, helped by a surge in out-licensing deals with global pharmaceutical... Enact special law to send Japan’s warships to secure Hormuz, ex-adviser tells Takaichi Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Bloomberg Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Japan should consider sending warships to help jointly secure the Strait of Hormuz with other nations and protect both its own vessels and those of other nations – even before a ceasefire, according to a former top national security adviser. A special measures law would be needed to enable such a move, going beyond what Japan has done in past geopolitical conflicts, said Akihisa Nagashima, who served as a national security adviser to the predecessor of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The former... Safety-Net Hospital Serving West Side Patients Announces Abrupt Closure This Week Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 West Suburban Medical Center's president and CEO said the hospital's faulty records and billing system caused a drop in revenue. But problems have been mounting for years, sources told Block Club Chicago. Iran war could boost China’s ‘petroyuan’ and weaken US dollar dominance, analysts say Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ralph Jennings Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The US-Israeli war in Iran could weaken the US dollar’s historic dominance in the oil-rich Middle East and bolster a “petroyuan” alternative backed by China’s currency, according to analysts at a leading European bank. Fallout from the nearly month-long conflict was testing the “foundations of the petrodollar regime”, while damage to Gulf economies “could encourage an unwind in their foreign asset savings”, Deutsche Bank analysts said in a research note published on Tuesday. “If the Gulf moves...

An AI Elementary School, With No Teachers, To Open in Chicago This Fall Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Alpha School, a pricey private school with campuses nationwide, uses artificial intelligence to instruct students. AI schools have been praised by the Trump administration, but researchers say there's limited evidence the model works.

Pinduoduo operator PDD’s profit slides as Chinese firm cites higher reinvestment Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Wency Chen Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 PDD Holdings, the Chinese e-commerce group behind Pinduoduo and global budget marketplace Temu, on Wednesday reported an 11 per cent drop in quarterly profit amid higher sales as the company continued a pivot towards greater reinvestment. Net profit for the quarter fell to 24.5 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion), missing a consensus analyst estimate of 29.1 billion yuan. Meanwhile, revenue rose 12 per cent from a year earlier to 123.9 billion yuan, aligning with a consensus analyst estimate of 123.7...

Robots Gone Wild: Food Delivery Robots Smash 2 Bus Shelters In Chicago Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 A Coco delivery robot collided with an Old Town bus shelter on Tuesday afternoon, just days after a Serve Robotics robot did the same thing in West Town.

Middle powers are taking up the mantle of multilateral leadership Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Wang Huiyao Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 For much of the post-war era, the architecture of global governance rested on the simple assumption that the United States would support the systems it largely designed and uphold the rules it helped to create. The first Trump administration was no isolated incident. Now, from the vantage point of 2026, amid the US-Israel attack on Iran and the subsequent closing of the Strait of Hormuz, it is quite clear that there is little sign of an appetite in Washington for the US to once again safeguard...

City Moves To Landmark Edgewater’s Bryn Mawr Historic District Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The district includes Bryn Mawr Avenue from Broadway to Sheridan Road and famed residences like the Edgewater Beach Apartments. An initial hearing is April 2 with the city's landmarks commission.

$10,000 Reward For Info Offered After UPS Driver, Dad Of 3 Killed in Auburn Gresham Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Michael Hunter was looking for the person who stole his truck when he was shot and killed Sunday near 80th and Hermitage, police and family members said. “Someone knows something.”

China Mobile bets on Hong Kong as gateway for global computing flows Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Mia Nurmamat Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 China Mobile has invested nearly HK$10 billion (US$1.28 billion) over five years to help turn Hong Kong into a global computing hub, integrating the city into China’s national network. The world’s largest telecoms operator by subscribers on Wednesday opened a new data centre in northern Hong Kong and said it would step up investment in next-generation submarine cables. The state-owned group aims to bring Hong Kong into China’s national computing network, which has the world’s second-largest...

Data science, AI slip as 53% of Hong Kong’s university subjects fall in QS rankings Source: South China Morning Post ~ News William Yiu Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Hong Kong’s universities have recorded their sharpest declines in three years in global subject rankings, with more than half of the 266 offerings – including data science and AI – slipping down their respective tables, according to a UK-based education analyst. Despite the overall drop, dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) remained second in the world – the city’s highest-ranked subject – while performing arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) regained its 10th...

African producers may have energy edge during Iran war, if they can overcome hurdles Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Dulue Mbachu Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The Iran war has cut off a fifth of global oil and LNG supply, handing African producers “a structural advantage” in supplying global markets, although their capacity is hampered by factors beyond the Middle East conflict, according to analysts. “West and North African exports are largely insulated from the conflict, meaning barrels from Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Algeria and Libya are viewed as lower-risk alternatives,” said Grace Goodrich and Anne-Laure Klein of Energy, Capital & Power, a Cape...

Are US and China looking for ‘minimum stability’ after going through a ‘rough patch’? Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Cao Jiaxuan Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 China and the United States are trying to navigate their differences to ensure that they maintain a basic level of stability in their relationship, an academic conference in Beijing heard last week. At the forum held by Tsinghua University in Beijing on Friday, academics and former officials discussed the need to prevent open confrontation. US President Donald Trump’s planned visit – now postponed for “five or six weeks” as he focuses on his war with Iran – was seen as a key opportunity by many...

How climate change led to demise of once-thriving Chinese civilisation 4,500 years ago Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Kevin McSpadden Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 If one were to travel to central China, in what is now Hubei province, 4,500 years ago, they might have been fortunate enough to discover a vibrant civilisation characterised by palaces, advanced engineering, and luxuries such as jade. However, in the generations that followed, this culture gradually declined, with its people dispersing across the region. Until now, the reasons behind the collapse of such a thriving civilisation were not well understood. A group of scientists now believe that...

Amid struggles at home, 80% of Chinese companies in EU plan more investment Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Xiaofei Xu Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Almost 80 per cent of the Chinese companies operating in the European Union plan to expand their investment there, even though most complain about policy uncertainty, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and the China Economic Information Service. The result stands in sharp contrast to similar reports published by the European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) – despite companies from both sides complaining about obstacles such as...

China-owned vessel secures rare Strait of Hormuz transit as Iran war grinds on Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Mia Nurmamat,Carol Yang Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The second Chinese-owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier has transited the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to industry sources and vessel-tracking data, amid conflicting claims over access to the vital trade corridor. Tehran has largely blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for Washington and Tel Aviv’s strikes, causing widespread disruption to global shipping – though Iranian officials have recently promised safe passage for vessels...

China calls for US-Iran talks as war upends Gulf states’ global ties Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, encouraged his Iranian counterpart to pursue negotiations with the United States as conflict in the Middle East threatens to enter a second month. “Talking is better than fighting,” Wang told Abbas Araghchi by phone on Tuesday, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “All parties should seize every opportunity to begin the peace process as soon as possible.” Confusion surrounds the status of peace talks, as Iran has derided a reported US 15-point ceasefire plan...

Pop Mart shares dive despite soaring profit as investors fear Labubu dependence Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Zhu Wenqian Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reported strong annual growth in revenue and net profit for 2025, but not enough to alleviate investor fears that the company remains too reliant on the Labubu phenomenon. Annual revenue jumped 184.7 per cent from a year earlier to 37.12 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion), while net profit surged 284.5 per cent to 13.08 billion yuan, the company said on Wednesday. However, its Hong Kong-listed shares plunged 22.5 per cent to HK$168.30 on Wednesday, marking the biggest drop...

Hong Kong weighs petrol pricing disclosure rule in tenders as fuel costs surge Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Matthew Cheng Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Hong Kong authorities are facing mounting pressure from lawmakers to roll out more measures to rein in surging fuel prices, including a requirement for firms to disclose pricing formulas when bidding for petrol stations – an idea the environment minister said could be considered. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday the government was open to reviewing the current tender policy for petrol station sites to bring down fuel prices, a proposal...

The NYT Times Continues to Normalize Trump Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 “This is in a way the anger presidency.  Anger defines Mr. Trump’s decade on the political stage.  Mr. Trump is not the first president with a temper.  Even the genial Dwight D. Eisenhower was known to be sharp behind closed doors.  Lyndon B. Johnson’s tantrums were Texas size.  Richard M. Nixon seemed to be on More The post The NYT Times Continues to Normalize Trump appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

$200 Billion for Trump’s Iran “Excursion” is Real Money Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Most people have little understanding of what is big or small in the federal budget, in large part because the media have made a conscious decision to not inform people. Rather than taking ten seconds to indicate what share of the budget a particular item is, they just write huge numbers in the millions or More The post $200 Billion for Trump’s Iran “Excursion” is Real Money appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The American Gulag 2026 Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The March 4, 2026, edition of the Arizona Daily Star put the facts succinctly: “A Haitian asylum seeker held for four months at Florence Correctional Center died Monday at a Scottsdale hospital due to complications from an infected tooth.” It seems the infection spread from his tooth to his lungs, and he developed the pneumonia that killed More The post The American Gulag 2026 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The NYU Faculty Strike and the Politics of Workers’ Rights Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Just days ago, NYU faced an imminent faculty strike of nearly 1,000 non-tenure track faculty as questions about labor conditions and university governance come into focus. In this exclusive interview for CounterPunch, Professor Rebecca Karl, a historian specializing in Modern Chinese History, provides insight into the political factors fueling the dispute. The university’s shift toward More The post The NYU Faculty Strike and the Politics of Workers’ Rights appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Where the Horses Are Still Running Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I hadn’t expected to go to Greece. Least of all to be invited to meet a man whose life seemed to belong to another era—a life that moved so easily between diplomacy, danger, and odyssey. The invitation came almost by accident, during an exchange with an old American friend—the same man whose family theatre had More The post Where the Horses Are Still Running appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The Iran War’s Global Disruption Points to a Bioregional Way of Life Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I awoke this morning to pictures of Iran’s South Pars gas field burning, the world’s largest. I know what this means. It makes me almost physically ill, a recurrent feeling since the war on Iran broke out several weeks ago. It means Iran almost certainly will escalate attacks on Persian Gulf oil and gas infrastructure. More The post The Iran War’s Global Disruption Points to a Bioregional Way of Life appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

How Environmental Laws Are Shifting the Focus From Humans to Nature Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The need to protect populations from environmental harm or contamination is not new. Whenever human welfare was imperiled, those in power within most ancient civilizations passed laws to address these issues. History is replete with examples of this. For instance, there is evidence of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3000–1300 BCE) adapting to climate change, More The post How Environmental Laws Are Shifting the Focus From Humans to Nature appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 At least 16 U.S. billionaires owe their wealth to one of America’s 20 largest low-wage employers — corporations where a significant share of workers earn so little they have to rely on public assistance. Of these 16 billionaires, eight are associated with Walmart. Amazon and Tyson Foods have two members of this elite club, while More The post Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The high-level negotiations in Paris this week between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng represent more than just a diplomatic stopover; they are the architectural blueprint for a new era of trans-Pacific relations. As both nations pivot away from the scorched-earth rhetoric of total decoupling, the gathering in Paris signals More The post Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I have always found it interesting, and at times revealing, when seasoned activists and intellectuals in the West, including those who see themselves as deeply committed to Palestine, raise the same familiar point: Arab governments must stand up to Israel and the United States in solidarity with their brethren in Palestine. The argument often comes More The post From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Iranian military mocks US attempts at a ceasefire deal Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Associated Press Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed. The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries. US President Donald Trump has said...

The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Unstable Tyrant Trump is running out of lies, fantasies, and promises to break. An NBC interview of a Pennsylvania woman next to a gas station signals the trend. The reporter asked her what she would say to President Trump. She answered: “You are a worthless pile of s—”. He then asked her how many times More The post The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I love this photo of Hound Dog Taylor (in his wig) and Muddy Waters. It reminds me of one of my greatest misadventures–16 years old, I’d had my license for only a few months. I commandeered my dad’s cop-bait [ . . . ] The post Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

China’s consumer goods factories cut output as Iran war sends costs soaring Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Mia Nurmamat Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The disruption to shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz is starting to bite in China, where some manufacturers are reducing production due to soaring energy, raw material and freight costs. Zhao, who runs a bicycle factory in Guangzhou serving clients in the United States, Middle East and Europe, has already put most export business on hold. “We also cancelled all orders from Iran,” he said. “The cost of aluminium, a key raw material for bicycle production, has risen by 30 per...

Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon amid widening war Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday described as a “security zone”, spelling out for the first time Israel’s intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a 10th of the country. At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30km (20 miles) ‌north of Israel’s border. Lebanon’s...

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Zhu Wenqian Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for...

Turkey’s biggest private bank plans Hong Kong entry amid Middle East tensions: sources Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Peggy Ye Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Turkey’s largest private bank plans to set up a Hong Kong office, according to sources familiar with the matter, in a move that underscores the city’s role as a gateway for lenders seeking to connect China and Asian markets with the Middle East. Turkiye Is Bankasi’s board approved the Hong Kong expansion plan two months ago and the lender was awaiting clearance from Turkish authorities before formally approaching the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a banking licence, the sources said. If...

China consumer stocks jump on strong earnings, but analysts warn of limited recovery Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Zhu Wenqian Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Major Chinese consumer stocks listed in Hong Kong rose sharply following strong full-year earnings, though analysts said the results did not point to a broad recovery in the consumer market but rather highlighted structural divergence and new growth drivers in mainland China consumption. Jeweller Laopu Gold posted stronger-than-expected results for 2025, with revenues of 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion) last year, a 221 per cent surge year on year, while net profit jumped 234.9 per cent to 5.03...

Lula warns he will not allow others to seize Brazil's critical minerals Source: Merco Press ~ Energy News Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he will not allow other countries to take the nation's rare earths and critical minerals, in remarks widely interpreted as a direct warning to the United States amid a growing dispute over control of these strategic resources.

Denmark faces weeks of coalition talks as Frederiksen emerges bruised in election Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Danish Prime Minister ⁠Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in ⁠over a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance towards Washington over Greenland. In power since 2019, Frederiksen, 48, had campaigned on a promise that her tough and tested leadership skills would help the Nordic nation of 6 million navigate a complex relationship with US President Donald Trump and the European response to...

Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 At least 16 U.S. billionaires owe their wealth to one of America’s 20 largest low-wage employers — corporations where a significant share of workers earn so little they have to rely on public assistance. Of these 16 billionaires, eight are associated with Walmart. Amazon and Tyson Foods have two members of this elite club, while More The post Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The high-level negotiations in Paris this week between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng represent more than just a diplomatic stopover; they are the architectural blueprint for a new era of trans-Pacific relations. As both nations pivot away from the scorched-earth rhetoric of total decoupling, the gathering in Paris signals More The post Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I have always found it interesting, and at times revealing, when seasoned activists and intellectuals in the West, including those who see themselves as deeply committed to Palestine, raise the same familiar point: Arab governments must stand up to Israel and the United States in solidarity with their brethren in Palestine. The argument often comes More The post From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Iranian military mocks US attempts at a ceasefire deal Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Associated Press Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed. The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries. US President Donald Trump has said...

The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Unstable Tyrant Trump is running out of lies, fantasies, and promises to break. An NBC interview of a Pennsylvania woman next to a gas station signals the trend. The reporter asked her what she would say to President Trump. She answered: “You are a worthless pile of s—”. He then asked her how many times More The post The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 I love this photo of Hound Dog Taylor (in his wig) and Muddy Waters. It reminds me of one of my greatest misadventures–16 years old, I’d had my license for only a few months. I commandeered my dad’s cop-bait [ . . . ] The post Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

China’s consumer goods factories cut output as Iran war sends costs soaring Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Mia Nurmamat Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 The disruption to shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz is starting to bite in China, where some manufacturers are reducing production due to soaring energy, raw material and freight costs. Zhao, who runs a bicycle factory in Guangzhou serving clients in the United States, Middle East and Europe, has already put most export business on hold. “We also cancelled all orders from Iran,” he said. “The cost of aluminium, a key raw material for bicycle production, has risen by 30 per...

Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon amid widening war Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday described as a “security zone”, spelling out for the first time Israel’s intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a 10th of the country. At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30km (20 miles) ‌north of Israel’s border. Lebanon’s...

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Zhu Wenqian Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for...

Turkey’s biggest private bank plans Hong Kong entry amid Middle East tensions: sources Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Peggy Ye Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Turkey’s largest private bank plans to set up a Hong Kong office, according to sources familiar with the matter, in a move that underscores the city’s role as a gateway for lenders seeking to connect China and Asian markets with the Middle East. Turkiye Is Bankasi’s board approved the Hong Kong expansion plan two months ago and the lender was awaiting clearance from Turkish authorities before formally approaching the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a banking licence, the sources said. If...

China consumer stocks jump on strong earnings, but analysts warn of limited recovery Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Zhu Wenqian Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Major Chinese consumer stocks listed in Hong Kong rose sharply following strong full-year earnings, though analysts said the results did not point to a broad recovery in the consumer market but rather highlighted structural divergence and new growth drivers in mainland China consumption. Jeweller Laopu Gold posted stronger-than-expected results for 2025, with revenues of 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion) last year, a 221 per cent surge year on year, while net profit jumped 234.9 per cent to 5.03...

Lula warns he will not allow others to seize Brazil's critical minerals Source: Merco Press ~ Energy News Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he will not allow other countries to take the nation's rare earths and critical minerals, in remarks widely interpreted as a direct warning to the United States amid a growing dispute over control of these strategic resources.

Denmark faces weeks of coalition talks as Frederiksen emerges bruised in election Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Danish Prime Minister ⁠Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in ⁠over a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance towards Washington over Greenland. In power since 2019, Frederiksen, 48, had campaigned on a promise that her tough and tested leadership skills would help the Nordic nation of 6 million navigate a complex relationship with US President Donald Trump and the European response to...

Israeli military warns of inbound missiles from Iran, says anti-missile defences active Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Israel’s military warned late on Tuesday that Iran had fired a new salvo of missiles towards the country and that anti-missile defences were active after a day of more than a dozen missile alerts. Following the warning, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and a blast was heard in the city, while a loud explosion was also heard in the skies over the West Bank city of Jericho, Agence France-Presse correspondents said. “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory...

US unlikely to convince China to join new nuclear arms control agreement, experts say Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Xinmei Shen Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 There is little chance the US could bring China to the table on any nuclear arms control agreements in the short term, despite upcoming leaders’ meetings this year, experts said on Tuesday, as the Trump administration pushes for a trilateral deal including China after the previous US-Russia treaty expired last month. There is “no shortage of good ideas” for how the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could move the world towards ending a nuclear...

Trump’s China policy lacks strategy and coherence: former Biden officials Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Lucy Quaggin Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Washington’s China policy lacks strategy, coherence and a clear framework in US President Donald Trump’s second term, mirroring his first, according to a former senior official in the Joe Biden administration. Former Biden officials, speaking at a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace event on Tuesday, said there was little evidence of systemic policy when they assumed power in early 2021, after Trump’s first term, a pattern that appeared to be repeating itself. “There were themes about how...

Judge Orders Feds To Release $3 Billion For CTA Projects: Reports Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 The CTA filed a lawsuit last week against the federal transit agencies over their decision to freeze over $3 billion in funding for two major Red Line projects over concerns about “race-based contracting.”

Conflict in the Middle East is boosting the value of the Arctic windfall Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Nong Hong Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Gulf exporters are scrambling to bypass the Strait of Hormuz after Iran choked off most of the maritime traffic in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rushed to divert exports through overland pipelines; officials warned that even naval escorts could not guarantee safe passage. About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade passed through this narrow waterway. The immediate shock was felt in the Gulf. The strategic...

US, Israeli Attacks Have Damaged Nearly 500 Schools, 300 Health Centers in Iran Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Over 82,000 civilian structures have been damaged by U.S. and Israeli bombardments, the Red Crescent says.

State’s Attorney Calls Petition For Special Prosecutor To Investigate ICE Abuses ‘Illogical’ Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 In a court filing, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said the petition backed by a coalition of elected officials and community groups is a "heavy-handed attempt" to "usurp" her authority.

GOP Senator: Postwar Plan for Iran Is “Hope for the Best and See What Happens” Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, serves on three committees that receive briefings on foreign policy and war.

Climate-Fueled Heat Waves Are Creating a Water Crisis in the Southwest Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Scientists are linking deadly heat waves, like the record-breaking heat dome, to pollution from fossil fuel companies.

Gavin Newsom Says He “Reveres the State of Israel,” Regrets Apartheid Label Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 If Netanyahu continues down this path, apartheid is “a word you may hear others use,” the California governor said.

Ann Sather Closing On Belmont Avenue After 81 Years, But Aims To Remain In Neighborhood Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 A proposal for a new apartment building on the block initially spared the longtime restaurant from having to move. But now construction will cause the Belmont Avenue building to be demolished, forcing Ann Sather to find a new Lakeview home.

Rage Against ICE in Minnesota Was Born Out of Heartbreak Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Minneapolis residents are continuing to express their grief over ICE’s sustained occupation through civil disobedience.

Black Seniors Without Birth Records Could Be Disenfranchised by SAVE America Act Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 One-fifth of Black Americans born in 1939 and 1940 were never issued birth certificates, according to one estimate.

Trump Votes by Mail in Florida Special Election, Despite Calling It “Cheating” Source: Truthout Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 “Mail voting is a safe, secure, and reliable method” to cast ballots, the Bipartisan Policy Center states.

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UK blocks China wind turbine project on ‘national security’ amid tense business climate Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Xiaofei Xu Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Britain’s decision to block a £1.5 billion (US$2 billion) plan by Chinese clean energy giant Mingyang to build the UK’s largest wind turbine factory in Scotland highlights the mounting challenges of doing business with China in an era of deepening global mistrust, analysts said. The move was likely the result of direct pressure from Washington, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The US-Israeli war in Iran and the subsequent energy crisis had raised hopes for the project to be... 21 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend: C2E2, Andersonville Restaurant Week And More Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 You can also shop a variety of indoor markets and craft events, watch an Indiana Jones flick accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic and enjoy an evening of jazz in South Shore. Kelli’s Lounge Fills Void In Bronzeville As Welcoming Third Space For Neighbors Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Kelli’s Chicago owner Kelli Dace said she's committed to supporting the neighborhood that raised her, offering a lowkey space for guests to have coffee during the day and cocktails at night. Trump eyes China deal, but dragging out talks risks backlash, warns former diplomat Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Orange Wang Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 US President Donald Trump is expected to aim for an “economic deal” with China when he is in Beijing, according to a former senior diplomat who served under the American leader during his first term. However if Beijing were to drag out trade negotiations with Washington for too long, it could risk Trump taking a much tougher turn against China, warned Stephen Biegun, who served as US deputy secretary of state from 2019 to 2021. “The president wants a deal, an economic deal, specifically,” he... DJI unveils its first 360-degree drone amid patent dispute with crosstown rival Insta360 Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Coco Feng Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China’s DJI announced its first 360-degree drone on Thursday, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a nascent market segment that is now at the centre of an escalating patent war. The new product, the DJI Avata 360, marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography. The drone features a front-mounted omnidirectional camera capable of capturing high dynamic range (HDR) images at 8K resolution and 60 frames per second, according to official... China’s CNOOC to boost oil and gas output amid Middle East strife Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Cheryl Arcibal,Themis Qi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the country’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, aims to further boost production this year amid geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. The plan came after the state-backed company reported an 11.5 per cent drop in net profit to 122.08 billion yuan (US$17.7 billion) in 2025, owing to low oil prices during the year, even though it produced record-high volumes of the commodities. Its revenue in the period also dipped by... Trump stays popular in Philippines despite Iran war fuel crisis Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Sam Beltran Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Even as the Philippines thrashes through the throes of an energy crisis born of the Iran war, Filipinos themselves largely appear uninterested in blaming the man who started it. Instead of Donald Trump, public ire has instead coalesced around Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his administration for failing to quell soaring prices. Fuel costs have rocketed across the archipelago since the United States and Israel first struck Iran on February 28, following the near-total closure of... As oil-shocked world turns to renewables, China will reap the rewards Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Andy Xie Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... EP Fresh Market, Edison Park’s New Grocery Store, Has A Coffee Bar And Taqueria Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The store opened in early March in the former Happy Foods, which closed more than three years ago. An April 18 grand opening will feature bagpipes and mariachi. Iran to allow Malaysian vessels to pass in Strait of Hormuz: Anwar Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Reuters Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Malaysia’s Prime Minister ⁠Anwar Ibrahim said ⁠on Thursday he had spoken to the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and other regional countries and said Malaysian vessels were now being allowed ‌to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Anwar in a televised address thanked Iran’s president for allowing the passage of Malaysian ships. “We are now in the process of releasing the Malaysian oil tankers and the ⁠workers involved so that they may continue their journey home,” ‌he said. Anwar said he talked... Watchdog To Host Hearing With Top Cop On Whether Chicago Police Helped Federal Immigration Agents Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The April 2 hearing comes as neighbors and officials push for an investigation. Supt. Larry Snelling was criticized for not participating in a previous meeting. Mike Pence To Speak At UChicago’s Institute Of Politics In April Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Pence will participate in a student-moderated panel and is expected to speak about the role of the executive branch, populism and more. Germany’s Merz floats EU-China trade deal as capitals soften on Beijing Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Finbarr Bermingham Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he can imagine a trade deal with China in the future, signalling a new softening stance towards Beijing in European capitals. “We have set quite a lot in motion when it comes to trade policy. I can also envisage further agreements, for example, in the longer term an agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” Merz said in the German parliament on Wednesday. Merz’s remarks underscore how surging trade and geopolitical tensions with Washington are... Former Logan Square Open Books Employees Criticize Management For Sudden Terminations Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The store closed this month. Its four former workers were only told on the same day they were let go, they said. Police Offer Free Steering Wheel Locks To NW Side Honda Civic Owners To Counter Airbag Thefts Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Car owners citywide have reported over 70 airbag thefts targeting Honda Civics and other Honda models between December and February, according to police. Finland’s president says Ukraine talks may be at ‘end of the road’ Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has close ties with both US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, fears US-led Ukraine peace talks may be over, he said in an interview published on Thursday. “It may be due to the war in Iran, which is drawing a lot of attention away from the war in Ukraine. But it may also be that the negotiations have come to a halt because they’ve reached the end of the road and are not making any further progress,” Stubb said in the... VW pulls Skoda brand from China after years of falling sales Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Themis Qi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Volkswagen will withdraw its mass-market car brand Skoda from mainland China after years of lacklustre sales, as international marques continue to lose their appeal in the world’s largest automotive market. “Skoda Auto has realigned its global strategy to focus on growth markets such as India and the Asean region,” a Volkswagen spokesperson said on Thursday in a written response to the South China Morning Post, without denying earlier reports that the Czech brand would cease selling new vehicles... What can the Iran war tell China about missile interception? Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Liu Zhen Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Beijing should develop an air-based interceptor system as missile threats escalate from Washington and its regional allies, as well as Taiwan and India, a mainland Chinese military magazine has urged, pointing to developments in the Iran war. The war in the Middle East, particularly the “nearly insurmountable challenges” posed by Iran’s ballistic missiles to Israel, is exposing the limitations of existing midcourse and terminal-phase missile defence systems, according to an analysis in the March... Bangladesh recovers 24 bodies after bus plunges into river Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Rescue teams including navy divers in Bangladesh have recovered 24 bodies from a bus that plunged into a river at a ferry crossing, officials said on Thursday. The bus sank into the deep waters of the Padma river in Goalanda on Wednesday, about 65km (40 miles) west of the capital Dhaka. It had around 50 passengers on board, many of whom managed to escape. A fire service report said that 24 bodies, including those of five children, had been recovered by midday on Thursday. Some were pulled out by... Cathay to increase fuel surcharge for all flights by 34% from April Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will increase its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34 per cent from April – the second increase in two weeks – citing “considerable pressure” as conflict in the Middle East impacts oil prices. The airline said on Thursday that the fuel surcharge for long-haul flights would increase by HK$396 (US$50.63) to HK$1,560, or 34 per cent from the current HK$1,164. The measure takes effect on Wednesday of next week. The increase also means the surcharge for... Pakistan steps in as Iran mediator while India watches from the wings Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Junaid Kathju Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As the Iran war reshapes West Asian geopolitics, Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as a backchannel mediator between Tehran and Washington, potentially sidelining India’s efforts to assert itself as a credible global diplomatic actor. India, despite its growing partnerships with the US, Israel and the Gulf states, has been absent from any meaningful conflict-resolution initiative on Iran. Umer Karim, a political science researcher at the University of Birmingham, said India’s strengthening... China’s lidar giants pivot to robotics as Jensen Huang praises Chinese supply chain Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Daniel Ren Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 China’s two biggest makers of lidar sensors for cars, Hesai Group and RoboSense Technology, have ramped up investments in robotics products as the country consolidates its leading position in building a global supply chain for the fast-growing sector. Shanghai-based Hesai, the world’s largest producer of lidar sensors that help cars map terrain, planned to spend 200 million yuan (US$28.9 million) this year to design and manufacture “eyes and muscles” for robots, creating a new growth engine... Trump sets new China visit date as Iran war stokes economic risks Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 US President Donald Trump said he would visit China from May 14 to May 15, including a meeting with President Xi Jinping, after delaying the trip by about six weeks because of the war on Iran. The new schedule is a day shorter than the original three-day visit that was due to start on March 31. China didn’t join the White House in announcing the trip. It rarely makes statements about planned visits more than a few days ahead of the arrival date. “I look very much forward to spending time with... Iran war: Why a Trump climbdown won’t save Asia’s economies Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Nicholas Spiro Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 For the second year in a row, Asia’s vulnerability to global shocks is a source of concern. Almost exactly a year since US President Donald Trump launched his assault on the global trading system, the external dependencies of leading Asian economies have once again dimmed the outlook for the region. Early last year, analysts were worried about Asia’s heavy reliance on exports to the United States. Morgan Stanley pointed out that seven of the 10 countries running the largest trade surpluses with... As India and US seek to reset defence ties, Iran war threatens to be the wild card Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Maria Siow Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 A visit by a top American official to India this week has raised expectations that bilateral defence ties are getting “back on track” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But analysts warn that both sides are unlikely to reach full agreement on New Delhi’s energy and security concerns, while the US-Israeli war against Iran could unsettle the relationship. Speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India would play a central role in... ‘Demand shock’: China cannot escape the impact of a long Iran war, analyst warns Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ji Siqi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 While China appears better prepared than other countries to deal with the shocks brought by the US-Israel war on Iran, its economy would still come under pressure in the short term if its regional partners suffer, an executive with a global consultancy has said. “China might be more resilient, but China is not resilient to a demand shock,” said Denis Depoux, a global managing director at consultancy Roland Berger. “For example, if the economy is slowing down in Southeast Asia, if people stop... As Iran war rages, China links peace to economic growth at Boao Forum Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ji Siqi Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... Iran war deflects attention from Ukraine as Russia starts spring offensive Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Associated Press Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbour Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side was easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian... Oil Wars: Speeding The Transition to Renewable Energy Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In purely economic terms, the big winners since the start of the US-Israel attack are American oil companies, such as Exxon, Chevron, and Occidental, seeing increased profits on safe domestic supplies without having to pay a war surcharge. As noted by the Financial Times, oil groups will reap a $63 billion windfall “from Gulf war disruption” if 2026 crude prices average $100/barrel. Companies without holdings in the Middle East, traders without tankers needing to transit the narrow Strait of Hormuz, and global arms dealers also benefit. More The post Oil Wars: Speeding The Transition to Renewable Energy appeared first on CounterPunch.org. How Microplastics Threaten Marine Ecosystems and the Food Chain Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, can be found in land, air, and water, and have infiltrated our food chain, resulting in far-reaching health consequences for humans and nonhumans alike. In 2020, scientists discovered the “highest level of microplastic ever recorded on the seafloor,” revealing the extent of their impact on the marine ecosystem. More The post How Microplastics Threaten Marine Ecosystems and the Food Chain appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The Weaponisation of Diaspora Psychopathy Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 As Donald J. Trump, commander-in-chief of the American Empire and known associate of the child-sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, continues to ravage communities and people across the world; this time by starting an utterly unnecessary and deeply unpopular war with Iran at the behest of Israel, the efforts to justify his latest act of barbarity – More The post The Weaponisation of Diaspora Psychopathy appeared first on CounterPunch.org. What Trump’s Iran “Excursion” Cost US Allies Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In his recent social media diatribes, Donald Trump has complained that our allies are ungrateful for the war he has initiated against Iran. He is angered that they aren’t anxious to send in their military forces to win a war that he claims is already won. Trump also doesn’t seem to think it matters that More The post What Trump’s Iran “Excursion” Cost US Allies appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The Late Robert Mueller, Bill of Rights Executioner Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Obituaries on eminent Washingtonians usually omit the dreadful precedents they set that will vex Americans long after their death. Not this piece. Former FBI director Robert Mueller died last week at the age of 81. The New York Times eulogized him as a “button-down, lockjawed, rock-ribbed exemplar of a vanishing caste.”  In reality, Mueller was More The post The Late Robert Mueller, Bill of Rights Executioner appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Yes, Iran is Playing Chess — But Only After Rewriting the Rules of the Game Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The origins of chess are contested, but few dispute that while the game began in India, it was the Sassanian Persian Empire that refined it into a recognizable strategic system. It was Persia that codified its language, symbolism and intellectual framework: the shah (king), the rokh (rook), and shatranj, the modern chess game. This is More The post Yes, Iran is Playing Chess — But Only After Rewriting the Rules of the Game appeared first on CounterPunch.org. More Parleying Nonsense: Trump, Iran and Promised Negotiations Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 It’s almost not worth considering, but precisely because it comes from the White House, the mad manoeuvrings and silly airings of the US President must be taken seriously.  But only to a point.  Over the last week, a series of events have taken place demonstrating the growing alarm within the administration that things are simply not going More The post More Parleying Nonsense: Trump, Iran and Promised Negotiations appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Autarky: Terrible at Political Scale, But Great as Individual Self-Defense Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Since everyone seems to have a sticker shock story lately:  I rolled one of my motorcycles up to a gas pump yesterday and, for the first time ever, spent more than $5 to fill the tank (small bike, small tank — I paid $5.67 for 1.1 gallons of premium). The obvious reason is, well, obvious. More The post Autarky: Terrible at Political Scale, But Great as Individual Self-Defense appeared first on CounterPunch.org. The U.S. Killing Machine Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 When the U.S. goes to war, it goes to win – and to win, it kills and kills. The U.S-Israel war against Iran began on February 28, 2026.  On March 2nd, Sec. of “War” Pete Hegseth declared: “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without More The post The U.S. Killing Machine appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Surviving a Pan-Crisis Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 We are not facing separate crises, but the simultaneous collapse of multiple historical orders unfolding in the present. Not only international relations and political science scholars but also the broader communities of social sciences—and increasingly even the natural sciences—are confronting a profound and widely acknowledged crisis, which is not merely “theoretical,” “disciplinary,” or “scientific” in More The post Surviving a Pan-Crisis appeared first on CounterPunch.org. Leave and Destroy NATO,  It’s Long Overdue Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Previously unthinkable, amazing developments are afoot in the hyper-capitalist terror state that aspires to rule the world. On March 17, el jefe Donald Trump announced in a fit of pique that he might pull the U.S. out of NATO. This would be the single best move he could make – for all the wrong reasons, More The post Leave and Destroy NATO,  It’s Long Overdue appeared first on CounterPunch.org. For Donald Trump, Ignorance is Bliss Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 In 2016, when reporter Katy Tur asked Donald Trump about his false claim that he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering the 9/11 attacks, he replied, “I have the world’s greatest memory. It’s one thing everyone agrees on.” However, when asked about this remark under oath in a deposition during the Trump University More The post For Donald Trump, Ignorance is Bliss appeared first on CounterPunch.org. UN designates African slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’ Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Agence France-Presse Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, despite opposition by the United States and some European countries. In a move advocates hailed as a step towards healing and possible reparations, the resolution was adopted to applause by a vote of 123 in favour, three against and 52 abstentions. The US, Israel and Argentina opposed the measure, while Britain and EU member states abstained. Ghana’s President John... It’s Time to Tax the Rich Source: Counterpunch Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 With the deadline for paying federal income taxes fast approaching, the thoughts of American taxpayers turn naturally toward the age-old question: Why isn’t there a fairer tax system? Currently, in fact, campaigns for state tax-the-rich legislation are flourishing in California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia, and have already succeeded in getting More The post It’s Time to Tax the Rich appeared first on CounterPunch.org. US airport wait times longest in history after hundreds of unpaid officers leave Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Bloomberg Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The Transportation Security Administration warned that US airport security was under severe strain as a weeks-long Department of Homeland Security funding shutdown drives staffing shortages, long wait times and mounting disruptions across the United States. “This has led to the highest wait times in TSA history, with some wait times greater than 4½ hours,” Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers on Wednesday, adding the agency has already lost more than 480 transportation security... China opens world’s largest ship data set that could be used to train drones Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Chao Kong Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 A Chinese military research team has released what it described as the first publicly available visible light-infrared ship detection data set, a resource that could sharpen maritime target recognition for drones, missiles or surveillance systems operating at night or in environments where radar is degraded or suppressed. The dual-modal ship detection (DMSD) data set contains more than 2,000 paired visible and infrared vessel images and nearly 20,000 annotated instances, according to the... China’s weight-loss drug makers take on global giants as Novo Nordisk patent expires Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Julie Zhang Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 At least 10 weight-loss injections and oral pills are lining up for regulatory approval in China, in a market projected to reach about US$14 billion by 2030. Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, which generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year, lost patent protection in China on March 20, clearing the way for rivals. The rush comes as China’s drug regulator accelerates approvals of innovative therapies, helped by a surge in out-licensing deals with global pharmaceutical... Enact special law to send Japan’s warships to secure Hormuz, ex-adviser tells Takaichi Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Bloomberg Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Japan should consider sending warships to help jointly secure the Strait of Hormuz with other nations and protect both its own vessels and those of other nations – even before a ceasefire, according to a former top national security adviser. A special measures law would be needed to enable such a move, going beyond what Japan has done in past geopolitical conflicts, said Akihisa Nagashima, who served as a national security adviser to the predecessor of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The former... Safety-Net Hospital Serving West Side Patients Announces Abrupt Closure This Week Source: Block Club Chicago Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 West Suburban Medical Center's president and CEO said the hospital's faulty records and billing system caused a drop in revenue. But problems have been mounting for years, sources told Block Club Chicago. Iran war could boost China’s ‘petroyuan’ and weaken US dollar dominance, analysts say Source: South China Morning Post ~ News Ralph Jennings Publish date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026 The US-Israeli war in Iran could weaken the US dollar’s historic dominance in the oil-rich Middle East and bolster a “petroyuan” alternative backed by China’s currency, according to analysts at a leading European bank. Fallout from the nearly month-long conflict was testing the “foundations of the petrodollar regime”, while damage to Gulf economies “could encourage an unwind in their foreign asset savings”, Deutsche Bank analysts said in a research note published on Tuesday. “If the Gulf moves...

 

An AI Elementary School, With No Teachers, To Open in Chicago This Fall
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Alpha School, a pricey private school with campuses nationwide, uses artificial intelligence to instruct students. AI schools have been praised by the Trump administration, but researchers say there's limited evidence the model works. Pinduoduo operator PDD’s profit slides as Chinese firm cites higher reinvestment
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Wency Chen
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

PDD Holdings, the Chinese e-commerce group behind Pinduoduo and global budget marketplace Temu, on Wednesday reported an 11 per cent drop in quarterly profit amid higher sales as the company continued a pivot towards greater reinvestment. Net profit for the quarter fell to 24.5 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion), missing a consensus analyst estimate of 29.1 billion yuan. Meanwhile, revenue rose 12 per cent from a year earlier to 123.9 billion yuan, aligning with a consensus analyst estimate of 123.7...

Robots Gone Wild: Food Delivery Robots Smash 2 Bus Shelters In Chicago
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

A Coco delivery robot collided with an Old Town bus shelter on Tuesday afternoon, just days after a Serve Robotics robot did the same thing in West Town. Middle powers are taking up the mantle of multilateral leadership
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Wang Huiyao
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

For much of the post-war era, the architecture of global governance rested on the simple assumption that the United States would support the systems it largely designed and uphold the rules it helped to create. The first Trump administration was no isolated incident. Now, from the vantage point of 2026, amid the US-Israel attack on Iran and the subsequent closing of the Strait of Hormuz, it is quite clear that there is little sign of an appetite in Washington for the US to once again safeguard...

City Moves To Landmark Edgewater’s Bryn Mawr Historic District
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The district includes Bryn Mawr Avenue from Broadway to Sheridan Road and famed residences like the Edgewater Beach Apartments. An initial hearing is April 2 with the city's landmarks commission. $10,000 Reward For Info Offered After UPS Driver, Dad Of 3 Killed in Auburn Gresham
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Michael Hunter was looking for the person who stole his truck when he was shot and killed Sunday near 80th and Hermitage, police and family members said. “Someone knows something.” China Mobile bets on Hong Kong as gateway for global computing flows
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Mia Nurmamat
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

China Mobile has invested nearly HK$10 billion (US$1.28 billion) over five years to help turn Hong Kong into a global computing hub, integrating the city into China’s national network. The world’s largest telecoms operator by subscribers on Wednesday opened a new data centre in northern Hong Kong and said it would step up investment in next-generation submarine cables. The state-owned group aims to bring Hong Kong into China’s national computing network, which has the world’s second-largest...

Data science, AI slip as 53% of Hong Kong’s university subjects fall in QS rankings
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
William Yiu
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Hong Kong’s universities have recorded their sharpest declines in three years in global subject rankings, with more than half of the 266 offerings – including data science and AI – slipping down their respective tables, according to a UK-based education analyst. Despite the overall drop, dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) remained second in the world – the city’s highest-ranked subject – while performing arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) regained its 10th...

African producers may have energy edge during Iran war, if they can overcome hurdles
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Dulue Mbachu
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The Iran war has cut off a fifth of global oil and LNG supply, handing African producers “a structural advantage” in supplying global markets, although their capacity is hampered by factors beyond the Middle East conflict, according to analysts. “West and North African exports are largely insulated from the conflict, meaning barrels from Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Algeria and Libya are viewed as lower-risk alternatives,” said Grace Goodrich and Anne-Laure Klein of Energy, Capital & Power, a Cape...

Are US and China looking for ‘minimum stability’ after going through a ‘rough patch’?
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Cao Jiaxuan
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

China and the United States are trying to navigate their differences to ensure that they maintain a basic level of stability in their relationship, an academic conference in Beijing heard last week. At the forum held by Tsinghua University in Beijing on Friday, academics and former officials discussed the need to prevent open confrontation. US President Donald Trump’s planned visit – now postponed for “five or six weeks” as he focuses on his war with Iran – was seen as a key opportunity by many...

How climate change led to demise of once-thriving Chinese civilisation 4,500 years ago
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Kevin McSpadden
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

If one were to travel to central China, in what is now Hubei province, 4,500 years ago, they might have been fortunate enough to discover a vibrant civilisation characterised by palaces, advanced engineering, and luxuries such as jade. However, in the generations that followed, this culture gradually declined, with its people dispersing across the region. Until now, the reasons behind the collapse of such a thriving civilisation were not well understood. A group of scientists now believe that...

Amid struggles at home, 80% of Chinese companies in EU plan more investment
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Xiaofei Xu
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Almost 80 per cent of the Chinese companies operating in the European Union plan to expand their investment there, even though most complain about policy uncertainty, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and the China Economic Information Service. The result stands in sharp contrast to similar reports published by the European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) – despite companies from both sides complaining about obstacles such as...

China-owned vessel secures rare Strait of Hormuz transit as Iran war grinds on
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Mia Nurmamat,Carol Yang
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The second Chinese-owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier has transited the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to industry sources and vessel-tracking data, amid conflicting claims over access to the vital trade corridor. Tehran has largely blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for Washington and Tel Aviv’s strikes, causing widespread disruption to global shipping – though Iranian officials have recently promised safe passage for vessels...

China calls for US-Iran talks as war upends Gulf states’ global ties
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, encouraged his Iranian counterpart to pursue negotiations with the United States as conflict in the Middle East threatens to enter a second month. “Talking is better than fighting,” Wang told Abbas Araghchi by phone on Tuesday, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “All parties should seize every opportunity to begin the peace process as soon as possible.” Confusion surrounds the status of peace talks, as Iran has derided a reported US 15-point ceasefire plan...

Pop Mart shares dive despite soaring profit as investors fear Labubu dependence
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Zhu Wenqian
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reported strong annual growth in revenue and net profit for 2025, but not enough to alleviate investor fears that the company remains too reliant on the Labubu phenomenon. Annual revenue jumped 184.7 per cent from a year earlier to 37.12 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion), while net profit surged 284.5 per cent to 13.08 billion yuan, the company said on Wednesday. However, its Hong Kong-listed shares plunged 22.5 per cent to HK$168.30 on Wednesday, marking the biggest drop...

Hong Kong weighs petrol pricing disclosure rule in tenders as fuel costs surge
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Matthew Cheng
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Hong Kong authorities are facing mounting pressure from lawmakers to roll out more measures to rein in surging fuel prices, including a requirement for firms to disclose pricing formulas when bidding for petrol stations – an idea the environment minister said could be considered. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday the government was open to reviewing the current tender policy for petrol station sites to bring down fuel prices, a proposal...

The NYT Times Continues to Normalize Trump
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

“This is in a way the anger presidency.  Anger defines Mr. Trump’s decade on the political stage.  Mr. Trump is not the first president with a temper.  Even the genial Dwight D. Eisenhower was known to be sharp behind closed doors.  Lyndon B. Johnson’s tantrums were Texas size.  Richard M. Nixon seemed to be on More

The post The NYT Times Continues to Normalize Trump appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

$200 Billion for Trump’s Iran “Excursion” is Real Money
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Most people have little understanding of what is big or small in the federal budget, in large part because the media have made a conscious decision to not inform people. Rather than taking ten seconds to indicate what share of the budget a particular item is, they just write huge numbers in the millions or More

The post $200 Billion for Trump’s Iran “Excursion” is Real Money appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The American Gulag 2026
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The March 4, 2026, edition of the Arizona Daily Star put the facts succinctly: “A Haitian asylum seeker held for four months at Florence Correctional Center died Monday at a Scottsdale hospital due to complications from an infected tooth.” It seems the infection spread from his tooth to his lungs, and he developed the pneumonia that killed More

The post The American Gulag 2026 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The NYU Faculty Strike and the Politics of Workers’ Rights
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Just days ago, NYU faced an imminent faculty strike of nearly 1,000 non-tenure track faculty as questions about labor conditions and university governance come into focus. In this exclusive interview for CounterPunch, Professor Rebecca Karl, a historian specializing in Modern Chinese History, provides insight into the political factors fueling the dispute. The university’s shift toward More

The post The NYU Faculty Strike and the Politics of Workers’ Rights appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Where the Horses Are Still Running
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I hadn’t expected to go to Greece. Least of all to be invited to meet a man whose life seemed to belong to another era—a life that moved so easily between diplomacy, danger, and odyssey. The invitation came almost by accident, during an exchange with an old American friend—the same man whose family theatre had More

The post Where the Horses Are Still Running appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The Iran War’s Global Disruption Points to a Bioregional Way of Life
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I awoke this morning to pictures of Iran’s South Pars gas field burning, the world’s largest. I know what this means. It makes me almost physically ill, a recurrent feeling since the war on Iran broke out several weeks ago. It means Iran almost certainly will escalate attacks on Persian Gulf oil and gas infrastructure. More

The post The Iran War’s Global Disruption Points to a Bioregional Way of Life appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

How Environmental Laws Are Shifting the Focus From Humans to Nature
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The need to protect populations from environmental harm or contamination is not new. Whenever human welfare was imperiled, those in power within most ancient civilizations passed laws to address these issues. History is replete with examples of this. For instance, there is evidence of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3000–1300 BCE) adapting to climate change, More

The post How Environmental Laws Are Shifting the Focus From Humans to Nature appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

At least 16 U.S. billionaires owe their wealth to one of America’s 20 largest low-wage employers — corporations where a significant share of workers earn so little they have to rely on public assistance. Of these 16 billionaires, eight are associated with Walmart. Amazon and Tyson Foods have two members of this elite club, while More

The post Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The high-level negotiations in Paris this week between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng represent more than just a diplomatic stopover; they are the architectural blueprint for a new era of trans-Pacific relations. As both nations pivot away from the scorched-earth rhetoric of total decoupling, the gathering in Paris signals More

The post Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I have always found it interesting, and at times revealing, when seasoned activists and intellectuals in the West, including those who see themselves as deeply committed to Palestine, raise the same familiar point: Arab governments must stand up to Israel and the United States in solidarity with their brethren in Palestine. The argument often comes More

The post From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Iranian military mocks US attempts at a ceasefire deal
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Associated Press
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed. The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries. US President Donald Trump has said...

The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Unstable Tyrant Trump is running out of lies, fantasies, and promises to break. An NBC interview of a Pennsylvania woman next to a gas station signals the trend. The reporter asked her what she would say to President Trump. She answered: “You are a worthless pile of s—”. He then asked her how many times More

The post The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I love this photo of Hound Dog Taylor (in his wig) and Muddy Waters. It reminds me of one of my greatest misadventures–16 years old, I’d had my license for only a few months. I commandeered my dad’s cop-bait [ . . . ]

The post Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

China’s consumer goods factories cut output as Iran war sends costs soaring
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Mia Nurmamat
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The disruption to shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz is starting to bite in China, where some manufacturers are reducing production due to soaring energy, raw material and freight costs. Zhao, who runs a bicycle factory in Guangzhou serving clients in the United States, Middle East and Europe, has already put most export business on hold. “We also cancelled all orders from Iran,” he said. “The cost of aluminium, a key raw material for bicycle production, has risen by 30 per...

Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon amid widening war
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Reuters
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday described as a “security zone”, spelling out for the first time Israel’s intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a 10th of the country. At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30km (20 miles) ‌north of Israel’s border. Lebanon’s...

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Zhu Wenqian
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for...

Turkey’s biggest private bank plans Hong Kong entry amid Middle East tensions: sources
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Peggy Ye
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Turkey’s largest private bank plans to set up a Hong Kong office, according to sources familiar with the matter, in a move that underscores the city’s role as a gateway for lenders seeking to connect China and Asian markets with the Middle East. Turkiye Is Bankasi’s board approved the Hong Kong expansion plan two months ago and the lender was awaiting clearance from Turkish authorities before formally approaching the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a banking licence, the sources said. If...

China consumer stocks jump on strong earnings, but analysts warn of limited recovery
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Zhu Wenqian
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Major Chinese consumer stocks listed in Hong Kong rose sharply following strong full-year earnings, though analysts said the results did not point to a broad recovery in the consumer market but rather highlighted structural divergence and new growth drivers in mainland China consumption. Jeweller Laopu Gold posted stronger-than-expected results for 2025, with revenues of 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion) last year, a 221 per cent surge year on year, while net profit jumped 234.9 per cent to 5.03...

Lula warns he will not allow others to seize Brazil's critical minerals
Source: Merco Press ~ Energy News
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he will not allow other countries to take the nation's rare earths and critical minerals, in remarks widely interpreted as a direct warning to the United States amid a growing dispute over control of these strategic resources.

Denmark faces weeks of coalition talks as Frederiksen emerges bruised in election
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Reuters
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Danish Prime Minister ⁠Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in ⁠over a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance towards Washington over Greenland. In power since 2019, Frederiksen, 48, had campaigned on a promise that her tough and tested leadership skills would help the Nordic nation of 6 million navigate a complex relationship with US President Donald Trump and the European response to...

Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

At least 16 U.S. billionaires owe their wealth to one of America’s 20 largest low-wage employers — corporations where a significant share of workers earn so little they have to rely on public assistance. Of these 16 billionaires, eight are associated with Walmart. Amazon and Tyson Foods have two members of this elite club, while More

The post Sixteen Billionaires Who Made Their Fortunes Off the Backs of Low-Wage Workers appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The high-level negotiations in Paris this week between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng represent more than just a diplomatic stopover; they are the architectural blueprint for a new era of trans-Pacific relations. As both nations pivot away from the scorched-earth rhetoric of total decoupling, the gathering in Paris signals More

The post Why the US and China Are Moving Toward a Cold Peace appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I have always found it interesting, and at times revealing, when seasoned activists and intellectuals in the West, including those who see themselves as deeply committed to Palestine, raise the same familiar point: Arab governments must stand up to Israel and the United States in solidarity with their brethren in Palestine. The argument often comes More

The post From Palestine to Iran: What Arab and Muslim Silence Really Reveals appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Iranian military mocks US attempts at a ceasefire deal
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Associated Press
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed. The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries. US President Donald Trump has said...

The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Unstable Tyrant Trump is running out of lies, fantasies, and promises to break. An NBC interview of a Pennsylvania woman next to a gas station signals the trend. The reporter asked her what she would say to President Trump. She answered: “You are a worthless pile of s—”. He then asked her how many times More

The post The Worsening Trump DUMP, Trump SLUMP, Trump PUMP, and Trump WARS appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade
Source: Counterpunch
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

I love this photo of Hound Dog Taylor (in his wig) and Muddy Waters. It reminds me of one of my greatest misadventures–16 years old, I’d had my license for only a few months. I commandeered my dad’s cop-bait [ . . . ]

The post Searching for Hound Dog Taylor: a Chicago Blues Escapade appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

China’s consumer goods factories cut output as Iran war sends costs soaring
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Mia Nurmamat
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The disruption to shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz is starting to bite in China, where some manufacturers are reducing production due to soaring energy, raw material and freight costs. Zhao, who runs a bicycle factory in Guangzhou serving clients in the United States, Middle East and Europe, has already put most export business on hold. “We also cancelled all orders from Iran,” he said. “The cost of aluminium, a key raw material for bicycle production, has risen by 30 per...

Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon amid widening war
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Reuters
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday described as a “security zone”, spelling out for the first time Israel’s intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a 10th of the country. At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30km (20 miles) ‌north of Israel’s border. Lebanon’s...

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Zhu Wenqian
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for...

Turkey’s biggest private bank plans Hong Kong entry amid Middle East tensions: sources
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Peggy Ye
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Turkey’s largest private bank plans to set up a Hong Kong office, according to sources familiar with the matter, in a move that underscores the city’s role as a gateway for lenders seeking to connect China and Asian markets with the Middle East. Turkiye Is Bankasi’s board approved the Hong Kong expansion plan two months ago and the lender was awaiting clearance from Turkish authorities before formally approaching the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a banking licence, the sources said. If...

China consumer stocks jump on strong earnings, but analysts warn of limited recovery
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Zhu Wenqian
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Major Chinese consumer stocks listed in Hong Kong rose sharply following strong full-year earnings, though analysts said the results did not point to a broad recovery in the consumer market but rather highlighted structural divergence and new growth drivers in mainland China consumption. Jeweller Laopu Gold posted stronger-than-expected results for 2025, with revenues of 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion) last year, a 221 per cent surge year on year, while net profit jumped 234.9 per cent to 5.03...

Lula warns he will not allow others to seize Brazil's critical minerals
Source: Merco Press ~ Energy News
Publish date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he will not allow other countries to take the nation's rare earths and critical minerals, in remarks widely interpreted as a direct warning to the United States amid a growing dispute over control of these strategic resources.

Denmark faces weeks of coalition talks as Frederiksen emerges bruised in election
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Reuters
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Danish Prime Minister ⁠Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in ⁠over a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance towards Washington over Greenland. In power since 2019, Frederiksen, 48, had campaigned on a promise that her tough and tested leadership skills would help the Nordic nation of 6 million navigate a complex relationship with US President Donald Trump and the European response to...

Israeli military warns of inbound missiles from Iran, says anti-missile defences active
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Agence France-Presse
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Israel’s military warned late on Tuesday that Iran had fired a new salvo of missiles towards the country and that anti-missile defences were active after a day of more than a dozen missile alerts. Following the warning, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and a blast was heard in the city, while a loud explosion was also heard in the skies over the West Bank city of Jericho, Agence France-Presse correspondents said. “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory...

US unlikely to convince China to join new nuclear arms control agreement, experts say
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Xinmei Shen
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

There is little chance the US could bring China to the table on any nuclear arms control agreements in the short term, despite upcoming leaders’ meetings this year, experts said on Tuesday, as the Trump administration pushes for a trilateral deal including China after the previous US-Russia treaty expired last month. There is “no shortage of good ideas” for how the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could move the world towards ending a nuclear...

Trump’s China policy lacks strategy and coherence: former Biden officials
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Lucy Quaggin
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Washington’s China policy lacks strategy, coherence and a clear framework in US President Donald Trump’s second term, mirroring his first, according to a former senior official in the Joe Biden administration. Former Biden officials, speaking at a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace event on Tuesday, said there was little evidence of systemic policy when they assumed power in early 2021, after Trump’s first term, a pattern that appeared to be repeating itself. “There were themes about how...

Judge Orders Feds To Release $3 Billion For CTA Projects: Reports
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

The CTA filed a lawsuit last week against the federal transit agencies over their decision to freeze over $3 billion in funding for two major Red Line projects over concerns about “race-based contracting.” Conflict in the Middle East is boosting the value of the Arctic windfall
Source: South China Morning Post ~ News
Nong Hong
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Gulf exporters are scrambling to bypass the Strait of Hormuz after Iran choked off most of the maritime traffic in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rushed to divert exports through overland pipelines; officials warned that even naval escorts could not guarantee safe passage. About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade passed through this narrow waterway. The immediate shock was felt in the Gulf. The strategic...

US, Israeli Attacks Have Damaged Nearly 500 Schools, 300 Health Centers in Iran
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Over 82,000 civilian structures have been damaged by U.S. and Israeli bombardments, the Red Crescent says.

State’s Attorney Calls Petition For Special Prosecutor To Investigate ICE Abuses ‘Illogical’
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

In a court filing, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said the petition backed by a coalition of elected officials and community groups is a "heavy-handed attempt" to "usurp" her authority. GOP Senator: Postwar Plan for Iran Is “Hope for the Best and See What Happens”
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, serves on three committees that receive briefings on foreign policy and war.

Climate-Fueled Heat Waves Are Creating a Water Crisis in the Southwest
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Scientists are linking deadly heat waves, like the record-breaking heat dome, to pollution from fossil fuel companies.

Gavin Newsom Says He “Reveres the State of Israel,” Regrets Apartheid Label
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

If Netanyahu continues down this path, apartheid is “a word you may hear others use,” the California governor said.

Ann Sather Closing On Belmont Avenue After 81 Years, But Aims To Remain In Neighborhood
Source: Block Club Chicago
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

A proposal for a new apartment building on the block initially spared the longtime restaurant from having to move. But now construction will cause the Belmont Avenue building to be demolished, forcing Ann Sather to find a new Lakeview home. Rage Against ICE in Minnesota Was Born Out of Heartbreak
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Minneapolis residents are continuing to express their grief over ICE’s sustained occupation through civil disobedience.

Black Seniors Without Birth Records Could Be Disenfranchised by SAVE America Act
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

One-fifth of Black Americans born in 1939 and 1940 were never issued birth certificates, according to one estimate.

Trump Votes by Mail in Florida Special Election, Despite Calling It “Cheating”
Source: Truthout
Publish date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

“Mail voting is a safe, secure, and reliable method” to cast ballots, the Bipartisan Policy Center states.