“A Chinese court has begun hearings in a defamation case filed by authorities and institutes in Beijing and Wuhan against the US state of Missouri over accusations tied to Covid-19.
In a notice on Monday, the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court said it held a hearing on Friday and legal proceedings were continuing. The case was jointly filed on April 30, 2025 by the Wuhan government in Hubei province, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its subordinate entity, the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), against Missouri and two of its former attorneys general, Eric Schmitt and Andrew Bailey. … The plaintiffs said the defendants ‘orchestrated, promoted and executed malicious and abusive litigation in the US, fabricated and disseminated false information and issued stigmatising and discriminatory remarks’, according to the court statement on Monday.” (11/03/26)
“The GOP can’t sustain itself as a party without principles led by a mob boss. Tonight’s midterm results may make that reality impossible to ignore.” (11/03/26)
“It seems to have gotten relatively little attention here, but China’s AI stocks have taken a sharp dive over the last four months. Reuters put the plunge at 40% in the STAR50 index, which includes most of the country’s AI and tech-related companies. The article said this drop corresponded to a loss of $480 billion in market wealth. There are several important points about this plunge that should provide lessons for investors in the United States. The first and most obvious lesson is that sharp plunges in stock prices like this can happen. That shouldn’t really be news. … Another striking point about China’s crash is how little money is involved. None of us will ever see $480 billion, but this sum is trivial compared to the sums in play with the U.S. AI and tech companies.” (11/03/26)
“Spanish police removed remaining protesters and tents from Madrid’s main square early on Tuesday, officials said, after most of the people demonstrating against soaring rents, home shortages and evictions had already left voluntarily. The pre-dawn operation ended a five-week encampment in the Puerta del Sol square that had become a symbol of Spain’s housing crisis and contributed to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s decision to call a snap general election for November 29. The protests were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, who later died, with marches called by tenants’ unions held across Spain.” (11/03/26)
“Biological evolution, scientific progress and the market economy run on the same engine. Something new is tried. Most attempts fail. The few that survive are kept and built upon. Genes, theories and businesses all advance this way, by trial and the elimination of error. The obvious objection is that nature is random while science and commerce are purposive. Mutations happen by accident. Scientists and entrepreneurs act by design. Surely that changes everything? It changes less than it seems. What is random in nature is the variation, not the selection.” (11/03/26)
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may be looking for his next job. According to Puck, senators are discussing Hegseth’s interest in an appointment to Marsha Blackburn’s seat if she wins Tuesday’s election to become Tennessee governor. The prospect comes as lawmakers prepare to pursue Hegseth’s impeachment over his conduct in office. The Pentagon has dismissed the reporting as gossip and insists Hegseth’s priority remains leading the department. Whether he stays or goes, Congress must require him to answer for his record.” (11/03/26)
