news

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/ISM:-US-manufacturing-activity-declines-in-March/63837825

The manufacturing activity in the United States returned to contraction in March, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) going from February's 50.3% to 49%, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said in its report published on Tuesday.

Month-on-month, the New Orders Index fell from 48.6% to 45.2%. The Production Index decreased by 2.4 percentage points to 48.3%. The Employment Index plunged by 2.9 percentage points to 44.7%. On the other hand, the Prices Index soared by seven percentage points to 69.4%.

"Demand and production retreated and destaffing continued, as panelists’ companies responded to demand confusion. Prices growth accelerated due to tariffs, causing new order placement backlogs, supplier delivery slowdowns and manufacturing inventory growth," ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee Chair Timothy R. Fiore commented.

So much for all the bragging the American government did last month: https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/manufacturing-is-roaring-back-under-president-donald-j-trump/

“In one month under President Trump, the American economy is soaring back to greatness after the economic calamity left by Joe Biden. The manufacturing industry is already rebounding as there were 9,000 new auto jobs created — the most auto jobs added in 15 months! Under President Trump, the private sector is leading the way — 93% of the job gains in February were in the private sector. This is great news for American workers and families. The Trump Administration will continue to work hard to implement pro-growth policies and push Congress to enact the Trump Economic Agenda.” — Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

Today’s jobs report shows American manufacturing is on the rebound thanks to President Donald J. Trump and his administration.

New satellite imagery of Diego Garcia has appeared online after someone with access purchased MAXAR high resolution imagery, showing 6 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers present at the air base, confirming what was already heard through open source signals intelligence, which I reported on at the time. There is the potential for more B-2s to be inside the four climate controlled hangars also visible, for a maximum of 10 aircraft, though I think such is quite unlikely given the information obtained through open source SIGINT. I think these are all the B-2s present. Please ignore the text, the person that purchases the imagery does this nonsense.

For those wondering if it's possible for Iran to attack Diego Garcia directly, the answer is technically yes, although their capabilities are quite limited in this regard. Only one Iranian ballistic missile has the range, the Kheibar/Khorramshahr-4 missile, but that range is hypothetical/theoretical and based off of the ranges of similar Soviet era and North Korean missiles. Accuracy is also likely an issue at such ranges. I did a write up on the missile back when the possibility of Operation True Promise III seemed more likely, if anyone wants more details.

The Shahed-136B is the only drone with the range, but it would take tens of hours to reach Diego Garcia, giving the US plenty of time to shoot drone swarms down.

Iran could try close the distances involved with weapons stowed on military or even commercial ships, or weapons launched from submarines, but the US almost definitely has a naval presence at the island itself, involving it's own submarines and warships that would take out any Iranian vessels.

So yes, Iran could attack Diego Garcia from their own soil in a conflict, but with limited or untested capabilities. This is why the B-2s are parked there in the first place, and not in Saudi Arabia for instance. Rumours that the B-2s are currently operating over Yemen are just that, unsubstantiated rumours from sources that are becoming increasingly unreliable (like Rybar, who falsely claimed that a Ukrainian F-16 was shot down recently).

If I were in charge of Tesla I'd call it the Thundertruck and hire ACDC for a promo

e: posted in wrong thread

How is help for earthquake even provided when they have like 5 statelets

For people interested in Myanmar conflict and its complexity:

This site tracks the major event and news of it with an interactive map https://myanmar.iiss.org/

I'm seeing some people say Vietnam just got really screwed. Is there anywhere I can read about this?

Anyone have any reading on South Sudan? Both on the current situation and generally. Seems like they’re headed into a civil war, and I haven’t seen any coverage on it, not even here which is odd.

Minimum tariff of 10% lmao

US airstrikes on Yemen continue for the 18th night in a row, with multiple airstrikes reported in Saada, Hajjah and Hodeidah Governorates.

Statement from the Yemeni Armed Forces at 22:00 UTC, 22 minutes from now. There are rumours that the US Navy intercepted ballistic missiles launched at Israel, and that there was another attack on the US Navy warships in the region. So it's probably to do with that. Awaiting confirmation.

Statement is about targeting several US Navy warships in the Red Sea, led by the US aircraft carrier Truman, in the third engagement in the past 24 hours, using cruise missiles and drones. Awaiting official translation.

Al Masirah TV twitter

Xcancel mirror

If the Dems had a backbone, part of their Project 2029 platform would be threatening to do the full Venezuela on El Salvador unless they throw this guy into his own prison.

Ecuador’s Indigenous Movement Supports Presidential Candidate Luisa Gonzalez - Telesur English

Corey Booker beats Strom Thurmond.

A Democratic senator has been blocking the US Senate for more than 24 hours and 30 minutes to protest against the Trump administration and Musk. He received a standing ovation from the Democratic caucus in the House. And he continues, promising to speak out as long as physically possible.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker had been speaking for more than 23 hours in the US Senate against the policies of Musk and Trump. Booker denounced threats to democracy, mentioned concerns about cuts to Social Security and read letters from constituents alarmed by the possibility of constitutional crises.

The senator has received support from fellow Democrats and members of Congress and is only on water. Even though he was exhausted, Booker remained standing - a regimental requirement - and his voice was increasingly firm. According to him, moments like these require “more creativity, persistence and democratic values”.

The longest speech in the US Senate was by a segregationist from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond, who opposed a bill that would guarantee blacks the right to vote. It lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes. The speech took place in 1957 and lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes. In the end, the bill was approved.

• Telegram

in the irrelevant shenanigans news: bitcoin been rock steady (within 5 percent), i truly don't understand cryptobros.

to more news like about tariffs: https://www.techpowerup.com/335012/us-exempts-semiconductors-from-taiwan-tariffs-but-chip-making-equipment-remains-on-the-list

US airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 23rd night in a row, with four airstrikes reported at Kamaran Island.

More airstrikes in Sana'a Governorate.

More airstrikes in Sana'a Governorate, targeting Al-Jabal Al-Aswad (Montenegro/Black Mountain in English). This site was targeted in previous airstrikes, before the B-2 deployment.

Reports of intense drone activity over Sana'a and Saada, with Yemeni residents able to video drones (likely MQ-9 Reapers) flying at low altitude earlier this evening, and hearing them now. Air defences are suppressed.

The initial strikes in Sana'a targeted the home of Sheikh Saleh Al-Suhaili (part of the Social Affairs Department) and his family.

More airstrikes in Saada, 3 strikes repeatedly targeting the Al-Ammar family.

Three airstrikes in Hajjah Governorate.

Videos of the drones

Xcancel mirror

Al Masirah TV twitter

Xcancel mirror

What's the deal with the Maidan shooters? Nato or nazi (or both)?

Wisconsin Supreme Court election being called for Susan Crawford (D).

Vietnam seeks 3-month delay on tariffs for negotiations

Tesla deliveries down 32% QoQ missing targets by 14% vs consensus

Colonel Cassad found some very impressive flyby videos of China's artificial island and military base on "Mischief Reef" (in the South China Sea).

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/9756480.html (just scroll down to the videos if you can't read Russian)

It's amazing and, at an ideological level, shows the true power and superiority of market-socialism over neo-liberal capitalism.

Argentina’s Senate Rejects Supreme Court Nominees: A Major Blow to Javier Milei’s Government - Telesur English

maybe comrade trump can overachieve, huh

To remind all you newsheads to go out and touch some grass this weekend, here's young future chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz and current acting finance minister/vice-chancellor Robert Habeck in their 30s.

The passage of time - and bourgeois power struggles - really are terrible things.

Myanmar's military junta updates the death toll from the country's biggest earthquake in decades. There are 2,056 dead, 3,900 injured, more than 270 missing and hundreds homeless. The World Health Organization says that the country's health system has collapsed and rescue teams are struggling to operate in the devastated country, with no roads, bridges or communications.

Elderly people, monks, babies and hundreds of other patients are being treated in parking lots, under makeshift tents. The capital's main hospital has only 1,000 beds for use.

• Telegram

First french poll after le pen got pwned, assuming the RN goes with the bardella guy who underperformed in the EU elections. These aren't all that different from le pen's numbers, honestly starting to seem like the arrest was either a nothing burger or a "this will bite you in the ass"-burger. The RN will probably still end up in first place in a presidential election and go to the second round facing either an extreme centrist or melenchon, which will require either of those 2 groups of voters to vote for the other against the far right, and then fail to obtain a majority in a legislative election and have to rely on referendums.