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Man climbs London’s Big Ben tower waving Palestinian flag

In a striking act of protest, a man climbed the iconic Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster in London early Saturday morning. Waving a Palestinian flag and reportedly shouting "Free Palestine," the barefoot man drew the attention of onlookers and emergency services alike. The Metropolitan Police were alerted to the incident at 7:24 AM and quickly arrived at the scene, accompanied by the London Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service. Emergency crews used an aerial ladder platform to communicate with the man and work toward a safe resolution. Westminster Bridge and nearby streets were temporarily closed, causing significant traffic disruptions. Authorities have not yet disclosed the man's identity or motives, but the protest has sparked conversations about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The incident highlights the lengths to which individuals will go to draw attention to political causes. Tours of the Parliamentary Estate were canc...

Stock Market Today: Apple Earnings Boost Spirits Amid Soft Jobs Report

 



In a surprising turn of events, the stock market rallied today despite a weaker-than-expected jobs report. Here’s a brief overview of what happened:

  • Apple (AAPL) stole the spotlight with its upbeat earnings. The tech giant’s quarterly profit exceeded expectations, and it even surprised investors with better-than-estimated revenue from China. Notably, this came amidst reports of flagging iPhone sales.
  • CEO Tim Cook also discussed Apple’s plans for AI development, a key focus this earnings season. However, it was the announcement of a massive $110 billion stock buyback—the largest in US history—that truly captured the market’s attention.
  • As a result, Apple shares rose 7% in pre-market trading, significantly boosting the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

 Soft Jobs Report

  • The April jobs report painted a picture of a cooling US labor market. Employers added 175,000 jobs, falling short of the expected 240,000. Additionally, the unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to 3.9%.
  • Traders responded by increasing bets on a sooner-than-expected rate cut by the Federal Reserve. According to the CME FedWatch tool, there’s now roughly a 50-50 chance of a rate cut at the July meeting.

Market Reaction

  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures jumped 1.3%, or more than 450 points, while S&P 500 futures rose 1.1%. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 were up roughly 1.6%.
  • All three major indices are poised to build on sharp closing gains from Thursday.

Despite the soft jobs report, Apple’s strong performance and the prospect of a rate cut have buoyed investor confidence. Keep an eye on market developments as we navigate this dynamic landscape.


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