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Beijing’s Show of Force: China Launches Major Drills Around Taiwan

  A ship fires a weapon during drills east of Taiwan in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Dec. 29, 2025. China has initiated large‑scale military exercises around Taiwan, framing the operation as a direct warning to what it calls separatist forces and foreign supporters. The drills, conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command, involve naval vessels, fighter jets, and missile units operating across multiple zones encircling the island. According to Chinese military statements, the exercises are designed to test joint combat readiness and simulate scenarios such as blockades and precision strikes. The move follows heightened tensions over international engagement with Taiwan, including recent arms sales and diplomatic exchanges that Beijing views as challenges to its sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s defense ministry denounced the drills as coercive and destabilizing, placing its military on alert and trac...

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Stock Market Today: Dow Extends Slide as Lackluster Earnings and Rate Fears Weigh on Investors’ Spirits

 

US stocks faced further losses on Thursday, with lingering concerns about higher-for-longer interest rates and a Salesforce sell-off dampening investor spirits. Here are the key points from today’s market:

  1. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI): The Dow sank as much as 1%, shedding roughly 380 points, following Wednesday’s stock market slide. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped about 0.6%, while the broader S&P 500 (GSPC) fell 0.5%.

  2. Interest Rate Worries: Renewed gloom about the odds for rate cuts contributed to the stock market decline. Data showed less cooling in inflation than the Federal Reserve desires, driving US bond yields to their highest levels since early May. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hovered around 4.6%.

  3. Salesforce Results: Salesforce (CRM) reported that sales growth would stall to the slowest rate in its history, causing its shares to slide 15%. This sparked concerns about likely losers in the AI boom.

  4. US Economic Growth: The Bureau of Economic Analysis revised the first-quarter US gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to 1.3%, down from the initial reading of 1.6% in April.

  5. Retail Earnings: Retailers Kohl’s (KSS) and Best Buy (BBY) provided clues to consumer resilience and economic health. Kohl’s shares cratered after a surprise quarterly loss and a cut to its annual sales forecast, while Best Buy posted a bigger drop in comparable sales than expected.

Despite these challenges, investors remain watchful for any signs of economic recovery and potential market shifts. 



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