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Market Turmoil: S&P 500 Enters Correction Amid Escalating Trade War

                                                                 The stock market faced a sharp downturn on Thursday, with the S&P 500 officially entering correction territory. The index fell 1.4%, marking a 10% decline from its recent high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq plummeted nearly 2%. This market turbulence comes as trade tensions escalate. The European Union's retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including a 50% tax on American whiskey, prompted the U.S. administration to threaten a 200% tariff on European wines and spirits. These developments have left investors on edge, fearing the economic repercussions of a prolonged trade war. Adding to the uncertainty, debates over a stop-gap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown have further ...

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Cyprus Leaders Discuss Opening New Crossing Points Along 1974 Ceasefire Line


 Leaders of war-divided Cyprus said on Monday they supported opening further crossing points along the 1974 ceasefire line splitting the island to meet popular demand, and would work with the United Nations towards that objective. President Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar discussed the modalities of new checkpoints at a rare meeting hosted by the United Nations in the divided capital Nicosia. 

Despite mutual support for further openings, the leaders did not announce any immediate measures to ease movement across the truce line, indicating continued disagreements. The leaders believe that the opening of new crossing points is critical to promote people-to-people contacts, strengthen economic ties, and build trust. 

Another meeting is scheduled in the coming days to continue discussions. The push for additional checkpoints follows months of negotiations focused on where and how many checkpoints should open in addition to the nine crossings used by thousands daily along a 180-km (116-mile) ceasefire line. 

It is estimated that more than a million people use the checkpoints to cross each year either for employment, education, or personal reasons. The first pedestrian crossing was opened in April 2003 after almost three decades of isolation. 

Greek Cypriots say they do not object to opening one checkpoint advocated by Turkish Cypriots in the east of Nicosia, the island's ethnically-split capital. They say that in a spirit of reciprocity, Turkish Cypriots should agree to opening a checkpoint which Greek Cypriots want. 

The leaders' joint statement emphasized the importance of opening new crossing points to promote people-to-people contacts, strengthen economic ties, and build trust. 




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