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Market Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment

  U.S. stock futures edged lower early Thursday as investors attempted to extend Wednesday’s rebound but remained cautious amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.4%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped roughly 0.2% each. The pullback followed a strong regular session in which all three major indexes posted gains, with the Dow snapping a three‑day losing streak.  The overnight weakness reflects persistent market sensitivity to geopolitical developments. Escalating tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to drive volatility across asset classes, with traders closely watching oil prices and inflation implications. Recent sessions have seen markets swing sharply as headlines shift, underscoring the fragile balance between economic fundamentals and geopolitical risk.  Despite the cautious tone, Wednesday’s rally showed that investors are still willing to buy into dips—particularl...

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Hospitals in China Overwhelmed with Post-Covid Surge in Respiratory Illnesses Among Children

 


According to recent news reports, hospitals in Beijing and northern China are struggling to cope with a surge of children with respiratory illnesses as the country enters its first winter since relaxing stringent Covid-19 controls nearly one year ago.

The situation has become so dire that wait times to see doctors stretch for hours, with hundreds of patients queuing at some children’s hospitals in major cities across northern China . An official at the Beijing Children’s Hospital told state media that the current average of more than 7,000 daily patients “far exceeds the hospital’s capacity”.

he World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China to provide more information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and “reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children”. Health officials in Beijing and other major cities in northern China have said typical seasonal illnesses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as mycoplasma pneumonia – a bacterial infection that typically causes mild infection and commonly affects children – were driving causes .


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