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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: Nasdaq Futures Surge as Investors Await Powell's Remarks

                                     

U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday, with tech stocks leading the charge towards fresh record highs as investors eagerly await Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks for clues on future interest rates.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 0.5%, or over 200 points, while S&P 500 futures added 0.3% following an all-time closing high. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 led the way with a 0.7% gain.

Salesforce stock surged around 13% in pre-market trading after the software maker's quarterly revenue beat boosted hopes for its AI products. Shares of Okta and Marvell also jumped amid well-received earnings reports, setting a positive tone for tech stocks.

Investors are keen to hear Powell's speech in New York later today, with growing confidence in a potential December rate cut. Fed officials have signaled support for more easing as they prepare for their final meeting of the year.

A reading on private payrolls in November is also in focus after job openings data suggested the labor market is softening but not too much. The ADP report highlights a busy Wednesday of PMIs and other economic releases, leading into the all-important monthly jobs report on Friday.

Political turmoil in France and South Korea is also on investors' radar, with French lawmakers set to vote on a no-confidence motion and South Korea's president facing impeachment after briefly declaring martial law.


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