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Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...

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Wall Street Futures Stabilize as ADP Jobs Report Signals Private-Sector Growth

 


After a turbulent trading session that saw major indexes tumble, U.S. stock futures steadied on Wednesday as investors digested fresh labor market data. The ADP private payrolls report showed an increase of 42,000 jobs in October, marking a rebound from September’s revised decline of 29,000.

The report provided a measure of relief to markets rattled by a sharp sell-off in technology stocks earlier in the week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%, while contracts on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hovered near flat. The modest recovery suggests that investors are cautiously reassessing risk after concerns over stretched valuations in AI-driven tech names triggered Tuesday’s downturn.

Market watchers note that the ADP data could play a critical role in shaping the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, especially amid uncertainty caused by the ongoing government shutdown. With official labor statistics delayed, private-sector reports like ADP’s are being closely scrutinized for signs of economic resilience.

Still, volatility remains a key theme. Analysts warn that while the jobs rebound is encouraging, questions about high equity valuations and the sustainability of the AI-fueled rally continue to weigh on sentiment. Investors are also keeping an eye on broader economic developments, including tariff policies and corporate earnings, which could further sway market direction.

In short, Wall Street appears to be catching its breath after a bruising sell-off, but the balance between optimism over job growth and caution over market froth remains delicate.


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