Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street on Thursday as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.ISLAMABAD - Chinese drone technology will help to transform agriculture in Pakistan, which would enhance the local farming sector’s productivity, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday. According to the report, a major Chinese power company has highlighted the potential of integrating smart agriculture with low-altitude drone technology in Pakistan. In a statement, PowerChina emphasized the role of advanced drone technology in modernizing farming practices and enhancing efficiency. The company is committed to supporting sustainable, modern farming initiatives in Pakistan and beyond. In China, drones equipped with multispectral and thermal imaging cameras are used to analyze soil fertility, moisture levels, and other parameters. The data, processed through artificial intelligence, guides targeted farming actions, improving productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact. Pakistani court summons Norway right-wing tabloid reporter, editor To bring these cutting-edge technologies to Pakistan, Chinese companies are introducing solutions such as precision farming, smart irrigation, and data analytics. Earlier this year, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad launched the Pakistan-China Joint Lab for Artificial Intelligence and Smart Agriculture. This initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity, especially in Punjab, which accounts for 76% of Pakistan’s annual grain output. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, highlighted the potential for drone spraying technology in Punjab’s 25,000 villages. He stated that large-scale implementation could increase productivity, reduce costs, and promote intelligent agriculture across the region. However, high costs and economic constraints may hinder the adoption of drone farming in Pakistan. Dr. Muhammad Adnan, Executive Manager at LTEC International—a Chinese company working on chili farms in Punjab—told Gwadar Pro that overcoming these barriers requires targeted strategies. Roundtable terms Pak-US ties crucial for future discourse In order to facilitate drone adoption, he called for government subsidies to alleviate financial burdens on farmers, public-private partnerships to offer affordable drone rental services and local manufacturing of drone technology to lower costs and reduce reliance on imports along with farmer training programs. With strategic investments and collaborations, Chinese drone technology could pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable agricultural future in Pakistan. Tags: chinese drone tech
Jeremy Clarkson backpedals on previous claim he bought farm for tax reasons
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more! While it’s easy to skimp on the price (and ultimately, the quality) of pajamas, we’re here to make the case that PJs are an investment-worthy clothing item, especially since we spend every night sleeping in them. Finding a high-quality pair that looks chic, holds up after several washes and doesn’t cost over $100 can be a feat, but we have good news. There are few occasions when matching pajama sets cost under $50 and today is one of those days. Nordstrom’s Black Friday sale offers the perfect chance to snag a pair without paying full price. The Moonlight Eco Knit Pajamas are the best ones to bring home for yourself — and they’re 40% off right now at Nordstrom! Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Eco Knit Pajamas for $49 (originally $79) at Nordstrom! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change. The Moonlight Eco Knit Pajamas feature a notched collar, piping outlines and long sleeves. Made with a blend of Tencel modal and spandex, the pajamas are loose and lightweight enough to keep you warm on chilly nights without overheating. These bestselling pajamas have earned hundreds of ratings. Here’s what Nordstrom shoppers are saying. “I was torn between the short set or the longer, but very happy I selected the long set,” one reviewer shares. “The color (pink, multi-stripe) is awesome! I like it so much I would consider wearing the shirt as a top for out/about. It’s very retro. The material is so soft and comfortable. I wear a coordinating-colored tank to sleep in and wear the top for morning coffee.” “I treat myself to a pair of the Nordstrom jammies every year during the Anniversary Sale,” another writes. “I got the purple mellow gingham pattern this year, and they’re adorable. Beautiful color and always the softest.” “This is the most beautiful design and the most comfortable pajamas ever,” says another happy customer. “I have them in three different colors and will continue to purchase more.” Hurry! This deal won’t last long. Stock up while you can score a matching pajama set for under $50 during Nordstrom’s Black Friday Week sale . Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Eco Knit Pajamas for $49 (originally $79) at Nordstrom! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.Real-Time Analytics Reshapes Business Intelligence in the Digital Age
The 100-Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) turned around to bearish trend on Tuesday, losing 3,505.62 points more points, a negative change of 3.57 percent, closing at 94,574.16 points as compared to 98,079.78 points on the last trading day. A total of 1,116,324,649 shares were traded during the day as compared to 640,258,528 shares the previous trading day, whereas the price of shares stood at Rs 43.291 billion against Rs.25.623 billion on the last trading day. As many as 456 companies transacted their shares in the stock market, 53 of them recorded gains and 355 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 48 companies remained unchanged. The three top trading companies were K-Electric Limited with 101,636,133 shares at Rs 4.65 per share, Bank of Punjab with 92,023,190 shares at Rs 6.85 per share and Hascol Petrol with 73,320,431 shares at Rs.13.59 per share. Sapphire Textile Mills Limited witnessed a maximum increase of Rs. 40.88 per share price, closing at Rs 1,177.99, whereas the runner-up was Mehmood Textile Mills Limited with Rs 35.02 rise in its per share price to Rs 535.40. Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs 141.07 per share closing at Rs 7,813.48 followed by Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited with Rs 112.79 decline to close at Rs.19,019.35. Separately, Asian markets fell and the dollar rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump warned he would impose huge new tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada on his first day in office, dealing a blow to hopes of a more moderate approach to trade policy. The former and next president said on his Truth Social account that he would hammer the United States’ largest trading partners in response to the illegal drug trade and immigration. The news dampened optimism that his pick to lead the Treasury, Scott Bessent, could temper the tycoon’s assertiveness, with fears now of another trade war with China and warnings that the move — along with promised tax cuts — will reignite US inflation. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote. In another post, he added that he would hit China with a 10 percent tariff “above any additional Tariffs” on all of its products entering the US, citing Beijing’s failure to tackle fentanyl smuggling. The announcement fuelled a sell-off across most Asian markets, though Hong Kong and Shanghai advanced in early exchanges. The dollar surged more than one percent against its Canadian equivalent and Mexico’s peso as well as the Chinese yuan. However, the yen strengthened thanks to its safe haven status. “In a striking return to hardline policies, President-elect Trump has dramatically escalated tensions with a brash promise to impose a sweeping 25 percent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico the moment he reassumes office,” said SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes. He said the declaration “shatters any lingering hopes that... Scott Bessent might usher in an era of moderation”. “Initially hailed as a beacon of stability, Bessent’s influence now seems overshadowed by a resurgence of Trump’s uncompromising ‘America First’ doctrine, which starkly excludes even the closest of allies from its protective embrace.” Asia’s struggles came after another up day on Wall Street, where the Dow ended at a second successive record, helped by the choice of Bessent, though US futures were down Tuesday. Bitcoin struggled below $95,000 after dropping to a six-day low of around $92,600 Monday as the Trump-fuelled rally that had seen it surge around 50 percent to within a whisker of $100,000 ran out of steam. Oil prices extended Monday’s losses of around three percent that came after an official said Israel’s security cabinet was to decide Tuesday on whether to accept a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The stronger dollar was also depressing the commodity. The United States, European Union and United Nations have all pushed in recent days for a truce in the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which flared into all-out war in late September.
Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigrationUTICA — For decades, Varick Street was considered the heart of Utica’s nightlife. With the numerous bars and establishments that surround Utica’s historic brewery district, people from both near and far would flock to Varick Street and revel in what the iconic destination had to offer. And then came the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID rocked us,” said Fred Matt, president of F.X. Matt Brewing Company. “After COVID, people didn’t really want to be together immediately. You get people out of habits, they don’t go back to that habit.” One of the biggest crowd drawers for Varick Street pre-COVID-19 was Saranac Thursdays, which held concerts and sold Saranac drinks outside the brewery every summer. Saranac Thursdays was a time-honored tradition and rooted deep in Utica’s culture, with many saying that it was also a rite of passage for those who recently became of drinking age. “Varick Street really came alive when we were doing Saranac Thursdays. We were getting 3,000 people a week,” Matt said. “If you go back 25 years when we started that, there weren’t a lot of outside bars and there weren’t things to do outside during the summer, so we created this event where people could come down and be outside.” While Saranac Thursdays would draw people in, Matt credits ambitious entrepreneurs with keeping those people on Varick Street over the years, as other nearby bars and establishments would offer more options for people in close proximity all year round. In the few years that followed the pandemic, social distancing regulations became more relaxed and businesses were opening back up. Thinking about the other businesses that were also affected by the pandemic, Matt made the decision to not bring back Saranac Thursdays in an effort to support the surrounding establishments and not take away customers and revenue from them. The COVID-19 pandemic was just one of a few contributing factors that officials say was a “perfect storm” altering the heart of Utica’s nightlife. Additional factors included the removal of some parking spaces when finding parking was already a difficult task, as well as a string of recent crime incidents around the vicinity. While Varick Street isn’t frequented as much today as it was before the pandemic, significant changes have taken place in an effort to draw people back. Under Utica’s former mayor Robert M. Palmieri, nearly $3 million in funding from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment was allocated for the beautification of Varick Street. This included decorative string lighting over the roadway, a new tree canopy, and reconstructed sidewalks. Utica’s current mayor, Michael P. Galime, and his administration have continued those efforts and have been keeping their eyes on Varick Street. According to the mayor, his administration has been very active in reining in longstanding code violations around the brewery district and establishing a police presence to deter crime. “Longstanding businesses are starting to change hands, but I don’t want that shuffle to make it seem like things are going in the wrong direction,” Galime said. “I do recognize a change, but I don’t think it’s necessarily negative. I see the neighborhood evolving for the good.” “The city has made Varick Street look phenomenal. We’re sticking with that commitment as far as this administration goes,” he added. Today, businesses along Varick Street are still being frequented in good numbers, including popular bars like Nail Creek Pub and Celtic Harp, as well as eateries like Lukin’s Pizzeria and Zeina’s Café. New experiences are also bringing people in, like The Biergarten and Five Points Public House and Events Center. In addition to places to visit, there have been apartment developments keeping people in the district, including The Lofts at Globe Mills and the recently developed Speaks at Faxton Hill. “I think this area will come back,” Matt said. “It’s at a low right now, but it’ll come back.”
I tried a Panasonic water flosser that's now £50 off and it's transformed my dental routine
ASX to open stronger after sleepy Wall Street session
Netanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with HezbollahThe Ajyal Film Festival 2024, organised by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), continues its activities with an array of filmmakers sharing their cinematic journeys and stories behind their works. On this occasion, the DFI organised a press meeting with Oscar-nominated photographer and filmmaker Misan Harriman, and Jianjie Lin, the director of the film *Brief History of a Family. "I've never heard of a major film festival opening with a film about Sudan, where the world witnesses the largest loss of lives," says Harriman. "That Ajyal recognised it by opening with *Sudan, Remember Us, to me is an extremely revolutionary moment." He was further moved by the fact that Ajyal 2024 was bringing *From Ground Zero, set against the backdrop of the ongoing war on Palestine, with 22 short films created by filmmakers from Gaza. "I have many colleagues in Gaza, some of them no more, and to see the reality of what is happening reflected in real-time in this way is crucial,” he added. An ambassador for Save the Children, Harriman said that the films at Ajyal reflect the reality of Palestinian children, adding that the event's ethos intersects with his own commitments from documenting the hunger crisis in north Africa to the migrant crisis in Sicily. The founder of “What We See”, Harriman said it has evolved as a “web 3” phenomenon, and he is leveraging the platform to integrate technology and culture to create a level playing field that helps the vulnerable. Through his work as a photographer and filmmaker, Harriman challenges conventional narratives and advocates for social change. "When there is injustice, I turn my lens to that," he said. Harriman, whose journey as a photographer began at age 40 when he was gifted a camera by his wife, is today one of the most influential voices in contemporary photography. His work gained global recognition during the Black Lives Matter protests, where his powerful images captured the raw emotion and humanity of the movement. "I was shooting my own trauma," Harriman said. "I see the invisible scars in the people I photograph and it feels like taking their pain and holding it." "When I'm shooting something I love, it's not just about the highlights and shadows," he added. "As the great photographer Robert Frank said, 'The eye should learn to listen'. Throughout my life, my eye has learned to listen deeply." From shooting a British *Vogue cover to his Oscar nomination for *The After, his short film about grief and healing, Harriman's work focuses on underrepresented voices and stories. "I could have just been the guy who shot the *Vogue cover, going from yacht to castle to party," he said. "But I didn't want my daughters growing up with a father who only chased fame and fortune. I shot heroes who risked everything to bring change." Harriman shares Ajyal's mission of nurturing meaningful dialogue through art. "We have to decide to decolonise our minds and look for the truth,” he said. “In today's world, simply telling the truth has become a revolutionary act." Jianjie Lin, the director of *Brief History of a Family (China, France, Denmark, Qatar), shared the view that human concepts are global. "This is my first feature and it observes the familial structure and how it reacts to social change,” he said. “The movie addresses the one-child policy and how it affected middle-class families who are figuring out their new life with the anxiety of losing everything.” “It also talks about the individual's identity versus what parents may impose on their children,” he added. Lin said that what makes Ajyal special is how it includes young people in the conversation, adding that the support by the DFI helped him reach global audiences, with members of the team he worked with coming from different backgrounds. – QNA Related Story Powerful lineup at Ajyal Monday 'Voices from Palestine' at Ajyal 2024In case you weren't aware (I wasn't), grand openings at Costco are treasure hunts for a certain band of whiskey lovers and wine aficionados, with certain labels getting stocked just for opening events. Costco has a deep well of connections in the wine and spirits world, and they try to put this on display whenever they have a new store opening to promote. And we have another new Costco opening tomorrow in Pleasanton, where some rare whiskey hounds tried to camp out to be first in line as early as Saturday. This Reddit thread exemplifies this enthusiasm, with several posters discussing how they got kicked off the property on Saturday after attempting to camp out for four nights — in the rain! — to be the first to get a crack at whatever hard-to-find whiskeys might appear in the booze aisle at Wednesday's opening. Buyers were looking for the kinds of labels that Costco will often only stock during an opening event and which typically sell out in a day or two — whiskeys like Pappy Van Winkle and Buffalo Trace OFC vintages that can retail for thousands of dollars, as well as lesser but still sought-after deals like Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon for $33, when a bottle typically goes for $60 or more. There was apparently a trespassing issue, or something, with the area where the campers were camping, and as Redditors noted, they were told to come back at 6 am on Wednesday. "I was just there and got kicked off the property," wrote one Redditor. "A guy paid me $800 to hang out in his 4 person Coleman tent and watch Netflix with him. He said it wouldn’t be weird and all I had to do was buy whiskey he had hand written on the first page of a composition book." That person continued to say that this whiskey lover, who apparently had hired several people to do his bidding, "said he’d give us all another $800 plus pay for our hotel rooms at the SpringHill Suites right by the Costco property if we promise to stay there and be back to the Costco at 5am sharp on Wednesday morning." Whiskey fans won't know exactly what the array of finds would be until the doors of the Pleasanton Costco open on Wednesday morning, as the Chronicle notes — Costcos traditionally stock a few cases of special stuff, but not always the same brands. Still, the mayor-elect of Pleasanton, Jack Balch, offered up an Instagram post and a Facebook post with photographic evidence after getting a tour inside the store. The Facebook post showed Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon on sale for $59.99, about half of what it typically retails for, and Eagle Rare 10 Year for $32.49. The Instagram post seen below also shows a special edition 10-year Whistlepig rye, dubbed Piggybank Rye, which appears to be bottled in a gold piggy bank. The price of that one is unclear, but it retails for $300 to $400 . A post shared by Jack Balch (@jbalch925) Also on sale at this new Costco is a sought-after super Tuscan wine, Sassicaia, that was set to go for $220 per bottle, versus the $300 it typically sells for. Selman Medina, who works as a wine steward at the recently opened Costco in Napa, tells the Chronicle that these opening-day events are lucrative for the company, with the Napa location selling a half-million dollars worth of wine and booze on Day One alone. We'll have to wait to see the social media evidence of the whiskey-hunters' finds at the new Costco, which may make their way to Reddit or X. For everyone else, this Costco at 7200 Johnson Drive will be open at 9 am Wednesday following a 7:30 am ribbon cutting. They'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but back open on Black Friday at 9 am.
JC Chasez Reveals Where *NSYNC Really Stands on a Reunion