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WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jordan Kyrou scored twice and Dylan Holloway had a goal and assist to help lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. Robert Thomas also had an empty-net goal for the Blues, who are on a four-game point streak. Kyrou and Holloway gave the Blues a 2-0 lead and scored 39 seconds apart during four-on-four play. Kyrou scored at 18:04 after his rebound went off Mark Scheifele’s skate, and Holloway notched his eighth of the season when he put in his own rebound past Connor Hellebuyck at 18:43. Kyrou made it 3-0 at 6:38 of the third when Holloway, who was sitting on the ice, sent him a pass in the high slot. Holloway extended his point streak to four games (four goals and three assists). Joel Hofer made 22 saves for St. Louis, and Hellebuyck stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced for the Jets. Scheifele was the lone goal-scorer for the Jets, who have lost four consecutive games and are 1-5-0 in their past six. St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) makes a save on a Winnipeg Jets shot during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday December 3, 2024. Credit: AP/FRED GREENSLADE Takeaways Blues: Holloway and Kyrou were the engines propelling St. Louis. Kyrou finished with seven shots on goal and hit a post. Jets: Winnipeg only won 36.2% of faceoffs and had a hard time getting pucks on net as the Blues blocked 14 shots. Key moment The Jets were already having a sluggish second period when Kyrou and Holloway scored 39 seconds apart. Key stat The Blues have picked up points in their past four games (3-0-1) — all under new head coach Jim Montgomery since he was hired on Nov. 24. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on St. Louis Blues' Radek Faksa (12) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024. Credit: AP/FRED GREENSLADE Up next Jets: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, the same day the Blues visit the Calgary Flames.

Pep Guardiola has hit back at suggestions he is not selecting because of a rift with the midfielder. De Bruyne has been restricted to five substitute appearances since returning from an abdominal injury suffered against in September. Guardiola waited until City were against on Sunday before introducing the 33-year-old from the bench. It prompted Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to speculate that there is a simmering problem between the player and manager. Neville said the situation with De Bruyne is "unusual, bizarre, strange" and that "something is definitely going on in the dressing room." It was a view backed up by Carrager, who said "something is going on with De Bruyne" and "something isn't right if he isn't in the team when he is fit." In a news conference on Tuesday, Guardiola was not asked directly about the situation with De Bruyne. Instead, he addressed it unprompted. "People say I've got a problem with Kevin," Guardiola said. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don't want Kevin to play. The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don't want it. I have a personal problem with him after nine years together. "He's delivered to me the biggest success to this club. But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33-years-old. "He needs time to find his best. Like last season, step by step. He'll try to do it and feel better. I'm desperate to have his best." Guardiola hinted De Bruyne could return to the team when they next play -- against in the on Wednesday -- after he played the final 12 minutes at Anfield. City are hoping to end a run of seven games without a win when they line up against Nuno Espírito Santo's side, who sit sixth in the Premier League table. Four consecutive league defeats has seen City slip to fifth. While Guardiola is keen to have De Bruyne back, he is warned that the international will "not solve our problems." "I'd love to have the Kevin in his prime -- 26 or 27," Guardiola said. "He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 anymore. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. "He played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have. "But always I said, he himself will not solve our problems. Like Erling [Haaland] won't solve it himself. We attack and defend together. We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we'll get the best of all of us."

New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoilPope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. The flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that more than 3,200 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed. Twenty-eight flights were canceled. Middle East latest: Bethlehem marks a somber Christmas Eve amid war in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian city of Bethlehem is preparing for another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza. Most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man accused in the burning death of a woman on a New York subway appears in court NEW YORK (AP) — A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die has been arraigned. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after previously being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.

10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania TrumpRoyce Global Trust (NYSE: RGT) as of Nov 30, 2024

By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles The Five Minute Read Hundreds of bookstore staffers receive holiday bonuses from author James Patterson Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”BBC's Escape to the Country fans 'switch off' over 'obscene' celebrity episode

Bitdeer Technologies's BTDR short percent of float has risen 8.64% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 10.71 million shares sold short , which is 10.44% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.05 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Bitdeer Technologies Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Bitdeer Technologies has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted. Comparing Bitdeer Technologies's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Bitdeer Technologies's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.16%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Daily Post Nigeria EPL: He’s important to us – Guardiola on Man City star Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Sport EPL: He’s important to us – Guardiola on Man City star Published on December 24, 2024 By Don Silas Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has emphasised the importance of striker Erling Haaland to the team. Speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Everton on Boxing Day, Guardiola noted that Manchester City needs to utilise the Norway international more effectively. Haaland, who claimed the Golden Boot as the Premier League’s top scorer last season, has not found the back of the net in his last three matches for Guardiola’s side. However, he started the season strongly, scoring 14 goals in 13 games across all competitions. “It’s about us; it’s not just about one player,” Guardiola said. “When Erling was so prolific, it was because of us, the team. Erling is so important to us and will continue to be. We need to use him better.” Related Topics: EPL guardiola man city Don't Miss EPL: Maresca confirms key player to miss Chelsea vs Fulham You may like EPL: Maresca confirms key player to miss Chelsea vs Fulham EPL: I’m really frustrated – Man Utd manager, Amorim EPL: Alan Shearer predict Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal Boxing Day fixtures EPL: Amorim reveals when he will pick Rashford again EPL: Leny Yoro speaks on regrets over Man United move EPL: Aina named in Team of the Week Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdLibs nuclear plan to cost $330b but modelling disputed

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts remained in the NFL's concussion protocol on Monday, limiting his ability to practice this week for the Philadelphia Eagles and casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's game against Dallas. If Hurts can't play, the Eagles would turn to backup Kenny Pickett — who suffered a rib injury and couldn't protect a big lead in a 36-33 loss to Washington — with third-stringer Tanner McKee on deck. The Eagles (12-3) need to win one more game over the final two to clinch an NFC East title and one of the conference's top two seeds. Coach Nick Sirianni gave no additional health update on Hurts but did say the QB who led the Eagles to 10 straight wins before he was forced out with the head injury wouldn't need much time this week to get ready against the Cowboys, if he was cleared. “Jalen knows how to prepare,” Sirianni said. “He knows how to get himself ready. He's a true pro." The Eagles are 9 1/2-point favorites over the division rival Cowboys (7-8), per BetMGM Sportsbook. Sirianni said the Eagles would lean on the medical staff on a daily basis to know where Hurts — who threw two touchdown passes and ran for a pair of scores in the first meeting against Dallas in November — was in his recovery from the head injury. Hurts was ruled out early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. “He's always done a good job of protecting himself both as a passer and a runner,” Sirianni said. “Any time you lose one of your best players, you wish they'd do something else or not take that hit." Hurts shook off a sluggish start over the first four games and has thrown 18 touchdowns against just five interceptions to turn the Eagles into Super Bowl contenders. “Every time there's a player out,” Sirianni said, “there's an adjustment to be made.” Saquon Barkley and the running game. Barkley was held to 41 yards after the first quarter but 150 yards is 150 yards and he still has a shot at NFL history. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,838 yards rushing and is 268 yards away from passing Eric Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984 for the season mark. Barkley is 162 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history with 2,000 yards rushing in a season. Backup QB. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards in relief, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and an interception. Pickett played his first meaningful football in a year. The Eagles use McKee as the emergency QB, but the sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft could be in the mix if Hurts sat out against Dallas. Pickett is from New Jersey and said when he was acquired from Pittsburgh that he had “great memories” of going to games at Lincoln Financial Field with his dad and grandfather since he was 5. The chance to run out of the home team tunnel — which he could get Sunday if he's the starting QB — left him absolutely delighted. Pickett, a first-round pick out of Pitt in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter for the Steelers. “I was impressed by Pickett, honestly," Washington coach Dan Quinn said Monday. "I thought he threw the ball with good accuracy to the right spots. He’s a nice athlete (who can) move, so I can see why they would want him in that system. I thought he got outside and had good scramble ability. Wasn’t surprised they didn’t run the sneaks to go through that.” Zack Baun. The linebacker barely caused a ripple on the transactions wire in March but has been arguably the MVP of the defense. He forced a fumble in the third quarter that set up a score, one of five turnovers for the Eagles. He also had two tackles for losses. The No. 1 seed. The Eagles all but cost themselves a shot at the top spot in the NFC and a bye with the late-game collapse in Washington. The Eagles will clinch the division with a victory over the Cowboys or Giants and most likely will finish with the No. 2 seed. They are one game behind both the Detroit Lions (13-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) in the NFC standings. Eagles fans can still chant, “We're No. 1!” but it's a long shot. To clinch the No. 1 seed, the Eagles need to beat Dallas and the Giants. And the Lions need to lose their last two games against San Francisco (6-9) and Minnesota. And the Vikings needs to lose to Green Bay (10-4) and beat the Lions in Week 18. Should the status quo remain, the Eagles would host Washington in a playoff game. Beyond Hurts, edge rusher Josh Sweat left with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jordan Davis limped off in the second quarter. ... Pickett said he had his ribs X-rayed and would undergo further testing. Sirianni had no update Monday on Pickett's condition. 1,000 — Brown became the first Eagles receiver to top 1,000 yards in three straight seasons since Mike Quick from 1983-85. The Eagles can clinch the division and a home playoff game with two lightweights left on the schedule, both at home. The Eagles play Dallas on Sunday in a game bumped to a 1 p.m. kickoff and end the season against the New York Giants. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflPakistan must seek to double trade with US: FPCCI KARACHI: President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh said on Tuesday that the US is one of the few countries with which Pakistan enjoys a bilateral trade surplus. The Pakistan-US trade volume surpassed $7 billion in 2023 and continues to grow, reaching $6.3 billion in the first 10 months of 2024 (January-October). Sheikh highlighted that, from the perspective of Pakistan’s business, industry and trade communities, there is significant potential to double this trade volume within a few years. This optimism stems from the rising demand for Pakistani products in the US, surging information technology exports and the anticipated diversification of Pakistan’s export portfolio. Sheikh also informed that Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has initiated a consultative process with the FPCCI to explore avenues for exponential growth in exports to the US. Minister for Trade and Investment at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC Hanif Channa provided a detailed briefing on outreach initiatives aimed at engaging with the US Congress, Senate, federal administration and various states to promote trade. The FPCCI president underscored the importance of the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme, urging its renewal and expansion. He advised Pakistani exporters to remain proactive and committed to capitalising on the vast opportunities presented by the US market. Notably, textiles currently account for 55 per cent of Pakistan’s exports to the US, but other sectors, particularly IT, are gaining ground, with IT exports surpassing the $1 billion milestone. Senior Vice President of the FPCCI Saquib Fayyaz Magoon said that Pakistan must diversify its export focus beyond textiles to include IT, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and human resource exports, much like neighbouring India has done on a large scale. He also stressed the need for Pakistani exporters to uphold quality, standards and compliance, while urging the government to ensure regionally competitive costs of doing business, particularly in access to finance and electricity tariffs. Saeed Sheikh talked about the significance of economic relations with the US, noting that the economies of California and Texas alone rank as the fourth and sixth largest in the world, respectively. “This underscores the immense potential for economic, trade, industrial, investment and B2B relations with the US,” he said. He concluded by adding that while political diplomacy may face challenges, economic diplomacy offers opportunities to achieve breakthroughs in strengthening bilateral relations. The ambassador further highlighted Pakistan’s strong diaspora in the U.S., comprising over 1 million Pakistani-Americans, as a critical asset in strengthening bilateral ties. He also pointed out that Pakistan is the largest importer of American cotton, with 40,000 Pakistani doctors currently practicing in the US, and plans underway to export 5,000 nursing staff and more pharmacists to the US.