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Evacuation in the Snow: Fears of Conflict Drive Mass Exodus from Pakistan’s Tirah Valley

Residents from Tirah valley, who fled a remote mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, gather to get themself registered, in Bara, Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan A wave of displacement is sweeping through northwest Pakistan as thousands of families flee the Tirah Valley after mosque loudspeakers warned residents of possible upcoming military action. The sudden announcements triggered a rapid and chaotic departure, with many families leaving in the middle of harsh winter conditions. Residents describe a tense atmosphere in the valley, where fears of renewed conflict between security forces and militant groups have been simmering for months. Entire communities have packed their belongings onto trucks, donkeys, and makeshift carts, heading toward safer towns such as Bara and Peshawar. Government officials insist that no military operation has been ordered and attribute the movement of people to seasonal migration patterns. Locals strongly dispute this, sayi...

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TSX gains on rate cut hopes despite high inflation`

 


Canada’s main stock index, the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index, rose by 0.75% to 20,777.19 on Tuesday despite a sticky domestic inflation reading.

The materials sector, which houses Canada’s major mining firms, gained 1.3% with copper miners amongst the top gainers on the benchmark index as prices of the red metal rose. Consumer staple was amongst the leading sectors, rising 1.2%, while utilities advanced 0.8%.

San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said cuts to the U.S. central bank’s benchmark rate are likely to be appropriate next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Fed Atlanta President Raphael Bostic and Fed Chicago President Austan Goolsbee are also scheduled to speak later in the day.

Meanwhile, the loonie strengthened 0.5% against the dollar after data showed Canada’s annual inflation rate unexpectedly remained at 3.1% in November. The renewed acceleration in core inflation pressures in November was partly due to a jump in travel tour prices, which is likely to be reversed in December.

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