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Power Vacuum in Tehran After Reported Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

                                A man holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the national flag. A senior Israeli official has stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a series of U.S.–Israeli strikes targeting leadership sites in Tehran. Satellite imagery reportedly shows heavy damage and smoke rising from Khamenei’s compound following the attacks.  Multiple outlets, including Reuters and Al Arabiya, report that the strikes were part of a coordinated operation aimed at crippling Iran’s top leadership structure. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly confirmed Khamenei’s death, calling him “one of the most evil people in history” and framing the operation as a step toward ending what he described as a long‑standing security threat.  Iranian state media has since acknowledged Khamenei’s death, announcing a 40‑day mourning p...

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TSX rises as energy and consumer staples lead




The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended up 71.66 points, or 0.3%, at 21,061.88 on Monday, approaching its 20-month high of 21,074.91 reached last week. The energy and consumer staples sectors were the main drivers of the gains, as oil prices recovered some of their losses and investors digested a Bank of Canada business survey.

The survey showed that Canadian firms saw their order books decline as interest rates crimped consumer spending, and they expected inflation to ease despite increased concerns over wages for the next year. The report could keep the door open for interest rate cuts in the first half of the year, according to some economists.

The energy sector rose 0.9% as U.S. crude oil futures settled at $72.50 a barrel, down 0.3%. The consumer staples sector added 0.8%, boosted by shares of Saputo Inc and Loblaw Co, which climbed about 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. The utilities sector also ended 1.1% higher.

Trading volumes were lower than usual, with U.S. markets closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. On Tuesday, Canada will release its consumer price index report for December, which could offer more clues on the central bank’s policy outlook. Economists expect inflation to rise to 3.4% from 3.1% in November.

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