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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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Stock Market Reacts to Surprising Inflation Data


In a surprising turn of events, the stock market experienced a significant downturn as recent inflation data came in unexpectedly high. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.4% over the previous month and 3.5% over the prior year in March, surpassing the anticipated figures. This acceleration from February’s 3.2% annual gain in prices has dampened hopes for imminent interest rate cuts.

As a result, major stock indices fell sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by approximately 1.1%, while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite saw declines of nearly 1% and 0.9%, respectively. Concurrently, bond yields soared, with the 10-year Treasury yield reaching its highest level since November at nearly 4.57%.

This market reaction reflects investors’ recalibrated expectations, with many now betting on the Federal Reserve maintaining current rate levels through June and possibly July, pushing the likelihood of an initial rate cut to September. The latest Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes revealed that officials are open to lowering interest rates “at some point,” but the timing remains uncertain.

Amidst these developments, crude oil futures rebounded following reports of potential conflict escalation in the Middle East, which could further impact market dynamics. The situation remains fluid, with investors closely monitoring the interplay between inflation trends and central bank policies.




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