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Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Overshadow Strong Bank Earnings

  US stock futures edged lower as investors balanced upbeat bank earnings against rising geopolitical unease tied to escalating tensions involving Iran. Contracts tied to the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all traded in the red, signaling a cautious start to the trading day. Major banks delivered solid quarterly results, with strong trading revenue and resilient consumer activity helping lift sentiment in the financial sector. Yet the optimism was tempered by concerns that potential US responses to developments in Iran could inject fresh volatility into global markets. Energy prices climbed as traders braced for possible disruptions. The pullback comes at a moment when investors are already navigating a crowded landscape of economic data, inflation readings, and policy uncertainty. With markets on edge, even strong corporate performance wasn’t enough to counter the broader risk-off mood.

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Sudan's Famine Crisis Worsens Amid Ongoing Conflict

 

War-hit Sudan is sliding deeper into a famine crisis, with worsening starvation and a surge in acute malnutrition, according to an independent group of food security experts. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has identified famine in five areas, including the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, where about half a million people are taking refuge. The crisis has been exacerbated by a 20-month civil war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The IPC report highlights that 24.6 million people, about half of Sudan's population, urgently need food aid. The conflict has severely disrupted farming activities, resulting in farmers abandoning their crops and widespread looting. The situation is particularly dire in Darfur and South Kordofan, where violence has led to scores of civilian casualties and displacement.

The Sudanese government has suspended its cooperation with the IPC, accusing it of issuing unreliable reports. However, the IPC warns that without an end to the conflict, the situation could worsen, with famine potentially spreading to additional areas.

The international community continues to call for urgent humanitarian aid and a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further suffering and loss of life.




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