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Pakistan's Crackdown on Afghan Refugees: A Controversial Move

In recent weeks, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to arrest Afghan citizens residing in the country without proper documentation. This move has sparked significant controversy, with the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad accusing Pakistan of attempting to expel all Afghan refugees from its territory. The Afghan Embassy issued a strongly worded statement, condemning the short timeframe given by Pakistani authorities and the unilateral nature of their decision. The embassy claimed that Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been subjected to arrests, searches, and orders to leave the cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has dismissed these allegations, stating that the authorities are merely facilitating conditions for the swift return of Afghans to their home country. The ministry emphasized that Pakistan has long threatened to deport Afghans living in the country illegally. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently approved a March 31 dea...

                                                

 US stock futures took a sharp dive today as hopes for interest rate cuts in 2025 were dashed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all saw significant declines amid rising bond yields and a stronger dollar.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures sank by 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 futures tumbled by 1.2%. This drop follows a strong jobs report from December, which has led investors to believe that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for a longer period.

The 10-year Treasury yield reached a 14-month high, touching close to 4.8%, while the 30-year yield neared 5%. Additionally, the US dollar surged to a two-year high against major currency peers.

Investors are now pricing in no rate cuts until at least September 2025, with only a slight 30 basis point reduction expected for the entire year. This has put a spotlight on the upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, due on Wednesday, as concerns grow that inflation may not cool to the central bank's 2% target.

Tech giants like Nvidia and Tesla were among the hardest hit, with both companies seeing their stock prices slide amid the market turmoil. The rise in energy prices, following new US sanctions on Russia's crude industry, has also added to the market's woes.

As the market continues to react to these developments, investors are bracing for a potentially rough session ahead.




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