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Wall Street Futures Rise on Bank Earnings and Rate-Cut Optimism

U.S. stock futures climbed Wednesday as strong bank earnings and renewed hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts helped ease investor concerns over U.S.-China tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 200 points in premarket trading, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 also advanced, buoyed by optimism surrounding the start of earnings season. Bank of America reported a 23% jump in profit, joining other major lenders in posting robust results that reassured markets about the financial sector’s resilience. Investors are also betting on potential interest-rate cuts as the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure to support growth amid trade frictions and a prolonged U.S. government shutdown. The combination of strong corporate performance and policy optimism has lifted sentiment after a volatile session earlier in the week. Global markets mirrored the upbeat tone, with Asian and European equities edging higher, while the dollar weakened and gold prices steadied. Analysts ...

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Iran and Hezbollah Reinforce Assad Amid Rebel Offensive in Homs

As rebel forces intensify their offensive towards the strategic city of Homs, Iran and Hezbollah are stepping up their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The recent surge in rebel activity has prompted thousands of residents to flee Homs, fearing the escalating conflict.

Iran has pledged to send additional military equipment, including missiles and drones, along with more advisers to bolster Assad's regime. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, has also dispatched supervising forces to Syria to assist in preventing anti-government fighters from seizing Homs.

The city of Homs holds significant strategic importance as it connects the capital Damascus to the coast, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect. Losing Homs would sever this crucial link and deal a severe blow to Assad's control over the region.

Rebels, led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have vowed to continue their advance, aiming to "build Syria" and bring Syrian refugees back home from Lebanon and Europe. The offensive has already seen the capture of key cities such as Aleppo and Hama, further challenging Assad's rule.

The international community watches closely as the situation in Homs unfolds, with humanitarian concerns mounting as civilians bear the brunt of the conflict. The United Nations has called for immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need and a return to a political process to end the bloodshed.

As the conflict continues, the geopolitical stakes remain high, with Iran and Hezbollah's support for Assad underscoring the complex web of rivalries and foreign interventions that perpetuate Syria's turmoil.




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