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Nigeria’s St. Mary’s School Attack: Over 300 Abducted in Devastating Raid

  An interior view of the Christ Apostolic Church, the day after an attack by gunmen in which people were killed and the pastor and some worshippers kidnapped, in the town of Eruku, Kwara state, Nigeria. In one of the worst mass abductions in Nigeria’s recent history, more than 300 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, 2025. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the updated figures after conducting a verification exercise, raising the tally from an earlier count of 215 children. The attack unfolded when armed men stormed the Catholic institution in the early hours of Friday, targeting dormitories and classrooms. Witnesses reported chaos as students attempted to flee; tragically, 88 additional students were captured while trying to escape . The abduction marks the second major school attack in Nigeria within a week, following the kidnapping of 25 girls in Kebbi S...

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TSX Tumbles as Rate Hike Fears Loom

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) closed at its lowest level in two weeks on Friday, as investors worried about the possibility of higher interest rates in the near future. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index dropped 0.8% to 20,490.36 points, its worst performance since October 6.

The main factor behind the sell-off was the uncertainty over the timing and pace of monetary policy tightening by the Bank of Canada (BoC) and the U.S. Federal Reserve. Both central banks have signaled that they are ready to start reducing their massive bond-buying programs, which have supported the economic recovery from the pandemic.

However, the exact timing and magnitude of the tapering remain unclear, as the central banks balance the risks of inflation and growth. The BoC is expected to announce its decision on October 27, while the Fed will meet on November 2-3.

The prospect of less stimulus and higher borrowing costs weighed on the sentiment of investors, who sold off sectors that are sensitive to interest rates, such as financials, utilities and real estate. The energy sector also declined, despite a rise in oil prices, as some profit-taking took place after a strong rally in recent weeks.

On the positive side, some sectors that benefit from higher interest rates, such as materials and industrials, managed to post gains. The technology sector also outperformed, as some investors sought refuge in growth stocks.

The TSX was also influenced by the corporate earnings season, which kicked off this week. Some of the notable results included Shopify, which beat analysts' expectations and raised its full-year outlook; Rogers Communications, which missed estimates and lowered its guidance; and Canadian National Railway, which reported a mixed quarter and faced a strike threat from its workers.

The TSX is still up 16% year-to-date, but it has lagged behind its U.S. peers, which have reached record highs this month. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both gained 0.2% on Friday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%.



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