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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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US Futures Tread Water After S&P 500’s Record Close

                                        

US stock futures held steady on Wednesday following a record close for the S&P 500. Investors are closely watching fresh economic data and Federal Reserve minutes for hints on potential rate cuts in this holiday-shortened session.

  • S&P 500 Futures (ES=F) traded flat after the benchmark index ended Tuesday above 5,500 for the first time.
  • Nasdaq 100 Futures (NQ=F) remained little changed.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures (YM=F) edged up 0.1%.

The stock market is preparing for an early close (1 p.m. ET) on Wednesday ahead of the Independence Day holiday. Jerome Powell’s remarks on cooling inflation have fueled hopes for an interest-rate cut, even as he signaled no immediate urgency to act. Traders are currently pricing in 65% odds of a rate decrease in September, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.

Eyes are now on updates regarding private payrolls and jobless claims, providing insight into the labor market before the key June jobs report release on Friday. Additionally, data on services activity and factory orders will be closely watched for signs of further economic slowing that could prompt policy adjustments.

In corporate news:

  • Paramount Global (PARA) shares climbed over 12% due to reports that Skydance Media has acquired a controlling stake in the entertainment giant.
  • Tesla (TSLA) shares rose almost 3% in pre-market trading following a 10% surge on Tuesday after the EV maker exceeded Wall Street delivery estimates.

Investors are bracing for the July 4th closure, keeping a keen eye on economic data as they assess the path forward. 


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