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Nigeria Balances Security Needs with Sovereignty in Response to U.S. Offer

Nigeria has stated that while it is open to receiving assistance from the United States in combating Islamist insurgents, such support must fully respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential “fast” military action in Nigeria over what he described as the persecution of Christians in the country. Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, emphasized that Nigeria welcomes international cooperation in its fight against terrorism but will not compromise its independence. “We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” Bwala said, adding that dialogue between the two nations could lead to stronger joint efforts against extremist groups. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 200 million people, has faced years of violence from Islamist insurgents, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These groups have carried out dea...

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Wall Street Rallies as Trade Hopes and Tech Surge Lift Futures to New Heights

U.S. stock futures surged Monday morning, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 climbing to record highs, buoyed by renewed optimism over international trade negotiations and a tech-led rally. The momentum followed Canada’s decision to scrap its digital services tax targeting American tech giants—an unexpected move that helped thaw stalled trade talks with the U.S.

Shares of major technology firms including Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Apple rose between 0.6% and 1.7% in premarket trading. The broader market also found support from expectations of deeper interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, fueled by soft economic data and speculation that President Donald Trump may replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell with a more dovish successor.

As of early trading, S&P 500 e-minis were up 0.39%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.6%, and Dow futures added 0.46%. Despite the record-setting highs, analysts note that the major indexes are still on track for their weakest first-half performance since 2022.

Investors are now eyeing a July 9 deadline for trade agreements, with Trump hinting at flexibility on the timeline. Meanwhile, attention also turns to key economic data releases and a Senate vote on a sweeping tax and spending bill that could further shape market sentiment in the days ahead.

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