At least 30 people have been killed after armed men stormed the village of Kasuwan-Daji in Nigeria’s Niger state, setting fire to the local market, looting shops, and kidnapping residents. The attackers, believed to be bandits, reportedly arrived on motorcycles from nearby forested areas, rounding up villagers and opening fire. The incident is the latest in a surge of deadly attacks across western and central Nigeria, where armed criminal gangs continue to exploit weak security and remote terrain.

Global stock markets are closing out the year on a strong footing, with major indices in the United States and Asia pushing to record or multi-week highs. Investor confidence has been boosted by easing inflation expectations, hopes of interest-rate cuts in 2026, and continued strength in the technology sector, even as gold and silver surge to record levels amid ongoing global uncertainty.

Silver prices surged by nearly 9% to a fresh all-time high on December 26, as a wider rally across precious metals gathered pace globally. Gold, platinum and palladium also reached record levels, driven by tightening supply, strong industrial demand and growing investor appetite amid economic uncertainty. Analysts say ongoing market deficits and expectations of looser monetary policy could keep precious metals elevated into 2026.