Katy Perry Participates In Historic All-Female Spaceflight Mission
Pop sensation Katy Perry is now the most well-known member of an all-female band that will launch into space on one of billionaire Jeff Bezos's rockets on Monday. The “Firework” and “California Gurls” singer lifted more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) above the Earth’s surface in a vessel from Blue Origin, the space company owned by the Amazon founder. Five other...
235 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In Kursk Direction Within 24 Hours – Report
The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had lost no fewer than 235 soldiers in the Kursk direction in the last day. In total, Ukraine has lost more than 74,245 service people and 406 tanks during the offensive in the Kursk direction, the ministry also said. According to the ministry, in the past...
Six Reportedly Feared Dead In New York Plane Crash
Authorities said Sunday that a small plane carrying six people had crashed in New York state, and US media reported that no survivors were found. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a “fatal crash” in Copake, eastern New York, official Todd Inman told reporters on Sunday, without specifying the number of deaths. The Mitsubishi MU2B40 aircraft crashed into a...
No Country Safe From Tariffs, Says Trump
President Donald Trump of the United States issued a warning on Sunday that no nation would be "getting off the hook" on tariffs, as his administration indicated that any exemptions viewed as favoring China would only last temporarily. The world’s two largest economies have been locked in a fast-moving, high-stakes game of brinkmanship since Trump launched a global tariff assault...
US Court Demands Release Of Tinubu’s Records From FBI, DEA
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been ordered to make public documents pertaining to President Bola Tinubu's criminal investigation into drug trafficking allegations. In a ruling dated April 8, Judge Beryl Howell of the United States District Court of Columbia ordered both agencies to search for and process non-exempt records tied to Freedom...
US Embassy Introduces New Visa Interview Requirements For Nigerians
The US Embassy's new visa interview criteria for Nigerian applicants will take effect on April 22. According to a statement issued on Friday by the US mission, all applicants attending interviews in Abuja and Lagos must present a DS-160 visa application form featuring a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes. The barcode must correspond with the one used...
Experts Canvass Dialogue During 90-Day Trump Tariff Pause
A temporary halt in the escalating trade war, initiated by the US president and offering a 90-day pause, has provided a brief respite from growing global economic concerns. Experts who spoke to The PUNCH said that it would offer room for reason to prevail as dialogue takes place. While the Federal Government had hinted that the tariffs would have an impact,...
Niger Ditches French, Embraces Hausa As Official Language
Niger’s junta has replaced French with Hausa as the national language, deepening its break from Paris, the country’s former colonial ruler. Since overthrowing civilian president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, Niger’s military rulers have severed relations with France, kicking out French soldiers and renaming streets and monuments that bore French names. “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are...
Trump Signs Order To ‘Make America’s Showers Great Again’
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting water-pressure restrictions on showerheads, a move the White House said would “make America’s showers great again.” Trump has long complained about inadequate water pressure in American bathrooms which he blames on federal water-conservation regulations. “In my case I like to take a nice shower, to take care of my beautiful hair,”...
Pope Francis Meets King Charles, Queen Camilla Despite Illness
Pope Francis met King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, the day before, during the British monarch's state visit to Italy. Wednesday’s meeting was a surprise, as Buckingham palace had cancelled the planned audience due to the 88-year-old pope’s poor health. Francis, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, is recovering from five weeks in hospital with life-threatening pneumonia. It...
