Earlier this month, Tata commenced its innings for 2026 with the launch of the Punch facelift, prices of which start at Rs. Under the hood, the new Tata Punch is available with the 1.2-litre petrol engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged formats. The NA motor belts out 87bhp and 115Nm, and is paired with five-speed manual and AMT units. The turbo-petrol mill, on the other hand, develops 118bhp and 170Nm, mated only with a six-speed manual gearbox. In terms of variants, the 2026 Punch is offered in eight options, namely Smart, Pure, Pure+, Pure+ S, Adventure, Adventure S, Accomplished, and Accomplished+ S. There are 11 colours to choose from, including Pristine White, Daytona Grey, Bengal Rouge, Coorg Clouds, Caramel, Cyantafic, and all the aforementioned colours with a contrast coloured roof.

A film production crew has confirmed the death of a special effects artist, James Akaie, following an explosion during a filming session in Abeokuta, Ogun State. According to the production team, Akaie, a Special Effects and Pyrotechnics Artist, was involved in an unexpected explosion that occurred in a designated effects preparation area outside the main film set. The producer said investigations have commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion, noting that the production team is cooperating with relevant authorities. “James was a brilliant and passionate Special Effects and Pyrotechnics Artist, whose creativity, dedication and love for his craft inspired everyone who worked with him,” he said. The production team noted that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.

Nigerians have called for urgent reforms to the healthcare sector after the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 21-month-old son prompted grief - and further accounts of negligence and inadequate care. Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have begun legal action against the hospital, accusing it of medical negligence. Those who can afford to seek care abroad typically do so. Adichie's sister-in-law, Dr Anthea Esege Nwandu, a physician with decades of experience, has called for change. She told Agence France-Presse: "This is a wake-up call, for we, the public, to demand accountability and transparency and consequences of negligence in our healthcare system."

Some displaced residents of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State have lamented increased banditry in the area, saying their family members are undertaking huge risks to move to Niger Republic. According to him, over 20 settlements across different parts of the local government area have been evacuated in response to the threats. In separate interviews with our correspondents, former residents said their relatives and family members were fleeing to Niger Republic. He said the worsening situation had forced many residents to flee to neighbouring Niger Republic through difficult and unsafe routes. Shinkafi, now in Zamfara State, was once part of Isa Local Government.

The 2026 Tata Punch facelift has been making quite some buzz in the Indian passenger vehicle market. The new Punch has arrived incorporating a plethora of changes at exterior, inside the cabin, as well as under the hood. The 2026 Tata Punch facelift was launched at a price range of ₹5.59 lakh and ₹10.54 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2026 Tata Punch facelift SUV is available in eight different trim options: Smart, Pure, Pure+, Pure+ S, Adventure, Adventure S, Accomplished, and Accomplished+ S. The SUV is available across multiple powertrain options. This variant is not only available with all the bells and whistles, but it also offers great value for money with multiple powertrain combinations.

A fire outbreak at a residential building on Bola Street, Oyingbo, Lagos State, has claimed the life of a 103-year-old woman and destroyed several household properties. PUNCH Online learnt from a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, that the agency received a distress call about the fire outbreak at about 12pm on Friday. Oke-Osanyintolu noted that upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a bungalow with shops attached had been engulfed in flames. He stated that emergency management procedures were immediately activated at the scene, but after an assessment, the centenarian woman had died. PUNCH Online reported on Wednesday that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said 133 people lost their lives in 2,617 emergencies attended to by the agency in 2025.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled coordinated terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Borno states, demonstrating resilience, professionalism, and superior combat capability. “Alert troops engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force. “Later the same day, a large-scale, multi-directional attack targeted Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. Troops, backed by the Air Component and Nigerian Army aerial platforms, met the attackers with overwhelming firepower. The acting media information officer added that the sacrifices of OPHK personnel highlight their commitment to securing lives, dismantling terrorist networks, and protecting the North East region.

Ayinde faulted what he described as the “imposition of a delegate system” and the physical exclusion of some members by a faction within the ruling house from participating in the nomination meeting. The musician noted that following the demise of Oba Sikiru Adetona, it became the turn of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to present candidates for the Awujale stool. “Entry to the meeting was restricted through the issuance of special cards to purported ‘delegates’ selected by a faction within the ruling house. The contestants emerged at the nomination meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. When contacted, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof Yusuf, confirmed receipt of the letter but described it as “arrant nonsense” and of no consequence to the ongoing process.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the continuation of the N1.35bn corruption trial of a former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, overturning a Court of Appeal judgment that had freed them. The Supreme Court held that the EFCC’s appeal was meritorious and directed that Lamido and his sons return to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to open their defence in the case. The EFCC alleged that Lamido, who governed Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, laundered N1.35bn in kickbacks from contractors handling state government projects. However, the Court of Appeal, in July 2023, overturned the ruling and struck out the charges, a decision that prompted the EFCC to approach the Supreme Court. In its judgment on Friday, the Supreme Court ordered that the charges be restored and directed the Federal High Court to proceed with the trial for Lamido and the other defendants to defend themselves.

What is the Tata Punch HBX Edition? The Tata Punch HBX Edition is a specialized, off-road-influenced accessorised special edition of the 2026 Tata Punch facelift. Also check: 2026 Tata Punch ColorsInterior and TechnologyBase Trim : The HBX Edition is built on the top-end Accomplished +S variant of the standard Punch facelift. For reference, the 2026 Tata Punch facelift is currently priced between 5.59 lakh and 10.54 lakh (ex-showroom). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Can I buy the Tata Punch HBX Edition right now?

Former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro (right); PCC National Coordinator and member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Abiodun Faleke; Pelumi; Danmole and others at the event. Muslim and Christian clerics on Thursday gathered in Lagos to offer prayers for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing the gathering, the Administrative Secretary of the PCC, Abiodun Mafe, said the prayers were aimed at seeking divine guidance and support for President Tinubu as he prepares for a second term. “This prayer session brings together members of the PCC and clerics from both faiths to seek divine support for our leader, President Bola Tinubu’s re-election,” Mafe said. Prophet Olubode, in his remarks, described President Tinubu as a “legend” and prayed for divine protection over him and the leadership of the PCC.

If there’s a more Irish-American novel published this year, it’ll be something to behold. The narrator’s mother gets a sadness in her eyes whenever she passes a monument of her youth that’s fallen into disrepair. The narrator’s older brother, Tommy, turned into an “asshole” when he became a teenager – surly, delinquent, dismissive of his family. He records recent fishing trips and neighbourhood baseball games alongside older childhood memories and family anecdotes going back decades. The layers of nostalgia threaten to become overbearing at times but Burns’s plain, unfussy style keeps a lid on it.

The Ondo State Police Command has disclosed that no fewer than 2,500 suspects were arrested across the state in 2025 over offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, vandalism and drug-related crimes. The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this on Friday at the Police Headquarters in Akure, during a briefing to journalists on the command’s activities in the previous year. Lawal further revealed that 250 suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of substances suspected to be hard drugs, while 1,434 others were apprehended for various other offences. The police commissioner attributed the successes recorded by the command to collective efforts and the support of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. He noted that Ondo State enjoyed relative peace during the period under review due to proactive policing strategies and intelligence-led operations carried out in collaboration with sister security agencies.

Interestingly, while the homegrown automaker launched the new Tata Punch at a price range of ₹5.59 lakh and ₹10.54 lakh (ex-showroom), the OEM also unveiled a special edition iteration christened Tata Punch HBX Edition. The Tata Punch HBX Edition was introduced a specialised and off-roading influenced accessorised version of the SUV. With this strategy, the Tata Punch HBX Edition is not available for sale as a separate trim level of the new Punch, but was showcased as the potential customisation options of the 2026 Tata Punch. Here are the key facts about the newly unveiled Tata Punch HBX Edition. Tata Punch HBX Edition: Yet to be launched Tata Motors has not launched the Punch HBX Edition as a completely separate trim level of the new Punch.

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have insisted that the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, will continue, describing it as the only solution to the political crisis in the state. The lawmakers made this known on Friday during a live broadcast aired from in front of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, after the Assembly failed to reconvene on Thursday as scheduled. Taking turns to address the media, the legislators maintained that the impeachment proceedings were constitutional and in line with their legislative responsibilities. The House had, at its sitting last week, initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy over alleged gross misconduct. The impeachment move faced political pushback, with four lawmakers between Monday and Wednesday formally withdrawing from the process and calling for an amicable resolution of the crisis.