No fewer than 235 soldiers have been lost in the past day by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk direction.

The Russian Defence Ministry made the claim Monday in a statement made available to newsmen.

According to NAN, Ukraine has so far, lost 74,245 service people and 406 tanks during the offensive in the Kursk direction, the ministry also said.

The ministry also stated that in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 235 service people, an armored personnel carrier; three combat armored vehicles, 14 cars, and four field artillery weapons.

Others include four mortars and a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system.

It was earlier reported that two Russian missiles on Sunday struck the heart of the city of Sumy in Ukraine, killing at least 31 persons including children.

France President, Emmanuel Macron, while reacting to the sad incident, condemned the development, stating that France is working towards imposing a ceasefire on Russia.

US President Donald Trump, on Friday insisted that his tariff policy was doing really well despite China hiking levies on US goods to 125 percent in the spiraling trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

According to reports, investors dumped US government bonds, the dollar tumbled and stocks seesawed after Beijing’s retaliation against Trump deepened concerns on already traumatized global markets.

Recall that Trump sent financial markets into a tailspin by announcing sweeping import taxes on dozens of trade partners last week, only to abruptly roll them back to 10 percent on Wednesday for 90 days, while raising levies on goods from China.

“We are doing really well on our tariff policy. Very exciting for America, and the World!!! It is moving along quickly,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.

Later, the White House said that Trump remained hopeful about a deal with China, adding that 15 other countries have offers on the table during his 90-day pause in their tariffs.

However, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump made it very clear, when the United States was punched that he woul punch back harder.

The United States has opened discussions with President Bola Tinubu on expanding economic cooperation across Africa as part of efforts to deepen trade, investment, and development ties on the continent.

This was disclosed following a meeting on Thursday between President Tinubu and U.S. State Department Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, in Paris, where the Nigerian leader is currently on a short working visit.

According to a statement posted Friday on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, and shared by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the talks also touched on key security concerns in the region.

“State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos met with President Tinubu on Thursday to discuss regional security, including working together with partners to build a durable peace in eastern DRC,” the U.S. Mission stated.

“They also discussed expanding opportunities for economic cooperation throughout Africa,” it added.

The meeting comes at a time when Nigeria is working to reposition itself as a hub for investment and economic growth on the continent.

President Tinubu has consistently called for stronger global partnerships to drive industrialization, job creation, and infrastructure development in Africa.

Though specific details of the economic discussions were not disclosed, analysts say the meeting reflects growing American interest in engaging with African leaders on development-focused diplomacy, with Nigeria seen as a critical anchor in West Africa.

President Tinubu has been in Paris since Wednesday, April 2, undertaking a short working visit aimed at reviewing his administration’s midterm performance and setting strategic priorities for the next phase of his tenure.

While abroad, the President has remained actively engaged in state matters, and Thursday’s high-level engagement with the U.S. State Department underscores Nigeria’s central role in regional affairs and global economic conversations.

Tinubu is expected to return to the country shortly, with public attention focused on the outcome of his consultations and the anticipated direction of new policies in the coming months.