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Ford suspends vehicle exports to China as tariff war escalates
Ford Motor Company has announced the suspension of shipments of several vehicle models to China, citing the mounting challenges posed by escalating trade tensions and retaliatory tariffs. The decision affects popular American-made vehicles, including the F-150 Raptor, Mustang, Michigan-assembled Bronco SUVs, and Kentucky-built Lincoln Navigators.
The automaker explained in a statement released on Friday that it had “adjusted exports from the U.S. to China in light of the current tariffs,” which have reached levels as high as 150 percent on some U.S.-manufactured vehicles. The steep duties have created significant hurdles for American carmakers seeking to maintain a foothold in the Chinese market.
Ford confirmed that it will continue to export engines and transmissions made in the U.S. to China. However, it noted that the Lincoln Nautilus, which is manufactured locally in China, will remain unaffected by the halt in exports but will still be subject to heavy tariff burdens.
Industry analysts say the volatile trade environment is severely impacting both automakers and parts suppliers. The Centre for Automotive Research projects that the 25 percent tariffs imposed on U.S. automotive imports will increase industry costs by approximately $108 billion by the end of 2025. The financial toll, analysts warn, is likely to be borne not only by manufacturers but also by consumers through higher vehicle prices.
An internal Ford memo obtained by Reuters indicated that the company is evaluating potential price hikes on new vehicles to offset the long-term impact of tariffs. Although nearly 80 percent of the vehicles Ford sells in the U.S. are manufactured domestically, the added cost pressures could still prompt the company to adjust pricing strategies to sustain profitability in the face of trade uncertainty.
Source: Linda Ikeji
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Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer for #1401 on April 20, 2025
NYT Wordle is a satisfying and tricky test of vocabulary and logic that challenges players to guess a new five-letter word every day. However, things can get a little too challenging at times, and that probably explains why you’re here. So, if you don’t want to break your word-guessing streak or get too frustrated, take a look at today’s Wordle hints and answer for puzzle #1401 for April 20, 2025, down below!
How to Play Wordle
Wordle is a word puzzle game by The New York Times. You are given six attempts to guess a five-letter word. The letters are highlighted in Yellow, Green, and Grey when you input a word. Yellow denotes that the letter appears in today’s Wordle answer, but it’s not at the right spot. Meanwhile, when a letter turns green, it means you have guessed the right letter in the right position. At last, a grey letter means the letter is not part of today’s answer.
While it may seem that winning at Wordle is easy, it is difficult to get that pesky five-letter word right. To help you out, here are some quick tips on how to play Wordle:
- Open with a strong word – Using the right Wordle starting words rich with multiple vowels and consonants is important. While you can take a look at our dedicated guide, starting words like AISLE, SALTY, and DINER are my go-to choices.
- Pay attention to colors – Keep track of the yellow, green, and grayed-out letters to eliminate incorrect positions and letters. To make every guess count, avoid accidentally repeating letters that have already been eliminated.
- Isolate the vowels – There can be days when your usual starting words don’t help much. In that case, try to test the remaining vowels by using different words.
- Repeating letters is good – Don’t be afraid of repeating letters as history is proof that there are chances the Wordle answer will have one or two letters that repeat themselves.
- Use the Wordlebot – As described above, NYT’s Wordlebot is an intuitive bot that analyzes your responses and compares them against itself. Instilling some healthy competition can help you improve your own Wordle guessing and see what you could have done better.
If you still need more details, learn how to play Wordle and check out more Wordle tips and tricks to ensure you get the answer almost every time.
Hints for Today’s Wordle Answer for April 20
We know you are here for Wordle hints and clues, and we are eager to help you. Like always, to assist you with today’s puzzle, we list the starting word for today’s Wordle answer, whether it has any vowels or repeating letters, and more.
After that, we also provide an additional hint for today’s Wordle game to get one step closer to the answer. So scroll down if you’re ready. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Does Today’s Wordle Have Any Vowels?
Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, April 20, 2025, has a single vowel.
If you guess the vowels correctly, there is a high possibility that you will guess the correct 5-letter answer in no time.
Does the Wordle Today Have Double Letters?
Well, there are no double letters in the Wordle answer today.
What Does Today’s Wordle Answer Start with?
Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter “P.”
Spoiler Warning:
Scroll slowly past this point. Major hint and answer for today’s Wordle #1401 lie ahead.
Additional Hint for Today’s Wordle Answer
If the above-mentioned hints haven’t helped much, here’s the Wordle cheat hint that will definitely get you to the answer. The final hint for today is:
Rhymes with hatch.
What Is Today’s Wordle Answer?
The answer for Wordle today on April 20, 2025, is PATCH.
Image Credit: NYT Games (Screenshot by Sagnik Das Gupta/ Beebom) Meaning of Patch — A patch is a small piece of material used to mend a tear or hole in something, essentially to cover up a weak spot.
Two out of three of my daily Wordle starting words came in handy today, as SALTY had an “A” and a “T” in green to offer. DINER wasn’t useful at all today, while POUCH gave away a green-tiled “P”, “C”, and “H”. That easily led me straight to PATCH and the Wordle today was solved, easy peasy!
Previous Wordle Answers
For regular Wordle players, we have curated the answers of all past Wordle answers in one place. If you are trying to find patterns in these word puzzles, check out our list of past Wordle answers.
Why Is Wordle Still So Popular?
Despite over 1,350 puzzles and nearly four years since its initial surge, Wordle is still going strong as a free-to-play word puzzle game that it is. What started as a simple game to pass the time during the pandemic has now become a daily habit for millions of The New York Times readers.
Just like reading your early morning newspaper, Wordle adds some productive value to your daily life as a brainteaser, which explains the incredible player base. Some avid Wordle players even stay up late to solve the puzzle as soon as it releases at 12:00 AM local time.
The fact that there’s a single puzzle on a daily basis that every player tries to solve makes it all the more competitive and challenging. According to a report by The Conversation, just in 2022, Wordle had around a whopping 3 million users across the world. As of 2025, one can only imagine where this number has soared.
That said, if you are one of them, hope the Wordle hints we shared today helped you figure out the answer without having to scroll to the answer.
What are the best 3 words in a row for Wordle?While there are a ton of words to start your Wordle with, we suggest using, SALTY, HATCH and POUCH today.
What are the NYT Wordle hints for April 20, 2025?The NYT Wordle today starts with “P” and refers to a piece of material used to cover something up. It has a single vowel.
What is the NYT Wordle answer for April 20, 2025?If you are unable to figure out puzzle #1401, then the Wordle answer today for April 20, 2025, is “PATCH.”
What was yesterday’s NYT Wordle answer?The answer for yesterday’s Wordle #1400 on April 19, 2025, was “INBOX.”
Source: Beebom
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Nollywood actors die after rice meal in Imo
Two Nollywood actors in Imo died on Friday after a rice meal in the state.
The Spokesman for the Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday in Owerri.
He said the command has commenced investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The spokesman said: “Yes, the Command is aware of the unfortunate case of unnatural death. I can confirm that two people were pronounced dead, while two others were hospitalised.
“As I speak with you, the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has directed a pathologist to conduct tests on the two deceased persons to ascertain the cause of death.
“The results will determine the next line of action in the matter.”
Source: Ripples Nigeria
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CBN’s Sidi-Ali Wins Banking Sector Outstanding Spokesperson Award
Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Hakama Sidi-Ali has won the Outstanding Spokesperson (Banking Sector) at the 2025 National Spokespersons Awards, the second in a row.
Held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, the ceremony was part of the 2025 National Spokespersons’ Summit grand-finale.
Organised by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publisher of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, the awards celebrate innovation and professionalism in public communication across public and private sectors.
NIPR President Dr. Ike Neliaku and Hon. Rotimi Akintunde Jr., Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, commended Sidi-Ali and other recipients for their exemplary standards in the field and encouraged them to maintain the qualities that garnered national recognition.
Sidi-Ali was lauded for her proactive communication strategies in connecting the central bank and Nigerians since assuming office.
Her significant role in countering misinformation regarding the introduction of N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes calmed public concern and maintained financial stability.
Experts also acknowledged the CBN Director of Corporate Communications’ adept dissemination during Nigeria’s recent negotiations with the United States over the new tariffs, saying it underscores her proficiency in international economic diplomacy.
The 2025 ceremony showcased a variety of individuals and institutions excelling in strategic communication and public affairs.
It also underlined the critical role of credible voices in shaping public perception, fostering institutional trust, and enhancing democratic accountability.
Mr. Olufemi Soneye of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was named Distinguished Spokesperson (Oil and Gas).
With over 20 categories covered, including health, marine, hospitality, power, insurance, and crisis management, the awards emphasized the growing importance of public relations and strategic communication as essential components of governance and corporate reputation.
Segun McMedal, Chairman of the Planning Committee, praised winners and nominees for their vital roles in sustaining public trust and shaping national discourse. He urged all communicators to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and professionalism.
Dignitaries at the event included former Ministers of Information—Frank Nweke Jr., Lai Mohammed, Jerry Gana, Labaran Maku—and the incumbent Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
The summit featured high-level discussions graced by ex-Ogun State Governor Chief Segun Osoba, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele and other eminent figures.
In its fifth edition, the National Spokespersons Awards, previously known as the Spokespersons’ Communication Awards (SCA), continue to serve as a premier platform for recognizing impactful and professional public communication in Nigeria.
CBN’s Sidi-Ali Wins Banking Sector Outstanding Spokesperson Award is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
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Volvo to cut up to 800 US jobs as Trump’s tariffs bite
Volvo Group has announced plans to lay off up to 800 workers at three of its U.S. facilities over the next three months, citing ongoing market uncertainty and declining demand exacerbated by tariffs introduced under the administration of former President Donald Trump. The affected locations include the Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, as well as Volvo Group sites in Dublin, Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland.
In a statement on Friday, April 18, Volvo Group North America confirmed that between 550 and 800 employees would be impacted. The company, a subsidiary of Sweden’s AB Volvo, employs nearly 20,000 people across North America.
The layoffs come amid wider turmoil in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, as shifting U.S. trade policy and a series of tariffs continue to drive up production costs. Economists have pointed to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade strategy as a factor undermining both business and consumer confidence, with concerns mounting over a potential economic slowdown or recession.
According to Volvo, the company is grappling with a decline in heavy-duty truck orders, driven by instability in freight rates, anticipated regulatory changes, and the growing financial burden of tariffs. “We regret having to take this action, but we need to align production with reduced demand for our vehicles,” a company spokesperson stated in an email quoted by Reuters.
Volvo’s announcement marks another blow to an industry already navigating a complex web of supply chain challenges and fluctuating market conditions, with other manufacturers also warning of potential cost hikes and disruptions tied to global trade disputes.
Source: Linda Ikeji
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NYT Strands Today: Hints, Answers & Spangram for April 20, 2025
If you are finding it hard to spot theme words in today’s puzzle, then you are in serious need of the Strands hints below. Those bored with sensational games like Wordle and Connections are turning their attention to Strands for a challenging new experience. If you happen to be one of them and are struggling with NYT Strands, we can get you sorted. So, to help you out, we have added the Strands hints, answers, and Spangram on Sunday, April 20, 2025, below.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a word game created by The New York Times as part of its growing “Games” library. The aim of this New York Times game is to connect letters in a six-by-eight grid to form a bunch of words that share the same theme.
To get you started, the puzzle will give you a theme for today’s NYT Strands. You can use it to form multiple “theme” words which will be relevant to this theme, along with one “special” word called the Spangram. This is a word or phrase that spans the length of the grid, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, giving you the key to crack the rest of the Strands theme words.
The theme for today’s Strands can be relevant in many different ways. So, the puzzle keeps you on your toes every day with its intriguing set of theme words and Spangrams.
NYT Strands Hints for Today’s Theme: “On the hunt”
The theme for today’s Strands on April 20, 2025, is — On the hunt.
If you can’t figure out answers for today’s puzzle, here’s a quick Strands hint — what comes to your mind when you think of cane-made containers and gifts?
Here are hints for a couple of Strands theme words to make it easy for you to solve today’s puzzle on your own without having to scroll down to view the answers:
- Hint #1: a popular marshmallow candy shaped like chicks.
- Hint #2: an imaginary rabbit said to bring gifts to children during paschal.
NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?
The Spangram for today’s Strands on April 20, 2025, is mostly HORIZONTAL. It starts with the letters “EA“.
The hint for today’s Spangram for Strands — gifts, treats, or goodies given to children during the paschal holiday.
Spoiler Warning:
Scroll past this point AT YOUR OWN RISK. Hints and answers for today’s Strands below.
Today’s NYT Strands Answers for April 20, 2025
Today’s Strands Spangram Answer
The Spangram answer for today’s Strands on April 20, 2025, is — EasterBasket
All Theme Words in Today’s Strands
Still looking for the theme words to get the answers for today’s NYT Strands? You can check them out below:
- BOOK
- TOYS
- EGGS
- BUNNY
- PEEPS
- CHOCOLATE
- CANDY
Image Credit: NYT Games (screenshot by Ajaay Srinivasan/ Beebom) The answers for today’s Strands were pretty straightforward. I started off with the first set of theme words – BOOK and TOYS. Once I spotted EASTER, solving the Spangram and the rest of theme words was an easy affair.
What is NYT Strands Spangram and How Does It Work?
Every NYT Strands puzzle consists of a unique word or phrase that’s called the Spangram. This word or set of words will run the length of two opposite sides of the grid. One thing to note here is that, a Spangram doesn’t necessarily have to originate or end at the edge of the grid.
In its essence, the Spangram is kind of like a bigger hint that sums up today’s Strands theme in just a word or two. Since it spans across two sides of the puzzle, solving it early helps you figure out the rest of the theme words and vice versa.
Tips and Tricks for Mastering NYT Strands Puzzles
Solving an NYT Strands puzzle successfully isn’t that hard in itself, but in some cases, the approach might not be as straightforward as it looks. So, here are simple tips and tricks that we suggest you follow to crack the theme words and Spangram for Strands puzzles:
- Always start at the corners: No two puzzles are the same. But the chances of the Spangram extending to a diagonal form are quite low. So, the best strategy is to find and decrypt relevant words that are at the corners of the grid.
- Don’t be ashamed to get hints: Sometimes, a theme word could be all you need to solve the entire puzzle. If that requires getting a hint using non-theme words, then that’s the first thing you should do. After all, the point is to have fun and figure this out, like all of us.
- Think both literally and figuratively: Not all themes may land you in the same sense of thought. Some puzzles may welcome more clever answers that may convey something totally different from their actual meaning.
- Aim for the Spangram: The Spangram is what splits the Strands board in half. So, figuring it out will help you cross out other potential approaches for a theme. Deciphering even half of the Spangram can get you close to the rest of the answers.
Still finding it difficult to master the art of NYT Strands? Follow our guide and learn how to play Strands, along with more helpful tips and tricks.
What is the NYT strands theme for April 20, 2025?The theme for today’s NYT strands puzzle is – On the hunt.
What are the NYT strands hints and answers for April 20, 2025?Today’s Strands puzzle is mostly HORIZONTAL, and the answers include different treats and goodies gifted to children during Easter. The Spangram answer for today’s Strands puzzle is — EasterBasket.
What was yesterday’s NYT strands answer?The answer to yesterday’s NYT strands puzzle was – TakeThat and you can find the NYT Strands hints for April 19 here.
Source: Beebom
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Nollywood actors died after rice meal in Imo
Two Nollywood actors in Imo died on Friday after a rice meal in the state.
The Spokesman for the Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday in Owerri.
He said the command has commenced investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The spokesman said: “Yes, the Command is aware of the unfortunate case of unnatural death. I can confirm that two people were pronounced dead, while two others were hospitalised.
“As I speak with you, the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has directed a pathologist to conduct tests on the two deceased persons to ascertain the cause of death.
“The results will determine the next line of action in the matter.”
Source: Ripples Nigeria
