World Archives | Page 25 of 26

Chess: Tunde Onakoya Reclaims Guinness World Record

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Nigerian chess champion, Tunde Onakoya, on Sunday set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon, exceeding the previous record of 61 hours. Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, alongside United States chess master Shawn Martinez, surpassed the 62-hour mark on Sunday. Announcing this via his X handle, Onakoya said, “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record. “If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap so they know it’s possible to fly. “It’s been over 50 hours of chess beneath the lights of Times Square.Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance. If your heart has ever burned for something bigger than yourself, come find us. Stand with us. “Proceeds from my limited edition chess sets will go directly towards our fundraising goal: to build a tuition-free school for homeless children. This is a dream I’ve carried for years. Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty.” The chess marathon, taking place at the iconic Times Square in New York City, kicked off on Wednesday, 17 April, and is set to conclude later on Sunday, 20 April. This marks Onakoya’s second bid to achieve the prestigious record. He emphasised that the marathon’s purpose extends beyond breaking a record, as it is also about raising awareness and garnering support for the construction of the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria. With the same Martinez, Onakoya completed a 60-hour chess marathon in April 2024, surpassing the 56-hour record previously set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

Trump Says Some Undocumented Immigrants May Stay Based on Employer Recommendations

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

Trump put forward a proposal at Thursday, April 10, Cabinet meeting that might temporarily let certain undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States if they had significant support from their employers. This would be especially true in sectors like agriculture that are experiencing labor shortages. President Trump reportedly told farmers, “We’re also going to work with them that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers,” on Thursday, April 10, as reported by The Washington Times. Essential sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and others that depend on manual labor must have access to workers, he said. The president implied that these employees will formally apply for permanent residency status in due time. Following a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who detailed the Trump administration’s plan for illegal aliens to self-deport, the president made the following statements Trump hinted that the proposal may change into a guest-worker program, which would sponsor the temporary stay and employment of specific persons in the nation by their businesses. “ A farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people saying they’re great, they’re working hard,” said Trump. “We’re going to slow it down a bit for them and then we’re ultimately going to bring them back.” He did say that getting these people legal status would be the end aim, but that it would be a long road. According to the president, “We have to take care of our farmers and hotels and various places where they need the people.” This strategy is crucial in addressing labor shortages in important industries. This plan is an example of the continuous endeavor to find a middle ground between strict immigration enforcement and the practical needs of companies who are trying to fill open positions. According to Trump, the government is trying to find a way to aid businesses that rely largely on immigrant labor while also trying to rein in illegal immigration. Significant political and legal obstacles are anticipated to stand in the way of this plan’s implementation, and its specifics are still up in the air.

Siemens CEO, Family Perish in Helicopter Crash

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children have been identified as victims in the crash along with the pilot, aged 36, law enforcement sources told ABC News. An executive of Siemens, a European technology company, his wife and young children were aboard the tourist helicopter that plunged into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday, leaving no survivors. Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children — ages 4, 8 and 10 — have been identified as victims in the crash along with the pilot, aged 36, law enforcement sources told ABC News. The crash was one day before the 8-year-old’s birthday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. The sightseeing tour was also part of a celebration for Montal’s 40th birthday, according to Jersey City Mayor Fulop. “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board,” Adams said at a briefing. In this screen grab from a video, first responders are shown at the scene of a helicopter crash in the Hudson River on April 10, 2025, in New York.WABC Escobar’s title was Global CEO Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. His wife also worked at the company and was a global commercialization manager for Team Digital with Siemens Energy. Siemens said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones.” First responders walk along Pier 40, on April 10, 2025, in New York, across from where a helicopter went down in the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J. The identity of the pilot, who was flying the New York Helicopters chartered chopper, has not yet been released. The family was visiting New York City from Barcelona, Spain, two Spanish officials told ABC News. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a post to X that the news was “devastating.” He added, “Five Spaniards from the same family, three of them children, and the pilot have lost their lives. An unimaginable tragedy. I sympathize with the victims’ loved ones at this heartbreaking time.” The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to Thursday’s deadly crash in the Hudson, between Lower Manhattan and Hoboken, New Jersey. The crash occurred at 3:17 p.m., just over 15 minutes into the flight, officials said. The helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge before turning south and crashing, officials said.

Tragic Roof Collapse at Dominican Republic Nightclub Claims 218 Lives

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

A devastating roof collapse occurred at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during a performance by renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez. The incident resulted in at least 218 fatalities and left over 255 individuals injured, with many sustaining severe trauma. Among the deceased were notable figures such as former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, former MLB player Tony Blanco, Montecristi Governor Nelsy Cruz, and musician Rubby Pérez. The tragedy has deeply affected the nation, prompting President Luis Abinader to declare three days of national mourning. Emergency responders, including teams from Israel, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, have joined local efforts in the search and recovery operations. However, as of April 10, no additional survivors have been found, and the focus has shifted to recovering the remaining victims. The cause of the structural failure remains under investigation. Authorities are working to determine whether the building’s previous inspections met safety standards.

US to Deny Visas, Green Cards Over Anti-Semitic Social Media Posts

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

The US government announced a new policy on Wednesday that will allow immigration authorities to deny visas and green cards based on social media content deemed anti-Semitic. Under the new rules, posts supporting militant groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Huthi rebels, which are classified as terrorist organizations by the US, will be considered a factor in visa or residence permit decisions. This move follows controversial actions under the Trump administration, which has already revoked visas for students in the US. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that individuals advocating for anti-Semitic violence or terrorism would not be allowed into the country, despite the First Amendment’s protections for free speech. The policy is now in effect and applies to both student visas and permanent resident applications. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that hundreds of visas had already been revoked, and he emphasized that non-US citizens don’t have the same rights as Americans regarding visa approvals. Some individuals affected by this move argue they were unjustly targeted, claiming they were never involved in anti-Semitic behavior. One high-profile case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a US permanent resident, who was detained ahead of deportation despite his involvement in protests at Columbia University.

Another year brings another round of record-breaking achievements for the world’s billionaire elite

Another Year Brings Another Round of Record Breaking Achievements For The World’s Billionaires Elite

Fola Badmus6 months ago6 months ago02 mins

Forbes has been tracking the world’s billionaires since 1987, when we uncovered just 140 of them. It took 20 years to cross the 1,000 mark, and by 2017, the count had doubled to 2,000. Fast forward to 2025, and we’ve hit another historic milestone: 3,028 billionaires made this year’s list—247 more than last year. Not only is the billionaire club growing, but its members are wealthier than ever, with a combined net worth of $16.1 trillion, up nearly $2 trillion from 2024. The U.S. leads the pack with a record 902 billionaires, followed by China (516, including Hong Kong) and India (205). Our calculations are based on stock prices and exchange rates as of March 7, 2025. For the most up-to-date net worths, visit our real-time billionaires ranking. Check the full list of the billionaires: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/?utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainFB&utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawJeszpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuzNovaYC7M_IzxsFIJ2qWoMse09flWiIVtMyvqMEGVmBIGHT3jh_tcsnJmc_aem_vxbgtON0Mom-rPpOQbDeHw

World Bank Approves $632m Loan for Nigeria.

Fola Badmus6 months ago6 months ago01 mins

The World Bank has approved new loans totaling $632 million to support key sectors in Nigeria, including nutrition and basic education, despite growing concerns over the country’s rising debt. According to the bank’s website, the loans include $80 million for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 project and $552 million for the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All program. Both were officially approved on Monday as part of the World Bank’s broader strategy to aid Nigeria’s development in healthcare, education, and community resilience. The funding aims to enhance nutrition outcomes and improve access to quality education for Nigerian children. This follows the World Bank’s approval of a separate $500 million loan on March 28, 2025, for the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme, which seeks to strengthen livelihoods, food security, and financial support for vulnerable households and businesses.

UK to Increase Visa Fees Starting April 9

Fola Badmus6 months ago6 months ago01 mins

The United Kingdom has announced a visa fee increase from April 9, affecting multiple categories, including study, visit, sponsorship, and transit visas. Under the revised fees, a six-month tourist visa will now cost £127, up from £115—a nearly 7% increase. The cost of a two-year visitor visa has risen from £432 to £475, while five-year and ten-year visitor visas now cost £848 and £1,059, respectively. Students and their dependents will also see a 10% hike, with the previous £490 fee increasing to £524. Transit visa fees have also been adjusted, with air passengers now paying £39 instead of £35, and land travellers paying £70 instead of £64. The increases extend to visa extensions, skilled worker visas, naturalisation, and electronic travel authorisations (ETAs). However, premium services such as fast tracks and premium sponsorships remain unchanged. The fee adjustments come as part of the UK government’s broader efforts to manage immigration numbers.