Siemens CEO, Family Perish in Helicopter Crash

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.

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Tragic Roof Collapse at Dominican Republic Nightclub Claims 218 Lives

Tragic Roof Collapse at Dominican Republic Nightclub Claims 218 Lives

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.

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

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

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.

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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

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

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World Bank Approves $632m Loan for Nigeria.

World Bank Approves $632m Loan for Nigeria.

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.

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UK to Increase Visa Fees Starting April 9

UK to Increase Visa Fees Starting April 9

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.

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Tony Elumelu Bags IMF Appointment

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony Elumelu, to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa. The Advisory Council comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics, dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. The council’s mandate is to recommend policies that enhance resource allocation, stimulate innovation, and catalyse sustainable private sector-led economic growth. Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking. A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelu’s embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development, making long-term investments, that deliver social and economic value. Other members of the Council include: Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, Professor Ufuk Akcigit; Saudi Ambassador to the United States, HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud; Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Mr. Marc Benioff; Executive Chair, Banco Santander, Ms. Ana Botín; Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran; Chief Executive, Vodafone Group, Ms. Margherita Della Valle; Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners, Mr. Robert Smith and Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Mr. Federico Sturzenegger. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council on Wednesday, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, noted: “The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity–key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth.”

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Delta Government Intervenes, Orders Withdrawal of Query to Nursing Student Over Viral Video

Delta Government Intervenes, Orders Withdrawal of Query to Nursing Student Over Viral Video

The Delta State Government has reportedly intervened to stop disciplinary action against Osato Edobor, a nursing student at the Delta College of Nursing, Agbor, who was issued a 24-hour query over a viral video. The video, which was traced to Edobor’s TikTok page, quickly spread across social media, becoming one of the most shared posts on Facebook in Nigeria. The college authorities responded by issuing a query, demanding that Edobor explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her. However, the release of the query letter on social media sparked widespread outrage. Many social media users, activists, human rights lawyers, and concerned Nigerians condemned the college’s action, arguing that the student was simply expressing herself. Amid growing backlash, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, announced in a Facebook video that he had instructed the college provost to withdraw the query. He emphasized that the government was not interested in victimizing anyone and confirmed that Edobor had acknowledged the withdrawal of the letter. Dr. Nelson Egware, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Media, also confirmed the government’s intervention in response to a post by Omoyele Sowore. Egware stated that the letter would be withdrawn and urged all parties to learn from the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The government’s swift action has been praised as a balanced approach to maintaining order while respecting the right to free expression.

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