The chess master is raising funds for children’s education at the event as he plans to extend the record to 60 hours.

Grandmaster Tunde Onakoya of Nigeria is currently in his 58th hour of trying to beat the record for the longest continuous game of chess played.

Early on Saturday morning, Onakoya announced this on his X account. Onakoya posted a picture of the record being broken along with the caption, “We have done it.” Guys, we’re aiming for 60 hours. We won’t give up just yet.

Let’s keep going. “We have a fundraising goal to meet for the education of African children around the world. This is our why – the reason we are doing this.

WE HAVE DONE IT. #LongestChessMarathon #58Hours #RecordBroken #NewRecordSet pic.twitter.com/SjDhOqNpae

— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) April 20, 2024

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In 2018, Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad set the previous Guinness World Record at 56 hours and 9 minutes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday to utilize a newly enacted national security law, approved by parliament, to prohibite Al Jazeera news channel from airing in the country.

Israeli PM Vows To Ban Al Jazeera Broadcasts

The legislation, endorsed by a vote of 70 to 10, empowers senior ministers to halt transmissions from foreign channels considered a risk to national security and to close their local offices.

Netanyahu explicitly targeted the Qatar-based network Al Jazeera, citing a longstanding dispute predating Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

“The terrorist channel Al Jazeera will no longer broadcast from Israel. I intend to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the channel’s activities,” Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter

The broadcaster strongly criticized the ban as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks aimed at silencing Al Jazeera. This included the killing of one of its most prominent journalists in the region while covering an Israeli raid in May 2022.

In a statement, the network accused Netanyahu of initiating a frantic and disgraceful campaign of accusations against them, pledging to persist with their bold coverage of the war.

Amid the conflict, two network correspondents lost their lives, and the broadcaster’s office in the besieged Palestinian territory was bombed.

• The Committee to Protect Journalists based in New York stated that the law fosters self-censorship and animosity towards the press, a situation that has worsened since the start of the Israel-Gaza war.

• Since the outbreak of the war following an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, at least 95 journalists and media workers have lost their lives, making it the deadliest time for journalists as reported by CPJ since they began collecting data in 1992.

• In January, Israel classified an Al Jazeera staff journalist and a freelancer killed in a Gaza airstrike as “terror operatives.”

• In the subsequent month, the channel accused another journalist, who was injured in a different attack, of being a “deputy company commander” with Hamas.

• Al Jazeera vehemently refuted Israel’s accusations and claimed that Israel was deliberately targeting Al Jazeera staff in the Gaza Strip.

• Hamas, in a statement, mentioned that the ban indicated Israel’s attempt to conceal the truth of its atrocities.

• White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern, stating that “if it is true, a move like this is concerning.”

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern, stating, “If it is true, a move like this is concerning.”

• Al Jazeera Background:
• Broadcasting in both English and Arabic.
• Claims to be the “first independent news channel in the Arab world.”
• Launched in Doha in 1996.
• Operates more than 70 bureaus worldwide.
• Employs 3,000 staff members.
• Reaches an audience in 430 million homes.

• Funding and Base:

• Funded by Qatar.

• Qatar serves as a base for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

• Tensions with Israel;

• Tensions between Israel and Al Jazeera have intensified since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.

• Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza, was injured in an Israeli strike in December that also claimed the life of the network’s cameraman.

• Tragically, in the October bombardment of central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, his wife, two children, and a grandson lost their lives.

• Furthermore, his eldest son, a journalist working for Al Jazeera, was killed in January during a strike on a car in Rafah.

• The deadliest Gaza war to date commenced following an attack by Hamas, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, predominantly civilians, as per an AFP count of Israeli official data.

In retaliation, Israel has initiated a persistent air and ground offensive that has devastated a significant portion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 32,845 people, primarily women and children, as reported by the Gaza health ministry.

Former Senator Magnus Abe  from Rivers South-East clarified that he harbors no personal grievances against State Governor Siminalayi fubara.

Magnus Abe clarifies: No personal issues with Fubara amid Rivers crisis

This statement was made during a gathering with his supporters and party members at his Freedom House office in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Abe emphasized that despite his partnership with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, he did not intend to disrespect Governor Fubara. He expressed his deep admiration for the governor, highlighting that his primary concern was the 27 members of the Rivers House of Assembly who had switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He contended that these lawmakers could not be compelled to relinquish their positions simply because they switched from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Abe drew parallels with his own experience and that of other federal lawmakers who retained their seats until the end of their terms despite changing parties.

He said: “I have nothing but the greatest respect for the governor of Rivers state. He is the governor and we are not members of their party and we are not therefore part of their problem.

“We are members of the APC, the 27 House of Assembly members are members of the APC and so they are our own. We must defend them, we cannot say because they decamped from PDP, they are different APC from our own, that is not how party politics works.

“I decamped to APC from PDP on national television, 11 of us and we didn’t lose our seat. So, we cannot come here today and begin to support people that they should lose their seats because they decamped to our party, we will not do that.

“I have called for peace, negotiation and working together. And as a statesman in Rivers state, I will continue to call for that. I am not going to be uncharitable towards the governor because I am working with the FCT Minister. But I will defend our party and whatever position the party takes I will defend that position.”

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Abe went on to praise Wike, referring to him as a strong influence. He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the state would not have been possible without the support of the FCT minister.

The Federal Government Of Nigeria plans to suspend import duties on essential goods for six months.

Tinubu may consider suspending import duties on food and drugs.

This move is part of an Executive Order called “Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measures) Order 2024.”

The order aims to waive import duties on items like fertilizers, poultry feed, flour, and grains.

The goal is to reduce the cost of these crucial products, alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians, and enhance overall economic conditions.

Additionally, the Executive Order will require the Ministry of Finance and the Central bank of Nigeria to collaborate on offering low-interest loans to key sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

The document read in part;

“The import duty and other tariffs are to be suspended on the following for six months: Staple food items; Raw materials and other direct inputs used for manufacturing: Inputs for agriculture production including fertilisers, seedlings, and chemicals, Pharmaceutical products, Poultry feeds, flour and grains.”

The president is expected to suspend the Value-Added Tax on Automotive Gas Oil, certain essential food items, semi-processed staple foods like noodles and pasta, raw materials for food manufacturing, electricity, public transportation, agricultural inputs and products, and pharmaceuticals for the remainder of the year.

“Suspension of Specific Taxes and Levies: For six months, the order suspends various taxes and levies, such as road haulage tax and other transportation-related charges; fees on bicycles, trucks, canoes, wheelbarrows, and carts; business premises registration; taxes and levies on shops, kiosks, and markets; animal trade and produce sales tax.”

In its Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan report, the government is considering the importation of paddy rice into the country as well as maize.

The ASAP report recommended an executive order on the importation of paddy rice to millers to stem the growing tide of food inflation across the country.

The document also recommends the following: Import duty & VAT suspension on specified items, including importation of paddy rice by millers and import duty exchange rate peg

Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, initiated mobilization for the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Edo 2024: Obi Launches Akpata’s Campaign, Seeks Oba’s Blessings

He accompanied the Edo State governorship candidate of the party, Olumide Akpata, on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, to seek his blessings ahead of the election.

During the visit, Obi expressed gratitude to the Oba for his paternal guidance and emphasized the importance of a free, fair, and credible election for the nation’s progress.

He said that he believed that with the prayers of the Oba;

“the party can make a headway as we begin our political campaigns ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.”

Akpata mentioned that he visited the palace along with the national party leaders to seek the Monarch’s blessings and inform him about the start of his political campaigns.

He emphasized the importance of receiving the Monarch’s blessings before proceeding with his campaign.

He said “I believe that your prayers, Your Majesty, will go a long way in helping us as I embark on this mission of rescuing the state.

“The Labour Party is strong and vibrant to wrestle power and deliver the dividends of democracy to the 18 local government areas of the state.” He said.

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The Oba of Benin, in his welcome address to guests, expressed good wishes for their political campaigns across the state. He emphasized his apolitical stance, offering to receive and pray for all visitors, highlighting the widespread recognition of the name Akpata nationwide.

The presidential candidate was earlier welcomed at the state party secretariat before leading a road walk in key areas of Benin City. Additionally, the Akpata Campaign Office was inaugurated along Boundary Road in GRA.