International

Abiodun Appoints Tunde Onakoya Sports Ambassador

L-R: Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jayeoba Adebajo; world record holder in the longest chess marathon, Tunde Onakoya; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Deputy, Engr (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdulrazaq Adenugba; father of the marathon chess champion, Rafiu Onakoya and his mother, Taiwo Onakoya, during a courtesy call on the governor by the marathon champion on Thursday, during which he was presented with the Model of the Gateway City Gate by the governor.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Mr. Tunde Onakoya, the National Master of Chess and the current Guinness World Record Holder for the longest Chess Marathon in history, the Sports Ambassador of the State.
Governor Abiodun, who made this known on Thursday when he received Mr. Onakoya in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also announced the commencement of the State Chess Competition to be held in all parts of the state in honour of Mr. Onakoya.
Abiodun, who was impressed with the achievement of the National Chess Master at the global stage, said this could not have been possible without determination and resilience and hard work.
“I can see why you continue to be inspiration to many young people across the length and breath of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and future.
“Today, we will be officially appointing you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts and we are boasting that we are set to host the best National Sports Festival that has never been held in the history of this country and coincidentally, chess is one of the games that will feature in that event.
“I have decided that because of you and in your honour, we will begin an Ogun State Chess Competition across the length and breath of the state. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government all the way to the state level.
“But we as your state, we will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize, for the winner of that competition,” the governor explained.
The governor likened the travails of the Chess Master to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives, stating that his achievements in the face of difficulties is a testimony that life does not recognize where one comes from, place of birth or parent’s status in the society.
He commended the longest Chess Marathon holder in the world, for his resolve to succeed without engaging in dubious activities, noting that with the feat, he has joined the league of illustrious sons and daughters who have done Ogun State proud in their chosen endeavours.
Mr. Onakoya had earlier told the governor of his immense gratitude for the support he received from Nigerians in his march to stardom, adding that he felt proud to be a Nigerian.
He also recalled his challenges while growing up, nothing that he saw chess as a way out of poverty and ability to think critically beyond the surface.
Onakoya acknowledged the unpopularity of chess in the country, attributing it to lack of understanding of the value of the game.
He said he has intensify efforts in making the game popular in Lagos, Kenya and other parts of Africa, saying he and his team are trying to bring the game to the grassroots in collaboration with Lufthansa Airlines.
Onakoya said he was determined to break the world record as it was said that no human had played the game beyond 56 hours, but he did it in 60 hours.
He thanked governor Abiodun for the honour done to him and his parents, pledging to work with the government to make the game attractive to the youths.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian and from Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, I felt highly honoured and happy in the way Nigerians all over the world supported me immensely to achieve this feats and the honour accorded me by our royal fathers and His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, my state Governor,” Onakoya said.

International

Judge refuses to penalize Donald Trump in hush money case

Supreme court rejects Trump bid to shield documents from January 6 panel

A Manhattan judge sentenced Donald Trump to no penalty on Friday, January 10 on his conviction for concealing a “hush money” payoff that hid a sex scandal from voters making the president-elect the first person convicted of a felony to assume the White House.

Justice Juan Merchan who oversaw a trial in which jurors heard evidence that Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to keep them quiet about alleged sexual meet ups sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge.”

“Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume a second term in office,” Merchan said.

The decision means the president-elect will not face any jail time, probation, or fines.

The sentencing which Trump, 78, attended remotely on video appearing on screen from Florida in front of two American flags, means the soon-to-be 47th commander-in-chief will have the historic distinction of being the only US president ever to be convicted of felony criminal charges.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is now the first prosecutor to put an American president on trial.

Ahead of the sentencing, Trump blasted the case as an “injustice” and reiterated his claims it was all a “witch hunt.”

“This is a case that should have never been brought, it’s an injustice, of justice,” he railed

“The fact is, I’m totally innocent, I did nothing wrong.”

He then ripped the trial as an “embarrassment to New York.”

“I got indicted after calling a legal expense a legal expense. I want to say it’s an embarrassment to New York,” Trump seethed.

“I would just like to explain that I was treated very unfairly, and I thank you very much.”

Meanwhile, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass insisted that the verdict in this case was “unanimous and decisive” and that it “must be respected.”

He then blasted the future president using “dangerous rhetoric” throughout the trial, referencing Trump’s threats on the judge and prosecutors.

“Such threats are designed to have a chilling effect, to intimate folks, who have a responsibility to enforce our laws…. Because they fear he is simply too powerful to be held to the same rule of law as the rest of us,” Steinglass said.

“Put simply, this defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the justice system and has placed officers of the court in harm’s way.”

Bragg’s star witness was Michael Cohen, a disbarred attorney and convicted perjurer who spent more than a decade as Trump’s personal lawyer.

Jurors saw evidence that Trump worked with Cohen and the National Enquirer magazine to buy up the rights to and bury damaging information about him, like Daniels’ tale about a brief sexual encounter and McDougal’s account of having a months-long affair with Trump.

“What do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?” Trump told Cohen in a secretly made recording, appearing to reference a $150,000 payoff to McDougal.

The prosecution centered on evidence that then-President Trump in 2017 lied on his company’s records to cover up Cohen’s $130,000 payoff that temporarily silenced Daniels from speaking about having sex with Trump in 2006.

The payoff came on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, Cohen told jurors.

‘Absolutely. Do it. Take care of it.’’ Cohen testified.

Cohen also admitted to serially lying on Trump’s behalf and brazenly stealing $60,000 from his former boss — but insisted that he let Trump know in advance about paying off Daniels because “I wanted the money back.”

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor but doing it to cover up another crime is a felony.

International

FBI investigating whether terrorism behind Tesla truck explosion

Authorities are investigating a possible act of terror in Las Vegas after a Tesla Cybertruck parked near the Trump International Hotel exploded Wednesday, Jan. 1, leaving one dead and seven injured.

The vehicle was rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. PT, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news conference.

The driver of the vehicle, who has not yet been named by authorities, drove the vehicle up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling in front of the Trump hotel around 8:40 a.m.

The vehicle sat there about 15 seconds before the explosion went off, McMahill said.

Police later discovered gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars in the back of the vehicle. The sole individual in the truck d!ed.

The explosion occurred hours after the deadly attack involving a truck in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

President Joe Biden said federal authorities are investigating whether there may be a link between the fatal truck assault and the explosion in Las Vegas.

“We’re tracking the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas,” Biden said in his public remarks. “Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans.”

Jeremy Schwartz, acting Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Las Vegas, said the incident at the Trump hotel is being investigated through the bureau’s joint terrorism task force.

“Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident,” Schwartz said. “Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not.”

International

We will do everything in 2025 to stop Russia – Zelensky vows

Ukrainian president says defense is at a ‘turning point’

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has vowed that his country would use 2025 to fight for an end to Russia’s nearly three-year-long invasion by any means necessary.

Zelensky’s address caps a difficult year for the country which has been fending off a better-resourced Russian army for nearly three years.

The Ukrainian leader, in an address to the nation just before the clock struck midnight in Kyiv, said may 2025 be their year.

“We know that peace will not be given to us as a gift but we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war,” he said.

Since the war began, Ukraine has lost seven times more territory to Russia in 2024 than in 2023, and is facing the possibility of a reduction in US military and political backing when Donald Trump takes over the White House

Recall that incumbent US President Joe Biden’s administration unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine on Monday in a race to support Kyiv before president-elect, Donald Trump, takes office in January.

Trump has promised to end the conflict in 24 hours once in power, raising fears in Ukraine that it will be forced to give up all the land the Kremlin currently controls in exchange for peace.

Zelensky, in his New Year address, said that Ukraine had to continue to fight to gain the upper hand both on the battlefield and ahead of any prospective peace talks.

“Every day in the coming year, I, and all of us, must fight for a Ukraine that is strong enough,” the Ukrainian leader said.