Latest news with #Mensa
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kerala man wins $1 million jackpot in Dubai lottery for the second time in less than a decade
Source: Instagram A 60-year-old Indian expatriate from Kerala has defied the odds by winning the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire jackpot for the second time in under ten years. This remarkable and rare achievement has left many stunned and inspired, reigniting belief in luck and fortune. Known for its slim chances, the jackpot is a dream for millions, making this repeat win all the more extraordinary. His incredible stroke of luck has turned heads worldwide, proving that lightning truly can strike twice, especially when destiny decides to surprise. Kerala-based Dubai resident wins $1 million lucky draw second time under 10 years On May 27, Paul Jose Mavely, a resident of Dubai for the last 38 years, was announced as the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire draw (Series 503) winner. The news was released through Dubai Duty-Free's Instagram page, bringing happiness to fans and lottery players everywhere. Mavely, a current site supervisor for a small construction firm, had already won the same $1 million top prize once before in 2016, so this recent win was his second giant win in just over eight years. As per reports, Mavely has been a regular participant in the Dubai Duty-Free draw since its launch in 1999. Instead of depending on single entries, he has always teamed up with friends throughout the years to group together funds, thus maximizing their overall chances of winning. For the current jackpot, Mavely joined forces with 17 friends to buy ticket number 3532 online on May 19, a few days prior to the draw. Not only did this collaborative strategy create friendship, but it eventually led to a life-changing win. Mavely expressed his gratitude for the second win, saying, 'I'm very thankful to Dubai Duty-Free for this second win.' His initial jackpot victory in 2016 was also a shared prize, divided among nine friends. Mavely, a father of two, exemplifies how strategic teamwork and consistent engagement with the lottery can yield extraordinary results. Social media reacts in awe to Dubai millionaire lucky draw win After May 28's announcement, Dubai Duty-Free's Instagram posting congratulating Paul Jose Mavely quickly accumulated more than 200 likes and a plethora of comments. The caption was: "Another millionaire moment—again! Huge congratulations to Mr Mavely from India for winning his second US$1 million with Dubai Duty-Free today!" Social media users reacted with a blend of awe and curiosity. One user lightheartedly stated, "Congrats! I want to know the secrets of Indian luck," while another recognized the significant monetary investment involved, noting, "Spending 1000 on a ticket is no small amount." Several others reacted to her excitement with sincere congratulations and jaw-dropping responses, illustrating overall appreciation for Mavely's remarkable achievement. Also Read | UK's two-year-old boy becomes youngest member of high IQ society Mensa
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
UK's two-year-old boy becomes youngest member of high IQ society Mensa
Joseph Harris-Birtill, a two-year-old from the UK, has reached a remarkable milestone, becoming the youngest male ever admitted into Mensa, according to Guinness World Records. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Known for his exceptional intelligence, Joseph spoke his first word at just seven months and was reading books aloud before age two. His rapid cognitive development and advanced skills stunned both his parents and experts. Mensa, the elite high-IQ society, requires an IQ of at least 132—placing members in the top 2% of the population. Joseph's early achievements have now earned him a place among the world's intellectual elite. Source: Guinness World Records Joseph's early learning set the stage for a world record as Mensa's youngest male member Joseph's entry into the record books did not start at two—it began long before. According to his parents, Dr. Rose and David Harris-Birtill, Joseph first started indicating extraordinary development at birth. At five weeks, he rolled over for the first time. At seven months, he uttered his first word—a precocious signpost of an exceptionally developed brain. His advancement sped up from there. At 21 months, Joseph was reading complete books out loud, a remarkable achievement for a child who had only just started to walk a year earlier. At two and a half years old, he could read out loud effortlessly for as much as 10 minutes, count to 10 in five languages, and count both forward and backward beyond 100. At two years and 182 days, Joseph was officially made a member of Mensa, making him the youngest male member in Mensa history. Membership in Mensa demands an IQ level of at least 132—putting members in the top 2% of people. Joseph's achievement has brought huge pride to both of his working parents, who are both academically employed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'We're extremely proud,' said Rose. 'It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being… and this achievement is just a reflection of his curiosity and drive to learn.' Joseph's passion for knowledge sparks his rapid development Joseph's intellectual curiosity ranges well beyond mere reading and figures. He is in the process of learning Morse code and has become interested in the Greek alphabet and the periodic table of elements. His parents also portray him as socially well-adjusted and affectionate. He likes to hug friends, give toys, and play—qualities that underscore his emotional intelligence as well as his academic capacity. "He's a very kind and loving boy, confident and inquisitive," said Rose. "He enjoys a challenge and feeds on complexity—whether it's solving chess or diving into new words and ideas." Joseph's hobbies reflect a balanced growth and curiosity Outside of schoolwork, Joseph has developed an interest in music and has begun to learn the piano. He also likes learning new languages, doing math equations, cooking, making paper airplanes, and playing with his toy collection. These varied interests imply that Joseph is not only cognitively developed but also well-adjusted—a trait that will benefit him as he matures and matures further. Identifying their son's special abilities, Rose and David made the decision to contact Mensa to offer Joseph more resources and a network of support. "We looked online for other help and realized that Mensa had programs for children who were exceptionally gifted," said Rose. "We felt that this would be a good way for Joseph to meet others and see where his potential lay. They wish the Mensa membership to not just be an appreciation of his talent but also as an encouragement and source of pride as he grows up. Also Read |
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Six-year-old N.S. genius becomes Mensa Canada member
There's a young genius taking the world by storm in his hometown of Bedford, N.S. Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey may only be six years old, but he's already thinking far beyond his years. 'He rolled over from tummy to back really early, like before four weeks. And I remember looking and thinking, 'Well, that's interesting because kids don't typically roll over that early,'' says his mother Mercy Mutale Motey. Little did his parents know it would be just one out of a long list of things Elijah would do so early. 'Between 10 and 12 months…he was walking and so he's just always been reaching these milestones very early. Before he was around a year old, he had a fascination with numbers. He loved numbers. He was counting all of the time,' says his mother. 'He actually had more numbers than words at that point.' From there, Elijah's parents started thinking of ways to harness his November 2024, Elijah was accepted into Mensa Canada at the age of five. 'It's only the top two per cent of the population, so you would have to have 98 percentile to belong to Mensa,' says Millie Norry, Mensa Canada's vice president of membership. Elijah was too young for Mensa to test him, so his parents arranged a private test and his results were stunning. 'His scores were found to be in the top one per cent of the population for his age,' says his mother. It made Elijah one of eight children under 14 years old in the Atlantic region to become a Mensa member. 'I remember (Elijah's mom) crying when the documents came in,' says Delali Motey, Elijah's father. 'It wasn't a surprise. It became an expectation at that point, and it was just a matter of time just to go through that process…but it was still really, amazing to get that confirmation.' Nowadays, Elijah spends his time juggling his passion for numbers and his love for soccer. 'My favorite team in the country is Chelsea. My favorite one in the Champions League is Munich,' says Elijah. Elijah plays at the U9 level and earlier this month participated in a kids tournament for the Halifax Wanderers. 'I made it all the way to the finals, but I lost,' he says. In many ways, he's just like any six-year-old. His favourite food is pancakes and he loves playing with his friends. With undeniable talent running through his veins, his parents say the sky is the limit for Elijah, and his two older siblings. 'What we hope for all our kids, including Elijah, is to flourish where their interests and their strengths are,' says Elijah's father. Encouraging their children everyday is one of many jobs Mercy and Delali Motey take pride in. Mercy is from Zambia, and Delali is from Ghana. They've made it a point to pass along their African identity and their faith to their children. 'Every morning and every evening we're telling them, you know, how amazing they are, how special and unique they are, how they're so talented, and they're going to do amazing things in this world,' says Elijah's mother. Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey, centre, is now a member of Mensa Canada. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
British toddler becomes youngest-ever member of the Mensa high-IQ club
A two-year-old British boy has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, was admitted to the organization at the age of just two years and 182 days. "It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being," Harris-Birtill's mother Rose told Guinness World Records. "He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years." "He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table," his mother said. "His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge." Harris-Birtill's parents — who both work at Scotland's prestigious University of St. Andrews — told Guinness World Records they first decided to reach out to Mensa to find more support for Joseph after seeing how early he'd started reading. "I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children," Rose said. "We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!" Harris-Birtill is 13 days younger than the youngest female member of Mensa was, American Isla McNabb, when she was admitted to the club in 2022. He also has, by default, taken the title of Britain's youngest Mensa member, topping Teddy Hobbs who achieved that rank at the age of four in 2023. Rose, Harris-Birtill's mother, said she hoped sharing her son's story would help raise awareness about the unique needs of children like her son. "It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children. But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them," she told Guinness World Records. "Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop." Trump delivers Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery SpaceX loses contact with its Starship, spins out of control Elon Musk says Trump's "big, beautiful bill" undermines work of DOGE team
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mensa welcomes youngest-ever member, Joseph Harris-Birtill, a toddler from the U.K. who "loves a challenge
A two-year-old British boy has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, was admitted to the organization at the age of just two years and 182 days. "It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being," Harris-Birtill's mother Rose told Guinness World Records. "He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years." "He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table," his mother said. "His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge." Harris-Birtill's parents — who both lecture at Scotland's prestigious University of St. Andrews — told Guinness they first decided to reach out to Mensa to find more support for Joseph after seeing how early he'd started reading. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, of the U.K., has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records "I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children," Rose told the organization. "We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!" Harris-Birtill is 13 days younger than the youngest female member of Mensa was when she was admitted to the prestigious club. American Isla McNabb became the youngest member of Mensa in 2022 and held that overall title until Harris-Birtill came along. The tike has also, by default, taken the title of Britain's youngest Mensa member, topping Teddy Hobbs who achieved that rank at the age of just four in 2023. Rose, Harris-Birtill's mother, said she hoped sharing her son's story would help raise awareness about the unique needs of children like her son. "It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children. But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them," she told Guinness World Records. "Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop."
