The march continues slowly. As of Feb 29, 2016 (Happy Leap Year), 244 countries have been confirmed in LotW, with another 4 QSL cards in hand, making a total of 248. In terms of band-point for the Challenge, 1150 are in LotW, plus another 22 in QSL form, for a total of 1172.
Obtaining 250 should happen in the next few months. Although I’ve worked Guinea several times in the past, it has never been confirmed. The Italian DXPedition Team has been operating as 3XY1T for a month now, and I’m in their log on seven bands so far. They are always great with QSL and LotW confirmations. So that’s one more I can count on. Perhaps Heard Island, if I am lucky enough to work them, will become #250.
