Author: Chukwu Godlove

Nairobi — Air France has deployed the Airbus A350-900 on its Paris-Nairobi route, boosting seat capacity by 16% and reinforcing its commitment to modernising its African operations. The aircraft replaces the Boeing 787-9 previously flying the route. The switch comes amid growing demand for business and leisure travel between Kenya and Europe. The A350-900 made its inaugural flight to Nairobi on Monday, landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This marks a milestone in Air France’s regional expansion and broader fleet renewal strategy. “This aircraft brings about 16% more seats to Kenya, enabling us to meet growing demand for Paris and…

In the rugged terrain of Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve near Worcester, conservation work unfolds quietly—but powerfully. This reserve, nestled in the folds of the Cape’s fynbos biome, forms part of an ambitious leopard monitoring project run by the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), one of South Africa’s leading predator conservation organisations. Anita Wilkinson and Dr Katy Williams of Cape Leopard Trust/Picture by Rob Till Supported by the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF), the CLT is working to protect these elusive cats through research, community education, and ongoing fieldwork across challenging mountain terrain. Founded in 2004 to study the Cederberg’s leopard population, the CLT…

President Boakai has set up a special committee to investigate growing concerns of a possible US travel ban on Liberians The Executive Mansion says the President chaired the first meeting of the body on Wednesday At the heart of the potential ban is the overstay of Liberians in the U.S. The country has one of the highest overstay rates in the world, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department The proposed list of 36 countries to face the ban also includes other key U.S. allies–Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and The Gambia President Joseph Boakai has set up a high-level…

Sharks suffer from a serious PR problem. Popular media have long misrepresented them as mindless brutes. But walk through the doors of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, and that image starts to dissolve. Here, the story of sharks is rewritten – not one of fear, but of fascination. The Aquarium is home to a remarkable variety of shark species, many of them found only in South African waters. From the iconic ragged-tooth sharks cruising through the Save our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit to the elusive puffadder shysharks, visitors are offered a glimpse into the complexity and beauty of…

For the second time in just two months, the UK Home Office has denied South African opposition MP and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema entry, ruling him “non-conducive to the public good” and deeming his admission “undesirable.” A spokesperson for the Home Office said in a formal refusal that Malema’s presence in the UK would be against the country’s public-interest standards. No further details were provided. Malema, an outspoken critic of Western influence, had aimed to attend two high-profile events: an Africa-themed conference at Cambridge University and a peace summit in London, both scheduled for June. He previously…

Travelling with children isn’t about finding the nearest playground, it is about sparking their curiosity and exposing them to different things in the world and even better, what they can learn from while having fun. Across the globe, children’s museums are transforming the way young travellers see the world. Here are some of the best children’s museums around the world that prove learning can be the best part of the trip. Exploratorium – San Francisco, USA Picture/Bruce Damonte/Introba This pioneering science museum is a global benchmark for interactive learning. With hundreds of exhibits that explore light, sound, movement, and the human…

Nepal has recorded a thrilling wildlife rediscovery: the Asian small-clawed otter, the smallest otter species in the world, has reappeared after vanishing from the country’s records for nearly two centuries. Picture of otter not affiliated with Nepal otter/Third Idea/Unsplash In November 2024, a young, injured otter was spotted along the Rangun and Puntara rivers in Nepal’s Dadeldhura District. With no confirmed sightings since 1839, experts had feared the species extinct in the region. But this remarkable encounter has sparked renewed hope for otter conservation in the Himalayas, according to reports from CMU. A glimmer of hope  The discovery unfolded quietly.…

Olusegun Runsewe, Nigeria’s former chief executive of culture and tourism agencies, has called for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict within the cultural tourism sector regarding the regulatory policy by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). He has pledged to mediate between all parties involved and promote dialogue and collaboration. Runsewe, who previously served as Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (now Nigeria Tourism Development Authority) and more recently as Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said his wealth of experience and strong ties across the sector position him to…

You don’t have to be a deep-sea daredevil to experience the magic of the underwater world. From reef-nesting turtles to manta rays sweeping past coral gardens, these beginner-friendly dive sites deliver on marine drama without overwhelming the novice diver. Dahab Blue Hole – Egypt Picture/Connolly Cove The Blue Hole in Dahab has a dramatic reputation, but not all of it applies to beginners. While technical divers often descend to its deep, dark depths, there’s a much gentler side to explore. The “Bells to Blue Hole” route offers a guided path along a sloping coral wall, with a gradual entry and…

The US State Department says it will resume scheduling appointments for international student visas, but will ask all applicants to make their social media accounts public for enhanced screening. Officials have been instructed to expand social media vetting of applicants and search for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States”. The Trump administration had halted the scheduling of student visa appointments in late May as it prepared to step up measures to restrict applicants deemed hostile to the US. The guidelines will impact all applicants who apply for F visas,…