Author: Chukwu Godlove

The country’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko confirmed that visitors from outside the African continent would now be required to pay their visa application fees online in advance. In his address, Prime Minister Sonko stated that the country is expected to generate an estimated 60 billion CFA francs in revenue from the e-visa fees. According to Sputnik Afrique, the reform was introduced as part of ongoing efforts to modernise and secure the country’s migration infrastructure. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Officials stated that the measure would strengthen administrative security, limit potential abuse, and simplify procedures for…

The visa wahala continues. The United States Embassy in Monrovia has issued a reminder to Liberians and other travelers that apply for a U.S. visa with the intent of giving birth in America–so that the child can obtain U.S. citizenship–is strictly prohibited under U.S. immigration law. In its social media post on Wednesday, August 27, the Embassy emphasized that consular officers are trained to identify such intentions during visa interviews and are authorized to deny applications if they believe the applicant is seeking to travel primarily for childbirth. “Traveling to the United States on a visa for the purpose of…

A 62-year-old Dutch tourist was airlifted from Table Mountain on Wednesday 27 August 2025 after injuring her leg while hiking between the Upper Cable Station and Camps Bay the previous afternoon. Screenshot from WSAR video The party spent the night on the plateau and was found early the next morning by a local guide. The guide called the wilderness emergency number and Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams responded. The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter then hoisted her and flew her to hospital for further care. WSAR shared a video by Grant Duncan-Smith of the hoist…

Friday, August 22, marked the official kickoff of the Liberian government’s Tourism Development Projects under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) FY2025, signaling a bold step toward revitalizing the country’s tourism sector and creating new economic opportunities. The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), through the PSIP budgetary appropriation, launched several milestone tourism projects over the weekend, which were symbolically handed to the Liberia Renaissance Group (LRG)–formerly the Liberia Renaissance Construction Company (LRCC)–at Providence Island, Monrovia, Montserrado County. In outlining the significance of the initiatives, MICAT’s Assistant Minister for Tourism in charge of projects, Atty. Dogba K.…

Durban will host the 4th International Longevity Summit in September 2025, spotlighting Africa’s rising role in wellness and medical tourism. North Beach Pier Durban/Marlin Clark/Unsplash It will take place from 10-11 September at the luxurious Sibaya Hotel & Casino located in the popular northern resort town of uMhlanga, as reported by Travel and Tour World. The summit, organised by South African Tourism and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, will welcome 300 international delegates. Among these delegates are policymakers, researchers clinicians and investors. The decision to hold it in Durban is a sign of South Africa’s potential to be a…

On August 29, the Edda people of Ebonyi State will converge at Nguzu Edda, their traditional headquarters, for Ike Ji Edda, a grand new yam festival that blends culture, heritage, and tourism with economic potential. Led by the Edda LGA Chairman, Hon. Chima Ekumankama, this year’s celebration promises to elevate the age-old tradition into a cultural carnival, showcasing the significance of yam in Igbo identity while positioning Edda as a hub for unity, tourism, and economic growth, Uzoma Mba writes August 29 has been slated to be a day of culture, fanfare, celebration of heritage, and the promotion of the…

Global airlines are requesting to raise age of retirement for commercial pilots from 65 to 67. Navigating in the Cockpit/Kristopher Allison/Unsplash According to Reuters, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) led a coalition of 350 airlines in a formal request to raise the age of retirement for commercial pilots by two years. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) received the request which was made in response to a global shortage of commercial pilots and rise of air travel demand. The IATA argues that two years is a reasonable adjustment that will maintain safety. They’ve proposed that for each flight, one…

·Says late November 2025, to mark first direct connection between both countries The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, Tuesday hinted the airline has secured approval to commence direct passenger flights between Lagos and São Paulo under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Brazil. The agreement was concluded in Brasília on Monday by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Filhos, in the presence of Presidents Bola Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Confirming the development to journalists, Onyema described the Lagos-São…

Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR) has affirmed African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) A- issuer credit rating with a stable outlook. The rating reflects JCR’s assessment of Afreximbank’s strong strategic positioning, robust risk management framework, consistent profitability, prudent liquidity policies and resilient capital base. JCR also noted the Bank’s important role in supporting trade finance and economic development across Africa and the Caribbean. The rating agency stated that it expects Afreximbank’s rating to remain stable over the next 12 to 18 months, despite external macroeconomic challenges and potential pressures in its operating environment. Reacting to the announcement, Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s…

A regular beachfront stroll turned into a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter when fitness and lifestyle creator Randall Mitchell spotted humpback whales breaching just off Umhlanga’s shoreline. Screenshot from Randall Mitchell TikTok video Mitchell captured the 17-second clip during one of his daily walks, and the moment has since gone viral on TikTok with more than 200,000 views. In the video, the whales launch dramatically out of the water as a crowd of beachgoers erupts into applause and cheers. “It was a total surprise,” Mitchell told East Coast Radio. “I saw the peak of something coming out and realised there must be…