With less than a year to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tensions are rising over reported visa denials affecting international journalists expected to cover the tournament in the United States. The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has written to world football governing body FIFA warning that “many” accredited journalists from Iran and several…
Discover moreBusiness News UpdatesDigital ePaper SubscriptionWorld News DigestBBC South Africa’s sports minister has said his nation was “being made to look like fools” after its football team was delayed travelling to Mexico ahead of the World Cup due to visa issues. Gayton McKenzie demanded an explanation from South Africa’s football association (Safa) as to why…
Kampala has been retained as one of only 20 US visa processing hubs in Africa under a major restructuring plan by the administration of President Donald Trump, positioning Uganda as a key regional gateway for travelers seeking entry to the United States. While Kampala remains among the 20 African cities selected to retain full US…
Togo has removed visa requirements for all African nationals, allowing passport holders from the continent to enter the country for stays of up to 30 days. The measure, announced by the Ministry of Security, took effect on May 18 and places Togo among African countries moving toward open travel for citizens of the continent. Benin,…
Mr Batossie linked the new directive, which took effect on Sunday, to Togo’s commitment to regional integration and Pan-African cooperation. The Togolese government has removed visa requirements for citizens of all African countries. It will now allow holders of valid African passports to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30…
Nearly two-thirds of South African consumers have used artificial intelligence to assist with shopping-related tasks, according to new survey data from Visa that points to a rapid shift in how locals interact with digital payment technologies. The Visa Spending Shift Survey, conducted by Morning Consult among a thousand South African adults in October 2025, found…
Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber The department of home affairs plans to shut down all tourist visa processing at South African missions abroad, minister Leon Schreiber has announced, with all applications to be routed instead through the department’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system. Speaking at the release of a Special Investigating Unit interim report on Monday,…
Visa is working to integrate stablecoins into existing payment systems, seeing an opportunity to maintain its market leadership as these tokens gain traction, Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, said in an interview. Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies typically pegged to the US dollar, allow funds to be moved outside traditional banking systems. While their circulation has surged,…
Of Africa’s 54 countries, 36 are now subject to either travel bans or visa bonds by the United States. African states are the prime target of President Donald Trump’s latest round of travel restrictions, which he says are aimed at protecting national security and preventing visitors overstaying. The US State Department this week added several…
Rwanda has retained its position as the most visa-open country in Africa, according to the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI). The country has held the top spot since 2023 due to its visa-free regime. ALSO READ: Rwanda retains top place in visa openness in Africa The top position was claimed jointly by Rwanda and…
