U.S. Removes Mali from Visa-Bond List

The United States has backed down from a diplomatic impasse with Mali, withdrawing the West African country from its contentious Visa Bond Pilot Programme just days before the new requirements take effect. In its recent announcement, the U.S....

Updated - US Visa-Bond Pilot Program Expands to Additional Countries

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has added additional countries to the list of nationals subject to the visa-bond pilot program (as reported in our previous blog pieces on Zambia and the Gambia). Beginning Oct. 23, 2025, nationals of Mali,...

Western Sahara: The Growing Map in Support of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan

Rabat – Morocco’s Western Sahara position has been strengthened by a growing international support, with statements pouring in from many countries backing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only political framework to end the dispute under Moroccan...

David vs Goliath: U.S. backtracks after Mali’s swift $10,000 visa bond retaliation

The United States has quietly removed Mali from its list of countries required to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000, days after Bamako imposed a tit-for-tat measure demanding the same from American travellers. The updated list of Countries Subject...

Portugal creates new marine reserve between Algarve and Madeira, bringing forward 30% protection target

Portugal is set to create a vast new marine reserve, the Madeira–Tore and Gorringe Bank Marine Nature Reserve, covering around 200,000 square kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean between Sagres and Madeira. The move will allow the country to reach its...

Mapped: Government Debt to GDP by Country in 2025

Mapped: Government Debt to GDP by Country in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key...

Russian Academic Frames Western Sahara as Core to Moroccan Foreign Policy Identity

Marrakech – A new Russian academic study positions Western Sahara as the cornerstone and compass of Morocco’s foreign policy identity, arguing that the North African country’s defense of its territorial integrity is central to its national...

TAP IS EUROPE’S BEST AIRLINE TO AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA

TAP Air Portugal received two awards in Sardinia, Italy, at the World Travel Awards 2025 (WTA 25) ceremony, as Best European Airline to Africa and Best European Airline to South America. Sofia Lufinha, TAP’s Chief Customer Officer, who received...

David vs Goliath: United States backtracks after Mali’s swift $10,000 visa bond retaliation

The United States has quietly removed Mali from its list of countries required to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000 (R277,500), days after Bamako imposed a tit-for-tat measure demanding the same from American travellers. The updated list of...

Portugal the “Best Destination in Europe”

The World Travel Awards European gala honoured the best tourism and travel companies in Europe on Wednesday, October 22nd, at an event held at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy, according to a report by Publituris. Portugal emerged...

America’s Millionaires and Billionaires vs. Other Top Countries

Mapped: Financing Risk by Country in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Most countries (90)...

U.S. deletes Mali from visa-bond list in bid to ease diplomatic tensions

The United States has backed down from a diplomatic standoff with Mali, removing the West African nation from its controversial Visa Bond Pilot Program just days before the requirements were set to take effect. In its latest update on October 23,...

Galp to select partner for Namibia’s Mopane field by year-end 

Portuguese energy company Galp Energia is in advanced talks with several major oil companies to divest a 40% stake in its Mopane field offshore Namibia, reported Reuters. According to Galp executive board member Nuno Bastos, the company aims to...

Shell spuds wildcat offshore remote African archipelago

Shell has spudded its high-profile Falcao 1 wildcat offshore Sao Tome & Principe, and explorers will be watching the exploration well — only the second to be drilled off the West African archipelago — like hawks. The supermajor said the Stena...

Portugal Golden Visa—New Law To Extend Citizenship Timeline To Ten Years

The Algarve, Portugal—the government voted to extend the citizenship requirement to ten years of residency, from five. getty In a blow to the many people hoping to make Portugal their home and apply for European citizenship through the Portugal...

Portugal's Galp is in advanced discussions to select partner for Mopane by this year

Galp, a Portuguese oil company, is in advanced discussions with several major oil companies to sell a 40 percent stake in the offshore Mopane field located in Namibia. The company expects to select a partner before the end of this year. Galp wants...

The bear and the bot farm: Countering Russian hybrid warfare in Africa

Summary Russia has made significant inroads in Africa—particularly in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic and Mali—deploying military operations that, while limited in scope, are often devastating for local civilian populations. At the same...

Jamaica's oil prospects: Some hard truths

By Bumpy Walker In 2003 literally all the major oil companies made bids in a public auction to the tune of half a billion US dollars for the right to drill for hydrocarbons in various offshore blocks off the island state of Sao Tome Principe (Gulf...

AfDB backs Nigeria’s reforms drive with fresh  $500m facility

African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced plans to extend a $500 million loan to Nigeria this year as part of a $1 billion budget support programme, citing the country’s ongoing economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu as a major factor...

Africa Is The World's 'Youngest' Region, Asia The 'Oldest'

The world’s population is aging, but not evenly. While some regions are growing older at an alarming pace, others remain remarkably young. In this graphic, Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu maps the median age in every country, showing where...