Heroic Sharjah resident hailed for saving two girls from drowning at beach

A father held back tears as he thanked the Egyptian man who saved his four-year-old daughter and her nine-year-old friend from drowning in Sharjah. Heroic Kassem Mohammed, 25, recalled the moment on Saturday when he rescued the little girls at Al...

Passport overhaul aims to put South Africa travellers back on the global map

South Africa’s long-struggling passport is getting a major upgrade. The Department of Home Affairs has kicked off a wide-ranging reform of the country’s travel documentation system — a move aimed at tightening security, modernising verification,...

NUSACC names Mauritanian envoy as its 2025 ‘Ambassador of the Year’

Mauritania, one of the least-known of the 22 members of the Arab League, got some long-awaited recognition this week when the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) named Mauritania’s top envoy to the United States, Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould...

The U.S. Just Issued a Level 3 Travel Warning to This Idyllic Beach Destination—Here’s What Travelers Should Know

The United States government warned travelers to carefully review their plans before visiting the East African island of Madagascar. The State Department recently upgraded the country to a Level 3, warning Americans to "reconsider travel" there...

US updates $15,000 visa bond list — Should Indian travellers worry?

The US has updated the list of nations whose citizens would be required to post a visa bond before entering America. The visa bond list has been revised by removing Mali from the up to $15,000 visa bond list, bringing the total to six. After Mali...

Africa’s air links are poor: can the G20 push for more direct flights to improve tourism and trade?

In Africa, less than one in five continental airline routes are direct. Air connections are decided by factors like trade levels, diplomatic relations, and whether there’s enough demand to make a route financially worthwhile. Because there are so...

Against the algorithm: updating a Taiwan guidebook

Contributing travel writer Steven Crook writes about new additions to the guidebook and talks about why some people prefer a hard copy over digital When Taiwan was battered by storms this summer, the only crumb of comfort I could take was knowing...

Oman, Mauritania hold political consultations

Nouakchott: The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania held the first session of their political consultations in Nouakchott on Monday. The Omani delegation was led by Sheikh Faisal bin Omar Al Marhoon, Head of the Arab Affairs...

Africa’s air links are poor: can the G20 push for more direct flights

Kaitano Dube In Africa, less than one in five continental airline routes are direct. Air connections are decided by factors like trade levels, diplomatic relations, and whether there’s enough demand to make a route financially worthwhile. Because...

Adventurous friends embark on a three-wheeled journey from Devon to Cape Town

Two adventurous friends are attempting to make motoring history and raise money for a good cause by driving from Devon, England, to Cape Town in one of the most unlikely vehicles imaginable: a three-wheeled Reliant Robin. For Oliver Jenks, 34,...

'Didn't Think Twice': How UAE Expat Rescues 2 Girls From Drowning At Night In Mamzar

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) What began as a peaceful Saturday evening at Mamzar Beach turned into a scene of panic for two families until a young Egyptian man's quick action saved the lives of two drowning children. The girls' cries for help caught...

After US, Italy asks citizens to leave Mali amid fuel blockade, fears of Al Qaeda takeover

Italy has warned its citizens against travel to the African nation of Mali, citing the worsening security concerns there. “Italian nationals already in Mali are urged to leave the country as soon as possible,” the Italian Foreign Ministry said on...

Mali Imposes $5,000 Visa Bond on U.S. Tourists in Response to New U.S. Policy

Mali will impose a reciprocal visa bond on U.S. nationals seeking business or tourist visas, its Foreign Ministry announced, following Washington’s decision to introduce similar requirements for Malian citizens. The new measure mirrors the United...

Fumed Mali reacts to Trump's visa bond scheme, US travellers now have to deposit bond of...

Mali has declared that it will request US citizens submit bonds of up to $10,000 for both commercial and tourist visas, in response to the Trump administration's declaration that the West African nation will be added to its visa bond scheme,...

Iraq and Mauritania Forge Stronger Diplomatic Ties

A broad cooperation agreement was signed by Iraq and Mauritania, in an attempt to strengthen ties in culture, education, labour and trade. Formalised on October 14th, 2025, in Baghdad, during the second session of the Iraqi-Mauritanian Joint...

US travellers to deposit up to $10,000 visa bond to enter THIS nation

Following the Trump administration’s announcement that the West African country would be included in its visa bond program, Mali has announced that it will ask U.S. nationals to deposit bonds of up to $10,000 for business and tourist visas,...

Well Traveled: Jeff Greenwald Revisits ‘The Size of the World’

Thirty years ago, Jeff Greenwald became unenchanted with airplanes. As an established travel writer who crisscrossed the globe on assignment for a variety of magazines, he had already logged more miles than Magellan, Marco Polo and Christopher...

Africa: Visa Bonds Up to $15,000 From October 23: New U.S. Policy Targets Travelers from Africa

Beginning October 23, 2025, citizens of seven African countries seeking business or tourist visas to the United States will face a new hurdle: the requirement to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the exact amount...

Mali slaps visa bond on US travelers in retaliation

Mali has introduced visa bond requirements for United States citizens, mirroring measures recently imposed by Washington on Malian travellers. The Foreign Ministry in Bamako announced the decision on Sunday, calling it a reciprocal response to US...

Mali Slaps Visa Bond on US Travellers in Retaliation to US Policy

In a tit-for-tat move, Mali has imposed the same visa bond requirements on United States citizens that Washington placed on Malian travelers. Mali’s government condemned the initial US action as a violation of bilateral agreements. The Foreign...