Kenya eases travel requirements for African visitors, excludes Libya, Somalia

Travel

Kenya has announced a shift in its travel policies, allowing citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without prior authorisation.
But the introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisation, which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticised as a “visa under another name”.
The decision, confirmed by a cabinet statement on Tuesday, eliminates the need for Electronic Travel Authorisation for most African visitors, apart from those from “Somalia and Libya due to security concerns,” as reported by BBC.
This move comes as part of Kenya’s efforts to enhance regional integration, support open skies policies, and boost tourism.

Under the updated guidelines, citizens of most African nations can enter Kenya and stay for up to two months without any travel pre-authorisation. Members of the East African Community, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, can stay for up to six months, aligning with bloc policies.
The ETA system, introduced last year to replace traditional visas, required travellers to apply and pay $30 online for pre-approval before entering Kenya. Despite being presented as a visa-free policy, critics labelled it as cumbersome and akin to a visa in all but name. Related News
The policy also coincided with Kenya’s drop in the Africa Visa Openness Index rankings, where it fell 17 places to 46th out of 54 nations.
This latest directive aims to simplify travel while addressing security concerns.
The government plans to enhance pre-screening processes and strengthen security at entry points. It also promised improved traveller experiences at airports, with plans for instant travel approvals and a maximum processing time of 72 hours.
Kenya joins countries like Ghana and Rwanda in easing intra-African travel restrictions, aligning with the African Union’s push for greater integration and movement across the continent.
However, questions remain about the timeline for implementing these changes, as ministries have been tasked with finalising guidelines within a week.
Despite these developments, the ETA system continues to face scrutiny for potentially deterring visitors. Initially, more than 40 countries enjoyed visa-on-arrival privileges in Kenya, allowing free and immediate entry.

British Business Bank marks a decade of transformative impact on the economy and smaller businesses across Northern Ireland

Business News

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowBritish Business Bank publishes The Power of 10: 10 Year Impact Report, highlighting its impact on the Northern Ireland and wider UK economy· 4,000 jobs expected to be created in Northern Ireland through Bank-supported finance programmes· and 62,000 jobs supported Sarah-Jane Murray, Founder of Vocus Vit· NI smaller businesses supported by the Bank projected to generate £2bn in additional turnover.· UK economic output boosted by around £43bn through business growth over the lifetime of their finance · £32bn in combined UK public and private sector funding delivered· 84% of businesses supported are located outside LondonHammed Obikoya, Owner of Mama Bobo AfricaSince it was established in 2014, the British Business Bank supported finance programmes have supported 6,000 businesses in Northern Ireland which are projected to create 4,000 jobs over the lifetime of their finance. A report, published today by the Bank, also reveals these smaller businesses are projected to generate £2bn in additional turnover as they sustain 62,000 local jobs, contributing significantly to long-term economic value and innovation.The Power of 10: 10 Year Impact Report also highlights how the Bank has delivered more than £32bn in combined public and private sector funding across the UK, supporting 209,000 smaller businesses which are expected to create 250,000 additional jobs and sustain almost 2.3 million existing positions.As the Bank cements its role as a critical driver of growth and employment in the UK, the report shows its activities have achieved a 4.2% annual combined commercial, mandated and service arm adjusted rate of return, demonstrating that economic impact and financial returns can be delivered simultaneously. Louis Taylor, CEO of British Business BankAdvancing UK innovation through equity investmentAs the UK’s largest domestic investor in UK venture and venture growth capital, the Bank supported 11% of all UK smaller business equity deals and with these deals accounting for 15% of total smaller business equity investment over the past decade. Equity finance activity has grown significantly, with £8bn deployed in the last three years alone.This investment has catalysed growth in high-potential sectors such as life sciences, clean tech, and advanced software, driving innovation across the UK economy. Among these high-growth businesses backed by the Bank, 150,000 new jobs and £29bn in GVA are expected to result from rapid expansion.Additionally, the launch of British Patient Capital in 2018 and subsequent programmes, including the Life Sciences Investment Programme and Future Fund: Breakthrough have accelerated equity flows to transformative sectors.Leveraging private sector investmentOver the past decade, the Bank has leveraged more than £4 of private sector investment and lending guaranteed for every £1 of public funding deployed, demonstrating its ability to act as a catalyst for private funding.Its network of over 200 delivery partners, which includes banks, fintech providers, and venture capital funds, has been instrumental in addressing structural market gaps and enabling innovation across the UK.At the International Investment Summit, it was confirmed that the British Business Bank will establish the British Growth Partnership, subject to regulatory approval, encouraging more UK pension fund, and other institutional investment, into the UK’s fastest growing, most innovative companies. The initial fund will seek to raise hundreds of millions of pounds, including a commitment from the British Business Bank, to invest in some of the highest potential opportunities in the Bank’s venture capital pipeline.Ensuring access to finance reaches all UK Nations and regionsThe British Business Bank has successfully supported businesses across the UK, with 84% of businesses supported based outside London, underscoring its commitment to delivering fair access to finance in all nations and regions. This support is expected to generate significant economic benefits, estimated at £1bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) or more in each of the UK nations and regions, including Northern Ireland, and sustaining more than two million UK jobs, with an additional 250,000 jobs expected to be created as a result.By strengthening regional finance ecosystems, the Bank has fostered growth and innovation in underserved areas, helping to address long-standing disparities in access to finance.Programmes such as the Regional Angels Programme and the £70 million Northern Ireland Investment Fund have driven investment in regional innovation clusters, helping to retain high-growth businesses in these areas.Supporting a modern, green economy through sustainable financeThe Bank has played a pivotal role in supporting the transition to net zero and the UK’s position as a leader in sustainable growth. Up to 37% of smaller businesses supported have utilised finance to reduce their environmental impact or develop green business models.A significant focus on net-zero sectors, including clean tech, highlights the Bank’s commitment to fostering environmentally sustainable practices and supporting the UK’s transition to a greener economy.Louis Taylor, CEO, British Business Bank, said: “The Power of 10: 10 Year Impact Report highlights the transformative role the British Business bank has played in driving economic growth and shaping the financial landscape for smaller businesses across the UK. “From improving access to finance across Northern Ireland to backing innovation and championing sustainable growth, we are proud of the impact we’ve achieved over the past decade. Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting smaller businesses, unlocking private sector investment, and helping the UK meet its economic goals.“The catalytic impact of the British Business Bank and impressive track record crowding in private funding will become even more crucial as we establish the British Growth Partnership, subject to regulatory approval, unlocking the huge potential of UK pension funds and other institutional investors in venture capital funds and the UK’s innovative businesses.”Breaking down barriers in access to finance for under-represented groupsThrough its Start Up Loans programme, the Bank has ensured that traditionally under-represented groups gain greater access to finance. To date, 40% of these loans have been awarded to female founders, while 20% have supported entrepreneurs from Black, Asian, or Other Ethnic Minority backgrounds. This focus on inclusivity reflects the Bank’s commitment to unlocking potential and diversifying access to finance and creating opportunities for underserved groups.Looking to the future, the Bank is expanding access to funding for female entrepreneurs and will invest £50m into female-led funds through its existing programmes. This investment will support the aims of the Invest in Women Taskforce, which is an industry led, government backed initiative committed to increasing finance for female entrepreneurs. In addition, a set of reforms to the British Business Bank’s financial framework will put the Bank’s £7.9bn commercial programmes on a permanent footing. This means the Bank can flexibly re-invest its investment returns over the long term to increase growth and prosperity across the UK.Continue Reading

Coca Cola boss joins business leaders at IDA dinner in Davos

Business News

Davos, where the World Economic Forum is taking place (Markus Schreiber/AP)John Burns in DavosToday at 13:14Last week he was presenting President Donald Trump with a commemorative bottle of Diet Coke, but tonight the CEO of Coca Cola will be supping with Irish government representatives, as James Quincey is among the guests at a dinner the IDA is hosting in Davos.Quincey will be among over 50 business leaders at the event, alongside Vince Roche, the CEO of Analog Devices, Geoff Martha, the chairman and CEO of Medtronic, and Chris Hyams, the CEO of recruitment company Indeed.

Popcorn at the Ready: Indie-Lincs International Film Festival returns for 2025

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowLincoln’s movie lovers rejoice as Indie-Lincs International Film Festival 2025 returns to the city on Thursday 30 January for a three-day festival, screening of more than 40 original and independent films from across the globe, all at Lincoln Arts Centre.Now in its ninth year, Indie-Lincs enables everyone to watch films made by independent filmmakers. This year’s selections feature well-known faces from cinema and television such as actor and theatre director Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave and Merlin), Ruth Sheen (Vera Drake and Brassic), Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders and Edge of Tomorrow), Steve Oram (Sightseers and D.I. Ray), and Daniel Mays (Rogue One and The Bank Job).During the festival, audiences can enjoy a selection of high-quality short and feature length documentary, drama, and animated films, including filmmaker Q&A sessions, networking events, and an awards ceremony.The festival will open with Red Herring (UK), a personal and touching documentary about the fragility of life. Director Kit Vincent walks the line between humour and grief to helm this love letter to the relationships that keep him going after a terminal diagnosis. A Q&A with Director Kit Vincent will follow the film.Festivalgoers will also be able to watch Girly.This year’s selection of short films includes the unforgettable UK drama, Wild Animal, a psychological thriller, the dark animated film In Loving Memories (UK), and thoughtful student documentary, Girly (USA). Feature films include kitchen-sink drama, Sweetly it Turns (UK), and The Connections (GER) which follows the parallel lives of siblings living in separate countries.In addition to films screenings, attendees will be able to attend industry talks with guest speakers including film director Moin Hussain who will be screening his directorial debut, Sky Peals, which was filmed in Yorkshire and premiered at the Venice Film Festival. BBC Writers Room Development Executive Simon Nelson will be sharing tips and advice on how to write for the BBC, and the team from Film Hub Midlands will discuss the BFI NETWORK short film funding scheme.The festival is run by University of Lincoln School of Creative Arts lecturers, Dr Mikey Murray and Chris Greybe, with a team of volunteer coordinators.Mikey Murray, Senior Lecturer in Film Production and Screenwriting, at the University of Lincoln, commented: “Lincoln has built a reputation as a location for big budget films such Napoleon and Peterloo which is fantastic. Our festival is building on the city’s name as a destination for filmmakers to both film and showcase their work. Lincoln has a keen audience for independent film, and we show films you wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to see. We can’t wait to share our programme and welcome the community to the festival.”Still from Birds of a Feather, which will be shown during the festival.The festival’s awards ceremony is a particular highlight, as audience members can vote for their favourite film. This year’s judges include actors Pauline Lynch (Trainspotting), Robin Laing (Outlander), Jeremy Wooding (creator of Peep Show), and renowned film academic Professor Mette Hjort.Indie-Lincs is an International Film Festival that champions low and micro budget feature length and short films. The high-quality programme of independent films is bolstered by friendly networking events where industry guests, actors, filmmakers and the audience can all be found together discussing their work and the programme of films.The festival is open to all, with day and weekend passes available. Day tickets are £15 (£10 live pass), and a full weekend pass is £22.50 (£15 live pass). Age restrictions apply. For more information on tickets, call 01522 837600 or visit www.lincolnartscentre.co.uk.Instagram: @indie_lincs Facebook: @indie_lincs.Continue Reading

More than 16K books later, Kohler high schooler holds last book drive

Arts & Culture, Books

KOHLER – More than two dozen boxes of books lined a Kohler High School hallway Jan. 17 as junior Riley Holzrichter and her mom Molly consolidated the collection, in preparation for a drive to Milwaukee.  The books were donated from Kohler Elementary School classrooms through Riley’s sixth biennial book drive to benefit Books for Kids, aimed at increasing access to books and improving literacy. It’s part of Next Door Foundation, a Milwaukee-based early childhood education and family services organization.“I know they’re so grateful for all of our donations,” Riley said. “I really care about literacy and children’s literacy. I love English and writing.”  Riley started the book drive with her sister McKenna, now a sophomore at St. Mary’s College in Indiana, when she was 8 years old. It started when Molly asked them to sort out books they no longer wanted before Christmas. She suggested they donate them to Books for Kids because she did a book drive for the program while working at Brady Corporation.Literacy was an important focus in Molly’s household. In addition to teaching for four years at Milwaukee Public Schools, where said she bought many books through the Scholastic book program, she also built up a large collection before her children were born. She said she had about five to six bins’ worth.  “I just wanted to surround them with literacy,” Molly said. “I wanted to pass on that love for reading.” Riley and McKenna were inspired to start the “Out with the Old, in with the New” book drive. It has donated more than 16,000 books over the years. “It’s made such a great positive impact to the program,” said Missy Hodzinski, volunteer and community relations specialist at Next Door.Next Door hosts several community drives throughout the year to provide additional resources to community members in need: an ongoing personal care drive, a school supply drive in the fall, winter gear drive in the winter, holiday gift giving drive in December and a rotating spring drive depending on needs, this year collecting diapers and wipes. Hodzinski said the majority of community book drives take place in the Greater Milwaukee area and outlying suburbs, but said the Holzrichter family’s ability to bring “a whole community at Kohler together to support this drive says something really amazing about them as a whole.” Books for Kids gives away 70,000 books a year, distributed through nonprofit and school partnerships, a mobile library, a community library, and onsite language and literacy programming. Hodzinski said it aims to “support the whole community and to build the at-home libraries of individuals all throughout the Greater Milwaukee community, to give access to that vital tool.”  

Jamshedpur schools face backlash over profiteering from book and uniform sales

Arts & Culture, Books

Mail News ServiceJamshedpur, Jan 22: As the new school session approaches, private schools in the city are once again raking in huge profits through the sale of books and uniforms. While some smaller schools earn between Rs 5 to Rs 7 lakh from these sales, bigger, well-known schools pocket commissions ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakh annually from publishers.
The method of commission has shifted recently, with publishers now offering schools a cut in exchange for selling old books. This change has further intensified the business model, making it a lucrative revenue stream for private institutions. It is reported that schools are earning between Rs 10-12 crore annually through commissions on books alone.

While schools deny directly profiting from the book sales, the system remains in place. Schools that do not sell books directly provide parents with a list of designated shops. Parents then have to buy books from these stores, often for higher prices. Shopkeepers even provide schools with lists of which children have purchased their books.
In addition to books, the sale of shoes and uniforms also contributes to the financial windfall. However, no one has the courage to intervene in this thriving business. From administrative bodies to education department officials, everyone seems to turn a blind eye. Parents, especially those from economically weaker backgrounds, find themselves helpless, unable to challenge the system.

“The issue has been raised multiple times, but no one has been able to provide a written complaint,” said Dr. Umesh, President of the Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh (Parents Association). “Schools force parents to buy books at 20% higher rates and they keep taking advantage of this loophole.”
The situation is becoming more burdensome with changes in curriculum under the new National Education Policy. Many books for classes 3, 5, 7 and 8 have been altered, further pushing the financial strain on parents.

Anchal Sharma, a local resident, commented, “Private schools are increasing fees and imposing unnecessary costs, exploiting parents’ helplessness during admissions. They act without any oversight, making it impossible for parents to keep up.”
With growing concerns over the financial impact, parents like Tullika, who earns Rs 40,000 per month and has two children, find themselves struggling to set aside Rs 5,000 every month for their children’s education.
As the new academic year kicks off, parents continue to bear the brunt of escalating education costs, with private schools growing richer from the very system meant to provide quality education.

Revolutionizing Clean Energy? Yale Scientists Discover How Bacteria “Breathe” Minerals

Science and Health

Scientists discovered how microbes build protein nanowires, enabling breakthroughs in energy, pollution control, and methane reduction. Credit: Yale University
Yale researchers uncovered the molecular machinery behind nanowire assembly in microbes, enabling advances in electricity production, pollution mitigation, and methane reduction.
Almost all living organisms breathe oxygen to remove excess electrons generated during the conversion of nutrients into energy.
However, many microbes that play a crucial role in mitigating pollution and climate change lack access to oxygen. Instead, these bacteria—found buried underground or deep beneath oceans—have evolved a unique method of expelling electrons. They “breathe” minerals in the soil using tiny protein filaments known as nanowires.
Unveiling the Machinery Behind Nanowires
In previous research, a team led by Nikhil Malvankar, Associate Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale’s Microbial Sciences Institute, showed that nanowires are made up of a chain of heme molecules, just like hemoglobin in our blood, thrust into the environment to move electrons.
To leverage the power of these microbes, however, scientists need to know how those nanowires are assembled.
The Yale team led by Cong Shen has now discovered the machinery that assembles the nanowires, making practical applications possible.
Of the 111 heme proteins, only three are known to polymerize to become nanowires. Not only did the team identify the surrounding machinery that makes it possible for these proteins to become nanowires, but they also demonstrated that changing some of the machinery’s components can accelerate nanowire reproduction and bacterial growth.
This is an important next step in engineering bacteria to efficiently produce electricity, clean pollutants from water, and lower atmospheric methane levels.
Reference: “A widespread and ancient bacterial machinery assembles cytochrome OmcS nanowires essential for extracellular electron transfer” by Cong Shen, Aldo I. Salazar-Morales, Wonhyeuk Jung, Joey Erwin, Yangqi Gu, Anthony Coelho, Kallol Gupta, Sibel Ebru Yalcin, Fadel A. Samatey and Nikhil S. Malvankar, 15 January 2025, Cell Chemical Biology.DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.12.013