This October, the oil-rich city of Port-Harcourt will play host to over three hundred local and international vendors from the textile, apparel, fashion, accessories, design, fine art, beauty, hair, skincare, hospitality, real estate, finance and tech industries in what will eventually become ‘the largest trade show in Sub-saharan Africa’.
The epoch-making event is designed to create an unforgettable experience for its traders and buyers by creating a vibrant marketplace that encourages business-to-business and business-to-customer transactions.
In appreciation to the applied arts of fashion and design, Fashion Xperience Festival will host ten private runway shows led by some of Africa’s most creative and exclusive fashion houses, with an encore titled “The AI Fashion Experience” where a selected few will be opportune to witness a futuristic fashion show powered by AI – the first of its kind in Nigeria’s fashion history.
The two days festival will also host two festival parties to celebrate the commercial success of each day and bring together a diverse audience of purveyors and consumers of art to experience our stylishly themed parties.
One of the staples of Fashion Xperience Festival is her Women Entrepreneurs Summit (WE SUMMIT) which doubles as a women empowerment program and a professional business platform for women-led businesses and their founders to launch, relaunch, grow and thrive.
Fashion Xperience Festival will hold its maiden edition on the 26th and 27th of October 2024 at the prestigious Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port-Harcourt – Nigeria.
Fashion Xperience Festival is endorsed by the Rivers state Government. For information and inquiries on participation, sponsorship and partnerships please visit the website, contact: +234 (0) 815 726 6784, +234 (0) 707 501 7425 or send an email to fashionxperienceng@gmail.com or info@fashionxperienceng.com.
For more updates, stay tuned to the Fashion Xperience Festival platform on Instagram.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/jagmeet-singh-votes-in-canada-s-federal-election-right-jagmeet-singh-delivers-a-speech.jpg?id=60054489&width=600&height=600&coordinates=264%2C0%2C264%2C0"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/why-vote-ndp-jagmeet-singh-2025-federal-election" target="_blank">Jagmeet Singh</a> says he's stepping down as the New Democratic Party leader after a rough election night that left the NDP without official party status — and him out of a seat.</p><p>In the early hours of Tuesday, Singh took the stage at the NDP's election party, holding back tears as he thanked his supporters, reflected on his time leading the party, and shared hopes for the future. </p><p>"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you and all of you in this room, you guys poured your heart into this. Thank you so much for everything you've done. You're amazing. Love you all," he said, kicking off an emotional speech.</p><p>It was a tough night across the board. As of Tuesday morning, according to <a href="https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2025/results/">CBC</a>, the NDP was elected or leading in just seven ridings — a major collapse from the 24 seats they held before the campaign. </p><p>They also captured just 6.3% of the national vote, way down from the 17.8% they earned in 2021.</p><p>Singh didn't escape the fallout either. He lost his seat in Burnaby Central, a riding he'd held since 2019, finishing third.</p><p>Singh told the crowd, "It's been the honour of my life to represent the people of Burnaby Central. Tonight, they chose a new member of Parliament, and I wish them well as they continue to work hard for this community."</p><p>Despite the setback, Singh reminded the crowd that the fight wasn't over. </p><p>He congratulated <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/mark-carney-victory-speech-quebec">Liberal leader Mark Carney on his projected win</a>, adding, "He has an important job to do to represent all Canadians and to protect our country and its sovereignty from the threats of Donald Trump."</p><p>"Tonight and every night, all of us here, we're on Team Canada. We want Canada to thrive, and we're going to continue to fight for Canada," Singh added.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI7aNmkvjtL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>At times, it was clear Singh was struggling to keep his emotions in check. He spoke candidly about the sacrifices made by NDP candidates across the country who also came up short.</p><p>"I'm so sorry you're not gonna be able to represent your communities. I know you're going to continue to fight for them. I know how many doors you knocked, how many family dinners you missed, how many nights your kids went to bed without you there to tuck them in. I know it was a tough sacrifice [...]. Thank you," he said.</p><p>He urged New Democrats to stay hopeful even in defeat, saying, "Choosing to commit your life to politics obviously comes with some sacrifice, but we choose this life because of the chance to change the country you love for the better. We may lose sometimes, and those losses hurt."</p><p>"It's tough, but we are only defeated if we stop fighting. We're only defeated when we believe that those that tell us that we can never dream of a better Canada, a fairer Canada, a more compassionate Canada."</p><p>At one point, Singh joked that he couldn't make eye contact with supporters because the emotion was too overwhelming. </p><p>"So I just made the mistake of doing that," he laughed. "So I'm gonna look away now. You know who you are. Don't look at me again."</p><p>Reflecting on his journey, Singh reminded supporters how far they had come.</p><p>"Almost eight years ago, I was elected the leader of this incredible party, this incredible movement. I've worked really hard to be worthy of this trust, to live up to the legacy of our movement."</p><p>He confirmed he had informed the party leadership that he would step down once an interim leader could be named.</p><p>"Tonight, I've informed our party leader that I'll be stepping down as party leader as soon as an interim leader can be appointed."</p><p>Before wrapping up, Singh took a heartfelt moment to thank his family — and once again, the tears weren't far behind.<br/></p><p>"I get emotional anytime I talk about my kids. I'm very sappy when it comes to my daughters. So, I get a little emotional," he said while giving a special shoutout to his wife, Gurkiran Kaur, and their two daughters, Anhad and Dani.</p><p>Pausing to gather himself, he added, "I might break down [during] this part, so forgive me. I can only do this, and we can only do this work, because of a great staff, and y'all just poured your heart into me into the work that we did."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI43f8IzZar/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Lightening the mood, Singh joked, "It's a good thing that there's water here! This water is very strategically placed for me, so it's very, it's very, very lucky that I have it!"</p><p>He closed his speech with optimism, saying he still believed in the NDP's mission.</p><p>"Obviously, I'm disappointed that we could not win more seats, but I'm not disappointed in our movement. I'm hopeful for our party. I know that we will always choose hope over fear, optimism over despair, and unity over hate."</p><p>"New Democrats literally built this country. We built the best of Canada, and we aren't going anywhere. Thank you, thank you so much. Love you all."</p><p>Singh wasn't the only party leader who had a rough night. While Mark Carney locked down a win in Nepean, Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault placed fifth in Montreal. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is also projected to lose his seat in Carleton.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Liberals managed to flip Burnaby Central — Singh's former riding — piling on another blow in an already difficult night for the NDP.</p><p><em>You can read more about the projected election results, Mark Carney's dramatic victory speech, and more, at <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/federal-election" target="_self">MTL Blog's election hub.</a></em></p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/waves-crash-on-a-beach-in-cuba.jpg?id=61194733&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=132%2C0%2C132%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you're planning a beach getaway to Cuba this year, there's a new <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/travel-advisories" target="_blank">rule you should know about before boarding your flight</a>.</p><p>As of July 1, 2025, <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-cuba-travel-visa" target="_blank">Cuba has officially switched to an electronic visa (e-visa) system</a> for most foreign travellers, including Canadians. That means the old tourist card — the paper slip you used to get at the airport or through a travel agent — is no longer valid for entry.</p><p>While many Canadians won't need to lift a finger because their visa is already bundled with their airline ticket, others may have to apply separately, depending on how they're getting there.</p><p>To help avoid surprises at the airport, here's a breakdown of what's changed and how to make sure you're cleared for takeoff.</p><h3>Do Canadians need a visa to enter Cuba now?</h3><br/><p>Yes. All Canadian citizens now require a tourist visa (e-visa) to travel to Cuba. <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba_ga=2.174780322.1263746250.1752253208-461860707.1752253208" target="_blank">According to the Government of Canada</a>, tourists are allowed to stay up to 90 days under this visa, with the option to extend once you're there</p><h3>What happened to the old tourist card?</h3><br/><p>Cuba has phased out the old paper-based tourist card system that Canadians were used to. It's now replaced by a digital e-visa, which must be obtained in advance.</p><h3>How do I get the new e-visa</h3><br/><p>There are two main ways, depending on how you're travelling:</p><p>If you're flying direct from Canada with a major airline like Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, or WestJet, the visa is typically included in your travel package. Check with your airline or tour operator to confirm.</p><p>If you're flying through the U.S., Mexico, or another third country, or using an airline that doesn't include the visa, you must apply for the e-visa yourself. You can apply online at <a href="https://www.immi-assist.online/destinations/cuba/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22515455181&gbraid=0AAAAAqUQub_R2v7gzxzKx5Y57ox2E4qfX&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MLDBhAuEiwAIeXGIUneSQu0XgM9pApkZBn9yITPPtQdsc3aj3fWd6vctvAZ4sYtfXmBbxoCVxUQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">evisacuba.com</a> or contact the Cuban Consulate in Montreal (located on Décarie Boulevard) to request it manually.</p><p>Processing time for the document is approximately 48 hours.</p><h3>How much does the Cuba e-visa cost?</h3><br/><p>If you're applying independently, the visa costs $24 CAD. Payments can be made via Interac e-transfer, money order, cheque, or in person at the consulate.</p><h3>How long can I stay in Cuba on this visa</h3><br/><p>The tourist visa allows Canadians to stay in Cuba for up to 90 days. If you want to stay longer, you can request a one-time extension while you're already in the country.</p><h3>Is there anything else I need to submit before flying?</h3><br/><p>Yes — all travellers to Cuba must complete the <a href="https://www.cubaunbound.com/filling-out-cuba-dviajeros-travel-form" target="_blank">D'Viajeros online customs and health form</a> at least 48 hours before departure. Once completed, you'll receive a QR code by email, which must be shown at check-in and again upon arrival in Cuba.</p><h3>What other travel rules should I know?</h3><br/><p>According to <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba" target="_blank">Canada's official travel page</a>, here are a few other important notes:</p><ul><li>Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry into Cuba.</li><li>Health insurance is mandatory and must cover you for medical care in Cuba. You may be asked to show proof upon arrival.</li><li>You're not allowed to leave Cuba with more than US$5,000 or its equivalent without special authorization.</li></ul><p><br/></p><p>For more information on travel advisories regarding Cuba, you can visit <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba_ga=2.174780322.1263746250.1752253208-461860707.1752253208" target="_blank">travel.gc.ca</a>.</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p><p><br/></p>
