Ghana’s mission in Japan has warned against overstaying tourist visas and urged residents to renew permits three months in advance, citing strict compliance inspections and possible deportation.

The Embassy of Ghana in Japan has issued a formal advisory urging Ghanaian nationals resident in Japan to strictly comply with state immigration laws, stressing the need to carry valid passports, visas, and residence documentation at all times as required under local law.

In an advisory to the Ghanaian community, the mission stressed that nationals must ensure their immigration status remains regularized, including renewing residence permits well ahead of expiration to avoid falling into irregular status. The embassy advised Ghanaians to begin renewal processes at least three months before the expiry of their permits, noting that some residency procedures, including insurance and documentation processing, can take up to two weeks or more.

“Foreign nationals are to bear in mind that residency insurance or renewal procedures take approximately two weeks,” the advisory noted, urging residents to avoid delays that could expose them to legal and administrative challenges.

Record Foreign Population Triggers Stricter Scrutiny

The advisory comes as Japan continues to manage a growing foreign resident population amid labour shortages and expanding international student inflows. Official data from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan show foreign residents surpassed 4.12 million at the end of 2025, the first time crossing the four million mark.

The population is largely made up of permanent residents, skilled workers, technical interns, and international students, including approximately 464,784 foreign students, 456,618 technical interns, and 390,296 specified skilled workers.

Against that backdrop, the Ghanaian mission said compliance with immigration rules is essential not only for individual protection but also for safeguarding the broader reputation and welfare of the Ghanaian community in Japan.

Warning Against Overstaying Tourist Visas

The mission cautioned nationals to take seriously Japan’s routine immigration compliance inspections, which monitor adherence to residency regulations and can lead to sanctions or deportation for persons found in violation, regardless of nationality.

Particular concern was raised over cases where some foreign nationals reportedly overstay tourist visas or delay regularizing their status after arrival — a practice the embassy warned could expose individuals to legal consequences under Japan’s strict immigration framework.

“It has been noted that some foreign nationals enter Japan using tourist visas and then remain in the country without regularizing their status. Foreign nationals should regularize their status if they decide to remain in the country,” the mission stated.

Embassy Reaffirms Support for Law-Abiding Residents

The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghanaian nationals in the country while urging all residents to remain law-abiding and fully adhere to Japanese residency and immigration requirements.

For Ghanaians living in or planning to travel to Japan, the key takeaways are clear: carry valid documentation at all times, begin permit renewals at least three months before expiry, and never assume a tourist visa can be extended by simply remaining in the country.

As Japan’s reliance on overseas labour and international talent grows amid demographic decline, immigration enforcement is expected to remain rigorous. The Ghana Embassy’s advisory serves as a timely reminder that compliance with state immigration laws is the surest path to safety and stability for all foreign nationals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump was rushed offstage and evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening after gunshots rang out outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, marking the second assassination attempt against the president in less than two years.

Attendees, including top administration officials, dove under tables as heavily armed Secret Service agents swarmed the dais where Trump had been seated. The president was quickly ushered from the room as scattered shouts of “God bless America” echoed through the ballroom.

The Secret Service confirmed that the shooting occurred at a “screening area” outside the venue. One individual is in custody, and the agency said the condition of those involved is not yet known.

“Law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,” the agency said in a statement.

‘We Could Smell the Powder’

Al Jazeera producer Chris Sheridan, who was inside the ballroom, told reporters he heard what he believed to be five gunshots.

“We could smell the powder. We immediately dove to the ground. It was directly behind me,” Sheridan said, adding that the shots came from just outside the doors to the ballroom entrance.

Despite “airport-level” security inside the ballroom itself, Sheridan noted that anyone with a ticket to the dinner could access the hotel’s lower level where the event was being held.

“You could have gotten down to the lower level, the ballroom level, and been outside,” he said.

Video footage from the venue showed Trump and other attendees taking cover behind their table as people yelled “Get down!” and “Stay down!” Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was seen helping a woman to her feet after she had taken cover under a table. A Secret Service agent was spotted carrying a military-style rifle.

Suspect Identified, Charged

Multiple U.S. media outlets identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. The Secret Service declined to immediately confirm the name, but FBI Director Kash Patel said officers had begun examining the suspect’s background.

“No piece of information is too small; no piece of information is inadequate. We will evaluate it all,” Patel told reporters, urging the public to come forward with any relevant details.

Jeanine Ferris Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said the suspect would face charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers with a dangerous weapon.

Trump, speaking at a brief news conference shortly after being evacuated, said he had “fought like hell to stay” at the dinner but was overruled by security protocol.

“We wanted to stay tonight. I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay… But it was protocol. They said, ‘Please, sir,'” Trump said.

‘I Guess’ I Was the Target

Asked by a reporter whether he believed he was the specific target of the attack, Trump responded: “I guess.”

In a more formal statement, the president addressed the nation, noting that this was not the first time the republic had been attacked by a would-be assassin.

“In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.

He also posted images on Truth Social of the suspect face down on the ground, as well as a surveillance video clip showing a man running past security personnel, who then drew their guns and opened fire.

World Leaders React

International condemnation came swiftly. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum all expressed relief that Trump was unharmed and condemned political violence.

“Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned,” Modi said in a post on X.

Trump has now survived multiple assassination attempts. In July 2024, gunman Thomas Crooks fired eight shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one bystander and wounding the then-candidate’s right ear before being fatally shot by the Secret Service.

A Fractured Press Dinner

Trump, a ferocious critic of journalists who has sued multiple media outlets, had been due to address the annual celebration of press freedom for the first time as president. He pledged Saturday to reschedule the dinner rather than cancel it.

“We’re not going to cancel things out, because we can’t do that,” Trump said. “Today, we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before.”

A number of top administration officials were in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. All were reported to be safe.

The White House Correspondents’ Association did not immediately issue a statement. The investigation is ongoing.

For much of her life, the name Marijuana Pepsi, later Dr. Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck, drew laughter, disbelief, and, at times, outright discrimination.

Today, it carries a title that demands respect: Doctor. Born in Beloit, Wisconsin, Vandyck grew up fielding constant questions and ridicule about her unconventional name, an experience that followed her from childhood classrooms into adulthood.

While many encouraged her to change it to avoid stigma, she chose a different path. She embraced her identity fully, making a bold commitment early in life that she would one day be known as

“Dr. Marijuana Pepsi.” Decades later, that determination has become a powerful symbol of self-definition and perseverance.

Her journey was marked by adversity. Leaving an unstable home as a teenager, Vandyck pushed forward through systemic and personal challenges to pursue higher education. She earned multiple degrees and, at 46, completed a PhD in Higher Education Leadership.

Her groundbreaking research, focused on how “Black-sounding” names influence teacher perceptions and student experiences, was both academic and deeply personal. Drawing from lived realities and professional observations, she highlighted how implicit bias can shape educational outcomes, a topic with relevance far beyond the United States.

Now an educator and advocate, Dr. Vandyck uses her platform to challenge assumptions and encourage individuals worldwide to embrace their identities without compromise. Her message resonates across cultures: names, appearances, or backgrounds that society may question can become sources of strength when owned with confidence.

In lecture halls and public forums, she introduces herself unapologetically, offering a simple alternative only when necessary, “You can call me Dr. Vandyck.”

Her story has struck a global chord, particularly in communities where identity and perception often intersect with opportunity.

From Africa to the diaspora, her experience speaks to broader conversations about dignity, representation, and the power of self-belief.

What began as a name others mocked has evolved into a legacy that inspires, proving that resilience, when paired with purpose, can redefine even the most unlikely narratives.