Journalists in the European Union and Switzerland can enter a contest on migration, integration, diversity and democratic culture. The CIVIS Media Foundation is looking for the best programmes focusing on the issues of migration, integration and cultural diversity in Europe Radio, film, television and online stories are eligible for the CIVIS Media Prize. The categories are the CIVIS Top Award, …
Read More »awoniyi270514
Applications Open for ‘FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30’ for 2020
FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join its Under 30 community for 2020. JOHANNESBURG, 07 January 2020: Attention entrepreneurs, creatives, sport stars and technology geeks — the 2020 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 nominations are now officially open. The FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 …
Read More »Berlin hip-hop star collaborates with Nigerian artists
Solarrio is a notable name in the thriving Berlin’s hip-hop scene. His biography already marks him out, being the son of a world-famous conductor and, of course, his music, which brings together all of the influences he’s been exposed to as a global citizen, having lived in France, US and Germany. The hip-hop artist, whose musical styles and influences range …
Read More »The world’s 10 most powerful passports for 2020 – new report
The annual Henley Passport Index has just been released. It ranks passports according to the number of countries their holders can travel to visa-free. The latest ranking named Japan as the country with the most powerful passport in the world followed by Singapore while Germany and South Korea tie for third place Holders of the Japanese passport can travel visa-free …
Read More »Protesters demand justice for Oury Jalloh, 15 years on
Hundreds of protesters turned out in Dessau on Tuesday to commemorate the death of Oury Jalloh in the city fifteen years ago. The Sierra Leonean burnt to death mysteriously in police custody in the eastern German city on 7 January 2005 and until today, the circumstances of his death have not been fully cleared despite a sustained campaign for justice …
Read More »N-Word: Germany’s Black community to protest against court decision allowing use of racist word
Members of the Black community in Germany will hit the streets of Cologne on Saturday, 18 January to register their protest against the controversial decision of a court that describing people of African descent as “neger” is not necessarily derogatory. The state constitutional court of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) had ruled on 19 December that sanctioning the leader of the AfD …
Read More »Akon signs deal for the construction of futuristic city in Senegal
Senegalese-American artist and businessman Alioune Badara Thiam alias Akon has signed an agreement with the Senegalese government for the construction of a “futuristic city” in Mbodiene, near Mbour. The “Dakar Sustainable City” project, a technological marvel of a city that will run on futuristic tech such as cryptocurrency and renewable energy, is to support tourism in Senegal by attracting visitors …
Read More »Sadio Mane crowned King of African Football
The Senegalese has finished in the award's top three for the last three years, and has long targeted the prize in order to emulate the achievement of one of his heroes, former Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf, who won it in 2002.
Read More »Libya: Why African Union should be concerned about Turkey’s troop deployment
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Sunday (5 January) that Turkey had started the deployment of troops to Libya, after the country’s parliament gave its approval. Ankara is sending its soldiers to Libya to support the UN-backed Government of National Accord which is battling the troops of rebel general Khalifa Haftar for the control of the country. Since his coup …
Read More »What Africa can learn from religious tolerance in the UAE
A video clip, showing religious tolerance in Muslim-dominated United Arab Emirates, trended on social media at the festive season. Prof Jason Osai* contrasts the powerful images of the video with his experience growing up in the Nigeria of the 1950s and he explains why religious divisionism has become a powerful source of dichotomy and conflicts in many parts of Africa …
Read More »Year of Return is big win for Ghana – President Akufo Addo
When Ghana declared 2019 the Year of Return, marking the 400th year that the first slave ship arrived in America with African captives, it expected a positive response. However, the resonance of the initiative has far surpassed the country’s expectations as thousands of African-Americans, including celebrities, have made the pilgrimage to Ghana bringing various benefits to the country. Our correspondent …
Read More »Orange, GIZ partner to impart digital skills on 20,000 youths in Africa
Orange and GIZ as two major institutions - one recognized for its expertise and know-how in the field of innovation, the other recognized by its experience and expertise in supporting the economic and social development of partner countries - will work hand in hand to train young people in digital skills, improve their employability and thus help reduce unemployment.
Read More »Tailor-made for Africa ride sharing platform launches in South Africa
Afri Ride, a secure ride sharing mobile app with tailor-made solutions for the African travelling community, is now available in South Africa, and will be expanding into other African markets in the near future. Joe Moyo, managing director at the ride sharing app, describes the app as incredibly simple to use. “All that users have to do is, to upload …
Read More »Enugu Airport: Aviation Minister announces Reopening Date
Minister Hadi Sirika further stated that apart from the runway and terminal building, where work is also ongoing, critical equipment such as Instrument Landing Systems ( ILS), Air Field Lighting (AFL), approach lights, taxi lights, aerodrome markings and other facilities would be completed before the reopening date.
Read More »Why Lufthansa dropped dramatically on global aviation safety ranking
The safest airline in the world in 2019 was Emirates, according to the latest edition of the JACDEC Safety Index. With a risk index of 95.48 percent, it ended up only slightly ahead of another gulf airline, Etihad Airways (95.21 percent). Third place finisher was Spain’s Air Europa. This was the result of the annual safety ranking conducted by the …
Read More »Berlin’s new State Office for Immigration takes off
The Berlin Ausländerbehörde (Berlin Foreigners’ Registration Office) became the Landesamt für Einwanderung (“State Office for Immigration”) on 1 January 2020. Berlin became the first German state to establish an independent agency for immigrants in anticipation of the new Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Labour Immigration Act), which goes into effect in March. For the director of the State Office for Immigration, the new …
Read More »German Chancellor’s New Year Message: ‘Dedicating all my strength’
The German chancellor struck an encouraging tone in what is likely to be one of her last New Year’s addresses. Merkel addressed the challenges of the climate crisis, digitalization and migration. The climate crisis, the digitalization of the labour market, and European solidarity on migration formed the main themes of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s traditional New Year’s address, broadcast on Tuesday evening. But …
Read More »New laws and regulations in Germany from January 2020
Numerous new laws and regulations take effect in Germany from 1 January 2020. These include a minimum stipend for job trainees, reduced VAT for train tickets and hygiene products for women, increases in welfare benefits, tax relief for families as well as new opportunities for the regularisation of the residency status of tolerated asylum-seekers. ———— Doctor’s appointments round the clock …
Read More »Brussels Airlines launches new Premium Economy Class to sub-Saharan destinations
Brussels Airlines gradually introduces its brand new Premium Economy class on its African routes. With 84 weekly flights and 17 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, the African continent remains Brussels Airlines’ most important market. Improved offer on African routes In 2019, the Belgian carrier announced the retrofitting of its fleet with the concept of a Boutique Hotel above the clouds. On …
Read More »Controversies over drowning of three members of UK-based Nigerian family in Spain
The news of the drowning of three members of a British-Nigerian family holidaying in southern Spain on Christmas eve hit the British press during the festive period. What was initially thought to be an unfortunate accident could also be a case of criminal negligence on the part of the hotel management, according to new reports on the tragic incident. Gabriel …
Read More »
THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.