Border checks between Schengen countries should be limited to a maximum of one year, instead of the current two-year period, the European Parliament said in a draft law on Thursday (29 November). Worried by member states that have introduced internal border checks within the Schengen area, the European Parliament (MEPs) decided on Thursday on new rules governing the use of …

The UN cultural agency has recognised reggae as an intangible cultural heritage worth protecting for its “contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual”. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognised reggae music as a cultural treasure …

Femi Awoniyi concludes his 3-part report on the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe, which held in Vienna, Austria, on 8-10 November. The third and final day of the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), chaired by Ambassador Vivian Okeke, Nigeria’s envoy to Austria, featured discussions on the challenges before the …

It was a special moment for international environmental protection on Wednesday when the President of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Dr Wolfgang Schäuble, presented the German Africa Prize 2018 to conservationists Clovis Razafimalala from Madagascar and Gerald Bigurube from Tanzania. Ecological and economic development must go hand in hand, Schäuble at the ceremony, attended by over 300 guests from the worlds …

The Italian parliament has passed into law a tough anti-migrant and security bill designed to make it easier to deport migrants and restrict residency permits. The controversial bill, which makes it easier to expel migrants and limits residency permits, was passed in the lower house of parliament with 396 in favour to 99 against on Wednesday (28 November). “I’m happy, …

Immigrants in Germany are better integrated than was the case a decade ago, researchers have found. While most German residents with foreign roots have become part of society, a small group feels like they don’t belong. Most immigrants in Germany view integration as important but also wish to maintain their own culture, according to a new study from the VHW, …

Leaders of the European Union gathered in Brussels have endorsed an agreement on Britain’s departure from the 28-nation bloc. But British PM Theresa May still needs to get the deal approved by the UK parliament. Leaders of 27 European Union nations on Sunday endorsed an agreement detailing the terms and conditions on which Britain will leave the bloc on March …

Liberian activist and former Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Leymah Gbowee, has been awarded the 2018 Bonn International Democracy Prize. She was announced winner in mid-October 2018 but the award ceremony took place on 16 November. The award goes with a 10,000 euro cash prize. The latest award is for her continuous fight for the rights of Liberians and championing women …

Côte d’Ivoire and Chelsea great striker Didier Drogba has formally announced his retirement from football after a 20-year career. The 40-year-old scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for Chelsea, winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League, while he is also Côte d’Ivoire’s all-time record goalscorer with 65. Drogba spent the last 18 months of …

The Migration Enlightenment Project Nigeria (MEPN) has called on the Nigerian government to “significantly increase consular support” to Nigerian irregular migrants in the transit and destination countries. The Germany-based group made the call in a press statement, released on Monday 26 November, arguing that stranded migrants, especially in transit, are left totally at the mercy of the very traffickers who …

Last year, about 38,000 migrants from third countries received a residence permit in Germany because of their work experience and skills. Compared to 2009, it’s an increase of more than 50 percent. Most came from India, Bosnia-Herzegovina, USA, Serbia and China. The immigration of skilled workers from non-EU countries to Germany is increasing. Last year, more than twice as many …

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will deliver a keynote address at the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), which holds in Abuja on 27-29 November. The three-day summit, themed “Activating Diaspora Investment for a Diversified Economy” and holding in the Banquet Hall of the State House, Aso Villa, is to provide a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in the …

Friedrich Merz, a candidate for the leadership of Germany’s biggest party – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has said that Germany is the only country in the world to guarantee the right to asylum in its Constitution. He’s called for a debate on the issue. But is Merz actually correct? Ahmad Wali Achakzai reports. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced …

Germany’s Interior Ministry has proposed new measures to monitor and deport persons whose asylum application has been rejected.  The German Interior Ministry on Sunday (18 November) confirmed plans to facilitate and accelerate deportations of failed asylum-seekers along with those who should have their asylum requests processed in another EU country under the so-called Dublin rules. According to the European Union’s Dublin …

Femi Awoniyi continues his report on the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe, which held in Vienna, Austria, on 8-10 November, bringing together Nigerians from across Europe and Nigeria to discuss topical issues affecting their home country. The second of the 3-day annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), with the theme …

Nigeria’s campaign season was officially flagged off on Sunday by the country’s election commission and the two leading candidates for the presidential polls wasted no time to present their plans to the electorate. President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday asked Nigerians to re-elect him in 2019, primarily to keep fighting the corruption war his administration started in 2015. He also stated …

On Saturday, 17 November, the Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti and his Positive Force band performed at the Young African Art Market (YAAM) in East Berlin. Our Contributing Editor, Michael Nnaji witnessed the event and reports on the high and low points of the memory night. Femi Kuti and his Positive Force band raised the temperature of the Berlin audience on …

People from Germany’s list of “safe” countries rarely have the right to asylum. Keith Walker and Timothy Jones of Deutsche Welle look at what the list means for asylum-seekers in Germany. Germany’s constitution defines as “safe countries of origin” the ones “in which, on the basis of their laws, enforcement practices and general political conditions, it can be safely concluded …

For the second year, associations, individuals and companies who sustainably support the African community in Germany or implement aid projects in Africa from Germany have been honoured by MoneyGram, the world’s second largest provider of international money transfer services. The winners of the second edition of the afrika!Community Award, sponsored by MoneyGram, were presented with cheques to support their activities …

Femi Awoniyi, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The African Courier magazine, writes on the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe which took place on 8-10 November in Vienna, Austria. The general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) takes place once in a year and it brings together Nigerians from different walks of life, from across Europe. …