The Commonwealth is a “model and catalyst for new forms of friendship and cooperation”: Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ousainou Darboe, convened a press briefing in Banjul, the capital, on Friday to mark his country’s return to the Commonwealth.  He described membership in the organisation as an important milestone in the history of The …

Rapid scanning of passports will mean shorter border control queues for travellers at Africa’s second busiest airport, enhancing border crossing experience for millions of visitors. Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, is supplying Cairo International, the second busiest airport in Africa, with automated document readers that will enable faster border crossings for millions of travellers, whilst ensuring rigorous security …

Six African immigrants were injured after a gunman opened fire on them on 3 February in the central Italian city of Macerata in a racially-motivated attack. Of the six known victims, three are from Nigeria, including one woman, while the rest are from Mali, Ghana and the Gambia. A week after the attack, thousands turned out in an anti-fascism demonstration …

DHL Global Forwarding, a leading provider of air, sea and road freight services, has appointed Agnaldo Laice and Maureen Adibuah as Country Managers in Kenya and Nigeria respectively. Both of them are industry veterans who possess strong local market knowledge and have been with DHL for almost two decades – having risen through the ranks in different portfolios. They will …

A Black themed carpet was laid out for the star at the European premiere of “Black Panther” in London on Friday. British Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya was in attendance, saying the film turns Western colonialism on its head. The film is reported to have already broken records – with more pre-sales of tickets than any other Marvel movie. The cast …

Thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators rallied on Saturday in the Italian cities of Rome, Milan, Palermo and Macerata, where six Africans were injured in a drive-by shooting a week ago. Protesters warned against a revival of neo-fascist sentiment during the campaign for next month’s national election with right-wing politicians exploiting the issue of migration to poach for votes.   The 3 …

Amidst the deportation-or-imprisonment policy of the Israeli government, some pilots of national airline El Al are refusing to fly planes that will forcibly expel Eritrean and Sudanese refugees in Israel to third countries. Israeli pilots are taking a stand against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s mission to expel tens of thousands of African migrants from the country, publicly declaring they will …

The popular dancehall singer Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, popularly known as Ebony Reigns, died after her car collided with a bus. She would have been 21 in a week’s time. According to police, the 20-year-old singer and two military officers were on board a Jeep from Sunyani heading towards Kumasi when it collided head-on with a VIP bus heading towards Sunyani from …

The Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup kits have been unveiled by Nike and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Nike is the official kits sponsor of Nigeria’s national teams. The sportswear manufacturer presented the kits to the NFF at a ceremony in London on Wednesday. The Super Eagles’ World Cup jersey was modelled by Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi while Sophia Omidiji …

Girls in underwear pose in squalid rooms of converted shops along the narrow streets of Saint-Josse, near Brussels Gare du Nord. African women sell their bodies for as little as 20 euros. Barely half the rate charged by European prostitutes. Outside in the streets, the rates are even lower; 5 euros for a young Nigerian. A price that shocks even …

The 68th Berlin International Film Festival – Berlinale – kicks off on 15 February in the German capital city. The Berlinale is one of the biggest international film festivals alongside the Cannes and Toronto film festivals. Up to 400 films are shown every year, mostly international or European premieres, and the festival, the world’s second largest audiovisual event, sells more …

Lufthansa has overhauled its livery, changing the background of its iconic century-old logo from yellow to blue. The crane, remains the airline’s iconic symbol, but it has been slimmed down in this incarnation and is surrounded by a thinner ring giving it more space. The German airline officially unveiled its new brand image on Wednesday (7 February) at company events …

The Gambia was readmitted to The Commonwealth on Thursday, welcomed back into the fold after its sudden pullout in 2013. Former President Yahya Jammeh dramatically withdrew the West African nation in October 2013, branding the group an “extension of colonialism”. President Adama Barrow began the readmission process in February last year. Barrow’s formal application last month for The Gambia to …

After protracted talks, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc reached a deal for a new coalition government with the centre-left Social Democrats on Wednesday. If approved by the SPD’s 460,000 members, the deal would end Germany’s longest period without a government since the Second World War. Here are the key points agreed in the draft coalition contract: Health insurance The …

The conservatives and Social Democrats have finally managed to settle on a coalition agreement 136 days after the federal election. Negotiators from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU); their Bavarian partners, the Christian Social Union (CSU); and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) have finally hashed out a contract for a new grand coalition government — probably ensuring that Angela Merkel …

Israel has started issuing deportation orders to African migrants, giving them 60 days to return to their home countries or opt for an unnamed safe haven. Those failing to meet the deadline risk being sent to prison. Israel’s Population, Immigration and Border Authority delivered the first batch of notices Sunday, telling migrants they have to leave before 1 April. The …

Arab refugees and Germans carrying pro-immigrant and anti-fascism placards marched in Cottbus on Saturday to denounce what they say are attempts by far-right groups to stoke tension in the eastern city after two knife attacks by Syrian teenagers. The group of around 600 demonstrators in the German city of Cottbus calling for acceptance and open-mindedness were upstaged and outnumbered by …

With average temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, Nigeria is anything but a suitable country for winter sports. Nevertheless, Nigeria will be represented at the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang , South Korea (9-25 February) It is thanks to the bobsled Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, who met the Olympic standard of five finishes at official bobsled races …

Morocco is the new African Champion. The Moroccan national team of local players crushed Nigeria 4-0 in the final match of the African Nations Championship, which took place on Sunday night in Casablanca’s Mohammed V stadium. Morocco made history in the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament when they won the fifth edition. The Atlas Lions are the first nation …

At least six African immigrants were injured after an Italian gunman opened fire on them on Saturday in the city of Macerata in a racially-motivated attack, according to police. At least one is said to be in a serious condition. The gunman has been named as Luca Traini who had stood as a candidate for the anti-immigrant Northern League, which …