The Berlin Senate (government) has approved changes to the corona containment measures introduced in March, easing some of them while introducing new ones. On Tuesday (21 April), the Berlin Senate passed amendments to the regulation to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2). Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) said he was proud of how responsibly Berlin residents had observed …

Nearly half of the roughly 600 people at a refugee camp in Germany have tested positive for the new coronavirus (Covid-19). The number of cases among residents of the country’s initial reception facility (Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung or LEA) in the town of Ellwangen, which has been under quarantine, increased from seven to 251 within two weeks. The town is situated in Baden-Wurttemberg, …

Can African writers in the Diaspora simply be writers who write as they are inspired without checking if they are stepping beyond boundaries? Should writers have any geographical or ethnic boundaries at all?  These are questions that African writers, who seemingly have to fulfil the conventional expectations of readers on what they’re supposed to write about, are confronted with. Using …

There is an ongoing innovative project, sponsored by the German government, to promote micro and small businesses in Africa. WIDU, an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the development agency GIZ, leverages diaspora remittances for the creation of jobs and better economic prospects in Africa. It’s currently being implemented in Ghana and …

  A Nigerian Roman Catholic priest has been forced to give up his parish in Germany after a series of racist acts including death threats. Father Dr. Patrick Asomugha will step down from his parish in Queidersbach, a town of some 3,000 inhabitants in the western state of Rhineland Palatinate, on Monday (20 April) after “massive” intimidation against him, said …

Four decades after liberation from British rule and following many years of Robert Mugabe’s repression, a growing number of Zimbabweans don’t believe they have much to celebrate. For many, it’s a conflict of generations. A special report on Zimbabwe at 40 by Privilege Musvanhiri of DW from Harare Tens of thousands of people traditionally flock to independence day festivities around …

Saudi Arabia’s top Islamic authority has called on Muslims around the world to perform prayers at home during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Ramadan, marked by intense worshipping, begins on 24 April, but most Muslim countries have shut down mosques in an effort to contain the illness. A feature of the …

Political leaders for obvious reasons are not trusted by the people to act in their best interest in Nigeria like in most of Africa. The state that the people hold responsible for their problems will hardly be trusted when it says it’s acting to save the same people from an invisible enemy like the coronavirus.

The Embassy of Uganda in Berlin, which is responsible for Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, The Vatican, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, has announced the commencement of the registration of Ugandans stranded in the countries of accreditation. Below is the official announcement by the Embassy: ——— REGISTRATION OF UGANDANS STRANDED IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND, HUNGARY, THE …

The global Ghanaian diaspora community held a conference call on the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Saturday, 11 April to deliberate on how to support their members. Attended by representatives of Ghanaian communities in Europe, North America and Africa, the event featured a panel of Europe-based Ghanaian medical doctors – Dr Felix Yamoah, Dr Serwa Ayi, Dr Pearl Quartey and …

A very powerful member of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has died. The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, died on Friday, more than two weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr Femi Adesina, on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday, said Kyari …

An urgent appeal has been made to Nigerians living abroad to help their people at home due to the social hardship caused by government measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the country. The appeal was made on Thursday by Monday Ijeh, a journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, and Blessing Ehiwario Samuel, who works at the ECOWAS headquarters, …

Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of The African Network of Germany (TANG), has called on Africans in the country to continue their strict observance of the coronavirus containment measures in force in the country. By doing so, they would not only protect themselves and their families, but also others. She made the call on Thursday during the 5th video conference of …

Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced updated measures, some of which will remain in place “until further notice.” But what exactly is changing for residents of Germany — and what did Germany’s many state leaders want? German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday announced the next phase of the country’s plan to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus and its resulting …

The maltreatment of African residents in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou last week is poisoning popular attitude to the Chinese not only across Africa, but also in the global African diaspora. Even though Beijing has denied any racism in the coronavirus-related incident and has pledged to improve its treatment of Africans in the country, the anger of Africans is …

TANG, a network of hundreds of African organisations and individual members in Germany, is inviting African entrepreneurs in the country to a video conference on how to access government support within the framework of the social protection package introduced in response to the corona crisis. The organisation provides information on the relief package and how African business people can apply …

Representatives of Ghanaian communities – from Italy, USA, Spain, Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Japan and Ireland, took part at a meeting by conference call on Saturday (11 April) to discuss possible sustainable measures to adopt in dealing with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) within their respective communities. Below is the official report issued by …

Professor Jason Osai* of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, writes on the biblical Psalm 23 and why he holds that this “covenant between God and man” is often misinterpreted and misunderstood by Christians. He identifies the “fundamental determinant of the utility, efficacy and functionality” of the two-party pact and how to make the Psalm work for humanity. In …

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called efforts to curb coronavirus a “test of our humanity”. It is the first time a German president formally addressed the nation on television other than at Christmas. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on the nation to show patience, discipline and solidarity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, in a rare televised address aired …

Anyone who is in Germany with an expired Schengen visa does not have to fear any punishment for the time being, the German press agency dpa has reported. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer issued on Friday a corresponding administrative directive, allowing such visa overstayers to remain in the country until 30 June. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is responding …