Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Government of Ethiopia have received a consignment of medical equipment for distribution to African countries for their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The donated consignment includes 1.5 million testing kits, 6 million medical masks and 60,000 protective suits to be distributed throughout Africa. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 23, 2020/ — Africa’s …

Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango is dead. The family of the Cameroonian singer and saxophonist announced his death at 86 of the new coronavirus on his Facebook page on Tuesday (24 March). “It is with deep sadness that we announce to you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,” a statement on his official Facebook page read. Dibango’s agent Thierry …

The African Network of Germany (TANG), a network of more than 700 African associations and individual members in Germany, is currently carrying out a campaign to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to Africans living in the country. Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of TANG, said the organisation launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign as its contribution to national efforts …

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “infodemic”. Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet, social media and instant messaging. These messages may contain useless, incorrect or even harmful information and advice, which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder and division. Confusingly some fake …

Restrictions on everyday life in Germany have again been tightened significantly as the federal government announced a new set of nationwide measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease. The chancellor and the prime ministers of the 16 federal states agreed on the new package of measures at a conference call on Sunday and it includes new regulations on …

Germany’s state and federal leaders are yet to decide on whether to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Bavaria has introduced drastic measures of its own, but other states have also edged closer to curfews. Several German states are imposing drastic lockdown measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The federal government has still stopped short declaring a state …

This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to reach 2 billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into the hands of the people that need it GENEVA, Switzerland, March 21, 2020/ — Today, WHO is launching a messaging service with partners WhatsApp and Facebook to keep people safe from coronavirus. This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to …

Due to travel restrictions as a result of the global outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19, Brussels Airlines has suspended its flights. According to a press statement by the airline’s CEO, Dieter Vranckx, the Belgian carrier will suspend its operations from 21 March until 19 April. “All passengers with a ticket booked before or on 31 March (with flights until …

The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation today announced the publication and distribution of a handbook detailing learnings and best practices from the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, for treating Covid-19 patients. Written by doctors and nurses who were on the front line of the pandemic, the 28-chapter handbook is a comprehensive knowledge-sharing resource for other hospitals …

The Embassy of Nigeria in Berlin has announced the indefinite suspension of its consular services due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. A statement, titled URGENT PUBLIC NOTICE, published on the website of the embassy reads, “This is to inform the general public that in consideration of the potential health hazard that the novel coronavirus may pose to the staff of …

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world, causing mass disruptions to daily life – rattling markets, suspending travel plans, cancelling sports and music events, the disease is instigating a reappraisal of life as we know it. Our contributing editor and medical doctor at the Berlin Charité hospital, Michael Nnaji, writes on important lessons to be drawn from the crisis. …

To prevent a widespread infection of their populations, African countries are increasingly imposing travel restrictions to keep out people from countries that have a high number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Nigeria is the latest country to take the drastic step of imposing entry bans as part drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus in the country. “The Federal …

The African Network of Germany (TANG), a network of more than 700 African associations and individual members in Germany, has started a campaign to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to Africans living in the country. Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of TANG, said the organisation launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign as its contribution to national efforts to contain …

The Embassy of Ghana in Berlin has suspended all activities in its consular section for the next 14 days because of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. According to a statement issued by the Embassy on Tuesday, the suspension commences on 18 March. Full consular services are expected to be resumed on 1 April. The Nigerian and Ugandan embassies in Berlin …

Afrolynk is an Impact Venture that supports innovation, connects and accelerates, together with start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, SMEs, cooperation and organizations that are connected to the EU-African market. As part of the Accelerate pillar of the operations, it has partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to carry out the WIDU project in Ghana. The WIDU Platform is …

Euro 2020 has been postponed until 2021 because of the ongoing global coronavirus outbreak. UEFA, European football’s governing body, made the decision at an emergency meeting on Tuesday. The football tournament had been due to kick off in Rome, Italy, on June 12 and was to be played in 12 different host cities across the continent. The 24-team European Championship, …

The Uganda Embassy in Berlin has announced that it is henceforth closed to the public until the 1 April. However, the Embassy will be reachable by phone during the shutdown. The decision was taken due to the ongoing corona crisis to protect the Embassy’s staff and visitors.  The Embassy said in the statement: “The Uganda Embassy in Berlin will remain closed to …

The federal and state governments have adopted several drastic measures to slow down the increasing infection rate of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country. The measures order unprecedented restrictions on public life in the country. In a national TV address on Monday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the federal government and the governments of the 16 federal states have agreed to …

Our contributing editor Alexander Macbeth writes on how the Ghanaian novelist focuses on the experience of women from their perspective, exposing how male authors have long neglected the true desires and challenges of the continent’s women. Amma Darko’s tales of wise grandmothers, resilient daughters and strong-willed victims, often caught in difficult circumstances, have made her a favourite on both sides …

To mark the European Action Week against Racism (16-29 March), civil society groups, educational institutions and city governments are carrying out activities to protest against racism and celebrate the diversity that enriches European societies. To commemorate the week, our contributing editor Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner, writing from Vienna, narrates a story that will make you laugh and then feel pity for racists. …