The World Anti-Doping Agency on Monday banned Russia from global sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after accusing Moscow of falsifying data from an anti-doping laboratory. “The full list of recommendations have been unanimously accepted,” said WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald, speaking at a meeting of the body’s executive committee in Lausanne. “WADA’s executive …

Major victory over housing discrimination in Germany as court fines a landlord for refusing to let his apartment to an African. It’s symbolic that the verdict was delivered on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day. A court has ruled that it’s illegal for a landlord or landlady to refuse to rent a flat to a would-be tenant on account …

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday (10 December). Abiy described the award as “a source of great pride and inspiration for Ethiopia and the broader region”, assuring that it would give a significant boost to his “commitment to the twin goals of development in Ethiopia and the entire …

The Embassy of Nigerian in Germany has denied issuing travel documents indiscriminately for the deportation of failed Nigerian asylum-seekers from the country. Alhaji Mohammed Bello Musa Anka, Minister for Consular & Immigration, explained that before an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) is issued the recipient must have been interviewed by officials of the embassy to ascertain that they’re indeed Nigerians and …

South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019 on Sunday night. The 26-year-old beauty queen beat 89 other contestants to be crowned the new Miss Universe during the pageant held at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson was the first runner up and Miss Mexico Sofia Aragon was the second runner-up. The final …

While speaking at the opening of the People of African Descent (PAD) Week Germany on 28 November in the Bundestag, Goran Buldioski, co-director of Open Society Initiative for Europe, called for more data on the experience of Black people, including on racism and discrimination. That is precisely the objective of a unique project, presented at one of the workshops on the …

Every fifth person of working age has a migration background in Germany. But they only make up six per cent of the employees in the civil service. This was revealed by a recent study. Experts call for intercultural opening of public administration. Citizens with foreign origin are severely under-represented in the civil service (öffentlichen Dienst). This is the conclusion of …

While his fans worldwide rejoice over his thrashing of Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday to reclaim his three championship belts, Anthony Joshua has tweeted what his victory’s lesson is. “My hope is that someone sees my page and decides not to give up. Clean hearts win,” the British-Nigerian boxer tweeted on Sunday. AJ, as he’s fondly called by his fans, …

The re-arrest of rights activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore right inside a courtroom in session on Friday (6 December) in Abuja has confronted Nigerians with a sad reality. It’s the reality that after the spectacular peaceful change of political power in Nigeria in 2015 through an election, the first time in the nation’s history, democracy has suffered a serious setback …

Renowned German evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke has died at the age of 79. Principally known throughout Africa where he drew huge crowds over decades of preaching the gospel, Bonnke passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, December 7. The announcement of his demise was published on his Facebook page by his wife Anni Bonnke. The family lives in the …

Edo State Commissioner of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Monday Osaigbovo, recently paid a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, HE Alhaji Maitama Tuggar, in his office in Berlin. Mr Osaigbovo was accompanied on the visit by Barrister Efosa Ogieriakhi, president of Edo in Diaspora Worldwide, Mr Austin Imade, Director of Edo Cultural Festival Germany, and several other …

Thousands of asylum-seekers in Germany have returned multiple times after deportation, according to a report in the German media. Those with entry bans often serve a few months in jail or are not arrested at all.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia will host what is regarded as one of the biggest sporting events to ever be staged in the Middle East, the highly-anticipated Heavyweight World Championship fight dubbed ‘Clash on the Dunes’. The hype before the bout has reached crescendo level. Anthony Joshua said at a joint pre-fight press conference on Wednesday he would not celebrate if …

Germany urgently needs skilled workers for the health care sector. Recruitment from abroad has been slow. A newly-established specialist agency should speed up the recruitment process. A newly-established specialist agency should accelerate the placement of nurses from abroad in Germany’s care and nursing facilities. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn and Saarland’s Premier Tobias Hans (both members of the CDU) inaugurated …

In the largest survey of its kind, The Africa List Business Barometer reveals a high degree of confidence in the business environment across Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, despite ongoing challenges London, 04 December 2019: A survey of over 350 business leaders across five of some of Africa’s fastest growing economies reveals a high degree of optimism …

Two of Africa’s media powerhouses and both former CNN anchors, Zain Verjee and Isha Sesay, launched their new venture named Rouse last month in Marrakech, Morocco. With the full support and partnership with the Republic of Togo, Verjee (who is Kenyan) and Sesay (from Sierra Leone) put together a gathering at the Jnane Tamsna Boutique Hotel.   Rouse curated group …

Germany’s long-delayed Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is set to finally be operational on October 31, 2020, nine years after it was supposed to open, reports Elizabeth Schumacher. Berlin’s long-delayed airport has a new opening date, operators announced on Friday (28 November), following a series of scandals involving corruption and shoddy design. The problem-plagued project has become something of a laughing stock …

A few new laws and regulations come into force in Germany in December 2019. Some of the important changes affect Hartz IV recipients, fireworks, railway time-table and highway tolls for travellers to Austria. ………… More money for Hartz IV recipients  Starting from next year, the standard rates for Unemployment Benefit II – better known as Hartz IV – will be …

No less than N1.3 trillion ($4.3 billion or €3.8 billion) was spent by the Nigeria on the importation of rice, fish, sugar and wheat in the last 12 months, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Tuesday. The bank’s Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Edward Lametek, spoke at a seminar organised for Finance reporters in Owerri, Imo State. Speaking on …

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned, what it described as “renewed attacks on Nigerian traders” in Ghana, describing it as unnecessary. A bloody clash between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders occurred at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra on Monday morning. Three persons, according to the Ghanaian police, were injured during the clash, following the forcible closure of shops belonging …