LIVING IN GERMANY

The term “race” will remain in the Basic Law for the time being. The plan to delete the controversial word from the German constitution is being blocked by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) announced in Berlin on Monday. Contrary to initial plans, the federal cabinet should have approved the deletion on Wednesday, but it was …

A German privacy regulator banned Facebook on Tuesday from gathering data on WhatsApp users, citing an update to its privacy policy that breaches EU data protection rules by allowing access to a lot more information on the messenger app’s users. The Hamburg data protection officer (Landesdatenschutzbeauftragter), Johannes Caspar, wants to ensure by order that no data from the chat service …

An alliance of humanitarian and rights organisations are calling for the abrogation of the legal obligation to report people without residency status who seek medical care —– Almost 50 organisations and associations are demanding the abolition of the legal obligation to report people without regular residence status who seek medical care. Going to the doctor without fear is not possible …

As from Sunday, the Corona restrictions for fully vaccinated and recovered people will be relaxed. After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat has also approved the new regulation. Here’s an overview of the new regulation. ——— The Bundesrat, the upper house of the federal parliament, on Friday approved a new regulation of the Federal Government that contains relaxations of protective measures against …

Easier child access to German citizenship has been floated by integration ministers of Germany’s 16 states. But the idea is likely to face opposition from federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. Children born to foreigners living in Germany should be granted faster access by law to German citizenship, integration ministers from Germany’s 16 states have urged in a majority appeal Meeting …

Like at the beginning of every month, new legal changes enter into effect in May 2021. Among these are a one-time supplement to the child benefit, more protection for minors online, increased wages for painters, new labelling rules for tyres and new terms and conditions for WhatsApp users. Femi Awoniyi reports ——— 150-euro extra child bonus The disruptions of normal …

The so-called rent cap has been in force in Berlin for more than a year. Now the Federal Constitutional Court Bundesverfassungsgericht has overturned the controversial law causing apprehensions for tenants in Germany’s biggest city The Federal Constitutional Court has declared Berlin’s rent cap null and void. According to the decision of the Karlsruhe-based highest court on constitutional matters, Berlin was …

The federal government says “emergency brake” measures to combat rising case numbers are to be legally mandated in all federal states, replacing a patchwork system. The change must now be passed by parliament. On Tuesday, Cabinet members approved legal changes to grant the federal government more power to enforce coronavirus regulations in German states. The changes to the German Infection Protection Act must …

Most people carry their identity card (Personalausweis) in their wallet at all times. After all, it is an identity document that must be shown both when demanded by the police and when collecting items from the post office or making payments by credit card. But does this also mean that you must always carry the ID with you? In Germany, …

Integration Senator Breitenbach wants people with a migration background to be better represented in the civil service. She proposes a migrant quota of 35 per cent in public administration. ———- Berlin’s Integration Senator Elke Breitenbach, a member of the Left party, wants more people with a migration background to work in the civil service. A new draft law provides for …

ZDF will broadcast the new documentary film König Bansah und seine Tochter (King Bansah and his daughter) on 29 March. The film takes viewers to Ludwigshafen, where Togbui Ngoryifia Kosi Olatidoye Céphas Bansah lives and runs a car repair workshop, and on a journey to Africa, where he’s a chief who is active in the development of his community. König …

A coronavirus test for air travellers before returning to Germany by plane became mandatory on 29 March. “Testing prior to departure will reduce the likelihood that infected persons will travel and infect others during the flight or cause an additional entry of SARS-CoV-2 infections into Germany,” the federal ministry of health had announced. Previously, only travellers from high-risk areas were …

Chancellor Angela Merkel and state and civic leaders have finalised a plan to improve the integration of immigrants into society, the education system and the job market. It outlines a road map for the coming decade. Kathleen Schuster/DW reports Getting a job might have been once been considered enough to be successfully integrated into society as a foreigner. For Germany, …

Follow the rules, work with us, His Excellency Thomas Amolo appeals to Kenyans in Germany The African Courier interviewed Kenya’s new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany, His Excellency Thomas Boniface Amolo, after he presented his Letter of Credence to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Thursday, 11 March. In the exclusive chat, Ambassador Amolo, who is also concurrently accredited …

Germany’s population of African descent is estimated at over a million. A big community which needs to communicate with itself as well as with others. Sam Atsu Nove, who died on 9 March 2020, was the pioneer networker of the Black community in Germany.His observation of the difficulties of Africans navigating their community challenged the communications specialist to publish the …

His Excellency Thomas Boniface Amolo of Kenya has presented his Letter of Credence to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking the beginning of his ambassadorship in Germany. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Iris Matlhodi Kekana-Amolo, Ambassador Amolo handed over his credentials at a ceremony which took place at the Schloss Bellevue, the seat of the German presidency, on Thursday (11 March). …

Afro German Academic Network (ADAN e.V.) and Zalando enter into long-term partnership to promote careers of Black and People of Color (BPoC) in Germany.New virtual format and first ADAN-Zalando scholarship for BPoC to further increase Zalando’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity and recruit more diverse talentsDigital kick-off event on March 24, 2021 FRANKFURT/BERLIN, MARCH 5, 2021 PRESS STATEMENT – // …

The German interior minister, Horst Seehofer, sees a demand for improvement in the storage of data relating to foreigners in Germany. He has proposed recording all data in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals, which all federal states would be able to access. Benjamin Bathke reports Asylum decisions, scanned IDs and other documents belonging to foreigners who live in Germany …

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Premiers of the 16 federal states decided on Wednesday (3 March) to extend the shutdown until 28 March. In the same breadth, a plan for the easing of the restrictions was announced. “The daily reporting figures show that the efforts of the last few months have paid off and lower incidences have been achieved. This …

Like at the beginning of every month, new legal changes enter into effect in March 2021.These affect, for example, energy labels for refrigerators, televisions or washing machines. Also, summer time starts soon and parents urgently need to pay attention to the deadline for applying for Baukindergeld. Moreover, the lockdown regulations will be relaxed. Here’s an overview of the important legal …