News

Swiss voters have rejected a controversial proposal to cap the country’s population at 10 million people, delivering a setback to anti-immigration campaigners and reaffirming Switzerland’s reliance on migration to support its economy and labour market. In a nationwide referendum held on 14 June, about 55 percent of voters opposed the initiative, while 45 percent supported it. The proposal, championed by …

The European Parliament has approved a sweeping overhaul of the EU’s return and deportation system, paving the way for the establishment of deportation centres in non-EU countries and granting member states broader powers to enforce removals. The legislation was adopted on 17 June 2026 in Strasbourg by 418 votes to 218, with 30 abstentions, following a provisional agreement reached between …

Jolloful Foods GmbH is on a mission to make African cuisine more accessible across Europe through a range of ready-to-eat meals inspired by traditional recipes from the continent. Its name draws inspiration from jollof rice – one of Africa’s most cherished dishes, famous not only for its distinctive blend of rice, tomatoes and spices, but also for the friendly cross-border …

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has already broken new ground for African football. For the first time, a record 10 African nations are competing in the tournament, raising hopes that the continent could finally produce a World Cup finalist – or even a champion. The expanded 48-team format has allowed Africa …

Nigeria and the European Union are set to strengthen their longstanding economic partnership as policymakers, investors and business leaders gather in Lagos for the 10th Nigeria–EU Business Forum on 25 June. The landmark event reflects growing efforts by both sides to transform diplomatic relations into concrete business opportunities and sustainable investments. Organised under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the forum …

New UNHCR figures released ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June show a four percent drop in global displacement in 2025 — the first reduction in ten years. The data offers a moment of cautious optimism, but rights groups warn that the numbers mask deepening long-term crises and deteriorating conditions across Europe. For the first time in ten years, …

Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s largest source of international students and now ranks as the world’s third-largest sender of students abroad, according to UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report, released on 12 May 2026. The report found that Nigerian students accounted for 5% of global outbound student mobility in 2023, placing the country behind only China and India, and …

In a landmark ruling issued on 4 June 2026, the European Court of Justice has found that Germany’s practice of cutting basic benefits for rejected asylum-seekers violates EU law, a verdict hailed by refugee advocates, but one whose impact may prove short-lived as sweeping new migration rules take effect just eight days later.____________ The case originated with an Afghan national, …

The European Union’s landmark Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into force on 12 June 2026, ushering in the most comprehensive reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) in decades. Designed to address longstanding weaknesses exposed during previous migration crises, the pact consists of ten interlinked legislative acts that reshape how the EU manages migration and processes asylum claims. …

The United Nations General Assembly has elected Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 2027. The five countries were elected on 3 June to replace outgoing members whose terms expire at the end of 2026. They will join the Security Council’s 15-member body, …

Ghana has begun evacuating hundreds of its citizens from South Africa following renewed anti-immigrant protests and fears of xenophobic violence in the country. The first chartered flight carrying 297 Ghanaians landed in Accra on Wednesday as part of a voluntary repatriation programme approved by President John Dramani Mahama. Ghanaian authorities say more than 800 nationals have registered to return home …

Ghana will host a major international conference on reparatory justice from 17 to 19 June 2026 as a direct follow-up to the historic resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 March 2026 declaring the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. The ‘High-Level Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice’ will take place …

Togo became the fifth African country to grant unconditional visa-free entry to all African passport holders on 18 May 2026, when its Ministry of Security announced the immediate removal of visa requirements for continental travellers. Under the new policy, any African national holding a valid passport may enter Togo without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Travellers …

The United Nations General Assembly’s recent recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity marks a historic moment, but it also raises uncomfortable questions, writes Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana. The muted response and abstentions by many European countries reveal a persistent reluctance to fully confront the legacy of slavery and its lasting consequences, the former European MP …

German-Nigerian heavyweight Emanuel Odiase delivered a sensational performance on Friday night, knocking out Britain’s Nick Webb in the second round to claim the European heavyweight title. Fighting before a sold-out crowd of 13,000 at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Odiase needed less than two rounds to dismantle his experienced opponent. The decisive moment came early, as Webb was sent crashing …

German-Nigerian heavyweight prospect Emanuel Odiase is set for the defining moment of his young career as he fights for the European heavyweight title on Friday at the SAP Arena in Mannheim. The bout, highlight of the “Night of the Heavyweights” organised by Ringside Zone, will see the unbeaten 27-year-old face Britain’s experienced Nick Webb over ten rounds. Standing at 2.03 …

Shocking scenes of anti-migrant violence in South Africa expose more than xenophobia; they reveal a deeper continental crisis. Beneath the brutality lies failed governance, economic despair and broken promises across Africa. This moment demands not only outrage, but honest reflection on leadership, accountability and the urgent need for systemic transformation in the continent, argues Femi Awoniyi The images of African …

Beijing has scrapped import tariffs on goods from 53 African countries, in what it calls an unprecedented act of economic solidarity. The figures are striking. But an analysis of who exports what — and at what rates — reveals a more complicated picture. For Africa to convert market access into economic transformation, far more than a tariff change will be …

New figures from Europe’s statistical agency show that first-time asylum applications in the EU fell by more than a quarter last year. The headline numbers conceal a more complex picture — one in which Africans fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty remain significantly represented, particularly among the unaccompanied children making dangerous journeys to Europe. The number of people seeking asylum in …

By Isaac Arko Inkum* I write to express my thoughts on the tragic story of a young pregnant woman who died in a hospital in Ghana recently because nurses on duty failed to attend to her promptly. Sadly, both the young woman and the baby she carried lost their lives. This incident, along with many others, has raised serious concerns …