EUROPE

Registration opens for MoneyGram’s sponsorship award for Africans in Germany

Following last year’s successful debut of “afrika! Community Award”, application for the sponsorship scheme for Africans in Germany has opened. The Award was introduced in 2017 by MoneyGram, the global money-transfer company, to support the work of socially-engaged organizations in the African community. There are more than 700 African clubs and associations which support projects in Africa or promote integration …

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Germany: Merkel’s government in danger as interior minister offers to resign

Despite having clinched a deal at an EU summit last week to keep asylum seekers registered elsewhere from travelling into Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a renewed showdown over migration from her Bavarian allies that could unravel the grand coalition government in Berlin. CSU leader and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said he would rather resign from both of his …

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EU reaches migration deal after marathon talks, differences remain

European leaders reached a deal on migration on Friday after tense and lengthy talks, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel conceded differences remained. Under the agreement, reached after nine hours of often stormy talks, EU leaders agreed to share out refugees arriving in the bloc on a voluntary basis and create “controlled centres” inside the European Union to process asylum requests. …

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Europe-wide Ghanaian diaspora group holds historic meeting in Germany

A new organisation of Ghanaians living in Europe gathered recently in the western German city of Dortmund to officially launch the body, whose professed aim is to drive the development of their homeland. The General Assembly of the Ghanaians in the Diaspora (Ghaspora), a new organisation bringing together Ghanaians in Europe, has held its first official meeting in Dortmund, Germany. …

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Summit: EU leaders seek ways to halt migrants amid political turmoil

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel warns migration crisis ‘could determine the fate of the European Union’ European Union leaders gathered on Thursday to examine new ways to stop migrants entering Europe, desperate to ensure that their differences over managing the flows do not tear the 28-nation bloc apart. The number of people arriving in Europe seeking sanctuary or better lives has …

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Nearly half of Germans want Merkel to step down as chancellor, poll shows

A new poll shows that some nearly half of Germans believe that Chancellor Angela Merkel should step down. It comes amid fears that her rift with Bavaria over her ‘open-door’ migrant policy may plunge the coalition into crisis. A YouGov poll, which was conducted ahead of Sunday’s emergency EU meeting called by Merkel in an attempt to persuade other European …

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Austria closes seven mosques, expels 40 imams

The Austrian government is closing down seven mosques because they allegedly “lack a positive mindset” towards Austria. Citing a 2015 law that prevents religious communities from receiving funding from abroad, the government also plans to expel 40 imams employed by ATIB, a group that oversees Turkish mosques in Austria. “Even if there were mistakes, even if these mosque communities have …

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MoneyGram’s many ways of supporting Africans in Germany

MoneyGram, a leading provider of international money transfers, knows how difficult it can be for Africans in Germany to settle in their new home country while keeping close ties to family and friends in Africa and supporting them from a distance. Following the slogan “That’s the African Way – discover your way”, MoneyGram contributes to both important aspects. Discover your …

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Euro area unemployment rate lowest since 2008

Unemployment in the Euro area is at its lowest level since 2008 according to Eurostat. The rate fell to 8.5% in April from an upwardly revised 8.6% in March. Greece, Spain and Italy recorded the highest rates of unemployment while the Czech Republic, Malta and Germany recorded the lowest. The eurozone consists of 19 members who are EU members and use the euro. …

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Denmark bans full-face veils in public

Denmark has joined several other European countries in banning the full-face veil worn by some Muslim women in public spaces. In a 75 to 30 vote on Thursday, Danish legislators passed the law presented by Denmark’s centre-right governing coalition. The law was also backed by the Social Democrats and the far-right Danish People’s Party.  “Anyone who wears a garment that …

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Angela Merkel leads memorial of Solingen racist attack victims

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with political leaders, including Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, on the 25th anniversary of a neo-Nazi arson attack that killed five members of a Turkish-German family. German leaders gathered in Düsseldorf on Tuesday to honour the victims of the arson attack in the nearby community of Solingen on May 29, 1993, when right-wing extremists set …

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Malian child rescuer joins Paris fire brigade as he awaits French citizenship 

Mamoudou Gassama, the 22-year-old Malian “Spiderman” celebrated for saving a child hanging from a balcony, took his first step towards French citizenship Tuesday and joined the fire brigade as accolades continued to pour in over his daring rescue. Video footage of Gassama scaling four storeys of the building with his bare hands has catapulted the young man to global fame, …

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Far-right AfD protesters massively outnumbered in Berlin

An estimated 5,000 supporters of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party demonstrated in Berlin on Sunday “for the future of Germany” in the party’s largest gathering since it became Germany’s top opposition party. AfD supporters shouting “Merkel must go” were largely outnumbered by rival demonstrations, gathering about 20,000 people, according to police estimates, however. Excerpts of  Jefferson Chase’s report …

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Macron rewards undocumented Malian who rescued child from Paris balcony

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hailed the young Malian migrant who saved a 4-year-old child hanging from a fourth-floor Paris balcony, saying his act of bravery opened the door to French citizenship. At a meeting in the Elysée presidential palace Monday, Macron praised Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented migrant from Mali, for his “exceptional act” and added: “We’re going to …

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Ireland overturns abortion ban in historic vote

Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to repeal its ban on abortion in a referendum the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar described as a “quiet revolution.” The result was a landslide 66.4% ‘yes’ vote against 33.6% who voted ‘no’. Voters were asked if they wished to scrap the eighth amendment, which gives an unborn child equal rights to life as a pregnant …

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Record number of Britons granted German citizenship

Britons are rushing to become German citizens before their country leaves the European Union. More than 10 times as many Britons became German citizens in 2017 than in 2015. For the second year running, a record number of Britons became German citizens, the German Federal Statistical Office reported on Wednesday. The consecutive records have been linked to Britain’s upcoming departure from …

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NIDO Europe reassures on London Diaspora Conference 2018

The Europe chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has reassured that it would host a Diaspora Conference in London in July, saying a recent campaign of calumny and blackmail against the event by a faceless group would not stop it from organising the conference. Chair, NIDO Europe, Kenneth Gbandi, gave the assurance in a statement issued in Hamburg, …

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The top 5 places to live in Germany

Public broadcaster ZDF has ranked every town in Germany based on three categories: work and living, free time and nature, health and security. Of the top five, three are in Bavaria, reports Elizabeth Schumacher. MUNICH The capital of Bavaria was chosen for its sprawling English Garden park, museums, cultural events like Oktoberfest, and proximity to the mountains. It ranked No. …

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