WORLD

Muslims are celebrating Eid el-Kabir (known also as Eid al-Adha) as more than 2 million pilgrims carry out the final days of Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Muslims across the world are celebrating the festival of Eid el-Kabir, which coincides with the final rites of the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. While many will celebrate on Tuesday, millions of others, including in …

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the floodgates of tribute for one of his predecessors, Kofi Annan, who died yesterday aged 80 after a short illness in Geneva, Switzerland. Guterres described Annan, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 2001, as a guiding force for good. Guterres in his tribute said: “it is with profound sadness that I learned …

Nigerians across the globe gathered in London on 26-28 July to deliberate on the state of affairs in their home country and how to better contribute to its development. The Nigerian Diaspora Global Development Conference 2018, the first of its kind, brought together government officials and business leaders from Nigeria and the country’s nationals living abroad. Under the theme “Supporting …

For the first time, 100 persons were inducted into the Nigerian Diaspora Global Hall of Fame on Saturday, 28 July at a colourful ceremony in London. It was the final event of the 3-day Nigerian Diaspora Global Development Conference, the first of its kind. Among those inducted into the Hall of Fame were Dr John George, entrepreneur and founder of …

Wednesday 18 July marks the 100th birthday of Nelson Mandela. Events took place across the globe to mark the milestone, honouring an international icon for democracy, freedom and peace. It has been a century since South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon and the first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, was born. South Africa on Wednesday marked the Nelson Mandela’s birthday with a …

A peaceful demonstration was held yesterday at the premises of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague where President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria delivered a keynote speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the court. The protesters, under the aegis of Nigerian National Association-The Netherlands (NNA-NL) who gathered outside the premises of the court, condemned the leadership of the …

Femi Kuti, Afrobeat musician and son of music legend Fela, alongside dance hall singer Yemi Alade thrilled French President Emmanuel Macron and guests at the New Afrika Shrine on Tuesday. Macron, who visited the Shrine to inaugurate the African Cultural Season to be hosted in France in 2020, is believed to be the first head of state to enter the music …

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bavarian conservative leader Horst Seehofer have reached a deal on migrant policy that could save the governing coalition. But will the Social Democrats accept the deal? Jefferson Chase/DW reports from Berlin. After plenty of political twists and turns over the past few days and weeks, Chancellor Angela Merkel has achieved a last-ditch agreement to end the …

Calling for a new approach to tackle the issue, UNHCR says 53 percent of the 68.6 million people displaced are children. Nearly 69 million people who have fled war, violence and persecution were forcibly displaced last year, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). In its annual report released on Tuesday, UNHCR said continued crises in places like South Sudan …

“Global Networking & Modern Economy” was the motto of this year’s Africa Day Conference. AfricanTide Union e.V. hosted the event for the eighth year in Dortmund. From May 24 to 26 representatives of African Diaspora communities met politicians and ambassadors, entrepreneurs, creative minds and interested citizens from Germany and abroad at the Dortmund Town Hall. The economic situation in Africa …

Tanzania’s Gerald Bigurube and Madagascar’s Clovis Razafimalala have dedicated their lives to saving their countries’ natural heritage. They are the recipients of this year’s annual German Africa Prize. Forty-four years. That’s the amount of time environmentalist Gerald Bigurube has dedicated to saving Tanzania’s wildlife and natural environment. As the long-time head of Tanzania’s National Parks Authority (TANAPA), the 66-year-old has led the …

A sweets manufacturer in Germany has apologised for comparing Meghan Markle to a chocolate-covered marshmallow. Super Dickmann’s posted the controversial image on Facebook on 19 May, the same day that the former US actress married British royal Prince Harry. The image was accompanied with the caption: “What are you looking at? Wouldn’t you also want to be Meghan today?” Many …

Nigeria has faulted claims that there were 30,000 of its citizens as irregular migrants in Germany who are awaiting repatriation. The Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said on Wednesday that Nigeria disputes the figure. “To begin with, we dispute that figure of 30,000. That is not the case. We do not have up to 30,000 Nigerian asylum …

 Germany has put forward a new proposal for the repatriation of some 30,000 undocumented Nigerian migrants to their home country. Dr Jan Hecker, foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, visited Abuja last week to hold talks with Nigerian officials on the deportation plan. In an exclusive interview with the German international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama …

This year’s Africa Day will be marked for the 8th consecutive time in the western German city of Dortmund with the theme “Global networking & modern economy”. The Day, which commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in Addis Ababa on 25 May 1963, is marked both in Africa and its Diaspora communities across the …

The visa rejection rate rose again last year. The German foreign missions mainly rejected applications from African countries. Parliamentarians of the Left in the federal parliament criticize the visa practice. Germany once again rejected more visa applications from foreigners last year. While the rejection rate was 6.7 percent in 2016, it rose to 8.5 percent last year. In 2015, the …

After being at the centre of attention in 2017, Germany’s Africa policy has somewhat stagnated. But Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wants to keep communications open and is visiting Ethiopia and Tanzania this week. Ludger Schadomsky of DW reports. Germany’s Africa policy is back in the spotlight, this time at the highest level. Only six weeks after assuming office, German Foreign Minister …

A Press Statement released by Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, Continental Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe, on Saturday 28 April 2018. “There is nothing wrong with Nigeria/Diaspora that cannot be cured by what is right with Nigeria/Diaspora” I am neither a praise singer nor a ‘Yes, Sir’ man. I have always followed my conviction courtesy of the grace and magnanimity of …

A group of Nigerians living in London yesterday protested against President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in the UK on a visit. The protest, held a day after Buhari declared his intention to contest for another term in office at next year’s election, took place at the Abuja House official residence of the Nigerian president in London. The protesters say …

People seeking a US visa may soon be required to disclose their social media information so that five years’ worth of their online footprint can be scrutinized. It was previously reserved for people from terrorism-affected states. Nationals from countries where the US requires no visa, which include Germany, France and Britain, would be exempt from the social media checks. The proposal was …