More than 200 migrants are feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean over the weekend trying to reach European shores, according to testimony from survivors. The UN refugee agency UNHCR says it recorded more than 6,000 people crossing the Mediterranean to reach Italy from Friday to Sunday. But the perilous journey in rickety, overcrowded boats means many of those risking …

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU has won a decisive victory over its Social Democrat rivals in an election in Germany’s northern state of Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday. The CDU won with 33 per cent of the vote compared to the SPD’s 26 per cent, down from 30 per cent. The result is a boost for Merkel, who is seeking a fourth …

The world’s largest travel advisory and booking website TripAdvisor has released the result of its survey of travellers’ choice of destinations in Africa for 2017. Winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as travellers’ booking interest …

Germany’s minister of economic co-operation and development, Dr Gerd Müller, is presently promoting a plan to redesign the country’s relationship with Africa. Launched in Berlin early this year, the plan proposes new planks in German-African ties with the aim of promoting sustainable political stability and economic growth in Africa. ‘Marshall Plan with Africa’, in a nutshell, is a way to …

The wife of Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has spoken out about the health of her husband, stating that “his health is not as bad as it’s being perceived.” Aisha Buhari took to Twitter yesterday apparently in response to the growing anxiety in the country over the health of its leader. She also thanked Nigerians for their “concern, love and prayers …

A 28-year-old man has won 221 Kenyan Shillings (US$2 million) after perfectly predicting the scores of 17 matches last weekend in a football betting jackpot. This is one of the biggest wins in Africa and for Kenya’s largest online sports betting service SportPesa. The jackpot winner, Samuel Abisai, was picked up on Tuesday in a white limousine together with his friends …

A group of leading civil society activists in Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take an official leave and hand over his office to his deputy, Vice-President Yemi Osibajo. Buhari returned from the UK, where he was on medical vacation, on 10 March and since his return, he has only made a few public appearances. The activists’ call …

Ghana and Pescara’s  player Sulley Muntari confronted racism boldly on Sunday during a Serie A match  involving his club in Cagliari. The 32-year-old midfielder complained to the referee about racist chants of Cagliari fans but was punished for his complaints, prompting him to take action himself by leaving the pitch in protest. The Ghana international had appealed to the referee …

Even as many countries in the developing world have stepped up their commitment to improving and expanding education opportunities, education has remained chronically underfinanced, with funding levels far below what is needed to achieve education benchmarks

An opening ceremony was held for the construction of 45 sports fields for socially disadvantaged youth in Namibia recently. In the future, nearly 14,000 young Namibians across the country will be able to use the sports fields for free to play football or other sports. Germany’s development ministry has teamed up with prominent partners for the project. They include partners …