Greece has passed a controversial new migration law that imposes harsher penalties on rejected asylum-seekers and tightens government control over migration-related NGOs, drawing widespread criticisms from civil society and human rights groups. Under the new legislation, individuals whose asylum applications are rejected must leave Greece within 14 days. Failure to comply can result in prison sentences of two to five …

October brings changes that will touch daily life in different ways, from how we transfer money and access healthcare to how non-EU nationals cross borders. Bank customers will notice new safeguards for money transfers, Microsoft bids farewell to Windows 10 and doctors must now use electronic patient records. The EU also introduces a new digital entry-exit system for non-EU citizens. …

Young leaders are stepping to the forefront as drivers of China-Africa relations. At the just-concluded 9th ‘China-Africa Youth Festival,’ they exchanged ideas, forged partnerships, and envisioned a progressive future for both continents. Our contributing editor, Berlin-based journalist Nyima Jadama, was there and brings this report. On 13 September, 59 young leaders from across Africa and the diaspora wrapped up a …

Writing from his Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign journey, former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak shares reflections from Botswana — the 11th stop on a 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road trip across 39 African nations. Arriving in the country at a time of double celebration, he captures the spirit of a nation brimming with pride and shares its lessons for the whole continent. …

 In a landmark step towards unified advocacy, leaders of Nigerian communities across Europe convened a virtual summit on Saturday, 20 September, to tackle pressing issues affecting the diaspora and develop concrete proposals for the Nigerian government. Organized by the International Advocacy for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (IAHRAC), the meeting marked an important move towards building a stronger collective voice for …

Asylum-seekers in Germany are facing significantly lower chances of having their applications approved, according to official government data from the first half of 2025. The recognition rate for protection claims has plummeted to 26.5%, a sharp decline compared to previous years, when recognition rates ranged between 59 and 72 percent. The fall is especially striking for applicants from conflict-torn countries: …

A growing number of nations are successfully reclaiming their cultural heritage, but advocates say former colonial powers like the UK and France must do more. A wave of restitution is moving across Europe, as former colonial powers begin returning looted artefacts and human remains to their countries of origin, according to a recent review by the Berlin-based advocacy group Colonialism …

For some, a few euros at the slot machines or placing bets online are just harmless pastimes. For many others in Germany, what begins as entertainment can quickly spiral into addiction, financial ruin and family breakdown ______ A hidden epidemic is destroying lives and families across Germany, with experts warning that immigrant communities, including Africans, are disproportionately at risk. Gambling …

Berlin, 25 September 2025 – Ten years after the so-called “summer of migration,” Germany is taking stock of one of the most transformative moments in its recent history. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, in cooperation with the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), will host an expert conference titled “Between Open Arms and Closed Borders – A Decade of …

The 22nd Afrika Film Festival Köln opened on Thursday, 18 September, to a wave of excitement, reaffirming its status as Europe’s leading platform for African cinema. The festival began with the critically acclaimed Kenyan documentary How to Build a Library by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, a moving exploration of how communities in Africa preserve knowledge and culture through education. …