May, 2018

• 8 May

  Experts choose the best African films of all time

  At the just-concluded Tarifa-Tangiers African Film Festival (Festival cine africano de Tarifa or FCAT), international critics have voted for the best African films of all time. FCAT, which takes place in the Spanish town Tarifa and the Moroccan city of Tangiers, celebrates its 15th year of promoting and subtitling cinema productions from Africa into Spanish from 26 April to 5 May. …

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• 8 May

  Marriott debuts in West Africa, opens hotel in Accra

  The opening of the Accra Marriott Hotel near the Ghanaian capital marks the Marriot hotel group’s debut in West Africa. The hotel is located opposite the Kotoka International Airport, and just a few kilometres outside of Accra’s central business district providing easy access to major corporate businesses, government entities and well known city landmarks. With 208 well-appointed rooms, three dining …

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• 8 May

  Top 10 fastest growing economies in Africa in 2018

  Africa’s economy is projected to continue to rise to 3.2% in 2018 and to a further 3.5% in 2019. This is according to the latest World Bank report released early 2018. According to the report, non-resource intensive countries are expected to expand at a solid pace, helped by robust investment growth. South Africa, Nigeria and Angola, the region’s largest growing …

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• 4 May

  German police raid refugee centre after violent stand-off

  German police Thursday raided a refugee centre where they had met violent resistance three days earlier when they tried to pick up a Togolese man for deportation. Several hundred armoured police searched the facility in Ellwangen, Baden-Wuerttemberg state, during the dawn operation and arrested the 23-year-old rejected asylum seeker, authorities said. In the early hours of Monday, four police had …

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• 4 May

  Russia ‘absolutely ready’ for World Cup, says FIFA boss

  FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said Thursday Russia was “absolutely ready” to host the World Cup and thanked President Vladimir Putin for his commitment to the football showpiece. Infantino met Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as Russia races against the clock to put the finishing touches on preparations for the 14 June – 15 July final. The first …

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• 3 May

  FIFA advances $2 million to African World Cup teams

  World Cup-bound African teams have received a major boost after FIFA agreed to advance each of the five countries US$2 million ahead of the global football fiesta which kicks off in Russia next month. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw the Ghana and Cameroon national teams arguing with their football associations over bonus payments: Cameroon arrived late, Ghana’s government …

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• 3 May

  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas starts first visit to Africa

  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 …

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• 2 May

  Nigeria bans codeine-based cough syrups after BBC exposé on addiction

  Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately cease the importation of codeine. The ban is specifically in respect of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations. The directive is meant to curb an addiction crisis exposed by the BBC in a recent undercover film. The …

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• 2 May

  Study reveals critical ages at which people can best learn a new language

  There is a “critical period” for learning a second language, with people remaining adept learners until the age of 17 or 18, when their ability drops, according to a new study. Conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the study suggests that the “critical period” for learning a new language is much longer than scientists had previously thought. “It was …

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• 2 May

  BBC Sport Africa Launches

  Starting, Tuesday 1 May, and continuing weekly throughout the year, BBC Sport Africa will bring the issues, the personalities, the buzz, the key moments and the trends in sport from across the continent. The 30 minute programme will cover many different sports including those that are little-known, and will be featuring everyone from the most famous sports stars to rising …

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