TimeLine Layout

January, 2018

  • 11 January

    Nigeria sets deadline for political parties to select presidential candidates

    Nigeria’s political parties must select their candidates for the country’s 2019 presidential election between 18 August and 7 October this year, the electoral commission said on Tuesday in a timetable of the polling process. Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on 16 February 2019, marking the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term. Buhari has not said if he …

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  • 11 January

    US government blocks MoneyGram sale to Chinese

    The US government has blocked the sale of Texas-based international money transfer company MoneyGram to Chinese online retailer Alibaba, both corporations have announced. The MoneyGram deal is the latest in a series of Chinese acquisitions of American companies that have failed to clear US financial authorities. The $1.2 billion deal’s failure represents a blow for Jack Ma, the executive chairman …

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  • 11 January

    Nigerian baby born on migrant rescue ship inspires song for Eurovision contest

     An electro-pop song called “Mercy” by French duet Madame Monsieur is competing to represent France in the 63rd edition of the European song contest Eurovision in May. The piece tells the unique story of a toddler born on a rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea. “I am all those children taken by the sea”. There’s a stirring story behind the …

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  • 10 January

    Equatorial Guinea coup attempt condemned by AU and UN

    The African Union (AU) has condemned an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea stressing that it will not condone any unconstitutional power seizures on the continent. The United Nations through its special envoy to the Central African nation, Francois Fall, had also condemned the attempted takeover promising to help Malabo with stabilization efforts. The AU Commission’s position was contained in a …

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  • 10 January

    Lufthansa to hire 8,000 workers in 2018

    German airline group Lufthansa said Monday it plans to hire more than 8,000 people in 2018, the latest step in a relentless push for growth at one of Europe’s largest carriers. Taking into account workers leaving the company, a Lufthansa spokesman told AFP that the net effect of the hiring spree would be “several thousand” new jobs — an increase …

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  • 10 January

    German broadcaster’s history project addresses young Africans

    Deutsche Welle’s new series “African Roots” uses online comics and radio broadcasts to highlight 25 important African personalities. The project, funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, is aimed at young audiences. Vera Tellmann reports. The portraits cover a long period of time, ranging from Dinknesh, the “Mother of Mankind” in present-day Ethiopia, to legendary rulers of the Middle Ages such …

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  • 10 January

    Deportations illegal if torture likely, rules Germany’s top court

    Germany’s top court has ruled that a person cannot be deported to their country of origin if at risk of torture. A German-born Turkish Salafist had appealed his return, saying he would be tortured in his home country. Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe on Tuesday ruled that a person may not be deported to their country of origin if …

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  • 9 January

    Nigeria warns Libya on maltreatment of its citizens

    The Nigerian government has warned its Libyan counterpart against molesting Nigerians in the North African country. Abuja said it made clear to Libyan authorities that it has “zero tolerance” for such treatment. The warning followed reports of enslavement and maltreatment of Nigerians stranded in Libya. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known on Monday as another batch …

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  • 9 January

    Germany: AfD rebukes Jens Maier over racist tweet about Noah Becker

    AfD federal lawmaker Jens Maier has been warned by his party over a racist tweet about the son of tennis legend Boris Becker. But Maier, who called Noah Becker a “half-negro,” can remain in the party. The national executive of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Monday officially reprimanded Bundestag member Jens Maier over a racist tweet …

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  • 9 January

    Germany: Merkel launches coalition talks with Social Democrats

    Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) sat down on Sunday (7 January)  to kick off five days of exploratory talks. This week they want to finally revive the grand coalition that has been ruling the country since 2013. Some think this is Angela Merkel’s last chance at forming a …

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