Because of the persistently high coronavirus infection rates in the country, Germany’s state and federal governments resolved on Tuesday to extend the lockdown rules in the country. In addition to the extension of the shutdown, the latest resolution also contains an expansion of the containment measures. Accordingly, the current lockdown regulations, which have been in effect since 16 December and …

Scientists at the University of Birmingham said on Tuesday that they had developed a new COVID-19 test capable of delivering results in less than five minutes. According to the university, the new test simplifies the testing method to a single step and uses an alternative amplification method called Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR). The new test can reduce testing time from …

A new book with invaluable tips on how to have a successful marriage was launched on Christmas day in the Dutch city of Almeres. Written by Pastor Elvis Iruh, an ordained minister of the Victory Outreach International, Getting to know you highlights simple principles that are often taken for granted in a marital relationship. “Whether you’re preparing for marriage or …

Police had to be called to maintain order in front of the Nigerian embassy in Berlin on Monday. According to the police, about 150 people wanted to enter the embassy ostensibly on appointment for various consular services. As they were not allowed to enter the grounds of the chancery, which cannot take that number of people at a time, a …

Graduate journalism students and recent graduates can apply for a two-week summer fellowship in Germany and Poland. The Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) will choose 14 to 16 individuals to examine the role journalists played in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and current issues that raise ethical concerns today. The next journalism program, which is open …

The last may not have been heard about Ghana’s last general elections. The candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has gone to court to challenge the victory of President Nana Akufo-Addo in the hotly contested polls, held on 7 December. According to the result announced by the country’s election commission, Akufo-Addo of the governing New …

After months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) went into operation on 1 January. “Truly today is a historic day, a day in which we start officially trading under the preferences of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Today is a day we take Africa a step closer to a vision of …

President-Elect of the United States, Joe Biden, has named Osaremen Okolo, a Nigerian-American, as his COVID-19 policy advisor. Okolo was among 100 names announced as additional members of the White House staff by the Biden transition team on Wednesday. According to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the COVID-19 Response Team will “work to quickly implement a comprehensive, whole-of-government COVID-19 …

The solidarity surcharge will be abolished for most taxpayers and a CO2 tax will make petrol more expensive and there are also new regulations affecting employees, taxpayers, home builders and families. The year 2021 starts with many new laws and regulations.  An overview of the most important changes: Minimum wage The statutory minimum wage will rise from 9.35 euros to …

Monsooq is the first-of-its kind model which utilises time as the currency. Users pay only for the time they spend consuming content and are not required to take out any contracts or subscriptions

Senator Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation has been named “African Woman of the year 2020”, for the third time Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Member of the Egyptian Senate (2020-2025) has been named one of the most influential African women in the world for 2020, for the third time. She has been nominated this year …

Yes, most coronavirus infections are mild – nevertheless, or precisely because of this, the coronavirus is so difficult to contain. Adopting an unusual communication method on such a sensitive subject, German virologist Melanie Brinkmann takes to social media to explain what makes the virus so dangerous. There have been claims, especially by conspiracy theorists, that the new coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) is …

Rita Ekua Yamoah reports on a recent program, organised by the Frankfurt-based non-governmental organisation Maisha e.V. for the empowerment of girls and women in Ghana against irregular migration, which took place in Accra. — Germany-based Maisha – African Women in Germany e.V. has again held a 5-day program to empower women who went through difficulties as a result of irregular …

The number of deaths caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Germany has been rising for weeks, exceeding the 30,000 mark after the Christmas holidays. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s centre for disease control and prevention, announced on Monday morning that altogether 30,126 persons had died in Germany of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus infection, since …

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has vowed to fine airlines $3,500 for each passenger that refuses to adhere to the new travel protocols announced by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. In a letter, dated 26 December and signed by its Director-General, Capt Musa Nuhu, NCAA directed passengers flying from the United Kingdom and South Africa to present a …

What you need to know about visiting the UK from 1 January 2021

Nigeria’s federal government has imposed fresh travel requirements on passengers travelling into the country from the United Kingdom and South Africa as from Monday. The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, disclosed this at its briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said penalties, including passport or visa suspension for at least six months, would be imposed …

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier believes we have overcome the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Solidarity has grown stronger through the crisis, the president said in his Christmas address to the nation. “‘When can I live my dreams again?’ This sigh of exasperation, my fellow Germans, is one of the thousands of personal messages I received from all parts of our …

The European Commission, on Monday (21 December), authorised the use of the Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, paving the way for member states to start vaccination programmes within the next few days. “We have granted conditional market authorisation to the vaccine produced by BioNTech and Pfizer,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, …

Since several agencies of government have made registration for the National Identification Number (NIN) mandatory, the issue has become a source of concern to Nigerians including those in the diaspora. Last week, the Nigerian Communication Commission ordered telecommunications companies to suspend mobile phone SIM cards that are not linked to NIN. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora …