EUROPE

EU launches Inclusion Plan for People with Migrant Background

The European Commission is seeking to better integrate migrants and Europeans with migrant backgrounds into larger society. The Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, unveiled its action plan on Integration and Inclusion for the period 2021-2027 on Tuesday (24 November). The plan aims to promote inclusion for all, “recognising the important contribution of migrants to the EU and …

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Bundestag approves new requirements for German identity card

On Thursday, 5 November 2020, the Bundestag voted in favour of the Federal Government’s draft law “to strengthen security in passports, identity cards and documents relating to foreigners”. New identity cards will mandatorily contain two fingerprints from August next year. With this Bundestag resolution, Germany is implementing European law. According to the draft law, new requirements will also apply to …

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Lead Academy: Application closes on 15 November, Apply now!!

An invitation has gone out to young people of African descent in Germany to participate in the Lead Academy 2020 via Zoom on 24-26 November. The event is organised by Lead Africa International e.V., a global non-governmental organization dealing with development issues. The three-day virtual event precedes the Global Partnership for African Development (G-PAD) 2020 Forum, with the theme Strengthening …

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Obasanjo, Jonathan to address Nigerian Diaspora Europe Conference

Nigerians from all parts of Europe, joined by guests from across the globe, will gather on 11-14 November for the annual general meeting of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE). The event, which holds both physically and virtually, is being hosted in Dortmund, Germany, by the German chapter of the organisation, NIDO Germany. Eminent Nigerian leaders, including former Presidents …

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EU Parliament marks first European Gender Equality Week

Press Statement by Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament, on the first European Gender Equality Week, which was marked on 26-29 October 2020: —— On the initiative of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), the European Parliament marked its first “European Gender Equality Week” from 26 to 29 October 2020 – 25 years after the …

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Germany to remove the word “race” from the Constitution – Justice Minister

According to Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD), the Federal Government wants to have the controversial term “race” quickly deleted from the Basic Law, the country’s constitution. “There is complete agreement that there are no different races of people,” the politician told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. “That is why we in the Federal Government have agreed to revise the Basic Law at …

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Africans have highest criminal conviction rates in Switzerland

According to a new report of the Swiss news agency Keystone, residents from the former Yugoslavia are the most frequently convicted of crimes in Switzerland in absolute numbers. However, measured per 1,000 inhabitants, South West Africans, West Africans and North Africans, in that order, are the most frequently convicted. Quoting the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Keystone reported on Tuesday …

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Berlin offers financial aid to churches and mosques over corona crisis

The federal state of Berlin is offering financial support to religious communities suffering from the impact of the corona crisis. Many churches and mosques are in financial distress due to pandemic-related restrictions and the resulting drop in donations they receive from members. Small religious communities engaged in social and integration issues could apply for funding for their rent, incidental rental …

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Controversial court verdict over Pegida attack on Pakistani in Dresden

Bob Hooda, writing from Dresden, says a court ruling in a case of physical assault against an immigrant in the eastern German city reveals institutionalised racism within the judiciary of the state of Saxony On 29 July 2019, a 30-year-old Pakistani was first insulted by supporters of Pegida, a pan-European, anti-Islam, far-right political movement, and then given a bloody nose …

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Germany: Group campaigns for more jobs for Blacks in Berlin’s tech industry

Employees of African origin in Berlin’s tech companies have started a group to promote diversity in the sector. Called “Black in Tech Berlin”, the group networks and shares ideas to bring change in the industry, where Black people are underrepresented. It counts six hundred members and was founded by Kave Bulambo, who is originally from the DR Congo but grew …

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Germany: Business magazine for the African community launched

A new magazine, published bimonthly and bilingual in English and German to serve self-employed Africans in Germany, was launched at a colourful ceremony on Saturday in the western German city of Dortmund. The African Merchant (TAM) would support African entrepreneurship by focusing on opportunities and challenges of self-employment in Germany, Dr Rosalyn Dressman, publisher of the new magazine, said at …

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Germany: New Laws and Regulations in October 2020

Some new laws and regulations enter into effect in October. As the number of coronavirus infections is significantly rising again, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of the Länder (federal states) have agreed on new measures to contain the pandemic while subsidy for dental prostheses will be increased. Moreover, the second instalment of the child bonus will be paid in …

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Referendum: Swiss vote on whether to end free movement agreement with EU

The Swiss will vote on Sunday in a referendum on whether to end its agreement with the EU on the free movement of people. The aim of the referendum’s sponsors, the right-wing, anti-immigration Swiss People’s party (SVP), is to limit the number of European Union nationals allowed to live and work in their country, a measure to guarantee preferential access …

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