News

Mahsa Amini: Dead because of a lock of hair

Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP, pays tribute to Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old young Iranian woman who died on 16 September 2022 in police custody following her arrest for violating the Islamic dress rule for women. Her death has led to widespread protests in the country for greater rights. According to Iran Human Rights, at least 201 people have been killed by …

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Employers can ban Muslim headscarves at the workplace, rules EU Court

European employers can ban workers from wearing any visible sign of their political, philosophical or religious beliefs, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday. According to the EU’s top court, the ban “may be justified by the employer’s need to present itself in a neutral manner to customers or to prevent social conflicts.” The ECJ said such a …

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Germany: What poverty looks like in a rich country

Amid soaring inflation, particularly for food and energy, the gap between rich and poor in Germany is widening. Incremental increases to social safety nets will do little to alleviate the problem, experts warn. A special report by Sabine Kinkartz/DW Although Germany is one of the richest countries in the world, signs of increasing poverty are becoming increasingly visible across the …

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Angela Merkel wins UN refugee agency award

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel was named winner of the prestigious Nansen Award for offering a haven to those fleeing violence at the height of the Syrian conflict, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday. Merkel, who stepped down last year after 16 years as head of government, welcomed the desperate Syrians at the height of the conflict in …

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David Alaba named Austria’s Sportsman of the Year

David Alaba has once again been voted “Sportsman of the Year” in Austria. It’s the third time in his career (after 2013 and 2014) that the professional footballer would be bestowed with the honour. The winner is chosen in a poll conducted by the members of the Austrian Sports Journalists Association. Alaba is the eighth athlete to be named Austria’s …

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Nigerian leader appeals to West on funds stolen from Africa

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari appeals to the world on funds stolen from African countries likening them to artefacts unlawfully acquired during colonial rule in an open letter published in London’s Financial Times on Wednesday: —– President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has called for Western nations holding funds stolen from African to release them for the development of the continent. In …

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Burkina’s coup chief becomes world’s youngest leader

Ibrahim Traore was declared president of Burkina Faso on Wednesday after a two-day standoff that ousted Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who had seized power only in January. Just a week ago, 34-year-old Traore, the head of a core of disgruntled junior officers, was unknown in his country. But in the space of a weekend, he has catapulted himself from army captain …

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German embassies discriminate against young visa applicants in Africa — Missio

The Catholic mission organisation Missio has accused the German embassies in Nigeria and Kenya of discrimination against young visa applicants. Many of them invited for church youth meetings in Germany in October had not received visas, the organisation charged in Aachen. “Because they are young, they are generally assumed to be unwilling to return [after the end of their engagement …

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Fashion: Nigerian brand sets standards for Africa

Lagos-based Africana Couture with the opening of its new classy outlet in Abidjan has made a significant statement of intent of taking the lead in the propagation of African fashion on a global scale The merry sound of clinking glasses, hearty laughter and afrobeats music permeated the cool September evening at Rue Marconi Zone 4, a posh business district in …

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President Buhari hails Nigerians in United States

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Nigerians living in the United States for the exemplary roles they are playing in their different areas of endeavour, urging them to continue in that line to earn the respect of their hosts. Speaking Saturday at the Townhall Meeting With Nigerians In The Diaspora, in New York, President Buhari said: “It is gratifying for me …

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Wode Maya & Co: How YouTubers are transforming Africa’s image

Wode Maya, Ghana’s first YouTuber to hit over a million subscribers, is leading the vlogging crusade for a better African image and he’s making a fortune to boot /Photo: © Wode Maya Africa is more than poor and starving, the vloggers are saying. And they show a reality far away from the stereotype. Stunning holiday spots, beautiful housing estates, entrepreneurs …

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50,000 migrants assisted to voluntarily return home — IOM

Nearly 50,000 migrants were assisted to voluntarily return to their countries of origin with more than 113,000 reintegration activities supported globally in 2021, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2021 Return and Reintegration Key Highlights report Last year saw an increase of global mobility. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of returns is still short of …

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More foreign vocational qualifications recognised in Germany

The number of vocational qualifications acquired abroad and recognised in Germany continued to rise in 2021, according to the latest official statistics. Most of the positive decisions were for medical professions and degrees – More foreign professional qualifications were recognised in Germany last year. This was particularly the case in the medical professions, as the Federal Statistical Office reported in …

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David Alaba supports SDGs in Nigeria, builds sanitary facility

A modern toilet facility in the town of Ogere Remo in Ogun State, Nigeria, was opened with fanfare on Thursday. The facility, which serves a community market, is a gift from the Austrian football star David Alaba to support Nigeria’s efforts to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 15.3 million-Naira project was commissioned by the Federal Minster of …

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Opinion: Why US should lift South Sudan oil sanctions, By NJ Ayuk

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber Four years have passed since the US imposed sanctions on South Sudan’s oil industry. The goal had been to prevent oil money from funding the civil war that had been raging in the country since 2013. By curtailing the ability of businesses and organizations to provide revenue for the South Sudanese government, …

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Gates Foundation optimistic about SDGs despite setbacks

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates call on leaders to keep commitments to world’s poorest and invest in innovation, ingenuity to continue saving millions of lives. Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Report Says Progress Still Possible Despite Setbacks to Global Goals The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday released its sixth annual Goalkeepers Report, noting that nearly every indicator of the …

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Sociologist seeks support for organic farming project in Togo

Tomfei Kougnon, a young sociologist who trained in biodynamic agriculture in Switzerland, is appealing for support to realise his dream of an organic farming project in his home country, Togo. Organic farming is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure and bone meal, and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation …

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Meet the three new Black Ministers in UK government

Prime Minister Liz Truss did not waste time to appoint her cabinet after taking over at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. The new Conservative British leader named a 31-member cabinet that surprisingly includes three ministers of African origin. These are Kwasi Kwarteng, Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister), James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and …

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“Africa has high Fever” — former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, September 7, 2022/ — Two months to the 27th global climate summit (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, African and other global leaders have rallied in Rotterdam, to highlight the urgency of climate adaptation funding for the continent. The meetings — co-convened by the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, CEO of the Global Center …

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