THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
At the beginning of each month, a number of new laws and regulations enter into force in Germany. An overview of the most important changes in November 2019:
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Online identification for Germans and EU citizens
The online identification function (Online-Ausweisfunktion or eID-Funktion) of the national ID card (Ausweis) enables German citizens to identify themselves on the Internet. For example, they can apply for a certificate of good conduct or submit a tax return online.
From 1 November, this service will also be available to European Union citizens and German nationals living abroad. For this however they need an extra chip card. This eID card (eID-Karte) stores the most important identification data such as name, date of birth and address.
You have until 30 November to change your car insurer
Every year in the autumn millions of car owners in search of a cheaper tariff change their car insurance companies. Apart from the so-called under-year contracts (unterjährige Verträge), vehicle insurance usually runs in the same way as the calendar year. Hence the notice of contract termination must reach the insurance company not later than 30 November. This falls on a Saturday this year. Therefore, the next working day, that is, the 2nd of December, is the last date for contract termination notice.
Driving ban on diesel engine vehicles in Berlin
The driving restrictions for diesel vehicles on some roads in Berlin are expected to come into force in the middle of November. The restrictions apply from the moment at which the indicative traffic signs are mounted in the affected areas.
Most diesel driving bans will be in the district of Mitte; sections of the Leipziger Str., Reinhardtstr, Friedrichstr. and Brückenstr. will be affected. There are also parts of Alt Moabit and Stromstr. in the district of Moabit that will come under restrictions. In the Neukölln district, areas affected are Hermannstraße and Silbersteinstraße.
Residents, goods supplier, care givers and craftsmen are exempted from the ban.
Public Holidays in November
Not everywhere, but at least in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, residents will be happy about All Saints (Allerheiligen) on 1 November. Because it’s a public holiday. In Saxony, on the other hand, the day of Penance and Baptism (Buß- und Bettag) on the 20th of the month is a public holiday.
Femi Awoniyi
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