Friedrich Merz is set to be sworn in as Germany’s next chancellor on Tuesday, heading a cabinet faced with challenges from an ailing economy to fraying US ties and a resurgent far right. Here are his key picks to help govern Europe’s top economy in the coalition between his conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left SPD: Finance: Lars Klingbeil Lars …

German authorities have launched an online visa application portal for Nigerians and other applicants worldwide. This was announced in a statement by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office on 1 January. “The Consular Services Portal is being launched worldwide today, 1 January 2025, enabling people around the world to submit applications for German visas online”, the statement reads. According to the statement, …

Nollywood’s box office queen, Funke Akindele, has once again proven her star power with her latest blockbuster, Everybody Loves Jenifa. The film achieved an impressive $100,000 in its opening weekend across nine international territories: Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Australia, and USA. This historic milestone marks the first time a Nollywood film has reached such earnings …

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on Saturday condemned the “terrible, insane” car-ramming attack on a crowded Christmas market that killed five people and injured more than 200. Police arrested a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatry doctor at the scene Friday, next to the battered SUV that had ploughed through the festive crowd leaving a trail of carnage and bloodied casualties. A sombre Scholz, …

Nigerian striker, Victor Boniface, has shared the details of a car crash he was involved in, emphasising his gratitude for surviving the ordeal. Boniface on 20 October survived a ghastly car crash in Germany. The striker, who plays for German club Bayer Leverkusen, posted a video of the damaged car on his Instagram Stories. Recounting the experience in an interview …

The Government of Switzerland has pledged to support flood victims across Nigeria with N1.9 billion. The Federal Government of Germany also announced an additional release of €24 million to Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions impacted by the recent flooding. The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Lang, who announced his country’s donation in Abuja, …

Nigeria’s D’Tigress put up a good fight but were ultimately beaten by Germany in a warm-up game ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The African champions, ranked 12th globally by FIBA, lost to the 19th-ranked Germany in the preparation game played at the UBER Arena in Berlin on Friday as the game finished 77-63 in favour of the Germans. D’Tigress, …

Nigeria’s women’s U-20 team, the Falconets, will face former champions, Germany, Venezuela and South Korea in Group D at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia from 31 August to 22 August. The draw ceremony took place in Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday with 24 teams set to participate in the competition for the first time. The Nigerians beat …

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II has expressed delight over the return of two artefacts by the German government through the Director General, National Commission for Museum and Monument, Olugbile Holloway on Saturday. Oba Ewuare II, who was overjoyed thanked Holloway for the surprise, saying, “You don’t know what you have done but I am really grateful for this …

The German Consul General to Nigeria, Mr Weert Borner, has mulled possible collaborations with the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, towards bolstering agricultural innovations that will aid sustainable food production in the country. According to a statement on Saturday, the Consul General disclosed this during his visit to the university alongside his wife, Dr Imke Borner. The statement partly …