Sweden has a positive view of the prospects of Africa, foreign minister Carl Bildt said on Wednesday. “…we are seeing economic growth, democratic development and global engagement.”, he said. Presenting Sweden’s Statement of Foreign Policy in a parliamentary debate, Bildt said his country “looks positively on Africa’s prospects, while being conscious of the fact that considerable […]

The continued fight to eliminate polio gets an additional $36 million boost from Rotary in support of polio immunization activities and research to be carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which aims to end the disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018. The funding commitment comes at a critical time as the eradication initiative […]

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently launched the National Symbols Review Project to lead a national discourse on official symbols like the flag, seal, among others. The president urged that more consultations be held to ensure broad-based participation, including with the leadership of the three branches of government and the entire citizenry. “There still needs […]

At least seven people will be prosecuted following the attack by neo-Nazi groups on an anti-racist demonstration in the Stockholm suburb of Kärrtorp in December, tabloid Expressen reports. It started off as a demonstration in a Stockholm suburb against racist graffiti on a local school. On the small square in Kärrtorp were a group of […]

The deportation of a teenage girl from Sweden back to her homeland has been blocked at the 11th hour by the Swedish Migration Board after the threat of genital mutilation and arranged marriage was factored into her case. Kainat Syeda, 16, faced being sent back to Pakistan on February 15th with her mother. She has lived in […]

Namibia is the best place in Africa for journalists, says France-based Reporters Without Borders. Sitting at spot 22 on the organization’s global measurement, Namibia counts as the top African nation in its 2014 World Press Freedom Index and is closely followed by Cape Verde at number 24. Ghana is in third place  at 27.  All three […]

Liberian midfielder Dulee Johnson has joined Romanian club Sageata Navodari on a six month contract with an option of a one year extension. The footballer signed up with the Romanian first division newcomers after parting ways with Swedish side IK Brage through mutual consent after the player said he wanted to move on following Brage’s dismal […]

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is expected to visit Mali on 14-16 February. This will be the first-ever visit by a Swedish foreign minister to the country. The visit aims to emphasise Sweden’s continued and enhanced support to Mali’s development and its long-term peace efforts, and to efforts by the EU, the UN, the African Union and the […]

Strong concerns were expressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) Executive Committee over the increasing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the on-going conflict in South Sudan in statements adopted by the committee on 12 February, during its meeting in Bossey, Switzerland. A statement by the WCC Executive Committee notes an alarming trend […]

According to newly-released numbers from Statistics Denmark, the national birth rate is at a 27-year low. The 55,873 children born in Denmark last year is the lowest number since 1986. But despite the drop in birth rate, the Danish population grew in 2013 thanks to a lower number of deaths and a record high net […]