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☆ In Trump’s second term, czars will reign
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN reported on Friday that Burgum was under consideration for a role as energy czar. “It’s sort of the conservative version of [the Biden administration’s senior climate advisor] John Podesta,” one of the sources said. Burgum had been in contention for a Cabinet-level position, like running the department of Interior or Energy, CNN previously reported. It also means those candidates – not burdened by a lengthy Senate confirmation process – can launch their work on day one. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe term “czar” has come to refer to a political appointee with a specific problem to solve.

Persons: –, Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s, Burgum, John Podesta, ”, ’ ”, Alex Wong, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, czars, Trump, Trump’s, Elise Stefanik, Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, Homan, ’, ” Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, you’re Organizations: CNN, Trump, North, Biden, Interior, Energy, North Dakota Gov, Republican National Convention, State, Treasury, Republican, United Nations, White, Customs, Department of Homeland Security, Former ICE, Border Control, Trump Administration, Aviation Security, Truth, “ Locations: North Dakota, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, Guantanamo, Trump

☆ How giant rodents could rat on wildlife traffickers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Alexander Rodway | Alex Rodway | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But now the organization is turning its attention (and its rats’ noses) to the global illegal wildlife trade. “Unfortunately, organized crime knows there’s a real weak spot in detection methods of ports, seaports and airports, particularly in Africa.”Traffickers disguise wildlife products in a whole host of ways, he explains. This is particularly important given that much of the illicit wildlife trade comes from some of the world’s poorest regions. “I’m hopeful that (using rats) for detecting wildlife will be a low cost, low impact, low footprint operation,” says Allan. The illegal wildlife trade not only impacts populations of the trafficked animal or plant, it can have devastating knock-on consequences for whole ecosystems.

Persons: “ HeroRATs, ”, Crawford Allan, Ivory, APOPO, blackwood –, Allan, who’s, Dr, Izzy Szott, you’re, “, Kate Webb, they’ve, Chris Lau Organizations: CNN, WWF, Conservation, Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Locations: Tanzania, Africa, North Carolina, Singapore, France, Dar es Salaam, Dar es

U.S. health officials are preparing to screen passengers flying in from Rwanda for symptoms of Marburg virus, a severe infection similar to Ebola. People infected by the virus can start showing symptoms two to 21 days after their exposure, according to the CDC. Marburg is a virus that causes hemorrhagic fevers and internal bleeding, much like Ebola. No Marburg cases have been detected in the U.S. As of Sunday, Rwandan health officials had reported 49 cases, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also Monday, the CDC issued what’s known as a level 3 travel health notice, warning people against unnecessary travel to Rwanda.

Persons: Chicago O’Hare, ” Organizations: Washington Dulles, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, World Health Organization Locations: Rwanda, Marburg, United States, ”, Chicago, JFK, New York, Washington, Virginia, U.S

☆ CDC will start screening travelers from Rwanda to the US for Marburg virus
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Katherine Dillinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Amid an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda, travelers coming into the United States who have been in Rwanda in the previous 21 days will be screened starting next week, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. There are no confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease – a rare but deadly hemorrhagic disease similar to Ebola – outside Rwanda, and officials have said that the current risk to the US is low. The CDC is also issuing a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, recommending that people reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda, and sending automated texts to air travelers arriving from Rwanda to share information and instructions. As of Monday, there have been 56 confirmed cases of Marburg in Rwanda, with 36 people in isolation and treatment, and 12 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The CDC and the World Health Organization have deployed teams of experts to Rwanda to provide guidance and assistance to public health workers there.

Persons: CNN —, Sean Savett, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Jen Christensen, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, US Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, National Security, CNN Health, MVD Locations: Marburg, Rwanda, United States

☆ The godfather of black-swan hedging explains why mounting US debt and the weaponization of the dollar are leading risks today
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He criticizes the US for high debt and low growth, leading a fragile financial system. He highlighted the four categories of debt-based countries: those with low growth and high or low debt, and those with high growth and high or low debt. The US is in the category of low growth and high debt. However, if a country accumulates high debt, then continued growth is required to absorb it, he noted. At present, Taleb doesn't believe that the ballooning debt could be solved politically or by increased demand for US bonds.

Persons: Nassim Taleb, —, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Scott Patterson, Patterson, Taleb, It's, Brandon Yarckin, isn't, Mark Spitznagel Organizations: Service, Universa Investments, Bank Locations: Russia, US

☆ Marburg virus: Rwanda is dealing with first outbreak of deadly disease
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For the first time in Rwanda’s history, its health ministry is dealing with an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a rare but deadly hemorrhagic disease similar to Ebola – but unlike Ebola, there is no treatment or vaccines for Marburg, and it has a fatality rate of 88%. In addition to sending medical supplies, the World Health Organization said over the weekend that it is deploying a team of seven global experts in hemorrhagic disease to Rwanda who can provide guidance for public health experts on the ground. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that it is also sending experts to Rwanda to help support testing and contact-tracing efforts. There are no cases of Marburg in the United States, and the risk to Americans with this outbreak is low. Unlike in some other sub-Saharan African countries that have dealt with Marburg virus disease, Rwanda has a strong public health system, according to WHO.

Persons: ”, Matshidiso Moeti, Brian Chirombo, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, WHO, “, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, CNN Health Locations: Marburg, Rwanda, United States, Africa

☆ I went to Burning Man for the first time. Here are 5 things everyone gets wrong about the event.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-29 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Truth: Most Burners stuck it out through the mud, and showed that Burning Man is really about community spirit. One of my campmates and I peeling trash off the mud on our last day at Burning Man. Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderWas it a bit of a bummer we couldn't bike around to all the incredible camps Burning Man has to offer for the last three days? Still, we still made the best of things when the storm hit and completely changed our trip. The celebrities may have fled Burning Man, but we were all still there to clean and celebrate after the storm.

Persons: Anneta, Chris Rock Locations: playa

☆ Man dies after contracting Ebola-like tick-borne disease in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A man has died from an Ebola-like disease named Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after being bitten by a tick in Spain. The 74-year-old died of organ failure on Saturday in an isolation unit at the La Paz-Carlos III Hospital in the Spanish capital, Madrid, a spokesperson for the hospital told CNN on Monday. Spain has developed a national plan to deal with tick-borne diseases, including CCHF, but people should take action to avoid tick bites, Lorenzo-Morales said. Consuelo Giménez Pardo, a lecturer in medical parasitology at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, told CNN that “there will undoubtedly be more cases” of CCHF in Spain. “I expect that we will see more cases in the coming years,” Thomson told CNN on Monday.

Persons: Carlos, Jacob Lorenzo, Morales, Lorenzo, ”, Consuelo Giménez Pardo, Giménez, CCHF, Emma Thomson, “, ” Thomson Organizations: CNN, La Paz, Carlos III Hospital, World Health Organization, WHO, Canary Islands, Health, University of La, University of Alcalá, London School of Hygiene, Medicine Locations: Crimean, Congo, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Móstoles, Toledo, Africa, Balkans, East, University of La Laguna, Western Europe, CCHF, Europe, ”, France

☆ Opinion: Our disaster responders are exhausted. That puts Americans at risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Opinion Pete Gaynor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

However, we have a growing problem: Our unsung American heroes are worn out — and some are even leaving the disaster response workforce. Estimates of the depression rate among disaster response and rescue workers are as high as 53%, according to the National Center for PTSD. As citizens, we have a duty to conserve our vital and limited public safety resources, such as emergency management personnel. By minimizing non-essential requests, we enable our disaster responders to more swiftly and effectively act during ongoing crises. On our worst days, we need disaster responders at their best.

Persons: Pete Gaynor, I’ve, Pete Gaynor Pete Gaynor, We’ve, ” Pete Gaynor, Hurricane Florence, Andrew Caballero Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, Hill International, CNN, Government, Office, GAO, National Center, Emergency Management, Missouri, Reynoolds, Getty, National Centers for Environmental, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Paradise , California, Hurricane, Lealand , North Carolina, AFP

We asked seven pro investors to identify the best trades of their careers and explain how the lessons from those decisions still apply today. The CBOE Volatility Index, also known as the VIX, shot above 40, essentially meaning traders were betting that the stock market would be exceptionally rocky over the following month. Jeff Muhlenkamp, lead portfolio manager at Muhlenkamp & CompanyJeff Muhlenkamp Muhlenkamp & CompanyJeff Muhlenkamp's namesake Muhlenkamp Fund (MUHLX) has been in the top 3% of its category in the past half-decade, thanks to trades like one he pulled off on Chinese internet firm Baidu (BIDU). "I pretty much expected, 'OK, if I get a double out of this in five years, I'll be happy' — that's pretty decent money," Muhlenkamp said. He noted that industrials within the Russell Mid Cap value index have returned 116% over the previous five years.

Persons: —, That's, Michael Burry, Warren Buffett, Berkshire, Rob Arnott, Tim Boyle, Arnott, I'd, Bob Elliott, Bob Elliott's, Elliott, Jeff Muhlenkamp, Jeff Muhlenkamp Muhlenkamp, Jeff Muhlenkamp's, Muhlenkamp, you've, Sona Menon, Cambridge Associates Sona Menon, Bryant VanCronkhite, Allspring Bryant VanCronkhite Allspring Bryant VanCronkhite, VanCronkhite, Russell, industrials, James Davolos, Davolos, George Patton, Harley Bassman, Harley Bassman's, Bassman, Merrill Lynch, I'm Organizations: Service, American Express, Business, Research, Bloomberg, Getty, Bridgewater Associates, Treasury, Securities, Muhlenkamp, Baidu, Google, North, Cambridge Associates, Allspring, Horizon Kinetics, Opportunities Fund, Credit Suisse Locations: industrials, West Africa, New York City, Guinea

☆ The global synthetic drugs crisis has hit West Africa, where people are digging up human bones to make a drug called 'kush'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Cemeteries are bolstering their security measures because gravediggers are stealing human bones to make powerful synthetic drugs, local journalists told Business Insider. AdvertisementA vendor sells daily necessities at a market in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Feb. 21, 2024. Formaldehyde also has euphoric properties, says the National Library of Medicine, which explains why kush users could be raiding Freetown's cemeteries. JOHN WESSELS | Getty ImagesJalloh noted that the use of synthetic drugs was not unique to Sierra Leone. ReutersIn 2015, BI's Erin Brodwin covered the rise of these synthetic drugs, marketed as "spice," "K2," "black mamba," or "crazy clown."

Persons: —, Sierra, Julius Maada, Michael Cole, Sally Hayden, JOHN WESSELS, Cole, Mabinty Magdalene Kamar, Abdul Jalloh, HUGH KINSELLA CUNNINGHAM, Thomas Dixon, Jalloh, Salifu Kamara, kush, BI's Erin Brodwin, Brodwin, tranq Organizations: Service, Business, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Anglia Ruskin University, The Irish Times, National Library of Medicine, Politico, Sierra, Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Police, Getty Images Local, Salone Times, BBC, Freetown Police Force, National Drug Agency, NPR, Guardian, Disease Control, Prevention, Reuters, Financial Times Locations: Freetown, African, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Mabinty, Waterloo , Sierra Leone, kush, New York City, New York, Kensington, North Philadelphia

BOSTON (AP) — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog sniffed out something unusual in luggage from a traveler returning from Africa — mummified monkeys. The passenger returning from a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that the luggage contained dried fish, but an inspection at Boston Logan Airport revealed dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys, agents said. Raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals, sometimes referred to as “bushmeat,” is banned in the U.S. because of the threat of disease. "The potential dangers posed by bringing bushmeat into the United States are real. Bushmeat can carry germs that can cause illness, including the Ebola virus,” said Julio Caravia, local port director for Customs and Border Protection.

Persons: “, ”, Julio Caravia, Ryan Bissette Organizations: BOSTON, —, U.S . Customs, Democratic, Boston Logan Airport, Customs, U.S . Centers for Disease Control Locations: U.S, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, United States

☆ Sierra Leone is losing its forests. This sanctuary is trying to save chimpanzees and their vital habitat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( David Mckenzie | Sarah Dean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Freetown, Sierra Leone CNN —When it comes to chimpanzee toddlers, girls rule. They are all orphans, rescued from across Sierra Leone and raised at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Tacugama Chimpanzee SanctuaryHe has become something of a legend in Sierra Leone. The canopy decimation is replicated throughout Sierra Leone and much of West Africa. In the center of the mountains of the Western Area Forest, a verdant valley drops into the Guma Dam reservoir.

Persons: Mamma Posseh, Mamma P, ”, Bala Amarasekaran, Amarasekaran, Bruno, “, It’s, ” Amarasekaran, Pataya, David McKenzie, Sonkita Conteh, CNN Parks, Conteh, Alejandro Striediger, Zoe MacIntyre, Siama, Veternarian Zoe MacIntyre, Macintyre, Sierra Leone Organizations: Sierra Leone CNN, World Food Program, Sierra, CNN, Western, Technologies, Area, Maxar Locations: Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sierra, Sri Lanka, West Africa, “, Conteh, Siama's, West Africa’s

☆ ChatGPT probably won't help create biological weapons, OpenAI says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewOpenAI thinks there's only a slight chance that ChatGPT could be used to help create biological threats. Experts have warned that AI could be used to facilitate biological terror attacks, either by helping terrorists create biological and chemical weapons or by helping them plan their attacks. The GPT-4 group was given access to a research-only version of the model that, unlike ChatGPT, has fewer "security guardrails in place" it said. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, there's, Dario Amodei, Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI Organizations: Service, Business, Rand Corporation

He lost in a run-off vote to Weah in 2017. "Boakai strikes me as a grandfather figure – someone you would trust with your life. Official results on Friday showed Boakai had 50.9% of the vote over Weah's 49.1%, with more than 99% of votes counted, prompting Weah's concession. In an interview shortly after the results, a softly-spoken Boakai told Reuters that his primary focus would be to bring the country together after a divisive election. Boakai, meanwhile, lives in a relatively modest bungalow that has barely changed since he moved in 50 years ago.

Persons: George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Amara Konneh, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Robtel Neajai, Boakai, Konneh, Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Sirleaf's, Weah, Prince Jaygbah, Joe, Edward McAllister, Clelia Organizations: Liberia's, College of West, Reuters, African, Bank, Unity Party, Toyota, Thomson Locations: MONROVIA, DAKAR, College of West Africa, Tuesday's, Monrovia, Africa's, Americas, Liberia, Warsonga, Sierra Leone, Milan, London, Paris

[1/3] Liberia's opposition Unity Party Joseph Boakai waves to his supporters as holds his final campaign rally for the presidential elections in Monrovia, Liberia October 7, 2023. The result marks a stark turnaround from 2017, when global soccer legend Weah, buoyed by a wave of hope, trounced Boakai with 62 percent of the vote. "A few moments ago, I spoke with president elect Joseph Boakai to congratulate him on his victory," Weah said on national radio. Instead, Boakai supporters in the capital Monrovia danced, shouted and honked car horns in the rain after the near-final results were announced. Many felt that Weah did not follow through on promises to alleviate poverty and improve the country's crumbling infrastructure.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Boakai, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Sarkor, Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Edward McAllister, Anait, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, MONROVIA, West, Central Africa

Boakai led with 50.89% of the vote over Weah's 49.11%, according to results from 99.6% of polling stations, the country's elections commission said on Friday. Final results are expected in the coming days. Boakai, a softly spoken career politician, was more than 28,000 votes ahead of Weah, according to the latest results. Arkoi Sarkor, 43, told Reuters she supported Boakai because she was not able to get a job during Weah's term. "We can safely declare victory – Boakai is the next president, but we will wait for the final result before celebrating," Boakai's spokesperson Amara Konneh said in an interview.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Joseph Boakai, George Weah, Boakai, Arkoi Sarkor, Boakai's, Amara Konneh, Carielle Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Anait Miridzhanian, Edward McAllister, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, MONROVIA, West, Weah

☆ Liberia votes in tight presidential run-off as many voters seek change
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Many voters said they were underwhelmed by Weah’s first term, which has been dogged by graft scandals and persistent poverty in Africa’s oldest independent republic. Both Weah and Boakai have received endorsements from candidates who lost in the first round. One significant unknown is the voting preference of the 6% of people whose ballots were invalidated in the first round. Any alleged irregularities in the second round could potentially fuel unrest, but there had been no reports of problems on Tuesday morning. “I am confident of winning.”‘A better Liberia’The vote is in many ways a test of Weah’s popularity.

Persons: Reuters — Liberians, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Boakai, Weah’s, ”, Barbour, ” Weah, “, Samuel Carr Organizations: Reuters, World Bank, United Locations: Africa’s, “, Monrovia, Liberia, United States

The total of $26,000 that WHO has provided to the victims equals about 1% of the $2 million, WHO-created “survivor assistance fund” for victims of sexual misconduct, primarily in Congo. “There is nothing we can do to make up for (sexual abuse and exploitation)," Gamhewage told the AP in an interview. The WHO has also helped defray medical costs for 17 children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse, she said. Gamhewage received $231 a day during her three-day trip to the Congolese capital Kinshasa, according to an internal travel claim. The U.N. health agency continues to struggle with holding perpetrators of sexual abuse and exploitation to account in Congo.

Persons: Gamhewage, didn't, Paula Donovan, “, ”, Donovan, ” Gamhewage, Alphonsine, ” Alphonsine, Melinda Gates, Denise, Krista Larson, Jamey Keaten Organizations: Health, WHO, The Associated Press, AP, Melinda Gates Foundation Locations: Congo, Gaya, Congolese, —, Beni, Kinshasa, Dakar, Senegal, Geneva

☆ Liberia presidential election heads for November run-off vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Liberia’s electoral commission on Tuesday scheduled a presidential election run-off for November after results showed that the two frontrunners, President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai, had failed to secure enough votes. Weah holds a slim lead at 43.83% of the vote, while Boakai has 43.44%, according to tallied results from 100% of polling places, the West African nation’s election commission said. Commission chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the run-off vote would be held on Nov. 14. Liberia is struggling to recover from two civil wars that killed more than 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003 and from a 2013-16 Ebola epidemic that killed thousands. Boakai, 78, was Weah’s main challenger and campaigned on what he called the need to rescue Liberia from alleged mismanagement by Weah’s administration.

Persons: George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Boakai, Davidetta Browne Lansanah Organizations: Reuters Locations: Liberia

LONDON (AP) — Health ministers in the Western Pacific nominated a surgeon from Tonga, Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, to lead the World Health Organization's regional office at a meeting in Manila on Tuesday. Piukala's nomination for WHO's top job in the Western Pacific comes months after the U.N. health agency fired its previous director, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, following allegations of racism and misconduct first reported by The Associated Press last year. Piukala was most recently Tonga's minister of health and defeated rival candidates from China, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Vietnam. Days after the AP report, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that an internal investigation into Kasai had begun. ___The Associated Press health and science department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Saia Ma'u, Takeshi Kasai, Piukala, ” Kasai, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ”, ” Piukala, Temo Waqanivalu Organizations: —, Western Pacific, Health, The Associated Press, WHO, AP, Associated Press, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group Locations: Tonga, Manila, Western Pacific, China, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vietnam, Kasai, Pacific, Western, Syria, Congo

☆ Liberia: Citizens vote in crucial polls amid flaring tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

‘Correcting a mistake’Boakai told CNN that his young supporters are now desperate for change. Weah’s campaign manager told CNN no Liberian law prevents them from running from office, adding that the government was awaiting evidence from US to enable prosecutions. A unique electionOscar Bloh, head of ECC, Liberia’s largest election observation group, told CNN this election is different from previous polls in the country. A spokesman for the electoral commission, Henry Flomo, told CNN, “Everything is in schedule,” as dictated by law. “It’s unlikely that any of the candidates will win outright during the first round,” he told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, George Weah, Weah, Joseph Boakai, Seif Magango, Ballon, Boakai, ’ Boakai, ’ ”, ” Boakai, Ahmed Jallanzo, Liberians, ”, Joel Cholo Brooks, Shutterstock, ” Weah, Samuel Tweah, –, they’ve, Eugene Nagbe, ” “, Nagbe, “, Brooks, Nathaniel McGill, ” McGill, Sayma Syrenius, Bill Twehway, Twehway, I’m, ” Nagbe, Oscar Bloh, Bloh, Henry Flomo, ” Flomo Organizations: CNN, UN, Bank, Coalition for Democratic, Unity Party, Facebook, UN Human Rights, Boakai, Soul Clinic, Global News Network Liberia, Coalition, Democratic, FIFA, Liberian, Liberia Anti, Corruption, Washington, Port Authority, US Treasury Department, McGill, Weah’s CDC, Transparency International, TI Locations: Liberia, Monrovia, Pipeline, “, Qatar, American, United States

☆ Congo Ruling Coalition Backs Tshisekedi for December Vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Ange KasongoKINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi was officially nominated on Sunday as candidate for the Dec. 20 presidential election by his ruling political coalition the Sacred Union. Tshisekedi is seeking a second term in the vast nation, which is the world's top cobalt supplier and No. 3 copper producer, after winning a disputed first term in a 2018 vote. On Sunday, a congress of the Sacred Union coalition that includes political heavyweights such as Defence Minister Jean Pierre Bemba and Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, picked Tshisekedi unanimously. Tshisekedi, the son of Congo's beloved long-term opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, promised to root out corruption and authoritarianism and has rejected accusations by rights groups and critics that he has fallen short on his promises.

Persons: Ange Kasongo, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, Tshisekedi, Jean Pierre Bemba, Vital Kamerhe, Felix Tshisekedi, Andre Mbata, Congo's, Etienne Tshisekedi, Martin Fayulu, Bate Felix, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Democratic, Sacred Union, Sacred Union coalition, Defence, Economy, Union, Tshisekedi Locations: Ange Kasongo KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of, Rwanda, Republic, Kinshasa, Tshisekedi

☆ Opinion | Why I Treat the Wounded Far From Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Samer Attar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

My Syrian heritage inspired me to make my first trip to a war zone, to Aleppo in 2013. I have written often about my experiences in Syria and Ukraine. In Syria I learned how to manage war wounds in a battle zone with few supplies. The work is meaningful, but it is dangerous and can take a heavy psychic toll, I warn them. You operate with the understanding that you may find yourself dead or wounded next to the people you are trying to help.

Persons: I’ve Organizations: Islamic, Northwestern’s Feinberg School, Medicine Locations: Aleppo, Liberia, Iraq, Islamic State, Ukraine, Idlib, Syria, Turkish

☆ Liberia opposition leader Boakai opens bid to beat President Weah
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Alphonso Toweh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People gather as opposition leader Joseph Boakai launched his campaign ahead of October elections, in Monrovia, Liberia September 17, 2023. "We thought he (Weah) was going to bring the change he promised, but nothing," said businesswoman Martha Gould. An error in the accounting of fuel supplies in state-run tanks left Liberia short on gasoline in 2020, causing panic at the pumps. Still, it remains to be seen if Boakai and his Unity Party can turn the tide. Weah remains popular across much of the country, and the economy grew nearly 5% last year, driven by gains in agriculture and mining, the World Bank says.

Persons: Joseph Boakai, Carielle, George Weah, Joe, Martha Gould, Weah, Nathaniel McGill, Boakai, Edward McAllister, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, Rights, Liberian, Unity Party, Bank, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, Rights MONROVIA, Liberia's, United States

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