Deforestation, driven by unsustainable logging practices, intensifies the vulnerability of Liberia’s ecosystems and communities to climate change. Liberia’s limited financial resources, weak infrastructure, and inadequate institutional capacity pose significant challenges in adapting to climate change. The Country lack policy awareness and knowledge about climate change among the population further limits the country’s adaptive capacity. Increase Frequency and Intensity of Extreme Weather Events: Liberia is prone to extreme weather events, including floods, and droughts. Liberia efforts to promote environmental sustainability:Liberia has developed a national climate change policy that aims to guide the country’s efforts in addressing climate change impacts.

Kathleen Magramo |CNN – Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces his biggest trial yet. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, known for his support of the city’s pro-democracy movement and criticism of China’s leaders, turned 76 behind bars in a maximum-security prison earlier this month. Prosecutors allege that articles published by Lai’s Apple Daily newspaper violated Hong Kong’s national security law by calling for overseas sanctions against the city’s leaders. Beijing imposed the national security law in the wake of the 2019 protests, arguing it has “restored stability” and closed loopholes that allowed “foreign forces” to undermine China. Critics say it has decimated Hong Kong’s freedoms and transformed the city’s legal landscape.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Liberian-flagged cargo ship caught fire in the Red Sea on Friday after being hit by a projectile launched from rebel-controlled Yemen, authorities said. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack took place. The private intelligence firm Ambrey also confirmed the attack. “The projectile reportedly hit the port side of the vessel and one container fell overboard due to the impact,” Ambrey said. “The projectile caused a ‘fire on deck’ which was broadcast via” radio.

ATHENS – The US has approved the sale of 35 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as well as other military armaments to Greece worth $1.95 billion. The deal contains 35 UH-60 M-type (Black Hawk) helicopters, along with other military armaments such as mini-guns, machine guns, rockets, advanced electronic suits, training, and logistical support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Friday, adding that Sikorsky, one of the defense giant’s Lockheed Martin companies, will serve as the deal’s principal contractor. Earlier in July, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced that the country planned to spend some €11.5 billion (approximately $12.62 billion) more on arms over the next four years. On March 29, Greece also approved the purchase of Israeli-made SPIKE NLOS missile systems during a meeting of its National Security Governmental Council chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Read more of this reportVisited 20 times, 20 visit(s) today

The U.S. issued an intense warning to North Korea over nuclear threats Friday. In a statement on the second U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) coming together in Washington, D.C., Friday, the White House warned that “[a]ny nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime.”The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea. “The United States reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK, backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities including nuclear,” the statement said. The statement comes a few weeks after North Korea said it successfully launched a spy satellite that photographed the White House as well as Naval Station Norfolk and Newport News Dockyard in Virginia. When the North Korean satellite was launched, the White House said it “strongly” condemned it, adding that the launch violated United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

By Just the News staff |A staffer for Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., who was caught filming himself having sex in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, has been fired, according to a statement from the senator’s office circulating on X, formerly Twitter. We will have no further comment on this personnel matter,” a spokeswoman for the senator told the New York Post. This is the same room where Supreme Court nominees are questioned by senators, and where then-FBI Director James Comey testified about alleged Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. “We are aware and looking into this,” a rep for the USCP told the Post. “I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.”Read more of this reportVisited 9 times, 9 visit(s) today

Former president Jacob Zuma has denounced the governing African National Congress and announced he will vote for a newly-formed political party in South Africa’s general election next year. Mr Zuma, 81, called on other South Africans to vote for the new formation, saying it would be “a betrayal to vote for the ANC” of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Briefing journalists in Johannesburg’s Soweto township on Saturday, Mr Zuma described the ANC and Mr Ramaphosa as a “proxy for white monopoly capital,” and he described his decision as part of rescuing the ANC. “I have decided that I cannot and will not campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa in 2024. My conscience will not allow me to lie to the people of South Africa and to pretend that the ANC of Ramaphosa is the ANC of Luthuli, Tambo and Mandela,” said Mr Zuma, referring to previous leaders of the ANC.

We are up, we are standing, we are up right, and we are asking what’s next. What next for you as an individual, what next for us as communities, and this, for me, is critical. Nyanti spoke on culture from the perspective of social norms, noting that social norms are responsible for where Liberia is today. But we must confront culture; we must confront the culture that says that a woman should be silent until the man has spoken. We must confront culture if we expect Liberia to change.

RAMALLAH, Palestine – The Israeli army has detained 4,420 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since Oct. 7, Palestinian prisoners’ affairs groups said on Friday. In a joint statement, the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority, and the Palestinian Prisoners Society said that the Israeli authorities “arrested 16 citizens at dawn on Friday, which brings the number of detainees in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, to about 4,420 Palestinians since Oct. 7.”This tally does not include arrests in the Gaza Strip, according to the same source. Tensions have been running high across the West Bank amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. At least 288 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since Oct. 7, in addition to more than 3,100 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. *Writing by Ikram KouachiVisited 12 times, 12 visit(s) today

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Liberian-flagged cargo ship caught fire in the Red Sea on Friday after being hit by a projectile launched from rebel-controlled Yemen, authorities said. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack took place. Also near the strait, a missile fired by Houthis on Monday night slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea. In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

Monrovia, Montserrado (December 13, 2023) ̶ ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has been announced as the ‘Title Sponsor’ of the 2023/2024 National County Sports Meet which kicks off on Sunday, December 17, 2023 across the country. Deputy Minister Quamie commended the management of ArcelorMittal Liberia for its continuous support to the organization of the National County Sports Meet. “Liberians were split along party lines during the elections, so the County Meet is needed to help unite the country. ArcelorMittal Liberia has a long history of support to sports and youth development in Liberia. For the last two editions of the National County Sports Meet, ArcelorMittal Liberia was again the biggest sponsor.

Debt-service payments-which include principal and interest-increased by 5 percent over the previous year for all developing countries. The alternative is another lost decade.”Surging interest rates have intensified debt vulnerabilities in all developing countries. That marked the first time since 2015 that private creditors have received more funds than they put into developing countries. It highlights key insights from the World Bank’s International Debt Statistics database-the most comprehensive and transparent source of external debt data of developing countries. In 2022, the combined external debt stock of IDA-eligible countries hit a record US$1.1 trillion-more than double the 2012 level.

Monrovia -The USAID Liberia Economic Policy Dialogue Activity (LEPDA) has closed its project in Liberia worth US$16.3M. Also speaking at the LEPDA close-out program over the weekend, the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, J. Aloysius Tarlue, praised the USAID for their continued support to Liberia. He said as the project comes to an end, there are still roadmaps laid down by the project that Liberia can always benefit from. He said LEPDA’s work with the Central Bank of Liberia helped the Bank put in place processes for transparent procurement of the nation’s currency. Madam Rodriguez described the LEPDA project as a huge undertaking and success depended on employing innovative approaches and best practices as well as fostering productive engagements with all stakeholders.

Known as the Global Magnitsky Accountability Act, it is a tool used to impose sanctions on foreign individuals for corruption and human rights violations. Sergei Leonidovich Magnitsky, after whom the Act was named, was a Ukrainian-born Russian tax advisor responsible for exposing corruption and misconduct by Russian government officials. Magnitsky was beaten in custody and died in 2009, days before his supposed release. The act is named in honor of Magnitsky to fight corruption and promote human rights globally. So far, during the administration of President George Manneh Weah, nine senior officials of the Liberian government have been sanctioned.

— RLJ Kendeja Hotel sets the record straightThe management of the RLJ Kendeja Hotel and Villas has refuted media reports of bad labour practices and ill-treatments allegedly being carried out by the topnotch hotel. In the first place, if your workforce has never exceeded hundred and fifty persons, how can you make 300 staff redundant? Houphouet clarified that he is the only General Manager at the Hotel and not Roberta Torkornoo or Abraham Johnson as reported in the Publication. “I don’t know how to answer that question because there is only one General Manager at this Hotel and I am the General Manager, so you can see that the story is a fabricated lie. The RLJ Kendeja General Manager maintains that the hotel works very well with the Liberian government through the Ministry of Labor, the National Workers Union, and the local union.