Joe Biden dog Commander bit Secret Service agents at least 24 times
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s dog Commander bit US Secret Service agents on at least 24 occasions, new documents show. US Secret Service records show the extent to which the German Shepherd caused chaos for the presidential bodyguards. One senior agent noted the bites meant the Secret Service changed tactics, advising agents to “give lots of room”. They are heavily redacted to protect the identity of Secret Service agents and secrecy of their security tactics. The Biden family’s pet left the White House in October last year, one week after a Secret Service agent required medical treatment for a severe bite.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 22, 2024 17:20 UTC
Liberia: Boakai's Appointment Backfires
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has expressed dismay over recent appointments made by President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. In the case, Martin Sallie Kollie vs. the Executive Branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia, the Supreme Court of Liberia upheld the sanctity of tenure against an illegitimate exercise of Presidential appointment. The Court ruled that the appointment was hopefully illegitimate since the NLA Director General had a secured tenure of four (4) years, as prescribed by the Legislature. CENTAL: "For such categories of public officials, only the Liberian people acting through a referendum can remove or amend their tenures. Office of Ombudsman to oversee implementation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials; and timely and impartially investigating and prosecuting corruption complaints/cases.
Source:Daily Observer
February 22, 2024 16:45 UTC
AML Training Academy Welcomes New Batch of 71 Young Liberians for 3yr Training Program
Yekepa, Nimba County (February 21, 2024) ̶ The ArcelorMittal Liberia Training Academy (AMLTA), one of Liberia’s premier vocational training institutions has enrolled a new batch of young Liberian trainees for a three-year international-standard vocational and technical education program in several disciplines. The latest batch of trainees are 71 in total, with 10 females. This brings the total number of students who have been enrolled at the AMLTA since its launch in 2018 to 276. The 71 successful candidates matriculated into the institution on February 20 in Yekepa Nimba County after being recruited from amongst 2,047 applicants who underwent various levels of assessments in line with the high standards set by the AML Training Academy. Worzon further noted that out of the 71 new recruits, 19 are from Nimba County, 22 from Grand Bassa, and 9 from Bong County.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 22, 2024 15:49 UTC
Liberia: U.S.$1 Billion Needed to Address Electricity Shortage
Addressing Liberia's perennial power crisis will require significant financial investment, with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) estimating that between US$700 million to US$1 billion is needed for the construction of a reservoir to alleviate the electricity issue. The lack of a sufficient reservoir at the Mount Coffee Power plant has been identified as a long-standing challenge, leading to operational gaps during dry seasons. Asked what preparation LEC made for the dry season, Shobayo referenced the power purchase agreement (PPA) between Ivory Coast, particularly Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Electricité (CIE), and Liberia. The government has paid US$8.9 million, and LEC on its own has paid US$12 million, so the deficit is just a little over US$2 million, Shobayo said. Despite facing operational challenges and fluctuations in power supply, LEC says it remains committed to addressing the pressing power needs of Liberians.
Source:Daily Observer
February 22, 2024 11:53 UTC
Liberia: Dillon Admits to Missteps in Boakai's Appointments
Senator Abraham Dillon of Montserrado County, a staunch supporter of President Boakai, has admitted to public criticisms of 'some missteps' in appointments being made by the President. "We note that there are some early missteps," said Dillon who, during last year's election, was one of Boakai's campaign managers -- serving Montserrado County. Dillon's position comes amid some serious missteps from the President as it relates to appointments. However, despite the act being violated by the President, he has yet to withdraw the appointments of Jaleiba and Azango. These missteps in appointments have caught the attention of Rep. Musa Bility, who is the House Chair on National Security.
Source:Daily Observer
February 21, 2024 22:10 UTC
A Physically Challenged Man Embarks Sustainable Fish and Rice Production Project in Bong County.
John Gbelewoe a resident of Shankpalla Town situated in Zota District, Bong County initiated the rice and fish production project aimed at not only sustaining himself but also contributing to the local economy. Born with physical disabilities that have posed significant challenges throughout his life, John Gbelewoe a former refugee during the Liberian crisis has refused to let his circumstances define his potential. John’s project focuses on integrated farming, combining rice cultivation with fish farming in a symbiotic system known as aquaponics. By utilizing aquaponics, John aims to produce high-quality rice and fish in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The physically challenged farmer maintains he went into lowland rice production because of the changing weather pattern due to climate change.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 21, 2024 19:14 UTC
Protesting Spanish farmers drive hundreds of tractors to Madrid
Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on Wednesday as farmers protesting against what they see as excessive red tape and insufficient state aid converged in downtown Madrid to march towards the Agriculture Ministry. Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries, most recently including Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic. They all call for a reduction of bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules. Some farmers complained that police were preventing tractors from entering Madrid. “I have the same expenses but I’m making half as much, so we can’t go on like this,” she told Reuters, adding there was no limit to the protests until the government implemented strong measures to aid farmers.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 21, 2024 18:06 UTC
Liberia: Pres. Boakai Controversial Appointments to Tenured Positions Raises Eyebrows on His Respect for Rule of Law
He claimed tenure positions were mostly abused during the era of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Analysts have raised concerns over significant administrative shortcomings, questioning both the legality of appointing individuals to tenured positions without confirming vacancies and the financial implications of such appointments. According to critics of the President’s decision, tenured positions are established to ensure stability and independence for officeholders in carrying out their duties. Similar concerns extend to other tenured positions like NPHIL, resulting in potential costs running into millions if such decisions proceed. As members of the board of commissioners of the LTA, we feel compelled to remind your excellency of our tenured status.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2024 15:42 UTC
Liberia: Madam Sirleaf Corruption Rejects Land in Boakai’s Government
MONROVIA – A hallmark of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s election campaign was his commitment to fight graft and incompetence in government. We see hard times, we see disfunction, we see culture of impunity, we see corruption in high and low places. Jappah has now been appointed by President Boakai to head the National Insurance Company of Liberia. Jappah and his deputy at the LWSC were the first to suffer the casualty of President Sirleaf’s wrath against corruption and incompetence just six months into her second term. He may have been forced to resign by the LWSC Board on July 5, 2012, while Glay was recommended for dismissal due to “administrative ineptitude”.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2024 15:36 UTC
Dismissal of Criminal Charges against “Prophet Key” Backfires?
Ambassador Endee accused Prophet Key of threatening her on his social media platform, claiming that he would ensure she never had the opportunity to work in any government in Liberia, which caused her fear and distress. She also claimed that Prophet Key’s actions were intended to bring her to public ridicule and shame. I provided all the evidence, and they said it was enough to charge Prophet Key,” she said. “I was abused and threatened by Prophet Key, but they are now saying I don’t have any evidence to proceed with the proceedings. Her determination to advocate for her rights and pursue justice remains steadfast despite the unexpected events in the legal proceedings.
Source:Daily Observer
February 21, 2024 07:45 UTC
Liberia: Ongoing House Probe Finds Power Theft, Government’s Failure to Pay Bills Regularly Posing Serious Cash Flow Challenges for Electricity Service Providers
MONROVIA – The Liberia Electricity Corporation, under its all-Liberian management team, has been given high ratings since it took over at the end of July 2022. Representative Wongbe cited various reports indicating issues that border on the disruption in electricity supply and salary issue. Despite these challenges, the committee was briefed that LEC, as a service operator, has continued to operate and provide services to the public. As chairman of the board of LEC, Captan was called up by then President George Weah to serve as acting CEO of LEC following the departure of ESBI. However, it has spent US$2 million on repairing four plants and four generators that have boosted electricity supply.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2024 21:44 UTC
Guinea’s military junta dissolves government, seals borders
In SummaryThe announcement was made through a presidential decree read on state TV on Monday by the presidency’s Secretary General, Brig Gen Amara Camara. Mr Camara did not disclose the reason for the dissolution or say when a new government will be put in place. Guinea’s military junta, which seized power in a coup in September 2021, has dissolved the government. The announcement was made through a presidential decree read on state TV on Monday by the presidency’s Secretary General, Brig Gen Amara Camara. The junta also instructed security agencies to “seal” all the country’s borders until government ministries have been fully handed over to the junta.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 20, 2024 19:16 UTC
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un receives car as gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin: Report
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received a car from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as a gift “for his personal use”, official media reported on Tuesday, in what could be a violation of UN ban that Moscow had agreed to adopt against Pyongyang. The Russian-made car was delivered to Kim’s top aides by the Russian side on Feb. 18, official KCNA news agency said. Kim’s sister “courteously conveyed Kim Jong Un’s thanks to Putin to the Russian side, saying that the gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders,” KCNA said. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RIA state news agency that the Korean leader received an Aurus car. Kim himself drove to the site in a Maybach limousine brought onboard a special train he travelled in from Pyongyang.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 20, 2024 18:30 UTC
Liberia: President Boakai Makes New Appointments in Government
The Ministries, Agencies and Nominees are:Ministry of Internal Affairs1) Samuel Brown, Deputy Minister for Administration2) Selena Polson Mappy, Deputy Minister for Operations3) Cllr. Deweh Gray, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs54) Gabriel H. Salee, Deputy Minister for Administration55) Cllr. Jeddi Armah, Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs56) Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, Deputy Minister for International Cooperation & Economic Integration57) Cllr. Armah Kanneh, Deputy Executive Director for Administration104) Richard Hoff, Deputy Executive Director for OperationsNational Bureau of Concessions105) Jsb Theodore Momo, Director General106) Cllr. Rachell Yabah-Duobah, Deputy Director General for ConcessionsNational Public Health Institute of Liberia107) Robell Laytee Gbeintor, Director of Public Health ResearchCentral Agricultural Research Institute108) Joseph Toumed, Deputy Director GeneralNational Disaster Management Agency109) Konto D. Saygar, Deputy Director for Administration110) Louise K.D.
Source:Daily Observer
February 20, 2024 14:38 UTC
Israel declares Brazil’s president persona non grata after comparing Gaza war to ‘Hitler’s genocide’
On Sunday, da Silva accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and compared Tel Aviv’s war on the Palestinian enclave to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s actions against the Jews. “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide,” da Silva told reporters in Addis Ababa, where he attended an African Union summit. “It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history. Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 19, 2024 21:57 UTC