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Liberia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Liberia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Monrovia

Head of State

President Joseph Boakai

Head of Government

President Joseph Boakai

Quincy Wilson runs in the 400 metres in June’s US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. Photo: AFP

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Wilson, 16, may become US’ youngest male Olympic runner after stunning 400 metres

Heading to Games with US 4x400 metres relay squad, he makes his case to run by breaking under-18 world record.

20 Jul 2024 - 4:59PM

United States

US’ Tim Weah suffers racist abuse after red card in Copa America loss to Panama

28 Jun 2024 - 1:00PM

Middle East

Yemen Houthis claim attacks on 2 ships in Red Sea and Indian Ocean

24 Jun 2024 - 1:34PM

Middle East

Cargo ship sinks in Red Sea days after Houthi drone boat attack

The Greek-owned MV Tutor was struck by a waterborne explosive device on June 12 and had been taking on water.

20 Jun 2024 - 8:26AM

The MV Tutor after an attack by a Houthi exploding boat in the Red Sea on June 12. Photo: Houthis Media Centre via EPA-EFE

Middle East

Video shows Houthis attack cargo ship with sea drone seemingly disguised as a fishing boat

New footage circulating on social media appears to show the moments leading up to last week’s attack on the M/V Tutor in the Red Sea.

18 Jun 2024 - 4:57PM

China-Africa relations

Does China’s oil-for-infrastructure lending model in Africa need a rethink?

Chinese resource-backed loans were a lifeline for African economies but fluctuating commodity prices exposed a hidden danger.

20 May 2024 - 4:46PMvideocam

American cinema

How accurate is 2024 film Civil War in its depiction of photojournalism?

Photographer Carolyn Cole, who won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography, offers her thoughts on what Alex Garland’s movie Civil War gets right and wrong about photojournalism.

26 Apr 2024 - 4:44AMvideocam

Kirsten Dunst in a still from Civil War. Photo: TNS

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong man arrested for alleged rape at Causeway Bay hotel

Man accused of raping 19-year-old woman at Regal Hongkong Hotel on Yee Wo Street

25 Apr 2024 - 8:15PM

China-Africa relations

Critical minerals for EV batteries help to drive China-Africa trade growth

Two-way trade between China and Africa has defied expectations, growing despite economic challenges.

20 Apr 2024 - 10:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Chinese state firm agrees US$400 million loan for Niger junta in return for oil

Use of resources to repay loans is a popular model for China, but critics warn these deals are unfair and ‘mortgage the future of countries’.

18 Apr 2024 - 9:53AMvideocam

China has invested heavily in Niger’s oil infrastructure, including the building of pipelines. Photo: AFP

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Standard Chinese script unified China, yet we can’t make a universal plug?

Why power plugs and sockets are not standardised worldwide is anyone’s guess. China’s First Emperor was all about standardisation – he introduced the universal Chinese writing system used to this day.

31 Mar 2024 - 8:15AM

That there is still no standardised power socket is one of the mysteries of the modern world. China’s First Emperor was all about standardisation – he introduced the universal Chinese writing system that is still in use today. To resolve the issue, a multipronged approach is needed. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Africa relations

Niger courts China and Russia just days after severing US military ties

Beijing positions itself to grow its oil and mining interests after a major diplomatic shift in the African nation.

29 Mar 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Africa is key in China’s bid to de-risk its iron ore supply

In a bid to break its reliance on Australia and Brazil for iron ore, China is diversifying further afield.

16 Mar 2024 - 9:00PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysia to amend citizenship law, give equal rights to foreign-born children

The amendment will allow foreign-born children to Malaysian mothers and their non-Malaysian spouse to automatically get citizenship, ending years of struggle for many.

14 Mar 2024 - 3:25PM

Under the current law, only Malaysian men who marry non-citizens and have a child abroad can pass their citizenship to their children. Photo: Shutterstock

Israel-Gaza war

2 Filipinos, 1 Vietnamese among crew killed in Houthi missile attack in Red Sea

Greek-owned vessel True Confidence is drifting and ablaze after a strike by the Iran-backed Yemen rebels.

7 Mar 2024 - 6:30PM

The ship ablaze following a Houthi missile attack at sea. Photo: VIDS via Reuters

Middle East

Red Sea data cables cut as Yemen’s Houthis hit ship with missile

Three cables under the Red Sea that provide global internet and telecommunications have been cut. Meanwhile, a Houthi missile hit a container ship in the Gulf of Aden, but caused no injuries.

5 Mar 2024 - 4:31PM

China-Africa relations

Sierra Leone leader’s visit to China shines light on Xi’s challenge to West

As the Chinese leader met President Bio in Beijing, the pair pledged to ‘safeguard’ African interests on the global stage.

2 Mar 2024 - 10:00AMvideocam

Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong puts shipping industry on greener course

City push for regional green fuel bunkering centre will offer incentives to vessel owners and industry to be more environmentally friendly.

2 Mar 2024 - 6:30AM

Vessels pass Hong Kong’s Tsing Ma Bridge. The city aims to establish a regional green fuel bunkering centre to make shipping more environmentally friendly. Photo: Martin Chan

AIIB

Opinion | Is the AIIB afraid to hear the true impact of its investments in Asia?

Despite the perception of multilateral development banks as forces of good with do-no-harm mandates, the evidence shows they do actually cause harm. The AIIB was the first such bank to include an oversight mechanism in its founding documents, but it is nearly impossible for people affected to access it.

17 Feb 2024 - 7:20PM

Asean

Opinion | Amid Red Sea clashes, India and Asean must work to secure the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean stability and security are vital for Southeast Asia, to defend against pirates and secure oil cargo and trade. Amid US-China rivalry, India is Asean’s natural security partner.

27 Jan 2024 - 4:30PM

Africa

US is ‘all in’ for Africa, Antony Blinken says opening coastal tour

Opening the trip in the shadow of coups and the rising influence of Russia and China on the continent, Blinken vowed ‘We are all in when it comes to Africa’.

23 Jan 2024 - 4:10AM

Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, right, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Praia, Santiago Island, Cape Verde on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Israel-Gaza war

Opinion | China and India have a duty to act on Houthi threat to global shipping

While the lukewarm responses to the US-led counter-attacks are understandable, the major powers must rise above their divisions to protect a global good – safe passage for the world’s ships and their crew.

17 Jan 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

India

India intercepts hijacked Liberian-flagged vessel in Arabian Sea

The Indian navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region.

5 Jan 2024 - 9:29PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

My Take | It’s time to invoke ‘responsibility to protect’ over Palestinian crisis

Unless world wants to cede moral authority of R2P to Iran, Hezbollah and Houthis, it must act to stop the carnage inflicted by Israel and US.

3 Jan 2024 - 9:00PM

United States

US says Iran drone struck chemical tanker near India, expanding Red Sea risks

The attack came amid a flurry of drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a vital Red Sea shipping lane since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7.

24 Dec 2023 - 11:56AMvideocam

Iranian army officials inspect homemade drones in Tehran. The US is blaming a strike on a tanker near India on Iranian drones. Photo: Handout /Iranian Army office/AFP

China education

College in southern China gets ‘unanimous praise’ for expelling foreign student

Authorities revoke residence permit for Liberian student over unexplained absences from class.

16 Dec 2023 - 9:27PM

The student was reportedly expelled over unexplained absences from classes at Liuzhou Vocational and Technical College in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Photo: Handout

Middle East

Cargo ship in Red Sea hit, set ablaze by projectile launched from Yemen

The attack further escalates a campaign by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for a series of missile assaults in recent days.

15 Dec 2023 - 5:04PM

Africa

Tanker in Middle East safe from attackers after US Navy responds, officials say

A US Navy warship responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden that had been seized by armed individuals and is now safe, US officials said,

27 Nov 2023 - 4:39PM

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