Liberia

Additional Liberian dollar banknotes could be printed to buy gold from local miners and build up national reserves; some experts say the proposal of the Central Bank of Liberia to store gold at home is reasonable, but doubt about printing more currency

Liberia and Barbados signed a historic visa waiver agreement; with political consultations, it is expected to unlock new opportunities in trade, labor mobility, and cultural exchange in a wider frame of strengthening South-South cooperation

Controversial figure Prophet Key was given six months in jail for abusive and offensive language; the court also ordered him to publish formal apology to women and court for five consecutive days and commit never to use invectives against Liberia's values

Five major streets in Saclepea City will be paved, a development local authorities say will spur business growth and urban development making the town one of Nimba County’s most economically vibrant urban centers

Local tropical rainforests, among the last intact stretches of the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, face an accelerating threat driven by big brands demand of chocolate, warned Charlie Hammans, an investigator at the international watchdog Global Witness

Artisanal fishermen and fishmongers in southeastern Liberia applauded 25% reduction in annual license fees, a relief for small coastal operators; the measure addresses the key issue of steep licensing costs and is a result of full stakeholders' engagement

Vehicle and Traffic Law, unchanged since 1972, is poised for a long-awaited overhaul; Road Safety Action International convened its validation workshop in Monrovia, with major transport stakeholders to review and assess the final revised draft

Mothers of Tomorrow, a women’s advocacy group, has endorsed the Ministry of Labor’s recent decision to increase annual work permit fees for foreign workers from US$1.000 to US$3.000, describing the move as necessary for protecting Liberian jobs

System Interconnected Management of Goods in Transit SIGMAT was launched in Monrovia with the support of ECOWAS and EU; the digital platform interconnects customs of Liberia, Ivory Coast and Guinea to accelerate and enhance trade security

Amid challenges that still confront the rice value chain, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with stakeholders and EU, is ready to develop a roadmap to guide the country in improving domestic rice production