Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Laureen is a freelance journalist creating high-quality, informed content on international affairs, politics and technology. She has worked both in and out of newsrooms since 2000. She is a former paramedic with significant experience in community resilience and nonprofit community development initiatives, and maintains "a passion for action" on sustainability and climate change. She also is trained in conflict resolution and diversity, and has special interests in science and medical reporting, and culture and religion issues. Laureen received her MSJ from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in the United States, and completed additional graduate study in theology at University of Notre Dame. Follow Laureen on Mastodon at @laureen@m.ai6yr.org
A United States senator who serves as chairman of the influential U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee stands accused of acting on behalf of the Egyptian government in a corruption case that alleges the exchange of cash, gold, a car, and other benefits totaling more than a half-million dollars. Authorities allege…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
The World Health Organization (WHO) says cholera cases in 2022 more than doubled from the previous year, with reported cases in 44 countries. The cholera statistics released Friday found large outbreaks in seven countries, five of them on the African continent. Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Nigeria and…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, speaking to leaders of oil major ExxonMobil, says his oil-producing nation remains committed to the industry and new short-term production, including nearly 40,000 barrels per day with the company. Tinubu said Nigeria is “no longer settling for crumbs and leftovers on the investment agenda of the…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
The Moroccan organizers of next month’s Annual Meetings with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomed the decision to go on with the Marrakesh events, despite damage from a magnitude-6.8 earthquake that struck the region on September 8. “Marrakesh is ready for the world’s most significant economic and…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Mali has joined neighboring nations Niger and Burkina Faso in establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, a treaty among new leaders in a region that previously established security agreements (like the G5 nations) facilitated by France and others with a presence in the Sahel. “I signed today … the Liptako-Gourma…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Young African leaders were in New York City on Saturday to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, promoting the SDGs at their midpoint on the way to 2030 and ahead of this week’s SDG summit, an event held along with the annual UN General Assembly. Members of the African…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
In Libya, officials are focusing on health concerns following the catastrophic flooding at the weekend in Derna and other northern coastal communities. “In the wake of the floods, as the death toll rises, health needs have become more urgent,” said the World Health Organization in Libya. “There are at least…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
In Libya, the death toll from stunning flood impacts brought by a fierce Mediterranean storm has now reached more than 5,200, according to interior minister Essam Abu Zariba of the country’s eastern government. The update, reported by the Libya Observer on Tuesday, also said thousands remain missing, with images from…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Authorities in Morocco say the death toll has now passed 2,000 following the catastrophic earthquake that struck the Atlas Mountain region late Friday night. The number of injured also has soared to 2,059 people, more than half of them in critical condition, according to an update from the interior ministry….
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Azali Assoumani of Comoros, the current African Union (AU) chairperson, arrived Friday in India for G20 summit meetings in which it’s expected that membership for the AU will be approved. Meetings will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Dehli. “This is the first ever G20 Summit being…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
The African continent is home to 30% of the planet’s cobalt, lithium, manganese and other critical resources needed for the clean energy transition, with Dr. Richard Muneng of the United Nations Environment Program detailing why the minerals are key to Africa’s future and its leadership in the climate transition. Muneng…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Tsai Ing-wen, president of Taiwan, began a state visit to eSwatini on Monday, marking 55 years of diplomatic relations with the last remaining African nation to honor the sovereignty of the island nation claimed by China. But South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a statement claiming that it, too, supports…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Africa Climate Week begins in Nairobi on Monday, with leaders from across the continent arriving in Kenya to discuss ways to meet climate targets while expanding access to energy and ensuring that economic development remains sustainable. “It comes as temperatures in Africa are rising faster than many other parts of…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Humanitarian aid workers with Doctors Without Borders are scaling back their work at a site in the Central African Republic due to continued violent attacks including armed robberies and sexual assault. The organizations said two “grave incidents” at their site in and around the town of Batangafo occurred in the…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
A widely shared video of President Ali Bongo of Gabon, above, showed him at home in his residence on Wednesday, but it offered little insight into what’s actually happening in Libreville as the military announced it was removing Bongo from power. “I don’t know what’s going on,” said the 64-year-old…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times