Latest news with #Beni
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Little Rock Zoo's oldest elephant tests positive for tuberculosis
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Zoo's oldest elephant has tested positive for tuberculosis following a routine exam. The elephant's name is Zina and she was diagnosed after a trunk wash test showed that she was shedding the bacteria. According to zoo officials, Zina is receiving treatment to stop bacterial shedding and prevent transmission to other animals. Little Rock Zoo shares growth update on baby gorilla Beni Staff will continue frequent monitoring and blood work during Zina's treatment, as the medication can be hard on her system. Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease but primarily affects humans and is commonly seen in older Asian elephants imported from Southeast Asia before the 1970, Zoo officials said. Little Rock Zoo celebrates 100 years with community-focused centennial event A spokesperson added that guests are not at risk due to the distance maintained between the animals and visitors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Beni: Prison Officers Trained by Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) on Preventing Radicalization in Detention Facilities
Twenty-five Congolese prison administration officers from the Beni region in North Kivu, including four women, took part in a training session on June 10, 2025, focused on preventing radicalization and violent extremism of detainees. Organized at Kangbayi Urban Prison by MONUSCO's Prison Administration Support Unit in Beni, the training aimed to strengthen prison staff capacity in managing inmates at risk of radicalization. The session covered the definitions of radicalization and violent extremism, identification of risk factors, indicators of prison radicalization, and best practices for prevention, management, and reintegration of affected detainees. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for an approach that respects the rights and dignity of incarcerated individuals. Like many penitentiary facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kangbayi Prison houses a diverse inmate population. Located in a conflict-affected area, it holds a significant number of armed group members, including elements of the ADF, Maï-Maï militias, and more recently, the AFC/M23. Around 400 individuals are currently detained for offenses related to armed activity. The prison director, Tsongo Makelele, highlighted the challenges: "It has been observed at the national level that some inmates become radicalized within prison walls. Beni prison houses individuals from armed groups, especially the ADF, and others involved in the eastern DRC conflicts. With only two cells, it's difficult to ensure proper separation between different categories of inmates." In light of the risk of extremist ideologies spreading, he welcomed the training: "Our staff now have tools to prevent radicalization. It's a critical issue for the security of the facility. When a radicalized inmate adopts a violent or extremist posture, it poses a real threat. Equipping our personnel with the skills to anticipate and manage this phenomenon is essential." This training is part of MONUSCO's broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of penitentiary institutions in eastern DRC. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Beni: Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) Celebrates World Environment Day by Planting Trees in a School
In Beni, North Kivu Province, MONUSCO celebrated World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5, by organizing an awareness campaign and planting trees at a local school. ' It's a very important day ' said Adam Obatoki Salami, acting head of the UN mission's sub-office. Celebrated every year on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public awareness, observed by millions of people around the world. According to Adam Obatoki Salami, this year's celebration was an opportunity to raise awareness about the harmful impact and dangers of plastic materials that pollute the environment. The theme chosen for this year is: ' Beat Plastic Pollution. '. ' It's a call for everyone to take responsibility so that we can collectively protect our environment and fight against the dangers of plastic pollution. Our message to the people of Beni is, first, that MONUSCO is committed to combating plastic pollution, working toward a better environment, and raising awareness so people consider environmental issues in their daily lives. We've planned several awareness activities throughout the city for this day. ' noted Adam Obatoki. Among these activities were tree planting events at MONUSCO's Mavivi base and at Matembo Primary School, along with public awareness meetings on environmental protection. Moïse Adirodu, Head of Administration and Finance at the environmental coordination office in Beni, believes MONUSCO is fulfilling its role in full cooperation with local authorities: ' MONUSCO plays an active role in environmental management. It implements waste management strategies and makes efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in its decision-making processes, in line with the objectives of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. Through its actions in the city of Beni, MONUSCO has become a key partner for our environmental coordination. I'd like to recall that when the mayor of Beni launched the community cleanup initiatives—commonly known as Salongo—MONUSCO was leading from the front. We truly appreciate this kind of partnership ' he said. According to the United Nations, more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year, half of which is designed for single use. Less than 10% of this plastic is recycled. An estimated 11 million tons of plastic end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans annually—and Beni's rivers are no exception. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Beni: Judicial Actors and Police Officers Trained in Criminal Investigation Techniques
About twenty staff members from the military and civil judicial administration of Beni and Butembo, as well as Congolese police officers, attended two simultaneous training sessions from May 26 to June 5, 2025, at MONUSCO's headquarters in Beni. The first focused on ballistic expertise applied to criminal trials, while the second centered on cybercrime and digital investigation techniques. Over the ten days, the trainees—including public prosecutors, judicial police officers, and police agents—followed a comprehensive training program combining theoretical presentations, practical workshops, case studies, and experience sharing. The sessions were led by experts in ballistics and judicial investigation from MONUSCO's Justice Support Section. According to the participants, the training helped deepen their technical and legal skills in response to firearm-related crime. Among them was Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo of the Congolese National Police, who said he learned many important concepts related to criminality. He praised the quality of the training, stating that it would enhance his professional skills and help the Congolese justice system better respond to challenges, particularly those arising from the development of new technologies. 'We learned a lot about techniques, methods, etc. We explored the different types of ballistics: internal ballistics, external ballistics, and terminal ballistics. All of this was new to us. We also learned how things work with firearms and different types of ammunition. This added real value to our profession. From now on, we'll be able to conduct ballistic investigations and write reports for the appropriate authorities. We're going to improve the way we work because we've gained new knowledge ' he stated. Like the other participants, Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo expressed hope that MONUSCO would organize more training sessions of this kind to help judicial administration agents deepen their understanding of criminality and investigative procedures. ' This will really help us. These are lifelong skills. We won't lose them. It's a real asset ' the officer emphasized. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
South Wales Argus
08-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Dog owner becomes UK fundraiser for Bosnian dog rescue from her home
Vicki Graddon, 56, adopted her dog Beni from the Bosnian rescue centre, Ceca's Rescued Paws, in 2021. After Beni was injured, Vicki formed a close bond with the rescue owner, Svetlana, who nursed him back to health. This connection inspired her to support the Bosnian charity from afar, raising funds from her front room. Vicki said: "I sort of walked into being the UK fundraiser. "My husband and I are pet obsessed. "So when I saw Ceca online when we were looking to adopt a rescue, I met Svetlana and I could see she needed help – and that was that." (Image: Vicki Graddon) Before Vicki's involvement, Ceca's Rescued Paws was a one-woman operation in Bosnia. Svetlana said: "I first started rescuing dogs in 2017. "My father died the year before, and at the time, I was spending a lot of time with my mother, so she wasn't alone. "As the days went on, I kept seeing more dogs come to my parents' street looking for safety. "Because of the war, most other houses in our neighbourhood were empty, abandoned, and never to be returned to." Svetlana explained the reality for dogs in Bosnia, adding: "Dogs are in a constant state of fear due to the crazy reality of Bosnia and my city of Prijedor. "They're considered such a problem; you're rewarded with five euros for every dog tail you can bring to a city official. "Can you imagine? Dogs live in fear for their own lives." Vicki, who is no stranger to adopting animals in need, was inspired to help after adopting Beni and learning about the daily struggles of dogs in Bosnia. She started a Facebook group and a fundraising page to help cover Ceca's day-to-day costs. Vicki said: "Easyfundraising is a marvel for the cause. "By shopping with retailers via the platform, myself and other supporters raise free cashback donations which go straight to Svetlana every quarter. "She uses the funding to cover vet bills, food, dog beds, and even paperwork to make sure the dogs can be rescued. "Without it, Ceca wouldn't be able to support as many dogs." (Image: Vicki Graddon) To date, they've received more than £300 via easyfundraising. Fundraising opportunities like this made Beni's move to the UK possible, without which he'd still be in Bosnia without a loving home. Vicki even went on to reveal her four-legged friend's newfound stardom in England: "We'd only had Beni for a couple of months. "He's brilliant but has a cheeky side. "I saved for months to buy a Mulberry bag, within days Beni had eaten straight through it. "After I made a Facebook post about it, Mulberry kindly sent me a replacement and involved Beni in a marketing campaign. "At the end of the day, Beni's an angel – he came from Bosnia with nothing but a kind heart, and I'm thankful people like Svetlana do what they do."
