BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 10, 2020

The Bureau of Press and Public Affairs on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 subscribed to several local dailies, and highlighted headlines/stories from the front, inside and back pages of the dailies.

Today’s summary captures news  about how the United States praises President Weah’s  Gov’t as Liberia makes improvement in MCC Scorecard; President Weah’s  consolation message to Turkey following a tragic earthquake disaster; news  about  Liberia’s Foreign Minister Kemayah and EU Africa Chief, Koen Vervaeke reaffirming their Commitments to multilateral cooperation amongst other developments.  

DORMINANT STORIES

Foreign Minister Kemayah & EU Africa Chief, Koen Vervaeke, Reaffirm Commitment To Multilateral Cooperation                                                                                                                                                                 Liberia’s Foreign Minister Honorable Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah arrived in Brussel, Belgium for a one-day working session with EU officials on November 6, 2020. According to a Dispatch from Brussels, the Foreign Minister met with several EU officials, including H.E. Ambassador Koen Vervaeke, Managing Director of African Affairs at the European Extended Action Service (EEAS) to discuss and reinforce EU-Liberia efforts to further promote bilateralism and multilateralism aimed at strengthening economic cooperation. During the discussion Minister Kemayah expressed gratitude to the EU for the partnership and extended esteemed sentiments from President George Manneh Waeh to the Presidents of EU, H.E. Charles Michel, of the European Council and Madam Ursula Von Der, of the European commission. The discussions also centered around the ongoing Post 2020 negotiations, sustainable economic growth, Technical ,Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) Agriculture and fisheries, Migration and Mobility, Peace and Security Cooperative investment in youth through market responsive education by rolling out more Vocational training, as well as possibilities for budget support to Liberia’s upcoming Midterm elections, the FrontPage Africa newspaper reports. Related Caption: Foreign Minister Kemayah, EU Africa chief Reaffirm Commitment to Multilateral Cooperation (Heritage Newspaper)

Covid Vaccine: First ‘Milestone’ Vaccine Offers 90% Protect

(BBC): The first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more that 90% of people from getting Covid-19, humanity”. Their vaccine has been tested on 43, 500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.  The companies plan to apply for emergency approval to use the vaccine by the end of the month. A vaccine-alongside better treatments-is seen as the best way of getting out of the restrictions that have been imposed on all our lives. There are around a dozen in the final stage of testing known as a phase 3 trial-but this is the first to show any results. It uses a completely experimental approach that involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code-in order to train the immune system. Previous trials have shown the vaccine trains the body to make both antibodies-and another part of the immune system called T-cells to fight the coronavirus, Daily Observer newspaper writes.  Related Caption: Covid Vaccine: First Milestone Vaccine Offers 90% Protection (Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

U.S. Praises President Weah Gov’t As Liberia Makes Improvement In MCC Scorecard

The United States Government through its Embassy near Monrovia has praised the leadership of President Dr. George Manneh Weah for improvements the country made in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard. The MCC scorecard assesses performance in the three policy categories including ruling justly, investing in people, and encouraging economic freedom. “We appreciate Liberia’s improved standing on the scorecard and applaud the work of the government’s MCC’s Eligibility Team Steering Committee to strengthen the flow of data to scorecard indicator institutions. We encourage your government to redouble its efforts to concretely address the policy areas the indicators measure and look forward to improvements being reflected in stronger performances by Liberia on Future MCC scorecards,” Alyson Grunder, Chargé d'Affaires at the United States Embassy in Liberia said in a communication to President Weah. According to the communication, for the Fical Year 2021 Scorecard, Liberia passed nine indicators and made significant improvements in several policy areas. According to The News newspaper, the U.S. Embassy official says Liberia’s score improved significantly in the Control of Corruption indicator (from 0.00 in 2020 to 0.12 in 2021).

President Weah Consoles Turkey On Tragic Earthquake Disaster                                    

                                  President George Manneh Waeh has sent a condolence message to the Government and people of the Republic of Turkey, following tragic news of a devastating earthquake that struck the Aegean City of Lzmir on October 30, 2020, causing loss of Lives and extensive damage to infrastructures and properties of the people living in the affected areas. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President George Manneh Weah, in his message to H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of the Republic of Turkey, President George Manneh Weah, on behalf of Liberia, extended deepest condolence to the Government and people of Turkey, particularly to the families of the victims of the disaster. The Liberian leader further expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Government and People of Turkey will overcome the difficulties of this disaster as normalcy restores to the affected area, the Heritage newspaper writes.

15 Winners of “WeahLearn Project” Competition Awarded Scholarships                                           

       Fifteen students, who frequently won in the just ended George Manneh Weah Academic, Excellence, and Proficiency Competition, could not cease their smiles as they were awarded scholarships to complete their education both at university and grade school levels by finance Minister Samuel Tweah. The “We           ahLearn Project”, through its George Weah Academic Excellence, and Proficiency Competition, over the weekend hosted a lunch for over 100 young students from Montserrado and other parts of the country at the Ministerial complex in congo Town, outside Monrovia. Most of the students were winner of the just-ended George Weah Academic Excellence and Proficiency Competition, the Heritage Newspaper says.

Ivory Coast Constitutional Council Confirms Ouattara re-election        

                                                                 Ivory Coast’s Constitution council has formally ratified President Alassane Ouattara’s re-election to third term after a tense election that was marred by clashes and an opposition boycott. “Alassane Ouattara is proclaimed elected in the first round,” Coucil President Mamadou Kone said on Monday in a national broadcast. Kone added that” no serious irregularities” were noted during the October 31 presidential election, the results that gave 78-year-ld more than 94 percent votes. According to the Heritage newspaper, Opposition leaders had called on supporters to boycott the electoral process, saying Ouattara’s bid for a third term was unconstitutional. While Ivory Coast has a limit of two presidential terms, Ouattara insists a new constitution in 2016 allows him to run again.

4kids International Boss Wants Youth Engage in Education for Better Liberia     

                                                           In an effort to promote education in the country, the Executive Director of 4kids international wants youth across Liberia to engage in education for a better Liberia. According to Mr. Tyson Smith Berry, youth should have passion of building themselves more especially thinking about their education. Speaking at the official launching ceremony held at the Monrovia city over the weekend, Berry added this is the time for youth to retell the story by engaging in the building of capacities and empowering their lives. He disclosed that his organization has undertaken projects in schools and communities in Monrovia and its environs and has written several projects proposals for implementation, asserts the Heritage newspaper.

Universal human Rights International Honors Us Congressman For Championing Green Card, Temporary Protection Status Bill                                                                                                                                                         Th