THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs  

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2016 

News of the National Elections Commission’s launch of its revised six-year Strategic Plan is the lone story dominating today’s edition of the summary of the selected local dailies.

The Summary also includes news of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s proclamation declaring Tuesday, July 26,Independence Day as well as the message of congratulations to His Majesty Philippe, King of the Belgians, on the occasion of the National Day of Belgium.

DOMINANT STORY  

NEC Launches Strategic Plan Today 

The National Elections Commission (NEC) will on Today, Thursday, launch its revised six-year Strategic Plan. The ceremony will take place in the Auditorium of the Monrovia Christian Fellowship Church in Sinkor. Representatives of civil society organizations, political parties, the media and local and international partners are expected to attend the launching exercise, In Profile Daily asserts.

Related Captions: NEC Launches Its Revised Six-year Strategic Plan Today(Heritage), NEC Unveils Strategic Plan(New DEMOCRAT)

OTHER STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf declares July 26 National Holiday

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared Tuesday, July 26,Independence Day to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.  The Proclamation calls on all citizens and foreign residents within the borders to observe the day, and requires all Government offices and business houses to be closed on this Day from 6:00 ante meridian to 6:00 post meridian. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader has requested all citizens in solemn cooperation with all Prelates, Priests, Deacons, Evangelists, Imams, Elders and other Members of the Sacerdotal Order, regardless of religious creed, to gather together with one purpose in their respective places of worship in each City, town, village, hamlet, home, especially in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County on Friday, July 22 and Sunday, July 24, and offer thanks and praises to God for His blessings showered upon us in past and present times and beseech Him for his continuing goodness and beneficence towards all peoples and nations of the earth, especially, the people of Liberia, the FOCUS newspaper reports. At the same time, The Inter-Ministerial and Agencies’ Steering Committee on Liberia’s 169th Independence Anniversary has released the Calendar of Events to mark the observance. The Daily Observer caption “169th Independence Day Activities Commence Today-Renowned Biomedical Research Scientist, Inventor, Medical Doctor, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan Is This Year’s National Orator” quote a Foreign Ministry release as saying this year’s anniversary will be celebrated in Monrovia, under the theme: “Consolidating Progress towards Transformation” with Liberia’s only medical doctor who is also a renowned biomedical research scientist, an inventor, and political activist, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, severing as this year’s National Orator. Dr. Nyan, who hails from Killepo-Towroken, River Gee County, according to the daily, is trained in infectious disease research.  He has over a decade of experience working in public health systems in pathogen diagnostics and the development of affordable diagnostic tests for underprivileged communities. The Daily Observer reports that activities marking the celebration of the country’s 169^th Independence Anniversary, which begins today, Thursday, July 21, with the Golden Image Awards and Dinner is characterized by thanksgiving and intercessory services, football matches, a dialogue and the dedication of projects in Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Sinje, Grand Cape Mount Counties.

Related Caption: Liberian Scientist, Inventor Selected As ’26 Nat’l Orator(FOCUS)

President Sirleaf Congratulates Belgium

The In Profile Dailyreports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to His Majesty Philippe, King of the Belgians, on the occasion of the National Day of Belgium. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf indicated, with satisfaction, that bilateral relations between the two countries is growing in strength, and likes to further seize this opportunity to once again express heartfelt gratitude for Belgium’s immense assistance to Liberia’s recovery initiatives. She assured King Philippe that Liberia resolves to be committed to the shared objectives for the promotion of continued global peace and prosperity.

Cabinet Reviews Key Benchmarks

Cabinet has carefully reviewed the status updates on key benchmarks in the areas of roads, ports, water & sanitation, education as well as Task Force performance covering agriculture and agro-processing and manufacturing and business support; threatened punitive action against any member of the executive involved in budget manipulation and mandated a vigorous and aggressive Sector Ministers-led Town Hall meeting education and information-dissemination campaigns. According to an Executive Mansion release, Cabinet took note of the status updates on roads, ports, water & sanitation, education and related Task Force performance projects and mandated proper and effective coordination initiatives that will translate into realizable outcomes for the benefit of the nation and its people, according to the Heritage newspaper.

Six Women Die Daily In Liberia…UNFPA Points To Maternal Mortality

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country representative to Liberia, Dr. Oluremi Sogunro has revealed that six women died daily in Liberia as a result of maternal mortality. Dr. Sogunto made the revelation Wednesday at the official signing ceremony of cooperation agreement between the Embassy of Sweden and UNFPA in Monrovia. The project targets reduction in teenage pregnancies. According to him, two of the six women, who died daily, are young people, the NEWS newspaper reports.

UL, UNESCO Boost Teachers’ Training

A modern computer laboratory to train teachers studying at the University of Liberia has been dedicated by the People’s Republic of China and the United Nation Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), according to a press release issued under the signature of the Vice president for University Relations, Attorney Norris Tweah. The Laboratory, which is housed on the UL Fendell campus, is the first phase of China-UNESCO funded project intended to train teachers across the country, New DEMOCRAT newspaper reports.