By Mark B. Newa, with The DayLightPolice in Nimba County have arrested two of a number of Turkish loggers for illegal logging activities, forestry authorities said. Hasan Uzan and Umit Gungor of Askon Liberia General Trading Inc. are in police custody following their arrest last night, according to Cllr. The FDA has also banned Askon from forestry activities and barred Hasan Uzan, Faith Uzan and Yeter Uzan. Authorities are still looking for Yeter Uzan and Faith Uzan, Askon’s two other shareholders. Yeter Uzan holds 10 percent and Faith Uzan five percent.

The U.S. President made the call at a private meeting attended by his top advisors, with President Weah and his counterparts at the White House. Also participating were Gabon’s Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been president since 2009, and Madagascar’s President Andry Nirina Rajoelina. On 4 April, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi, Liberia, leaders from 27 of 31 political parties signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023, an enhanced and comprehensive declaration designed to ensure a nonviolent electoral process. The NEC Chairperson expressed the Commission’s gratitude to all political parties and alliances for their contribution to the milestone electoral sojourn of the Farmington River Declaration 2017. In his keynote address, President Weah historicized the 2017 “Farmington River Declaration” and emphasized the need for peaceful and orderly elections in October 2023.

On Tuesday, a group of Legislative staffers declared their unflinching support to the presidential and vice-presidential bids of Amb. “Honorable Senators and the incoming Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, we, the legislative staffers have called you here today to celebrate and express our confidence in you. Boakai came under staunch criticisms for snubbing Sen. Karngar-Lawrence, the Liberty Party political leader who spent years supporting his presidential ambition. As the result, it was widely predicted that Sen. Karngar-Lawrence would break ties with the former Vice President and chat her own course. They presented certificates of appreciation to Senator Karngar-Lawrence and Abraham Darius Dillon for “putting nation before self” by endorsing the Boakai-Koung ticket.

The meeting was attended by civil society, the human rights community, victims, members of Congress, senior Democrat and Republican Congressional staffers, and US State Department staff. The purpose of the meeting was to present a recent Resolution for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia. By Mae Azango [email protected]During the meeting, Mr. Dempster presented the recent Resolution, which was endorsed by civil society, justice campaigners, war victims/survivors, and the human rights community of Liberia. Dempster also discussed the needs for justice in Liberia with Congressional staff on Capitol Hill. President Weah has an opportunity to deliver on longstanding needs ahead of the August anniversary by at last taking concrete steps to begin the process to establish a war crimes court.

Monrovia – The uncle of Barcelona and Ivorian midfielder Gustave Bailly has admitted that the African star is aware of the news of a Liberian woman claiming to be his biological mother. By: Christopher C.Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075It was reported in early May that, after years of searching, Nancy Pyne, a Liberian woman, claims that Ivorian football superstar Franck Yannick Kessie is her son. Nancy Pyne, in an interview, said, “My two children (Ketteku & Kessie) father, Bruno, was a short, black man, and easygoing. In an interview, Nancy Pyne said, “My two children (Ketteku & Kessie) father, Bruno, was a short, black man and easy going. One may think his trip was to meet his brother to discuss the issue of a Liberian woman claiming they are her children.

..., It is no longer a secret that Senator Jeremiah Koung has emerged as a powerful symbol of the rotten sweetness of democratized corruption in Liberia. It is no longer a secret that Senator Jeremiah Koung has emerged as a powerful symbol of the rotten sweetness of democratized corruption in Liberia. To say Senator Koung along with his political godfather, Senator Prince Yomie Johnson are the most potent political operatives is not an overstatement. Senator Jeremiah Koung and his political godfather, Senator Prince Yomie Johnson are smooth political operators that belong to the MDR. Joseph Boakai has limited the anti-corruption fight with his collaborations with the likes of Jeremiah Koung, Prince Johnson, etc.

The National Elections Commission and political parties have signed an MOU to ensure a minimum of 30% female representation for October 10 elections. The National Elections Commission has signed a 30% gender qouta MOU with political parties to increase the slot of female candiates for October 10 polls. It would have empowered the electoral body to fine or delist any political parties that failed to adhere to the gender quotas. Meanwhile, the UN has lauded political parties that have taken concrete steps to include 40 percent or more women on their candidate listings. This, the UN, noted demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering more internally democratic political parties and to achieving a more inclusive and equitable Liberia.

Liberia: Charlyne Brumskine Offers Reconciliation To Senators Dillon And Karnga-Lawrence, But Emphasizes It Cannot Be ForcedGANTA — Ms. Charlyne Brumskine, daughter of the founding father of Liberty Party Charles Walker Brumskine, has declared that the party’s door for reconciliation with Senators Abraham Darius Dillon, Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence and other aggrieved members of the party is still opened, but requires their willingness to accept. Reconciliation is about one’s willingness to decide whether he or she wants to do so, or not. We will continue to extend a hand of reconciliation, and those who want to come, will come,” she said. “Senator Dillon: “No one in Liberty Party hates Charlyne Brumskine. I believe Grand Bassa County needs to be represented at the highest level.

Albert Chie, the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, has been accused of ‘trucking voters’ from across the country to boost his re-election in Grand Kru County. I urge all of us to work towards this goal.”It is unclear whether the goal Chie was talking about involved voter trucking or not. “Voter trucking applicants were seen being trucked for the BVR phase two in the counties of Bong, Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Kru. Voters trucking is human traffickingThe trucking of voters, according to Cllr. However, NEC claimed that the overall impact of the technical glitches on the turnout of the biometric voter registration exercise was minimal.

The presidential candidate of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander Cummings, might announce Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine, the daughter of the late veteran politician, and founder of the Liberty Party, Cllr. It is however unclear how much impact Cummings’ naming of Brumskine would have on voters, given that she is relatively new to the open political space. Her potential candidacy as running mate to Cummings could set her up to exceed what her father tried to do for many years but fell short. Cummings pledged to rid Liberia of endemic corruption that has stifled the underdevelopment of the country if he wins this year’s election.

MONROVIA – Monrovia witnessed the 27th Ordinary Congress of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) held over the weekend at the new LFA headquarters, where over 100 accredited stakeholders were present. By: Christopher C.Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075The Congress passed a US$6.4 million budget and approved several proposals to the statute of the LFA. According to Chapter 19, Article 33 of the revised LFA statute, Congress is the highest decision-making body and represents the interests of all LFA members. However, statistics taken by the reporter indicated that about 90% of stakeholders who attended the 27th Ordinary Congress did not study the Congressional Documents, and about 30% of stakeholders were interchangeably out of the Congress Hall. Critics rated the organization of the 27th Ordinary Congress as averagely good, but said that stakeholders sold their birth rights by bargaining with the LFA on all proposals and reports without asking necessary questions.

Buchanan, Grand Bassa County — Bong County Senatorial aspirant Johnny Kpehe has denied ever endorsing Unity Party standard bearer Joseph Boakai Sunday in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. I wish to inform Liberians that I have not endorsed any presidential candidate ahead of the October presidential election, and will never do so under any guise. I had gone to Buchanan to look after my business when I met my uncle, Julius Sele, and he later requested for a picture with me. And such picture has circulated on social media claiming I have endorsed Joseph Boakai, which is far from the truth.”“I urge the public to disregard any claims of me endorsing Joseph Boakai and Unity Party. Lastly, I wish to call on media houses to avoid publishing stories that have no basis or genuine source most especially at this critical time of election.”

Liberia: Why Cummings Did Not Name His Running Mate in GantaGANTA – The Liberian public had high expectations of learning who the running mate would be for the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), especially given that the CPP had recently gathered in Ganta, Nimba County for its convention. However, the constitution of Alexander Cummings’ Alternative National Congress (ANC) prohibits the announcement of a running mate from outside the county of origin of the candidate. Prior to the convention, it had been rumored that Mr. Cummings had settled on Cllr. “Unless we change the politics by changing the political leadership, we are stuck in this terrible state of underdevelopment and misery,” he said. The ANC 5th National Convention was attended by over 250 delegates from the 15 political sub-divisions of Liberia, as well as delegates from the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.

Kamara claimed that Iron Jacket usually works at the mine and it was on one of his regular routines that he found the precious stone. Kamara explained that it took the intervention of several people including Senator Saah Joseph before Manju and Konneh brought forth Iron Jacket. “I lost confidence in Minister Swen because for him to have allowed Barku (Konneh) to keep the diamond was wrong. He said the parties agreed that Iron Jacket found the mineral but since none of them was present, only Iron Jacket can state where he found his diamond. One group said the diamond came from Claim #9 and the man who found his diamond said the diamond came from Claim #12.

MONROVIA – Youth Media Action (YMA) has launched Liberia’s first-ever journalism manual entitled “Liberia Youth Journalism Training Manual.” The expository and educated piece was written by an energetic team from YMA headed by the institution’s executive director, Varmah Kamara. By Jaheim T. Tumu- [email protected]Kamara said YMA did the training manual to fill the gaps and provide a comprehensive training program that can be used by both the trainers and the trainees. “Without a doubt, one of the fundamental challenges media development faces is low professional journalistic standards due to poor media education foundation or lack of early journalism and practice. Adding “The advantage you get into becoming professionals in journalism is much more beneficial when you start early as a youth. She added, “As Youth Media Action launches the “Liberia Youth Journalism Training Manual” today, we are hopeful that young journalists or journalism students will focus their primary attention on learning the basics in the trade, which will help to equip you for the world and the job market.”Launching the training manual the Chief of the Party of Internews Liberia, Madam Lien Bach, acknowledged YMA for its extraordinary achievement in compacting the book.