The Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD) will launch the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the first time in Liberia on January 18.FOHRD’s statement issued yesterday said the launch of the day will be a celebration of the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and will commence with a parade from Broad and Johnson streets. “Thereafter, the participants will proceed to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) headquarters on Broad Street, Crown Hill, for an indoor program for Dr. King’s ever living works of commitment, diligence, focus, far sightedness, etc.,” the statement read. The program will be held on the theme, “Peace Building and Nonviolence.”According to the statement, the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are “remarkable, and continue to impact the lives of many, our nation, and the world.”It added that on January 18 of every year “the day of this once world history maker that still affects positively is recognized and celebrated in most developing nations and the United States of America.”FOHRD said the program committee for the observance will join its counterparts to celebrate this historic event on Dr. King, especially for his nonviolent approach to protest.FOHRD’s MLK Program aims to deliver nonviolence and peace education to troubled and tension-charged communities to transform their bitterness, hurts and resentments into peacefully crafted solutions to settling grievances.Meanwhile, FOHRD has called on all sectors of government, civil society organizations, students and well meaning Liberians to come and join the launch and campaign against violence and commit to embracing nonviolence, dialogue, peaceful redress and other solutions to achieving peace.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will today Friday, launch the Human Resources for Health (HRH) program.Jhpiego’s Acting Chief of Party (COP), Mrs. Marion Subah, told the Daily Observer yesterday at her office in Monrovia that the objectives of the program are to officially launch and introduce MCSP/HRP to various pre-service education training institutions; regulatory and professional bodies; relevant stakeholders and partners.She said the program is also to review the task analysis and baseline assessment results, and then identify areas of collaboration in the work-plan from targeted training institutions, regulatory and professional bodies.The program is scheduled to be hosted at a resort in Monrovia It is expected to bring together the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernice Dahn, with key partners in the health sector including Dr. Anthony S. Chan, USAID-Liberia Mission Director, and MCSP/HRH staff, Harriette Mondaye, among others.The program is supporting the Liberian government’s commitment to strengthen the country’s health workforce through the new MCSP/HRH project. The project, according to Mrs. Subah, is focused on strengthening pre-service education for registered midwives (RMs) and medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) in targeted institutions throughout the country. She said the MCSP aims to strengthen and expand a fit-for-purpose, productive, and motivated health workforce to end preventable child and maternal deaths. “Liberia’s health workforce remains significantly below the levels needed to reach the national targets for 2021 laid out in the National Health and Social Welfare Human Resources Policy and Plan 2011–2021,” Mrs. Subah said. She said the greatest workforce shortages were reported among midwives and laboratory personnel. In addition, pre-service education programs for these two professions are at 50 percent or lower capacity, according to the government’s National Investment Plan 2015–2021. The overarching goal of the MCSP/HRH project is to strengthen the capability and resilience of the country’s frontline health workforce to rapidly mitigate the second-order impacts of the Ebola virus disease through a targeted technical approach focused on clinical competency of frontline midwives and laboratory technicians. The MCSP/HRH project, Mrs. Subah said, will achieve its goal by improving pre-service training of midwives and laboratory personnel. “These professional groups play a critical role in reducing the unacceptably high maternal and newborn mortality rates, implementing the national epidemic response and preparedness program, and conducting accurate testing for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as malaria,” she said.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

Friends say there was no way back as McIlroy attempts to recapture the form that took him to world No 1.A source told the Sunday Independent: “Yes they are over. It’s a difficult time for them both but it is for the best in the long run.”The paper said one of the last straws for McIlroy came last month when Wozniacki posted the embarrassing picture online of the two-time major winner asleep with the message: ‘Jetlag? Lol!!’.One source said: ‘Rory was very upset by it and even Serena Williams pointed out – albeit in a joking way – it was a pretty mean thing to do.’The source added: “There were a lot of tears. She still has her profile picture on her social-networking site set as the two of them in happier times, but I can tell you the pair are no longer an item.“Rory has a lot of respect for Caroline and their time together was good, but he feels it’s time to move on now. And he wishes her nothing but the best.”McIlroy recently confirmed his split with Horizon Sports Management and a legal battle gets underway today.When contacted by the Sunday Independent, his new PR team said: “The Communications Clinic does not comment on Rory’s private life.”The 24-year-old is now heading to Asia where he will earn around £3million in appearances fees over the next month.Earlier this year, McIlroy was warned by Britain’s greatest-ever golfer Nick Faldo to ‘concentrate on golf’ after a dramatic slump in form.Over the last year, the 24-year-old has changed his clubs and his management company while his relationship with Wozniacki is also considered by some as a factor.Faldo said at the time: “You have a window of opportunity. You have a 20-year window as an athlete. Concentrate on golf, nothing else.“Hopefully, when you retire, 40s, 50s, you will have another 40 years to enjoy it. So just concentrate on golf. I think there’s a lot going on in his mind.”Last December, the pair were forced to deny rumours they were engaged after Wozniacki was spotted wearing a huge diamond ring on her wedding ring finger.Speculation first began when the tennis star was seen flashing the diamond and sapphire jewel as she arrived at Brisbane International Airport.However, it’s also tradition for Danish women to wear their engagement and wedding rings on the right hands, indicating that the jewel may have just been a recent Christmas present.-By Daily Mail0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000LONDON, England- Rory McIlroy has ended his relationship with Caroline Wozniacki, according to reports.Sources close to the pair claim the Irish golfer broke off from the Danish tennis star days after she posted a ‘mean’ picture on Twitter showing him fast asleep and open-mouthed with his glasses on. read more

“We cannot relax now. The league is a marathon and we might have a five point gap between us and number two, there is still so much to do. We need to work even harder, if anything,” Nkata told Capital Sport.He is wary of a Chemelil side they beat 3-0 in the first leg, with Francis Baraza’s Millers having won both their second leg matches.“They have started the second leg in very good form and defensively, they are a good team. We are well prepared, knowing the challenge that is ahead of us. We are going there for nothing but a win,” Nkata added.The tactician has also disclosed striker Allan Wanga will be available for the match though he will not be guaranteed a start. Wanga missed last weekend’s 2-1 win at Ulinzi Stars due to malaria and he is eager to mark his return to the Kenyan Premier League with his boyhood club.Tusker has the potential of opening an eight point gap if Gor and Mathare United lose their matches.Gor Mahia FC team posing for a team photo/Timothy Oobulu.Gor tactician Jose Marcelo Ferreira hopes his side can bounce back after dropping points against Kakamega Homeboyz last weekend and avoid a further skip up when they face a tough test in Ken Kenyatta’s Ushuru FC.The tax men held Gor to a barren draw in the first leg and they will be looking to pick up their first ever win over the reigning league champions.Ushuru have as well never scored a goal against Gor, but they will hope new signing Lamin Diallo who scored against Gor in the first leg while playing for Leopards brings some good luck with him.Francis Kimanzi’s ‘slum boys’ will host a rejuvenated AFC Leopards hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss away to Western Stima last weekend.Mathare though face a Leopards side beaming with confidence after beating Thika United 4-0 last weekend, their biggest win this season. The first leg between these two sides ended in a one-all stalemate.AFC Leopards head coach Ivan Minneart in training.PHOTO/Raymond MakhayaIngwe coach Ivan Minnaert hopes his well-oiled side can churn out another important win against a side of Mathare’s stature, admitting it will be a more difficult test for his charges.“Mathare is a strong team, they play well and it will not be easy for us. But slowly, we have been improving because we have trained more and more and we are getting that unity as a team. Hopefully, we show a better game,” Minnaert offered.Leopards will hinge their offensive duties on Mungai Kiongera who has made a huge impact in the two matches he has played, not only with his scoring and assisting prowess but also defensive attributes.Mathare’s backline marshalled by the experienced George ‘Wise’ Owino and the youthful Robinson Kamura will have some extra work to do but with a side that has conceded 13 goals so far, they should not find it that hard.Kimanzi, who is keen to win the league title with Mathare for the second time will be yearning for three points as his side looks on to close the gap with Tusker.Weekend fixturesSaturday: City Stars v Ulinzi Stars, Mathare United v AFC Leopards (Nyayo Stadium), Thika United v Western Stima (Thika County Stadium), Kakamega Homeboyz v Sofapaka (Mumias Complex), Muhoroni Youth v Posta Rangers (Muhoroni Complex), Sony Sugar v Bandari (Awendo Green Stadium).Sunday: Tusker FC v Chemelil Sugar (Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos), Ushuru FC v Gor Mahia (Nyayo Stadium).0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Tusker FC head coach Paul Nkata. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.NAIROBI, Kenya, July 15- A five point gap is the difference between Kenyan Premier League leaders Tusker FC and close challengers Mathare United as well as champions Gor Mahia, but Paul Nkata, the Brewers head coach is not about to let his feet off the gas pedal.Tusker play at home to a tricky Chemelil Sugar side this Sunday at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos and the Ugandan tactician said they will step up even higher from the tempo they played with last weekend against Ulinzi Stars. read more

Abe Lincoln would have been proud of the kids over at St. Mel Elementary School in Woodland Hills on Tuesday. His much-maligned penny was finally getting some respect. There’s been talk in Congress of ending production of the penny because it costs more to make than it’s worth, and people don’t seem to be using pennies much anymore except maybe to throw a few into a public fountain for good luck. Abe’s penny – which first appeared in 1909 on the centennial of his birth – is on the ropes, relegated to glass jars, seat cushions or the gutter. When’s the last time you saw someone bend down in the street to pick one up? If you have recently, chances are the someone you saw is a student at St. Mel. Last month, 180 children in the third, fourth and fifth grades at the local Catholic school collected 120,984 pennies from their families, neighbors, businesses and, yeah, from the streets. That’s $1,209.84 – strictly in pennies. Every morning the kids came to school and dumped them in large barrels at the door of every classroom for their community-service project. Some pennies came in plastic sandwich baggies, but most were loose – sticky pennies from under couch cushions or flattened ones from the street. The barrels were hefted onto trucks by the maintenance crew, taken to the bank and turned into cash. Tuesday morning at the school, the kids handed a check for $1,209.84 to Officer Jackie Hickey of the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad to help her take care of J.J. – Jackie Junior. J.J. is a 9-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, one of five bomb-sniffing dogs working for the LAPD. Jackie and J.J. have been a team for eight years and worked together on dozens of bomb threats and post-explosion investigations. It’s a dangerous job, and the kids hoped Abe’s pennies would make it a little safer for J.J. The city pays for a bomb dog’s vet bills and food, but everything else comes from donations or out of the handler’s pocket, Hickey said. “The city doesn’t have the funds for all the safety equipment we’d like our bomb dogs to have, so this money means a lot to us,” she said Tuesday, thanking the kids. Abe’s pennies will buy special, lightweight safety vests – similar to the ones used by search-and-rescue dogs on long, hot searches – and special pads for their paws so they don’t get burned or cut by glass as the dogs sniff through blast sites. “This is amazing because we seldom get donations. This is the largest one I’ve ever seen – over a thousand dollars. Wow,” Hickey said. All in Abe Lincoln’s pennies. Third-grader Katie O’Doherty brought in $5 worth of pennies to dump into the big barrel in teacher Debbie Watrobski’s class. Blake Elder put in $16, and Drew Slipe added $12 more. “My grandpa and I would take walks before dinner looking for pennies in the street, and we found a lot,” said 9-year-old Christiana Grossi. “I found a quarter, too, but I kept that.” It wasn’t hard collecting those pennies, the kids said. In fact, it was really easy and a lot of fun. When they told their neighbors and local merchants what they needed pennies for, well, nobody ever closed a door on them, said Theresa Killmond. “Everybody had pennies they wanted to give us,” 9-year-old Theresa said. “And look what we did with all of them.” Yeah, Abe Lincoln would have been proud of the kids over at St. Mel Elementary School for bringing back some respect for his pennies. Dennis McCarthy’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. dennis.mccarthy@dailynews.com (818) 713-3749160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

Chris Coleman has agreed a two-year contract extension to lead Wales in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, it is understood.Coleman, who succeeded the late Gary Speed in January 2012, has guided Wales to Euro 2016 next month – the country’s first major finals since the 1958 World Cup.But Coleman’s current deal expires after the tournament and talks have been ongoing for several months over new terms for the 45-year-old.The Football Association of Wales have called a news conference on Monday when it is understood that Coleman’s contract extension will be announced.Coleman, who will be attending the news conference with the FAW’s chief executive Jonathan Ford and president David Griffiths, had hoped that his contract situation would be resolved before the European Championship.But in March he suggested Welsh football needed to change behind the scenes, saying: “It is not just about my personal contract but what we see with the structure and whether we do the things we need to do to make sure it is not a one-off.“Qualifying cannot be a one-off and has to be continuous.”Coleman has admitted he misses the day-to-day involvement of club management and the former Fulham and Coventry boss had been linked with Aston Villa and Swansea in recent months.But the 32-times capped former defender has now agreed to try and build on Wales’ recent success and attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Chris Coleman is set to oversee Wales’ 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign 1 read more

11 Chris Wood – centre forward – The New Zealand striker had a mixed first season at Elland Road but he has the ability to bag over 20 goals in the Championship. 11 11 11 Stuart Dallas – midfield – The Northern Ireland man impressed at Euro 2016 after an good season under Steve Evans at United. Charlie Taylor – left-back – The young full-back is a home-grown talent and one Leeds fans are keen to keep amid reported Premier League interest. 11 11 11 Kyle Bartley – centre-back – The former Arsenal trainee, 25, moved to West Yorkshire on a season-long loan from Swansea City. Kemar Roofe – left forward – A signing to excite fans, Roofe was crowned League Two Player of the Year with Oxford last term and he joined the Whites for a reported seven-figure sum. The 23-year-old netted 26 goals in all competitions last term to help his side to promotion. Marcus Antonsson – right forward – The Swedish attacker moved to Elland Road at the end of June. He will be no stranger to Monk’s coaching staff, having played under assistant boss Pep Clotet at Halmstads BK. Gaetano Berardi – right-back – The 27-year-old Austrian has become a fan favourite since joining from Sampdoria in 2014. Liam Cooper – centre-back – As talkSPORT told you earlier in July, West Brom and Burnley are chasing the defender, who Monk will be keen to retain. Toumani Diagouraga – midfield – A January signing from Brentford who can sit deep and let Leeds’ creative midfielders roam freely. An unusual sense of optimism is around Leeds United after a number of positive additions this week. New manager Garry Monk took his tally of summer signings to six on Thursday, when he added Kemar Roofe hours after securing Matt Grimes on loan from former club Swansea City.The duo follow Rob Green, Kyle Bartley, Marcus Antonsson and Hadi Sacko through the doors at Elland Road. After two managers, off-field problems and a 13th-placed finish in the Championship last term, Whites fans will be hoping for better things to come this time around. With a new young manager in place with his chosen backroom staff, a new chief executive in Ben Mansford and exciting changes to their squad, it may be possible. And with the likes of Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci [loan] and Scott Wootton out of the club, their line-up and style of play is set to be new look under the 37-year-old boss.Is this how Monk’s side could take shape in the Championship next season? Click the arrow, above right, to see talkSPORT’s predicted XI in a 4-3-3 formation and comment with your thoughts. Rob Green – goalkeeper – The 36-year-old joined on a free transfer in July, casting doubt on the futures of Marco Silvestri and Ross Turnbull. 11 11 11 Leon Osman – midfield – The 35-year-old is a free agent after leaving Everton in the summer and he has been heavily linked to the West Yorkshire club. His experience could be key and he replaces Lewis Cook in the line-up, with promising youngster Lewis Cook reportedly close to joining Bournemouth. 11 read more

Transfer rumours and paper review 1 Here are the top transfer-related stories in Saturday’s newspapers…Chelsea are lining up bids for Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku after cooling their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. Arsenal contract rebel Sanchez has emerged as a top target of head coach Antonio Conte, and Chelsea are also at the front of the queue of clubs interested in Lukaku. Conte met with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia in Mayfair this week to discuss his plans for the summer, with Sanchez and Lukaku believed to be high on the agenda. (Daily Telegraph)Chelsea have added their former left-back Ryan Bertrand to their list of summer transfer targets. Antonio Conte wants to strengthen in both full-back positions and increase the competition for first-choice duo Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses. Conte is a huge admirer of Bertrand, who Chelsea sold to Southampton for only £10million in 2015. (London Evening Standard)Manchester United have shown an interest in re-signing Michael Keane two years after selling the central defender to Burnley for £2.5million. Everton are leading the pursuit for Keane with Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring the situation but United have now placed their former academy graduate on a list of summer targets. (Independent)West Ham want Arsenal’s unhappy striker Lucas Perez. The Hammers have already made strong enquiries for Perez, who is set to leave the Emirates this summer after a frustrating first season at the club. (Daily Mirror)Tottenham are finally to make a move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha this summer – with crocked Erik Lamela and flop Moussa Sissoko set to make way. Zaha, 24, has been on Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino’s radar for over a year and the Argentinian is set to test Palace‘s resolve with a bid in the region of £25million. (The Sun)Everton youngster Tom Davies is on the verge of signing a new five-year deal as a reward for his elevation into the first team. Davies broke into the senior side to become a regular in recent months. Now contract talks are virtually done, with the 18-year-old expected to pen the deal shortly after Saturday’s Merseyside derby. (Daily Telegraph)Newcastle are plotting a summer move for Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield. The Canada international has played a key role for the Clarets this season, making 26 Premier League appearances. And his performances have attracted the Magpies, who are keen on the 28-year-old if they are promoted back into the top flight this season. (Daily Mail)Aston Villa are set for talks with Manchester United next week about extending loan star Sam Johnstone’s stay. Boss Steve Bruce has been impressed with the 24-year-old’s recent form and has identified him as his first-choice option in goal next season. (Daily Mirror)And here are the latest talkSPORT.com headlines…?Missing out on Champions League football next season could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal, according to former Gunners captain William GallasFormer Everton midfielder Leon Osman has called on star striker Romelu Lukaku to focus on his football before thinking about moving to pastures newWes Brown has urged Manchester United to do ‘everything possible’ to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the clubLiverpool are ready to reignite their interest in Roma midfielder Leandro ParedesArsenal are preparing a summer move for Toulouse starlet Issa Diop – amid continued interest from Tottenham and Manchester CityChelsea and Manchester United are both scouting Torino star Andrea Belotti read more

Anderlecht couldn’t find a way back into the match and Celtic added a third in the dying moments. A fast break saw Scott Sinclair find space on the left and he fizzed in a third goal to ensure a memorable scoreline for Celtic. Celtic bounced back from opening day defeat to beat Anderlecht in Brussels in their second Champions League group game.Brendan Rodgers’ side were looking to make a statement as they pursue European football after Christmas and they took a huge stride towards that goal with an emphatic win.After a tentative opening spell, Celtic burst into life in the 38th minute. Olivier Ntcham released Kieran Tierney down the left wing and the defender’s low cross was tucked away at the back post by Leigh Griffiths.The Scottish champions were dominating possession against the group’s third seeds and found further reward in the second half. A mistake by Anderlecht veteran Olivier Deschacht let Patrick Roberts take possession and his shot was helped into the net by the home side’s Kara Mbodji. read more

31 March 2013 South Africa thrashed Ireland by 86 runs at the ICC Women’s World Twenty in Sylhet, Bangladesh on Saturday to set up a showdown against New Zealand on Monday which will decide whether or not the Proteas progress to the semi-finals. With their huge victory, South Africa improved their net run rate significantly. Most importantly, it is now better than the White Ferns’, which means a win would pull Mignon du Preez’s team level with the Kiwis on points, but above them on net run rate. The Proteas were expected to beat Ireland, who fell to their third loss in three outings, but the one-sided nature of the result was perhaps a little surprising.‘It was wonderful’ South Africa went into the game on the back of a hard-fought six wicket loss to Australia, so Proteas’ coach Hilton Moreeng was happy to see his side back on the winning track. “It was wonderful to see such a good fight back from the team today,” he said afterwards. “It’s always difficult to bounce back after a loss, having played so well against a team like Australia. “I’m very proud of their professionalism and character during this match. The batters did so well up front to set us up and our bowlers were just exceptional.”Good start Du Preez elected to bat and Lizelle Lee and Dane van Niekerk, who put on 163 without loss against Pakistan, again got the team off to a good start, posting 57 for the first wicket before Van Niekerk departed for 25. Lee fell for the innings’ top score of 43 with the total on 72 in the 14th over, but some clean hitting by Chloe Tryon and Sune Luus saw the run rate soar in the closing overs, with Tryon finishing undefeated on 35 off only 12 deliveries, with three fours and three sixes, while Luus ended on 29 not out from just 10 deliveries, with six fours.Irish innings Ireland, in reply, lost Clare Shillington in the first over, but then steadied their innings as wicketkeeper Mary Waldron and captain Isobel Joyce added 41 for the second wicket before Waldron was stumped by Trisha Chetty off the bowling of Marcia Letsoala for Ireland’s top score of 33. Joyce went on to make 15 and Melissa Scott-Hayward 14, but when she departed on 67, another victim of Lesoalo, the Irish innings folded, with the next highest scorer making only six runs. The absence of Cecilia Joyce because of an injury did not help either.Standout bowlers Proteas’ opening bowler Shabnim Ismail led the assault on the Irish batswomen, capturing an eye-opening 3 for 5 in her three overs, while Dane van Niekerk did her bit by picking up 3 for 10 in two overs of leg spin. Letsoalo, who made two important breakthroughs, finished with 2 for 23 in her three overs. read more