BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Sydney, Australia
PRIME Minister James Marape’s whirlwind stop at the Penrith Panthers headquarters has set off a storm of speculation across two countries, with National Rugby League boss Peter V’landys hinting that the visit was far from casual. “There’s a reason why the Prime Minister was at Penrith,” V’landys said with a knowing smile. “I won’t say any more than that.”
4
BY MAYSON LUIS
AS part of its plan to phase out Dash 8 operations and modernise its fleet, PNG Air has welcomed the arrival of its third ATR72-600 aircraft named “Kieta” on Monday evening.
The airline also refocuses on providing greater and reliable customer satisfaction via its ATR aircraft fleet.
Named “Kieta” in honour of the small town in Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), the aircraft reflects PNG Air's ongoing commitment in celebrating the regions and communities that form the backbone of the nation's economy, culture and identity.
The fourth ATR aircraft is expected to be in the country before the year ends.
PNG Air chief executive officer, Brian Fraser, said the arrival of Kieta marks a stronger and dependable schedule for its customers.
“A modern, efficient fleet means fewer disruptions, more seats available and better on-time performance across our network.
“This is about giving Papua New Guineans an airline they can truly rely on,” he said.
The addition of Kieta allows PNG Air to:
Increase operational resilience by providing greater backup capacity when weather or technical issues arise.
Add flights and optimise schedules on high-demand routes, particularly during peak travel periods.
Support more training and development opportunities for Papua New Guinean pilots, cabin crew and engineers as the fleet grows.
Mr Fraser said that all new ATR aircraft that joins PNG Air “will support jobs and skills in PNG”.
“We are investing in aircraft that are built for our terrain and in people who are proudly serving our communities.
“As Kieta enters service, PNG Air will progressively introduce schedule enhancements and additional frequencies on key routes, improving travel options for business travelers, government and resource sector workers, as well as families travelling for education, health care and important life events.
“For nearly four decades, PNG Air has been flying Papua New Guineans where they need to go.
“The arrival of Kieta is another promise kept; that we will keep investing, keep improving and
BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG in Sydney
THE Santos Foundation yesterday announced that it will facilitate public donations to support the ongoing medical care of baby Sawong, the surviving conjoined twin currently receiving treatment at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
The announcement was made during the PNG Investment Week event underway in Sydney.
The move comes after the heartbreaking news that twin brother Tom passed away following their separation surgery on Sunday.
The twins’ journey to Sydney captured the nation’s sympathy, with Papua New Guineans from all walks of life praying for their recovery. While doctors were unable to
save Tom, medical teams have confirmed that Sawong remains in a stable condition as he continues his long and delicate recovery.
With the parents now facing profound grief while caring for their surviving child in a foreign country, the Santos Foundation has stepped in to coordinate donation efforts to continue to assist.
The foundation said it has received overwhelming requests from Papua New Guineans and supporters abroad wanting to help the family during this extraordinarily difficult time.
The Santos Foundation will provide a clear and secure process for anyone wishing to donate towards Sawong’s continued care and to support his parents while they remain in Sydney.
“We acknowledge this is a deeply
keep putting PNG first. We are the people's choice-built for PNG, and here for the long term,” he said.
Kieta’s arrival joins Lae and Vanimo, representing PNG Air’s
broader fleet renewal strategy aimed at phasing out its Dash 8 operations with low operating costs from its ATR aircraft.
The plane landed at Jackson
emotional period for the family and the people of PNG,” a spokesperson said.
“Your kindness and generosity will help ease some of the practical burdens they now face.”
The donations will go toward essential living support for the parents, accommodation, transport, and any additional medical-related expenses not already covered by hospital and support services.
Officials thanked individuals, churches, community groups and organisations who have already reached out, noting that nationwide compassion has been a source of strength for the grieving family.
“Our thoughts remain with baby Sawong, who continues to fight with tremendous courage, and with his parents as they navigate their loss,” the foundation stated.
-PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg
After the spectacular commemoration of the country’s 50th Anniversary, the public coffer seem to be depleted, as government offices are almost giving up on ever seeing their final quarter allocations dropping anytime soon. Just as well the CEO put paid to Christmas parties for public servants. But the underlying message is loud and clear- tighten the financial belt securely in the new year.
Talk about money, and it brings to mind that a good number of disappointed young rugby players in the bustling suburbs of Konedobu in Moresby South electorate are still waiting on the arrival of a promised competition prize money of K60,000 by a MP in NCD. Last PENGEE heard was the cheque is yet to be raised. Hope it works out for all concerned before we settle in for the festivities.
“I am not running from something, I am running into something”- Sam Koim, now former Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) Commissioner putting social media speculation to rest with a single prose, that pretty much sums up this legal eagle who has soared to the heights of Public Service and is now transfixed on something slightly beyond and above. We can only put our hands together in applause and wish him the very best in his new endeavour in 2026 and beyond.
Many companies assist their employees in times of need with interest free loans for such things as school fees, medical bills, traditional obligations etc. Under the new Tax Act, where loans are made to employees at zero, or discounted rates below the market lending rate, the benefit is calculated using the following formula Benefit = Market rate less discounted rate e.g. if an interest free advance is provided to an employee. Market rate 10 per cent - 0 per cent = 10 per cent benefit So someone who gets an interest free staff loan of say K10,000 to help bury their deceased parent. they will be taxed on the K1,000 interest benefit they receive. Their parent may rest in peace but the staff member may not.
Where is the National Disaster and Emergency Service (NDES)? Why is it in hiding? People are dying from natural disasters and the silence from NDES is deafening. This state agency that should responsible for natural disasters and it seems its gone to sleep. Gone are the days when this agency of government used to be at the forefront sending out warnings, promoting mitigation and organising recovery. Perhaps someone in the know can tell use where NDES is today.
The Sydney Investment Conference will draw all sorts of people from PNG to that event. And off course the PNGeans will go with their bags of betelnut. Remember last year at the same conference? We certainly made a fool of ourselves, didn’t we. Hope everyone who chews down there at the current conference swallow their own filth or spit into a container and throw into a proper bin.
Port Moresby city has a huge downpour on Monday night. The city was flooded. The weather has been like this for a while now, much to the relief of city dwellers who have had to put up with the heat in recent months. There is water everywhere but the taps are running dry in many homes, a situation Water PNG has to explain. This brings to mind the famous line, “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” written by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his epic poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, published in 1798. It means we are surrounded by something we desperately need but can’t use.
Driving through the rain is not something any sensible motorist want to do in Port Moresby, especially in the night. The roads are flooded and the rain water fills up all the potholes that in the night, they become invisible. One motorist discovered this the hard way when his car hit one big pothole around the Gordon market area on Monday night, dislodging the steering rod and bursting one tyre. Play it safe, don’t go out in the rain in the night.
Scanheretoreadmore
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
Peter Korugl
Email: pkorugl@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1032
CHIEF OF STAFF
Frank Rai Ph: 309 1059
Email: frai@spp.com.pg
BUSINESS EDITOR Ph: 309 1173
SPORTS EDITOR
John Pangkatana Ph: 309 1068
Email: jpangkatana@spp.com.pg
YU TOK
Letters to the Editor Ph: 309 1061
Email: yutok@spp.com.pg
BUREAUS
POM: Marcia Negri Ph: 309 1040
Email: mnegri@spp.com.pg
LAE: Daniel Kila Ph/Fax: 472 4166
Email: dkila@spp.com.pg
KOKOPO: Peter Korugl
Email: pkorugl@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1032
MT HAGEN: Mal Taime Ph: 542 2602 Fax: 542 3039
Mobile: 76725260 / 72854454
Email: mtaime@spp.com.pg
BUKA: Steven Busin Ph: 79826750
Email: sbusin@spp.com.pg
ARAWA: Peterson Tseraha Ph: 78313008 Email: ptseraha@spp.com.pg
GOROKA: Nelson Joe Ph: 76996961 Email: njoe@spp.com.pg
DIGITAL/ONLINE
DIGITAL DIRECTOR Matthew Vari Email: mvari@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1054
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ARCHIVES
LIBRARIAN Deborah Enaha Email: denaha@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1092
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION MANAGER (HQ) Althea Jerewai Ph: 309 1000 Email: ajerewai@spp.com.pg
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Sydney, Australia
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Papua New Guinea’s economic strength is becoming increasingly central to Australia’s own prosperity, as he outlined a suite of major investments aimed at boosting connectivity, security and long-term development across PNG.
Speaking during PNG CORE Investment Week, Mr Albanese revealed that trade between the two nations reached a record K20 billion (A$8.1 billion) in 2024–25, underscoring what he described as “a partnership anchored in opportunity.”
“Australia is committed to remaining a proud and reciprocal economic partner of Papua New Guinea,” he said, emphasising that the economic ties between the two nations have never been stronger.
Mr Albanese said Australia’s development and infrastructure support was deliberately targeted at unlocking PNG’s internal economic engines — agriculture, transport, connectivity and climate-resilient development. He highlighted five flagship investments already underway:
Upgrading 47 kilometres of the Wau Highway, boosting market access and mobility across Morobe Province.
More than $600 million in port modernisation, strengthening sea trade for a nation of more than 600 islands.
New biosecurity partnerships to accelerate agricultural exports like coffee, vanilla and cocoa.
Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, shielding communities and agriculture from increasingly severe weather.
The jointly developed Kokoda Highway, a symbolic and practical link between the nations’ shared history and shared economic future.
“These are investments in a more dynamic, more productive and more prosperous economy,” Mr Albanese said. “The benefits flow straight back into PNG.”
He added that each project was designed to support local jobs, supply chains and longterm national capability.
“Our partnership is about creating opportunity that lasts opportunity owned by Papua New Guineans,” he said.
As the region gathers for Investment Week, Mr Albanese said Australia will continue backing PNG’s nation-building ambitions, describing the country as “one of Australia’s most important and enduring economic partners in the Pacific.”
CIRCULATION MANAGER
(OUTSIDE CENTRES)
Ojung Ure Ph: 309 1000
Email: oure@spp.com.pg
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
DIRECTOR
Ryan Morgan Ph: 309 1044
Email: rmorgan@spp.com.pg
SPECIAL PROJECTS
SPECIAL PROJECTS
MANAGER
Andrew Beggo Ph: 309 1174
Email: abeggo@spp.com.pg
CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIED MANAGER
Catherine Oa Ph: 309 1126 Email: coa@spp.com.pg
NOW everyone is asking the same question: Who will lead the PNG Chiefs?
Will it be Penrith master coach Ivan Cleary? Legendary Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett? Or PNG’s own rugby league son, Adrian Lam, now with the Leigh Leopards?
Prime Minister Marape stayed tightlipped, insisting the appointment was for the PNG Chiefs board to determine.
“Sports has more communication ability than any other procedure in life,” he said, reinforcing the team’s potential to bind a nation.
Questions around safety were quickly shut down by V’landys, who said he felt “very safe” during his visit to PNG.
“If you go to the wrong area, you might be unsafe that’s true anywhere in the world,” he said.
“In Chicago, in Sydney, you go to the wrong places, you’re in trouble. So I’m not concerned at all.”
He added that players would be housed in secure, village-style accommodation and insisted he had “no concern whatsoever” for their safety.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese threw his full support behind PNG’s historic entry into the NRL, calling the PNG Chiefs a nationshaping project.
“It represents new opportunities for investment, increased tourism, the development of key infrastructure, and enormous economic potential,” he said during PNG CORE Investment Week.
“This is about backing PNG to flourish.”
Albanese reflected on trekking the Kokoda Track with Mr Marape and meeting children in remote villages clad in well-worn NRL jerseys.
“The passion is extraordinary,” he said. “Giving kids the prospect of representing the Chiefs encourages education, participation and opportunity.”
He said the Chiefs would elevate PNG’s position in the regional sporting economy while strengthening communities at home.
“This is not just elite sport – it is about lifting up entire communities. A professional pathway inspires young people, builds confidence and strengthens the nation.”
With crowds expected to fill Port Moresby stadiums and major investments anticipated in training centres, tourism and infrastructure, the Chiefs’ arrival is being described as the beginning of a new chapter in PNG’s nation-building journey.
“Sport already unites Papua New Guinea,” Albanese said. “The Chiefs will give that passion a global stage –and create lasting opportunities for the next generation.”
As anticipation grows, one question looms largest for fans across the country: Who will take the helm of the PNG Chiefs? For now, the nation waits.
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Sydney
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese has told regional business and government leaders that Australia and Papua New Guinea are “mates, equals and allies”, declaring that the two countries are entering a new era of economic and strategic partnership built on history, trust and shared prosperity.
Speaking at the PNG CORE Investment Week in Sydney, Mr Albanese said the strength of the relationship was reflected not only in diplomacy, but in the personal bond he shares with Prime Minister James Marape.
“It is the case that I think no two Australian and PNG Prime Ministers have had more meetings than myself and James,” he said.
“And that represents progress — progress that is in the interest of Australia but also very much in the interest of Papua New Guinea.”
He opened by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, paying respect to Elders past, present and emerging, before welcoming leaders from across the business and government sectors.
“This forum is about all of us working together to find new pathways for investment and development,” Mr Albanese said.
“Maximising the dynamic and growing trade relationships that do so much to benefit the people of both PNG and Australia.”
Reflecting on milestones the two
leaders have shared from addressing each other’s Parliaments to trekking the Kokoda Track Mr Albanese said those moments captured the depth of the two nations’ connection.
“It was an incredible honour. I was the first Australian Prime Minister to trek Kokoda as Prime Minister but importantly, Prime Minister Marape was the first PNG Prime Minister to do it as well. And he did it in golf shoes,” he said.
He described the solemn ANZAC Day ceremony at Isurava as a reminder of the wartime legacy that binds the nations: “It was an opportunity for us to honour the relationship between our people and the ANZAC legacy that we share.”
As investment leaders embark on the weeklong forum, Mr Albanese urged them to reflect on the “two threads” that bind PNG and Australia: prosperity and mateship.
“Papua New Guinea and Australia are two houses with one fence,” he said.
“We all benefit from a neighbourhood that is more peaceful, stable and prosperous — where sovereignty is upheld, democracy is supported, and investment is encouraged.”
He ended with a powerful endorsement of the partnership:
“We have built our nations together.
“We are allies in defending democracy, in prosperity, and in the future we are shaping.
“I wish you all the very best for this important Investment Week 2025.”
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Sydney, Australia
PAPUA New Guinea is marking its 50th year of independence not just with celebration, but with a sharp focus on investment and enduring partnerships, according to PNG Core president Anthony Smare.
Speaking at the opening of the newly expanded PNG Investment Week, Smare emphasised that the nation stands at a “threshold of a new era," pivoting its resource wealth toward long-term national development under the theme, "Stronger Together, Investing for the People."
The investment week has morphed from a traditional mining and petroleum forum into a broad "multi-summit platform," showcasing opportunities across resources, energy, climate, and infrastructure. Smare highlighted a truly historic moment at the event's commencement, noting the presence of two serving Prime Ministers.
“I say thank you to the both of them for placing this event and this relationship with esteem at the center of their engagement,” he stated.
“This is truly a historic moment as many of you know—no serving Australian Prime Minister has ever addressed a PNG Parliament since independence."
The presence of both leaders, he said, demonstrates the "rich historical, economic, political, and cultural relationships" binding PNG and Australia.
The core objective of the four-day event is to convert PNG's immense resource wealth into tangible benefits for its fast-growing population. Smare stressed that the next few decades will be defined by whether "projects and policies can convert the resource wealth into jobs, infrastructure,
inclusive finance, and climate resilience for a young and rapidly growing population." He affirmed that the "Stronger Together" theme is an acknowledgement that "every success gained over the last fifty years and into the future will be a result of strong and enduring partnerships."
"The goal is no longer just today's jobs or today's revenues, but building institutions, connectivity, and resilience so that future generations of our Papua New Guineans inherit a more stable, more prosperous, and inclusive nation than the one that Sir Michael Somare and his generation started in 1975," Smare declared.
The Investment Week program has been deliberately structured to move from policy clarity to longterm financial resilience. For the first time, a Climate Investment Summit has taken centre stage, demonstrating how "national policy, green finance, and climate risk financing can align lending and turn climate risk into a pipeline of bankable projects."
A dedicated Infrastructure Investment Summit will explore areas like digital inclusion and regional connectivity, underscoring that infrastructure including defence facilities are "also economic assets that support trade, investment, and community safety."
Smare concluded with a clear call to action for attendees, urging them to embrace serendipity the event's “great hidden asset” to forge new collaborations.
"Initiate the conversation, introduce yourself to a person that you did not already know, ask questions, share what you do and what you are looking for, and be intentional about making new connections," he advised.
“It is through these relationships and partnerships that we truly become stronger together.”
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA
in Sydney, Australia
PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese today championed Australia’s relationship with Papua New Guinea, labelling the burgeoning partnership as “historic” and founded on deep mutual respect, following a series of high-level meetings with his counterpart, James Marape.
Addressing a major bilateral investment forum, Mr Albanese highlighted the unprecedented frequency of his and PM Marape's engagement, asserting it "represents progress, progress that is in the interests of Australia, but also very much in the interests of Papua New Guinea."
Allies in war, equals in peace, Albanese drew a direct line from shared wartime history to the modern alliance, recalling a significant joint trek.
"We have, of course, as well trekked Kokoda side by side and step by step," Albanese stated, underscoring the deep personal and national connection symbolised by the shared Anzac Legacy.
"I was the first Australian Prime Minister to trek Kokoda as Prime Minister, but importantly as well, Prime Minister Marape was the first PNG Prime Minister to trek Kokoda as well."
The PM emphasised that the relationship has moved to a new,
formalised level of strategic importance.
"With the signing of the Papua Treaty, we're allies, too. That's important an acknowledgment that our mutual security in the Pacific comes naturally from within our Pacific family. For Australia, it is only our second alliance in history, the first since 1951."
Mr Albanese stressed the equality of the two nations, quoting his friend, PM Marape.
"We are mates, we are equals, as Prime Minister Marape has put it before. Australia and PNG are equal partners, relating, co-existing, working side by side going forward into the future."
The forum’s focus was firmly on the surging economic ties, with the Prime Minister revealing staggering trade figures. "This Australia is committed to remaining a proud and reciprocal economic partner of Papua New Guinea. A record $8.1 billion in goods flowed between our two nations in 2024–25 alone."
Mr Albanese detailed significant Australian investment aimed at boosting PNG's vital sectors, including biosecurity upgrades to support exports of "vanilla, coffee, and cocoa beans," and crucial infrastructure development.
"We are backing the upgrade of 47 kilometres of the Wau Highway... and we are committed to sealing the Kokoda Highway in partnership with the PNG government," he
announced.
"We're investing over $600 million to help upgrade five critical ports in PNG because, for a nation of 600 islands, sea trade is crucial for growth."
A key topic of excitement was the upcoming entry of the PNG Chiefs into the NRL competition, which the PM sees as a massive economic catalyst.
"The entry of the PNG Chiefs into the NRL is a deeply exciting prospect. It’s a celebration of shared culture... but it also represents, importantly, new opportunities for investment. Football games played in Port Moresby, increased tourism and economic opportunity, the development and upgrade of key infrastructure. All of this helps massive economic potential for PNG."
Albanese concluded by reinforcing the foundational bond between the two nations, which he said transcends business and government. "Business-tobusiness relations are important, government-to-government. But nothing beats people-to-people. That is what we are building."
He ended with a call for continued cooperation, echoing mr Marape’s sentiment, "Papua New Guinea and Australia... are two houses with one fence. And we both benefit. We all benefit from a neighbourhood that is more peaceful, more stable, and more prosperous."
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Sydney, Australia
PRIME Minister James Marape has moved to reassure investors that Papua New Guinea is undertaking its most comprehensive security and law-and-order reforms in decades, saying stability and investor confidence are at the centre of his Government’s agenda for the next five years.
Speaking during the PNG CORE Investment Week, Mr Marape said PNG is “investing heavily in the law and justice sector,” emphasising that the Government is restructuring everything from the courts to frontline policing to ensure a safe and predictable environment for business.
“Our court system is being restructured,” he said. “The appeals court has never had to be engaged. So our total investment in the law
Marape said significant funding was flowing into the Police and Correctional Services, part of a broad push to modernise the institutions responsible for community safety and investor protection.
BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA
in Sydney, Australia
INVESTMENT Promotion
Authority
managing director
Clarence Hoot says the review of Papua New Guinea’s Reserved Activity List (RAL) is now at an advanced stage, with submissions closed and the IPA preparing a final paper for Government consideration.
Speaking at the PNG CORE Investment Week in Sydney, Mr Hoot told investors and delegates that the current RAL approved in 2023 and containing 39 business activities remains publicly accessible through the IPA website. He said the nationwide consultation period for revisions had closed on 21 November, with all comments and submissions now being assessed.
“My team is now going through the process of finalising the consultation comments that came in, and we will look at it and revise the new list to take to Government,” Mr Hoot said.
Hoot emphasised that the IPA was changing its approach to how the RAL is developed and interpreted, saying the public often assumed the IPA was responsible for regulating all sectors simply because it oversees the business registry.
“That is not correct,” he said.
“Everyone tends to think that the IPA, because it looks after the registry, is responsible for regulating all the other businesses under all the other sectors.”
He said the new process involves agency-by-agency consultations, ensuring that each regulator identifies the business activities protected under their own laws, regulations and policies.
“So we take that and mirror it on the Reserved Activities List, so it’s protected by way of the laws under each of those agencies,” he said.
Hoot said this method also clears widespread misconceptions, particularly accusations that the IPA should regulate areas such as alluvial mining, forestry and fisheries.
“Alluvial mining comes under the MRA. The MRA must make sure alluvial mining is protected under the MRA Act. Same with forestry, same with fisheries,” he said.
He said once each agency confirms the activities regulated under its respective law, the IPA will reflect those protected activities in the new RAL.
“So that’s a work in progress for us,” he added. “The team is now putting the work together to prepare the paper for Cabinet.”
and justice sector is full scale — from the court system, to the law and justice system, to the highest officers.”
He added that significant funding was flowing into the Police and Correctional Services, part of a broad push to modernise the institutions responsible for community safety and investor protection.
“These are things that should give confidence to investors,” Mr Marape said, adding that the reforms aligned with PNG’s aspirations in the green economy as well as traditional sectors. “The immediate need for us is substantial investment in the law and justice sector. That’s our focus going forward in the next five years.” Responding to questions on the adequacy of police manpower, Mr Marape said the Government was pressing ahead with a major expansion of the constabulary.
“We will develop our police force
10,000 men police force within the next five years,” he said. “Ten thousand good, strong, modern police working with Australia, as well as our integrated defence and security apparatus.” He said PNG’s partnerships with Australia, the United States and other allies would bolster domestic security and ensure predictability for businesses.
“Our partners with Australia, USA, in the security space will mean wealth for all investors from afar and within,” Mr Marape said.
The Prime Minister stressed that a stable and secure PNG was essential to sustaining investor confidence, broadening the economic base and supporting long-term development.
“Security is certainly a big issue,” he said. “But we are addressing it at every level so investors can see that PNG is serious about building a safe, modern and investment-ready nation.”
1. Congratulatory message to all the Local Level Government Elected Councilors and Local Level Government Presidents in the Province.
It is with the greatest honor and privilege to Congratulate all the newly elected Three Hundred and Three (303) Ward Councilors and Eleven (11) Local Level Government Presidents in the province, representing the Third Tier Government in the Country serving the bulk of the population in the rural settings where the strength of the Nation remains.
Not forgetting those hardworking Councilors and Presidents veteran leaders who have lost their seats and the deemed thirteen failed elections in some Council Wards which are destined for supplementary elections next year.
You all are always leaders regardless of the circumstances to the Province and its People who have and will depend on your leaderships as their strength seeing the presence of Government in their respective Communities.
Western Highlands Province is privilege to have some very decisive Local Level Government Councilors current and in the colonial Era shaping the province in every aspect making WHP one of the most livable Provinces in the Country.
And all the beautiful people of this Province for every attempt you take to make Western highlands Province great always.
With this, the Western Highlands Provincial Government pledges to work closely with all the Ward Councilors and the Local Level Government Presidents in 2026 and beyond.
Level Government Presidents in the Province notably;
No.Names Local Level Government District
1.Amos Paul PangumMt. Hagen Rural Hagen Open
2.Goliath Elpa Mt. Hagen UrbanHagen Open
3.Michael MaiMt. Giluwe Tambul-Nebilyer
4.Mack Terowa Lower KagulTambul-Nebilyer
5.Bruce Young PepNebilyerTambul-Nebilyer
6.Samuel AkikeMulMul-Baiyer/Lumusa
7.Kipi LamowaBaiyerMul-Baiyer/Lumusa
8.Kural LipuLumusaMul-Baiyer/Lumusa
9.Alphonse Tei MongolMala KinjibiDei
10.Stanley KongaMuglampDei
11.Jerry AnisKotnaDei
for the Province, Hon. William Duma – Hagen Open MP, Hon. Win Bakri Daki – Tambul Nebilyer MP and Hon. Jacob Maki -Mul Baiyer/Lumusa MP, including ALL the 303 Ward Councilors are advised to come with your respective Presidents on Thursday 11th of December, 2025, at the Sir Mara Haus.
Hon. Wai Rapa
Hon. Wai Rapa
Governor-Western Highlands Province
Governor-Western Provin
BY CHARLOTTE SERE
BINGE drinking can be all fun and games until you start to experience the side-effects of consuming alcohol, particularly homebrew.
According to Dr Zhang Xiaoliang, a cardiologist of the 15th China Medical Team, the most common health problems linked to homebrew come from how it is made.
“Because it is unregulated and often contains harmful substances, many drinkers end up with serious stomach issues,” he said.
“Gastrointestinal problems top the list – acute gastritis and gastroenteritis are extremely common, presenting with symptoms like severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
“The illnesses are usually triggered by contamination during the brewing process including bacteria, mold, or leftover residues from the ingredient.”
Dr Zhang said what happens to the body immediately after consuming homebrew can lead to a coma.
“Within one to three hours, common acute effects include severe nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, and blurred vision,” he said.
“If someone drinks too much, the effects can be amplified and more dangerous.
“This may show signs of alcohol poisoning, such as confusion, slurred speech, trouble breathing, low body temperature and even passing out.
“In extreme cases, it can cause breathing failure, heart problems, or coma, which can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.”
LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS
The continuous and prolonged consumption of homebrew can affect major organs overtime such as the liver, kidneys, brains and heart.
LIVER: The liver breaks down alcohol, so it is the first organ to be damaged. Long-term homebrew drinking can quickly lead from fatty liver (which is reversible if drinking stops) to alcohol alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis, scarring of the liver tissue that permanently impairs its functions.
KIDNEYS: The kidneys filter waste products from the blood, but alcohol and homebrew contaminants damage the
Global data on homebrewrelated harms is underreported but revealing: WHO estimates 20,000–30,000 annual deaths linked to unregulated alcohol (including homebrew), mostly from methanol poisoning, botulism, or bacterial contamination.
The Production, sale and consumption of homebrew alcohol is illegal under Section 45 of the Distillation Act 1995. Penalty: A fine not exceeding K3000.
kidney’s filtering units. Long-term effects include chronic kidney disease (CKD), where kidney function gradually declines, leading to fluid retention, high blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalances.
BRAIN: Chronic alcohol consumption kills brain cells and impairs the function of neurotransmitters. With homebrew, this damage is worsened by nutritional deficiencies. The result is permanent cognitive impairment: memory loss, reduced concentration, poor decisionmaking, and personality changes.
HEART: Long-term homebrew consumption raises blood pressure. This leads to heart failure, with symptoms like shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, and fatigue.
DANGERS OF HOMEBREW
Homebrew’s danger stems from three key factors, all related to its unregulated, often unsanitary production. These three factors are unmeasured and unpredictable alcohol content, contamination with toxins and pathogens, and lack of quality control or safety standards.
HOMEBREW’S IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE
Young people are affected more seriously by homebrew than adults because their brains are still developing until age 25.
Drinking homebrew at a young age can damage brain cells and interfere with learning, memory, and decision-making. This often results in poor school performance and a higher risk of mental health problems like anxiety, depression and substance use disorder later in life.
“Teenagers who drink homebrew regularly are 3-4 times more likely to develop alcohol addiction as adults, according to Papua New Guinea’s 2022 study,” Dr Zhang said.
“Second, young people are more likely to engage in risky behaviors while intoxicated like reckless driving, unprotected sex, or violence, leading to additional harms like sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, or fatal injuries.”
BY ILEEN NAKRA
A RECENT finding from research done by the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal (PNGMJ) at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has revealed that an alcohol related illness per person costs more than K80,000.
The six-month study by PNGMJ from August 31, 2023 to January 1, 2024, showed an alarming medical expense for a single patient with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at PMGH.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke gave detailed explanation on TBI, noting that “TBI as a brain injury that is caused by an outside force.
A forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body can cause it, but not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI.
An object entering the brain can also cause a TBI.
TBIs are sometimes called brain injuries or even head injuries”.
According to PNGMJ, TBI is a major economic and public health problem globally. It pointed that, at present, there is no literature on the direct medical cost of TBIs in PNG that can guide policymakers on the burden of TBIs.
Hence, the purpose of the study – to calculate the direct medical cost of
managing TBI patients at PMGH.
In reference to PNGMJ, the study included 77 patients: 52 with mild head injuries, 16 with moderate head injuries, and 9 with severe head injuries.
A bottom-up approach was employed to estimate direct medical costs from both the patient and hospital perspectives.
“Over the six-month period, the total direct medical cost amounted to K6,246,779.25.
“On average, the direct medical cost per patient was K81,127.00,” it stated.
“Alcohol-related injuries accounted for 76.6% of total admissions.
“Hospital costs during the study period totalled K6,197,919.25, representing 99.2 per cent of the total direct medical costs associated with TBIs.
Severe head injuries incurred the highest cost per TBI classification, averaging K95,328.03 per patient.”
With the findings, PNGMJ pointed that TBIs are a common cause of admission to PMGH and are associated with significant direct medical costs.
It has recommended that “public health interventions and government policies should focus on regulating alcohol production and consumption, as well as improving road traffic safety, to reduce the economic burden of traumatic brain injuries”.
BY ILEEN NAKRA
ALCOHOL abuse is among other factors seen as impediments to socio-economic development in Port Moresby and across Papua New Guinea.
There are significant cases— some reported, most remaining unreported—documenting alcohol abuse and its social, health, and economic impacts at all levels of government in the country. This has caused the government to spend more on maintaining lawand-order, improving health service deliveries, building and repairing of damaged infrastructures as well as taking proactive approaches such as awareness campaigns to prevent violence, including other initiatives.
A research topic on “Addressing Alcohol Abuse in Papua New
Guinea” which was done by Michael Unage from the National Research Institute (NRI) in 2011, identified alcohol abuse as a growing challenge for the development of PNG.
The research further highlights findings on the impacts and costs resulting from alcohol abuse incidents, including the recommendations made on three key points — high costs to State and society, medical costs, and infrastructure costs.
HIGH COSTS TO STATE AND SOCIETY
“It was evident that alcohol abuse inflicted a substantial cost to the state and society alike, of which some costs are hidden and are unquantifiable,” the research stated.
While there is no recent data being found on the total value of alcohol
abuse related damages in NCD and provinces nationwide, an earlier finding by NRI has indicated that the total cost of alcohol related damage to infrastructure, loss of lives, injuries, and compensation for accidents cost the State an estimated K78.5 million annually.
MEDICAL COSTS
Alcohol abuse and its related problems cost societies many millions each year from the damages that result from the misuse of alcohol and health-related costs, the research found.
There were no estimates of medical costs. Alcohol consumption is linked to more than 60 disease conditions. Prominent examples of these conditions include liver disease, different types of cancer, stroke, and trauma.
“Infrastructure costs as a result of alcohol consumption and careless driving was very difficult to ascertain, and information provided during the symposium were not sufficient or lacked accurate data,” the study revealed.
“Despite vehicles running off the road, knocking down side arm rails and power poles, there were no damage costs attached.
“Even the Department of Works seemed to lack dated information regarding costs of damages on infrastructure or any government utilities through vandalism by drunkards.
The NRI study has recommended that more surveys be conducted and data gathered to inform the nation of infrastructural damage costs resulting from alcohol abuse.
It has also recommended that
similar surveys be conducted to the lack of proper records kept by the National Capital District Commission in regards to damage costs.
In reference to a “Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Alcohol-Related Violence’’ a writeup done earlier by the St John Ambulance Service Papua New Guinea, it also highlighted on the economic cost of alcohol related violence.
“The economic cost of alcohol related illness, injuries, violence, and damage to infrastructure in PNG is almost impossible to estimate,” it stated.
“At the 2011 National Alcohol Abuse Symposium in Port Moresby, then acting prime minister Sam Abal, stated that the total cost of alcohol related damage to infrastructure, loss of lives,
BY PAUL MAIMA
CANNABIS, hashish or marijuana farming and consumption has placed Papua New Guinea on the global stage as the leading country studies has revealed.
Papua New Guineans like their weed more than any other country in 2024, says the report. That reflects the reality of the controlled substance’s presence and its severe impacts on a nation that is struggling to create a better economic impetus for its citizens.
The government, through its law-enforcing agencies, needs to work with communities, churches, stakeholders in PNG to minimise the cannabis production and gradually introduce a zero-tolerance policy to eradicate the substance.
Marijuana poses a security and health threat to the lives of many vulnerable people in a country that is struggling to meet the rising cost of living with deteriorating health infrastructure and medication.
Although many people who are involved in the trade are aware of the legal implications and health consequences, the green weed continues to grow and flourish in PNG.
According to the most recent data published last year by the Cannabis Law Report, surprisingly Papua New Guinea became the number one country in the world with the highest
Graph: Cannabis users as % of population: Cannabis Law Report
marijuana consumption.
In 2024, about 29.5 per cent of its citizens will have used cannabis, followed by Canada (26 per cent), Palau (24.2 per cent), United States (21.9 per cent), Ghana (21.5 per cent), Nigeria (19.4 per cent), Guam (18.4 per cent), Jamaica (18 per cent), New Zealand (15.3 per cent) and Zambia (14. 8 per cent).
The cannabis report says Asian nations have among the lowest cannabis use rates, with China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan all reporting less than half a percent of residents using the drug annually.
Singapore reports a rate of zero, likely a reflection of the country’s drug laws, which are among the world’s strictest.
The same goes for many Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia (0.3 per cent), Iran (0.58 per cent), and Qatar (0.1 per cent).
Countries in Africa have relatively high cannabis usage, with three countries – Ghana (21.5 per cent), Nigeria (19.4 per cent), and Zambia (14.8 per cent) – in the global top 10.
A case study by PNG Institute of Medical Research in March 2020 on marijuana-use related homicide shows evidence of a
potential link between marijuana abuse and homicidal deaths in the community of PNG. Marijuana abuse could be one of the factors triggering domestic violence and fuelling social violence in PNG. That requires more legal actions for effective prevention and control.
Findings from the study suggest that a range of strategies are urgently needed to effectively prevent the widespread of marijuana use in PNG society as well as the adverse effects it may have on the mental health of Papua New Guinea’s young generation.
HAVE YOUR SAY... With the increase of substance abuse resulting in law-and-order issues, how do we address this?
Data can help us with policies, strategies and how best government can do to reduce substance abuse. I think key govt agencies like health, education, law and justice and police need to collaborate and create policies, impose tougher laws and punishments to substance abusers and law breakers. And also, I strongly recommend Education Department to integrate substance abuse causes and effects into the education curriculum so children can know and understand bad effects of substance abuse. Then they can make better choices for a better future.”
“The best way is to educate people, provide proper treatment for addicts, and work closely with communities to reduce crime.”
“We can address this by giving young people better opportunities, enforcing laws properly, and helping those affected get counselling.”
“To address or contain substance abuse will require a strategic and collaborative approach that involves the government, community, and individual efforts. Also, stringent laws should be passed and enforced to deter young men from being involved in substance abuse.”
BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG
A SPECIALISED laboratory in Papua New Guinea is transforming HIV care for mothers and infants by delivering rapid diagnostic testing, early-infant detection, and advanced drug-resistance monitoring services available in only two locations nationwide.
At the Well Baby Clinic, laboratory staff use a portable device known as the MPMAP machine to test very small blood samples from children under 10, pregnant mothers, and adults living with HIV.
The machine produces viral load results in as little as 90 minutes, enabling clinicians to provide immediate care.
“We are the only labs in PNG that can diagnose very small babies and also give
clinicians an accurate viral load straight away.
“This is critical for early decisionmaking,” according to ACTUP Port Moresby and Mt Hagen Lab Coordinator
Melissa Schulz.
She said this lab is supporting exposed babies from birth.
“The clinic routinely tests babies born to HIV-positive mothers from birth until 18 months of age, or until breastfeeding stops.
“If a child repeatedly tests negative, they graduate from the program. Infants who test positive are quickly enrolled in the ART (antiretroviral therapy) program to begin treatment,” Ms Schulz said.
The centre also manages a high volume of patients of all ages, with daily workloads shifting depending on the number of mothers, infants, and adults presenting for care.
Alongside viral load testing, the laboratory runs an expanding drug-resistance study.
“When an early infant diagnosis (EID) test returns positive or an adult patient shows a high viral load, staff collect dried blood spot samples and send them to partner laboratories in Sydney for specialised analysis.
“Results take several months. If no drug resistance is detected, the information is quietly filed into the patient’s record.
“But when resistance is found, the team convenes with clinicians and with the National HIV Program to review and adjust treatment plans.
“If you don’t hear from us, everything is fine
“But if something is wrong, we call a stakeholder meeting and work together to respond,” she said.
A mirror facility operates in Mt Hagen, where testing is integrated into the antenatal clinic.
The paediatric and laboratory services are located nearby, allowing similar support for mothers and infants. Staff routinely travel between the two sites to maintain equipment, conduct quality checks, and deliver refresher training for nurses and clinicians.
“We expose them to the machines so they know how to run the tests themselves. Once we leave, they will be able to carry on all testing,” she said.
BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG
AN organisation working in partnership with Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGEN) is providing critical social and educational support to hundreds of children affected by HIV, ensuring they remain cared for, nourished and connected to essential health services.
According to case worker Tashilda Loh, the program currently supports about 300 children nationwide, with 230 children based in Port Moresby and another 150 in Mt Hagen.
Many of these children are either living with HIV or have been impacted by the virus through parentto-child transmission. “We normally provide social support to children who have been impacted by HIV.
“We help them with school fees, uniforms, and we give them monthly care packages consisting of food rations, mostly rice and other essentials,” Ms Loh said.
The organisation receives donations from corporate partners such as Nestlé and Trukai, which help sustain its weekly Wednesday food distribution sessions. In addition to material support, the children and their caregivers also receive counselling services delivered by a dedicated pastoral care team.
“When the children don’t come for their clinic reviews, we follow up through home visits.
At the Well Baby Clinic, At the Well Clinic, laboratory staff use a staff portable device known device known as the MP-MAP machine as to test very small blood to test very small blood samples from children under from children under 10, pregnant mothers, and 10, mothers, and adults living with HIV. adults with HIV. HIV PRORAM IMPACT
“If they need counselling, we provide that to them,” Ms Loh said.
The program works closely with POMGEN, which refers children in need of social and emotional support. “When the doctors see that they need our help, they refer them to us. “We take them into our sponsorship program,” she said.
Each child under the program is linked to a monthly sponsor who contributes K30 or K60, enabling the organisation to assemble care packages and maintain follow-up services.
The team is also collaborating with UNICEF to deliver positive parenting training for caregivers, equipping them with skills to support and care for children affected by HIV.
BY WILLIAM LUKE JR
THE solution lies in a collective and unified national response that addresses the root causes of the HIV epidemic, said Cardinal Sir John Ribat, chairman of the PNG Christian Leaders’ Alliance.
“We must also equally invest time, efforts and resources to addressing the root causes and the underlying contributing factors that continues to fuel HIV transmission in Papua New Guinea,” Cardinal Sir John said during a press conference last week Friday. The underlying factors include:
Poverty and unemployment
Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Stigma and Discrimination
Lack of awareness
The PNGCLA, an alliance of mainline churches, Evangelical, Pentecostal and parachurches, is strategically positioned to tackle these complex issues, leveraging the fact that church-based facilities provide over 50 per cent of the statistics that inform the national response.
With up to 30 people newly infected each day, and seven infants born with HIV daily through mothertochild transmission, the country has been forced to declare a national HIV crisis. The Cardinal’s message on World Aids Day that falls every year on 1 December aligns with this year’s global theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the HIV response,” is a call for unity, responsibility, and targeted action that moves beyond awareness campaigns.
“It's very interesting that we thought HIV was really low and going to finish. But now to our surprise it has come back and it’s very serious now,” Cardinal Sir John said.
A major disruptive factor is the historical funding crisis, which has seen cuts from international donors and a quiet operations from key national bodies, including the National AIDs Council Secretariat
BY WILLIAM LUKE JR
A HIV-positive status can have farreaching emotional consequences for a family that extends beyond the individual.
Pota (Not his real name) shared his journey toward self-acceptance and understanding that often overshadowed the harsh realities of stigma.
“I thought being open about my status would help others, but I never anticipated the impact it would have on my children,” he said, visibly pained by the memories. His honesty, meant to foster awareness, has instead led to bullying and humiliation for his kids at school.
“They face taunts from classmates, and it breaks my heart to see them suffer because of my decision.” The stigma surrounding HIV in Papua New Guinea is often described as a silent killer. While antiretroviral treatments have been widely accessible, the emotional toll of discrimination continues to haunt people living with HIV (PLWHIV).
I thought being open I open about my status would about my status would help others, but I never others, but I never anticipated the impact the it would have on my it would have on my children.
POAT (not his real name) his real
misleading,” he warned.
“We have around 120,000 people officially living with HIV in the country, but that number only reflects those who have been tested. Many remain untested and unaware of their status.”
He believes a significant portion of the population is still at risk, highlighting the need for better education and outreach efforts.
(NACS).
This financial strain has led to severe disruptions in primary health care, including a shortage of essential drugs, making it difficult to manage opportunistic infections for people living with HIV.
According to research, much of this years Christian Health Services (CHS) in PNG raised concerns over funding shortfalls, reporting nonpayment of government funding for five months, which affected operations.
“While the efforts to try to be able to get this down, funding is the big crisis at this time,” Cardinal Sir John said.
For the 2026 National Budget, Church Health Services have been allocated K258.9 million which is 22 per cent increase from the previous year. He said as this may seem very encouraging, if it does come, there may be however some doubts.
“This year I was hearing from our health services, especially health care, they did not receive funding in the beginning of the year. They admit they have received some, but not the one that they were promised.”
He hopes next year’s funding will be given justly as per the national budget. “The government and the National AIDS Council Secretariat have been quiet for almost a decade. With no funding and direction of HIV programing at the national level,” Cardinal Sir John said.
According to a national gazette, November 3, new members were appointed to the National Aids Council. Senior statesmen and National AIDS Council Chairman, Wep Kanawi said it has been almost 5 years without a functioning body, a period during which HIV infection rates increased drastically. He expressed differently two ministers for health before to the appointment of Health Minister Elias Kapavore were repeatedly requested by successive NACS CEO and its senior management to effect the appointment of a council without success.
“In our society, many still view HIV as a personal failure. This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking treatment, which leads to more deaths than the disease itself.
“We cannot ignore the emotional and psychological aspects of this disease. The numbers may show progress in treatment, but the lived experiences tell a different story. Statistics can be
“People say stigma is no longer an issue, but that’s far from the truth. The real battle lies beneath the surface. It’s not the virus that kills; it’s the shame and guilt that come with it.” Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness, the perception of HIV remains deeply rooted in cultural taboos and misconceptions.
“Creating awareness is crucial, but we must also address the root causes of stigma. This isn’t just a health issue; it’s a societal one. We need to engage communities in conversations that dismantle the stereotypes surrounding HIV.” For families like his, the struggle is ongoing. “I want my children to grow up in a world where they are not judged by their parent’s health status. We need to advocate for change, not just for those living with HIV, but for their families too. By sharing our stories, we can help others understand that HIV doesn’t define us. It’s time to change the narrative and build a future where stigma no longer thrives. We cannot wait for change to happen; we must be the change. Together, we can create a supportive environment for all those affected by HIV.”
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2025
The Papua New Guinea public service employs about 130,000 people who work in Waigani and throughout the provinces.
These people perform all sorts of jobs to implement government plans and policies, that should transform the country and the people.
From a small outfit, inherited from the Australian colonial administration in 1975 to what it is today, the public service consumes a substantial portion of the national budget every year.
For the government employees, the government spends a whopping K250 million every fortnight on their wages.
Annually, the salary bill for public servants works out to about K6 billion. That is a lot of money, paid to teachers, health workers, lawyers and many other people who are employed in more than 200 government departments and statutory bodies.
Over the last five years, Papua New Guinean tax payers have spent between K25 to K30 billion on public service wages alone.
Prime Minister, James Marape recently informed us that the government spent K56 billion in the last five years and there is nothing on the ground to show for that money.
That is a lot of money. It is the public service that should deliver the programs and report to government. We have spent nearly K80 billion in public funds on wages and projects in this country in the last five years and the outcomes are very disappointing.
Apart from the hard-working teachers, health workers and the disciplinary forces’ members, we have no idea what the others are doing every day of the year.
Our public servants must be held accountable for the money we spend on their salaries and other privileges that come with their jobs.
It is time every public servant in this country takes a serious look at their own performances and ask whether they are really serving the country and people.
We would have thought that every state agency should furnish an annual activity report for public information but that is not happening.
In the absence of accountability and transparency, public servants, it would seem, are not performing to expectations and yet, they are getting away with it, simply because they act like they are a law unto themselves.
This must stop forthwith.
WE often celebrate big milestones, graduation, job promotions, major breakthroughs. But in reality, it’s the small wins, repeated over time, that create real success. The little habits, the tiny victories, the quiet progress, they all matter more than you think.
Small wins are the building blocks of momentum. They might not seem impressive in the moment, but they build confidence, reinforce good habits, and remind you that you’re moving forward, even when the road feels slow. Got out of bed early today? That’s a win. Drank water instead of soda? Win. Spoke kindly to yourself? Huge win. These things may look small on the surface, but they signal to your brain that you are consistent, capable, and committed to growth.
Too often, we wait to feel proud until we’ve achieved something massive. But the journey to those major moments is paved with small steps. If you only celebrate when you reach the finish line, you miss out on all the encouragement along the way.
BE INSPIRED
I WRITE to express a growing concern shared by many Papua New Guinean citizens about the increasing number of businesses originally reserved for local citizens that are now being operated, managed, or effectively controlled by foreign nationals, mostly Asians and Africans.
AS a concerned citizen of Dei in the Western Highlands, with a heart that carries the same pain, the same hope, and the same prayers that our people have held for the past three years. We know the struggle too well.
We have felt the emptiness of having no representative in Parliament, no one to speak for us, fight for us, or bring the basic services our families deserve.
We cried. We waited. We prayed. And now, by the grace of our Heavenly Father, the time has come again for Dei to choose a leader.
This seat became vacant after the passing of our late MP, Hon Steven Pim. His departure left a gap not only in Parliament, but in the lives and hearts of our people. Today, the Dei by election stands before us as a sacred moment, a second chance to appoint a leader who will honour God and honour the people.
A MESSAGE TO ALL WHO PLAN TO CONTEST
To our good leaders who wish to stand for the Dei Open ByElection: Understand this clearly: this seat does not belong to you. It does not belong to money, influence, or hidden networks. It belongs to the people of Dei, who bear the image of our Creator. It is God who lifts leaders, and it is God who removes them.
If you truly desire to lead the people of Dei, then allow the people to cast their votes
freely. Allow God to choose His servant. Do not hide in the grass with evil plans. Do not stain this election with bribery, intimidation, or corruption. Do not attempt to bribe election officials, the Returning Officer (RO), or security personnel. These actions are not only illegal, they are an insult to the people of Dei and an offence before God. Bribery, stealing, and lies may appear powerful for a moment, but they lead only to destruction. For the wages of sin is death. God sees what is done in the dark, and His judgment cannot be bribed. Dei belongs to its people and to their God, not to those who trade conscience for influence.
THE DEI OPEN SEAT IS A SACRED TRUST
A Dei open parliamentary seat is not a private business. It is not a shortcut to wealth. It is a sacred trust given by the people and blessed by God. When a leader wins through bribery, ballot tampering, or secret deals, that is not leadership, it is theft. It robs the people of their voice and defies the moral order of our peaceful land, Dei. A true mandate must come from the people and be anointed by God.
A WARNING TO THOSE WHO SEEK POWER WITHOUT HONOUR Leaders, hear this clearly: If you sit in an office without the people’s consent, you are
sitting on borrowed time.
When God decides to return the seat to the one He has chosen, no wall of influence, no amount of money, and no network of power will protect you. Even the strongest can fall in a single night. Structures built to shield corruption will collapse like paper under the weight of truth.
Let leadership in Dei be a blessing, not a curse.
A CALL FOR A NEW FUTURE
May every leader who wish to contests this by election do so with clean hands and a clean heart. May you stand before the people with humility, courage, and honesty. And may Dei rise into a future marked by justice, peace, and hope.
My people of Dei: Stand firm. Vote with wisdom. Protect your dignity. And trust that God will appoint the right leader for this season.
Thank you, and may God bless you all throughout this by election period.
While diversity and investment are welcome in any thriving economy, it becomes deeply troubling when regulations designed to protect local participation are overlooked or inadequately enforced.
These business categories were set aside for a reason — to empower local entrepreneurs, strengthen community ownership, and ensure that economic opportunities remain accessible to PNG citizens. When loopholes are exploited or oversight is lax, the very people these policies were meant to uplift are pushed aside. Local operators struggle to compete, young citizens miss out on opportunities, and the policy’s spirit is undermined.
This issue is not about rejecting foreign involvement; it is about upholding fairness. If certain sectors are legally designated for citizens, then authorities must ensure that these rules are respected.
Transparent monitoring, stricter enforcement, and penalties for fraudulent ownership arrangements are essential steps.
These are some locally owned businesses that are facing stiff competition from foreigners, Second Hand Clothing Retailers & Wholesalers
Security Companies
Small Retail Shops & Tucker boxes
Food Kai bars
Bottle Shops
Tyre Service
Tailoring & Sewing Shops
Many Indigenous PNGowned companies have been closed because the government failed to protect them. Our community thrives when locals are given a fair chance to participate in and benefit from their own economy.
A STRONG stance against corruption and a commitment to transparency and accountability in Papua New Guinea! The Opposition’s ESON Framework is a welcome initiative, and it’s encouraging to see a clear plan for implementation.
The proposed measures, including the public dashboard, whistleblower platform, and scrutiny of government expenditures, are steps in the right direction. It’s crucial that these efforts lead to tangible results and not just remain as rhetoric.
Leader of Opposition, the Hon. James Nomane, is playing a key role in the Opposition’s efforts, and it’s
great to see leaders like him driving change. His dedication to holding the government accountable and fighting for the rights of the people is commendable. We’re also seeing strong support from other MPs like Hon. Peter O’Neill, and Hon. Allan Bird , who are all standing together for transparency and good governance.
Under the leadership of the Opposition, the ESON Framework is set to bring muchneeded accountability to the government.
The Opposition’s willingness to challenge unconstitutional laws and hold the government accountable for their actions is a significant step
forward. The people of Papua New Guinea deserve a government that serves their interests and upholds the rule of law.
Let’s hope that this marks the beginning of a new era of good governance and transparency in Papua New Guinea.
Keep up the pressure, Opposition! The people are watching, and they expect results.
The ESON Framework is not just a plan; it’s a promise to the people of Papua New Guinea. It’s a promise of accountability, transparency, and good governance. Let’s work together to make it a reality.
MESHACH RAMBAMINAI
RECENT events in the United States have drawn global attention to a serious breakdown in the civil–military relationship at the highest levels of government.
Reports of tense exchanges between President Donald Trump, his Defence Secretary, and senior military leaders during a gathering at the Marine Corps University in Quantico highlight a dangerous shift.
When political leaders use military platforms for partisan messages or confront military officers publicly, it damages trust, unsettles senior commanders, and weakens national security.
This unfolding situation is not just an American problem. It carries powerful lessons for Papua New Guinea, where our own civil–military environment has quietly deteriorated over the years.
Political interference in the PNGDF, inconsistent leadership direction, sidelining of capable
officers, and public disrespect toward senior commanders have eroded morale, discipline, and confidence within the rank and file.
These issues are no longer isolated—they reflect a deeper structural problem that our country must address urgently.
The US experience shows how quickly military professionalism can be compromised when political actors cross boundaries meant to protect the neutrality of the armed forces. Once those boundaries are blurred, soldiers begin to question leadership integrity. Officers become hesitant to offer honest advice.
The chain of command weakens. Operational readiness declines. No nation is safe when these trends take root—least of all PNG, which relies on a small, over-stretched defence force to protect a vast and complex maritime and land environment.
PNG must learn from this international warning. We need
to strengthen our civil–military foundations now, before our own system faces deeper fractures.
Key steps include:
• Keeping the PNGDF strictly nonpolitical. No party or politician should ever use the military as a campaign tool or personal power extension.
• Restoring merit-based leadership. Promotions, postings, and training opportunities must be earned—not politically arranged.
• Protecting commanders from political pressure. Senior officers must be allowed to give honest, professional advice without fear of retaliation.
• Rebuilding morale and professionalism. Discipline, ethics, and respect within the ranks must be reinforced through consistent leadership and proper resourcing.
• Ensuring disagreements are handled privately.
REGINALD RENAGI
Sam Koim’s resignation marks the end of an era for Papua New Guinea’s tax administration. During his tenure, Koim oversaw record revenue gains, with collections growing from K8 billion in 2020 to K17 billion in 2024. His departure comes amid controversy over proposed amendments to the IRC Act, which would shift power from his office to a new oversight board Koim’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming the IRC into a modern, data-driven institution. His efforts to strengthen compliance, improve taxpayer services, and foster transparency have
earned him recognition as a champion of good governance. As Koim moves on, Papua New Guinea faces a critical juncture. Will the new leadership build on his achievements, or will the proposed reforms undermine the IRC’s independence? Only time will tell. For now, let’s acknowledge Koim’s dedication and commitment to public service. Wishing Sam Koim all the best in his future endeavors, including if he decides to enter politics – your vision and leadership would be a valuable asset to PNG’s future. God bless.
AT the beginning of this year, and again last year, Prime Minister James Marape announced that under the new education reform there would be no Grade 8 or Grade 10 school leavers. The policy was explained clearly: all Grade 8 students would sit for their exams but proceed to Grade 9, and all Grade 10 students would likewise continue to Grade 11. This commitment was further emphasised by the Minister for Education and the Education Secretary. However, what is happening in practice appears contradictory. In schools across the National Capital District, including Wardstrip Primary School, some Grade 8 students have failed and have not been selected to continue to Grade 9 next year.
This directly contradicts the reform policy as communicated by the Prime Minister and senior education officials. As parents, we are deeply concerned. Our children are still in their formative years — many are teenagers — and being forced out of school at this stage will have serious psychological impacts. It risks damaging their confidence, their motivation, and their long term learning outcomes. We therefore call on the Prime Minister, the Minister for Education, and the Education Secretary to urgently explain why this contradiction exists. Parents deserve clarity: if the national policy is that no Grade 8 or Grade 10 students should be left behind, why are schools in NCD still excluding children from progressing?
This issue is not just administrative — it affects the future of our children and the credibility of the education reform itself.
CONCERNED PARENT, POM
THE male population in PNG have lost touch with the reality.
Men, husband, fathers, brothers, sons, and boys are failing their responsibility.
Males, who are supposed to protect and defend the vulnerable are now taking advantage of the trust invested in them and instead are preying on the weak.
Men, who are supposed to be the
post/kwila of the house that Somare and his cohorts built have become weak.
Men are becoming weak because they can not control their anger.
They resort to violence, commit rape, beat women and girls out of anger, and cannot contain their lust and internal beast.
Men, who have the noble calling as head of the family, and are looked
upon to provide stability, peace and security in society have deviated from their natural role.
Men in PNG have lost touch of their moral duty and conscience and are coming very low to create even the heinous of crimes.
Men are becoming very dangerous to themselves, their family, and their fellow citizens.
If we men, rise and take back our
identity as post of the house, this country will get back on the right track.
Come on PNG men (fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, boys, uncles, and nephews). Why are we giving away our power cheaply to the gimmicks of devil Satan?
Let us take back our identity as gentlemen, champs and heroes of a Christian nation where our mothers and sisters would be proud of.
Let’s stop rape, killings, stealing, lying, and cheating because only weak men can do these. What is wrong with us? Where is our integrity and dignity? Why are we lacking self control?
Let’s date with destiny and sail MV PNG into prosperity.
TEE HOFFMAN, Goroka
BY PAUL MAIMA
THE results of the 2025 National examinations were launched and released online by Education Minister Lukas Dekena (pictured) at the Port Moresby National School of Excellence yesterday.
Mr Dekena has commanded the dedicated team at the Department of Education Measurement Services Division, General Education Services and ICT for their tireless efforts in making the results conveniently accessible online to all students,
parents and schools in PNG.
“I officially announced that the online examination results for Grade 10,12, and STEM students are now available online.”
Mr Dekena said the grade 10, 12 and STEM students from high School, Secondary and School of Excellence
can access their results and view their marks.
The details are available on the website, mypngexamresults.com.
The mobile application can also be download from Google play store ‘My PNG Exam Result”.
“The 2025 National Examinations were conducted successfully without major incidences of cheating or malpractices.”
He said a school in the Eastern Highlands was experiencing a break and enter to get the exam papers and answers sheets being sold but was
contained successfully with current strategies.
“Misconduct, deception and unethical behaviour have no place in our education institutions and systems.”
The strict quality control measures that the Education Department established including the sequencing of exams, rigorous monitoring, and security during distribution have proven effective.
“I commend the hard-working school principal, inspectors and guidance officers and the Department
BY JOMELEEN PARI
LA Salle Technical Secondary School has reaffirmed its position as one of Papua New Guinea’s top-performing schools, after the PNG Education Secretary, Dr Uke Kombra, announced yesterday that the institution had topped the nation once again in the 2025 Grade 10 and Grade 12 examinations.
The announcement was made at Port Moresby School of Excellence during the official launching of the online exam results.
Principal Br Anthony said the school’s success was built on a clear academic goal shared by the entire school community.
“It's not just a personal goal, we have an academic goal.
“When the students know about the academic goal, they will be more motivated, and our students
will be very happy and proud of themselves,” he said.
The school recorded impressive statistics this year, with 265 Grade 10 students sitting the national exams and all but three progressing to Grade 11.
“At the senior level, all 140 Grade 12 students were selected into higher education institutions.
“This strong outcome continues the school’s track record, after also ranking among the top schools in last year’s national examination results.
Br Anthony attributed the consistent achievement to a combination of daily testing, significant investment in teaching and learning resources, and strong parent-school engagement.
“We spent loads of money on teaching and learning resources. And also, regularly we call the
parents… we show them their children’s performance on the screen. So that motivates them,” he said.
Recognising top-performing students each term and publicly acknowledging supportive parents also forms part of the school’s approach.
Discipline remains a cornerstone of academic success at La Salle.
“The attitude and the discipline come first.
“We don’t have a major issue with our student discipline,” he said.
He added that the environment of the school helps shape students’ behaviour and focus.
“The atmosphere of the school will change them.
“The students look after the school… they clean and keep it neat and tidy. That gives them a
little more motivation.”
Teachers are also credited for the strong results.
“Our teachers are fantastic.
“When they come to the school, they become good.
“They show concern and love for the students, and the students’ attitude and behaviour change,” he said.
The school operates on a theme of respect, accompanied by visible captions around the campus highlighting values such as hard work and consistency.
These, according to Br Anthony, continuously remind students of their expectations and motivate them to excel.
Br Anthony thanked parents, guardians and the school community for their continued support, saying their partnership was key to the school’s success.
BY JOMELEEN PARI
THE Department of Education has formally integrated the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum into the national education system, a move described by Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra as the most impactful change of the 2025 academic year. Speaking yesterday at the 2025 exam online results launching, Dr Kombra announced that the
privately-run ACE system has been brought under the government umbrella to strengthen the moral foundation of Papua New Guinean students.
Four schools in the National Capital District successfully implemented the system this year, with plans confirmed to expand to an additional 10 schools in 2026.
Dr Kombra said the initiative, championed by Education Minister Lucas Dekena, aims to create a
learning environment rooted in faith and discipline.
“We felt it is important for us to make sure that our children grow up in a God-fearing environment and learn the fundamentals of Christian principles and ethics,” Dr Kombra said.
He added that the curriculum is designed to produce students who are confident, self-reliant learners grounded in culturally acceptable values.
who have upheld these standards.”
“I congratulate all the principal, teachers and staff of the top Grades 10, 12 and STEM schools for their efforts in providing quality teaching and learning environments for the students.”
Mr Dekena urged the students to embrace the results with humility which is “a reflection of your hard work.”
He has encouraged the parents to support their children, celebrate their efforts and guide them through their next journey in education.
The Secretary expressed strong optimism for the future, predicting that this policy shift will transform the nation's social landscape over the next two decades.
“If we can set the foundation right at ACE and Early Childhood Education, Papua New Guinea will not go wrong,” he said.
The expansion will be supported by incoming donor funding from the World Bank to ensure the program's sustainability.
SYSTEM: The privately-run ACE system has been brought under the government umbrella to strengthen the moral foundation of Papua New Guinean students.
BY NAMTY HANSEN DWU JOURNALISM STUDENT
HIRI Koiari district in Central Province has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding during the inaugural Academy for Women Entrepreneurs graduation last Thursday partnering with US Embassy and Didi Consultants to expand AWE in the district. The event took place at the American Corner at Waigani in Port Moresby.
Present to sign the agreement were US Ambassador to PNG Ann Marie Yastishock, member for Hiri Koiari district Keith Iduhu and AWE implementing partner Didi Consultant, Eli Mada.
US Embassy in a media statement released last Thursday said the signing of the agreement formalised a new public privatepartnership between the Embassy, Hiri Koiari district and AWE implementing partner Didi Consultant to strengthen women entrepreneurs in PNG with a module that will deliver AWE programs without direct financial support from the US government. Mr Iduhu thanked US Embassy and Didi consultant saying the partnership would reinforce the district’s ongoing efforts
to promote good governance, economic prosperity, and responsible regional security while supporting women in business through established international frameworks.
He said: “Under the agreement, Hiri Koiari will provide financial support for the AWE program, K50,000 (more than USD $11,700) per year over the five-year period to support program activities.
“By 2030, we should graduate at least 450 Hiri Koiari entrepreneurs, see locally and companies competing in national and international markets, and establish more partnerships with American entrepreneurs.”
The signing of the agreement coincided with the inaugural AWE graduation where a total of 27 women, 15 from Hiri rural LLG, and six each from Vanapa Brown and Koiari rural LLGs graduated from six weeks of training in financial literacy, compliance, taxation, entrepreneurial mindset, and professional networking with the AWE DreamBuilder Curriculum developed by Arizona state University’s Thunderbird school of Global Management.
Ms Yastishock in the media statement said the graduation of the 27 pioneers was a testament
to the partnership between the US Embassy, Hiri Koiari district and the implementing partner.
“Through the vision and support of Mr Iduhu, the expertise of Didi Consultant, and the dedication of the US Embassy, we have empowered women to become agents of economic growth and positive change in their communities,” she said.
To ensure successful delivery of AWE program, Hiri Koiari District provided K16,000 funding inclusive of the seed funding to the winners of the pitch competition set for 2026 AWE Fair.
Mr Iduhu congratulated the graduands and challenged them to create their own businesses with a goal of building a better future for their families and communities.
“Congratulations hahine besena, for completing 13 modules online and engaging in face-to-face and virtual enrichment meetings over the last five weeks.
“Your endurance and perseverance speak volumes, during times of internet connectivity issues and constant power outages in the district.”
He also acknowledged MiBank, TISA Bank, IRC and PNGIPA for their contributions towards the program.
BY REINHARD MINONG
THE contest for the New Ireland provincial seat is earnestly under way, with Kepas Wali becoming the first candidate to nominate.
Mr Wali submitted his nomination yesterday, Tuesday, December 9, following the issuance of the writs last Thursday. His early move sets the tone for what is expected to be a lively and competitive by-election.
Provincial Returning Officer Benjamin Kliawi confirmed that Mr Wali’s nomination was received at 11.10am.
“This is the first nomination we received. I’m looking forward to more nominations,” he told the media.
Nominations will remain open until 4pm on Thursday, after which the Electoral Commission team will conduct the ballot draw. The draw will assign candidate
numbers, which each candidate will use on campaign posters, banners, and other promotional materials.
According to Electoral Commission rules, candidates endorsed by a political party must submit Form 30, while independent candidates must submit Form 29. All nominees are required to provide four passport-size photographs and pay the K1000 nomination fee. At the nomination centre, candidates must also complete Form 23, which finalises their acceptance as official contenders.
PNG faces increasing threats from climate change, habitat loss, economic development and population growth
BY JOMELEEN PARI
THE Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Papua New Guinea have called for stronger national commitment to safeguard Papua New Guinea’s biodiversity as work begins on formulating the country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025–2030.
Speaking at the NBSAP inception workshop held from November 26–28 at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, CEPA representative Rose Alphonse said protecting PNG’s ecosystems must be elevated as a national development priority.
“Protecting these ecosystems must become a national development priority. The NBSAP, once reviewed and finalised, must be translated into tangible outcomes.
We must deliver a plan that reflects
PNG’s leadership in biodiversity conservation,” she said.
The call comes as PNG faces increasing threats to biodiversity from climate change, habitat loss, economic development and population growth.
PNG is home to six to eight percent of the world’s biodiversity, and 90 percent of its people rely on natural resources for their livelihoods.
Conservation is embedded in the nation’s founding principles, with the fourth national goal of the Constitution emphasising the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
UNDP PNG Assistant Resident Representative for Environment and Climate Change, Joshua Sam, speaking on behalf of the Resident Representative, said conservation work must be treated as a shared duty.
“Working in the space of
conservation is our sacred responsibility to be stewards of the environment,” he said.
“As a development partner we take our role in helping national entities protect the environment very seriously.
“You will notice we have a long track record of working with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority in the space of biodiversity conservation.”
Mr Sam reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting PNG in aligning its national biodiversity targets with global goals under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework.
The inception workshop brought together provincial representatives, government agencies, development partners and the NBSAP Technical Working Group to begin reviewing the country’s 23 national biodiversity targets. Broader consultations will take place in 2026.
BY JOMELEEN PARI
PAPUA New Guinea has officially begun the process of developing its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025–2030 –– a key national framework aimed at conserving one of the world’s richest and most unique ecosystems.
From November 26-28, the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) PNG, hosted an inception workshop at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby to start drafting the new NBSAP.
PNG is home to six to eight per cent of the world’s biodiversity and is recognised as one of 17 megadiverse countries globally, with 90 per cent of its population relying on biodiversity for daily survival. With growing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, economic development, and population growth, a well-developed and implemented NBSAP is critical. NBSAP is a strategic framework that each country develops in
response to its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). PNG became a party to the CBD in 1993 to align itself with the global legal framework and commit to conserving the country’s unique biodiversity, manage resources critical to its population and indigenous knowledge and collaborate internationally in terms of environmental governance.
Representatives from provincial governments, key government agencies, development partners and members of the PNG NBSAP Technical Working Group participated in the review process.
The workshop marks the starting point for reviewing the 23 national targets to ensure alignment with global biodiversity targets. Early in 2026, additional consultations and validation processes will be conducted across different regions of the country. The first NBSAP was developed in 2007 and later revised in 2014 and 2019. The new review aims to align PNG’s national targets with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
BY PISAI GUMAR
THE Lae-based Australian Consular-General’s office is working together with Martin Luther Seminary through Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea to establish an archive to protect church history for future generations.
The work is purposely to protect the legacy and history of the church, which Australian Consular-General’s office see as an important piece of work and very instrumental to support.
Consular-General, Mr Brenton Kanowski told the gathering
at the first graduation of postgraduate diploma education (PGDE) secondary teaching at Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea (LUPNG), concurrently with Diploma in Theology graduands of Martin Luther Seminary (MLS) on Nov 29.
The Rev Michael Hauser attached with MLS is working in close-collaboration with Mr Kanowski to established through LUPNG to capture, catalogue and record the history of the church and MLS, its archives and properly maintain them for future generations.
Earlier, Mr Kanowski, on behalf of Australian Government and its people also offered a small package to support LUPNG, and that is starting small.
“It is indeed a great honor to be at MLS today as one of three generations of my family, here in Lae working as the third generation of my family and thank you for being welcoming to my family” Mr Kanowski said.
Mr Kanowski referred to his grandparents, Mr Fred Stolz and wife Lois Stolz, the founders of Balob Teachers College in 1963.
In their endeavors, Mr Stolz also assisted in establishment
of MLS.
Mr Kanowski accompanied his grandfather Fred Stolz, now 90 and Uncle Michael Stolz, the Executive Director of Australian Lutheran World Services (ALWS) to attend the occasion.
“Being an Australian representative in Lae, what a special intertwine history we have forged between Australian and Papua New Guinea”
“I think Australia’s history is Papua New Guinea and Papua New Guineas history is Australia”
“We are really proud of this across the Torres Strait
From L-R: Lae-based Australian Consular-General, Brenton Kanowski, his grandfather, Fred Stolz, Reverend Michael Hauser from Martin Luther Seminary and Michael Stolz, son of Fred Stolz at Martin Luther Seminary on Nov 29. Michael Stolz is the Executive Director of Australian Lutheran World Services.
as brothers and sisters and legacy of our two countries as 50 years ago, PNG making its way as an Independent country on the global stage,” Mr Kanowski said.
“History between our two countries continues today; it’s not that 50 years ago, Australia said-okay all the best PNG off you go, but ever since that time, Australia still stood by PNG and still support where we could”
“We now reflect 50 years on from where we are and I hear, just shy of 60 years anniversary of this institution (MLS), it is really exciting to see this institution grow and evolve into what it is becoming as a fully recognised university with great future ahead” Mr Kanowski said.
Mr Kanowski comes from family background of teachers including his grandparents, aunties, cousins and one of his biological brother teaching few kilometres away on Thursday Island, Torres Straits.
Mr Kanowski referred to his grandfather talking about sending teachers into rural Morobe and up into the Highlands.
When he (Mr Stolz) returns to visit, many decades later, out of the bush or out of the big congregation at the church service, people would approach him and say you are my principal.
“And so 50 or 60 years later, that legacy is still helping people teaching in those rural parts of this country”
ATTENDEES at the Morobe Provincial Law & Justice Reflection workshop. PICTURE: AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
MOROBE Province is taking steps to improve community safety and justice, gathering provincial and district leaders in Lae to meet to drive stronger, more coordinated justice services. Supported through the Australia-Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ), the session brought together provincial officials and District Administrators to discuss the most pressing law and order challenges facing communities in Morobe. These include conflict and sorcery accusationrelated violence, gender-based and family violence, illegal land-grabbing, youth under-employment, increased crime, and the need for government and community land to support justice services. With 85 per cent of local level governments located in remote areas, delivering justice services in Morobe is not without its challenges. The determination to overcome these obstacles shows resilience and leadership, and Australia is proud to support Morobe’s efforts to build safer, more resilient communities through strong partnerships and inclusive governance. Morobe’s Deputy Provincial Administrator, Robin Bazzinuc, welcomed the partnership and applauded Australia’s support. He highlighted its role in reaching remote communities through court circuits, GBV and SARV awareness programs, and ongoing Village Court inspections that help ensure accessible village and land mediation services. The discussions lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive reflection and planning workshop in early 2026, which will bring together newly elected local level government managers to strengthen coordination and justice service delivery across remote communities in Morobe Province.
IT was an historic moment for the Light House Christian Academy with Kerema MP and Minister for Finance Thomas Opa officially opening double classroom at Iokea village on Saturday.
Starting the year with a sago leaves thatched roofs in 2024 Light House Christian Academy directors Ken and Hannah Siminji faced the education challenge in the village.
On Saturday with the official opening of the double classroom by Mr Opa as Kerema District Development Authority chairman put big smiles on the Academy’s directors,
BY REINHARD MINONG
FOUR new teachers’ houses were opened at Messi Primary School on Thursday, a development built on community determination and sweat.
The houses are a requirement as the school prepares to introduce Grade nine classes next year, part of its elevation to Junior High School status in 2026. Without staff accommodation, the upgrade would simply not happen.
Headmaster Benjamin ToPidik said the project is the result of years of planning carried out with limited support.
“These houses enable us to secure qualified teachers and meet Junior High standard, if we didn’t build them, we wouldn’t be ready for Grade nine,” he said.
The school now has 14 classrooms, two of which will host the pioneer Grade nine.
Mr ToPidik said: the transition has not been easy.
Government funding remains inconsistent, forcing parents and the school board to finance materials themselves.
“We can’t wait for funding that never comes,” he said.
“Our board and parents step in because our children deserve better.”
School patron William Bartley places the achievement in historical context.
“This school has been standing since 1952,” he said.
“It has produced professionals across PNG. These new staff houses are an investment in the next generation of leaders.”
The structures were built through collective effort: parents contributing cash, youths providing labour, church groups offering support, and volunteers working long hours to complete the project.
No contractors. No government intervention.
Reverend John Lais said the project demonstrates the power of unity.
“When the community stands with the school, progress happens,” he said.
“This is the result of shared responsibility.”
With the opening of the houses, Messi primary clears a requirement set by education authorities for Junior High Schools.
More work remains, but the school is now in a position to welcome its first Grade nine cohort from Dampet, Danu, Kaluan, and surrounding communities.
management and students as well as the community.
The double classroom cost K350,000 was locally built by skilled carpenters from Iokea village.
Mr Opa said from the school's second graduation the importance is to open the classroom.
The local MP was accompanied by his project officer Jude Avosa and electoral officer Victor Posu.
Directors Ken and Hannah Siminji were proud that Mr Opa has recognised their services in Christian Education in the village.
THE Sri Lankan community in Port Moresby, made its annual Christmas donation to Cheshire Disability Services on 29 November, 2025.
Presenting the donation on behalf of the group, community representative Panditha Bandara said: “For the past five years, the Sri Lankan community in Port Moresby has been donating groceries, dry rations, food items, drinks, toiletries, detergents and many other essential goods as part of our annual Christmas donation program.
“I have been asked to represent the Sri Lankan community today, and that is why I am standing before you.
THE chairman of the International Training Institute, Senthil Kumaran Sentheyval, visited Friends of Port Moresby General Hospital, accompanied by ITI staff to demonstrate the institute’s support for patient care at the hospital.
During the visit, Mr Kumaran handed over essential goods valued at K3000 to Friends of POMGen Operations manager, Grace Roland.
He affirmed that this partnership marks the start of a new, ongoing partnership with Friends of POMGen and pledged to make such contributions an annual initiative. The donation was made on November, 27, 2025.
THE National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA) formally acknowledges the generous support provided by Kina Bank’s Harbour City Branch in Port Moresby through a donation of essential medical equipment and supplies to Lawes Road Clinic. Clinic Manager Sr Josin Kulin has expressed sincere appreciation to Kina Bank’s management and Dagu Hebore for facilitating the donation.
“Christmas is a season of giving, a time to extend kindness and support to those in need.
“It is in this spirit that we continue to select Cheshire Disability Services as the recipient of our donations each year.
“The Sri Lankan community includes Sri Lankan-owned businesses as well as individual philanthropists.
“Many of us have lived in PNG for a long time, some for nearly three decades, and we understand the importance and value of supporting vulnerable members of society.”
Similar to previous years, the donation includes groceries
and dry rations such as rice, sugar, flour, tea, and coffee; bottled water and soft drinks; detergents and toiletries; and solar lighting for the Christmas season.
In addition, the donation includes lunch for the residents.
The total value of the donation is more than K30,000.
“We hope that Cheshire Disability Services will be able to use these items for the comfort and benefit of its residents,” he said.
Mr Bandara also thanked those who made the contribution possible.
“I take this opportunity to thank my Sri Lankan friends
for encouraging me to organise this event.
“I would also like to extend my appreciation to Cheshire Disability Services for arranging to receive this donation.”
Representative from Cheshire Disability Services acknowledged the longstanding partnership, stating: “Cheshire Disability Services has been in existence for 60 years.
“We do not receive any government grants and manage all operations through donations like this.
“I value your long-standing partnership with us, and I hope this partnership will continue for many years ahead.”
“These items will greatly assist our staff in attending to the many patients who seek medical care at Lawes Road Clinic,” Sr Kulin said. This contribution also strengthens the ongoing partnership between NCDPHA and Kina Bank as we work together to serve the people of the National Capital District.” Items donated to the Clinic included four folding tables, 10 plastic chairs, two stand fans,
a bathroom foot scale, five digital thermometers, digital blood pressure monitors with paediatric/adult cuff, two BSL machines with 100 strips, hand sanitisers, disinfectant (700ml), home fragrance, office stationeries and others.
NCDPHA’s chief executive officer Dr Robin Oge has also conveyed his gratitude to Kina Bank for their continued commitment to community health.
“Supporting health services is a vital way of giving back to our communities.
“NCDPHA looks forward to continuing its partnership with Kina Bank to ensure our people have access to basic and reliable health services,” Dr Oge said. NCDPHA remains committed to delivering effective and accessible health services to the residents of the National Capital District and the Motu Koita communities.
BY JOMELEEN PARI
IN a move to showcase its efforts in promoting ICT integration and learning activities in schools, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) hosted a media tour on Wednesday, December 3, at Gabone Primary School and Ginigolo Primary School in the Rigo district of Central Province.
Media personnel were taken on a guided visit by JICA officers to observe firsthand how the agency’s newly developed math learning application is being used in classrooms, and to speak with teachers, students, and project manager about its impact.
The two schools, located in the remote Rigo LLG, are among the pilot schools selected for this initiative.
According to JICA, the purpose of the tour was to demonstrate how the math app is currently being utilised by teachers and students, and to highlight the app’s impact through direct classroom observations and interviews. JICA hopes the public will better understand the initiative and support its expansion to benefit more students, including those in remote areas, by improving their basic numeracy skills.
The math learning app, developed by JICA, is designed to strengthen students’ basic calculation skills through practice problems, explanatory videos, and tests. Students can earn points as they complete exercises and use them to create original characters, making the learning experience fun and engaging. Importantly, the app can also be used offline, allowing students in rural and remote areas to benefit without needing internet access.
From August 2024 to December 2025, JICA conducted pilot activities in 12 schools
BY NAMTY HANSEN
DWU Journalism Student
JAPAN International Cooperation Agency through a mathematical application has supported over 150 grade four and five students at Gabone and Ginigolo Gunugau primary schools in Rigo’s Coastal Rural LLG. The Mathematics application readily installed in over a hundred tablets were donated to Gabone (2024) and Ginigolo Gunugau (mid-2025) primary schools as part of JICAs strengthening Primary Teacher Pre-service Education in Mathematics and Science project. Chief Project Advisor Akinori Ito said the project was implemented to address weakness in basic calculation skills which was common among most junior primary students across Papua New Guinea.
“The current issue is the lack of basic skill in calculation so JICA decided to develop an application to support the students to improve their basic mathematics,” Ito said. Head teacher for Ginigolo Gunugau Primary school Mr. Kenneth Henry who had been teaching in the school for 20 years said during the media tour on Wednesday that although the project was introduced to the school in the middle of the academic year, the activities within the application had boosted students’ learning for grade four and five.
“From 20 years of teaching here many of our children are still way behind basic math operation. So, the issue of these tablets has helped them a lot with basic mathematics. Apart from that, the new way
of learning is motivating the students to come and learn more, especially the topics they find difficult.
“Children are already fed up of the old way of teaching and learning using chalkboard so when JICA introduced this project, it was something new to them (grade 4 and 5 students) and it has changed their speed in learning as they are motivated to learn more about math.”
Among the students who shared their experience was Natasha Tola, a grade 4 student at Ginigolo Gunugau primary school who thanked JICA saying the program helped her with basic calculations.
The application has addition, subtraction, division and multiplication programs with activities ranging from the easiest to the most difficult.
Grade four teacher at Ginigolo Gunugau primary school
Patricia Kaii, when explaining the program access procedure, said the students used their mind power to calculate and that there was no need for the students to use pen and paper.
Gabone Primary School
grade five teacher Mrs Mary Wunuang Benson said that the math application was helpful and acted as a practical environment for her students to practice more on the topics they learnt in class. Benson said that poor network coverage and power cuts were factors that affected the effective use of the tablets at Gabone primary school.
Meanwhile, Ito said that JICA was looking into creating an offline version of the Mathematics application to alleviate network connectivity issues.
understanding of mathematics, and increased interest in learning the subject. They also reported that the app reduced their marking workload and allowed them to assign exercises tailored to each student’s learning level.
Students also shared positive feedback, saying the app made solving math problems feel like playing a game, making the subject more enjoyable.
Observers noted students were engaged and focused while using the app, demonstrating its strong positive influence on learning.
across Rigo, Kairuku, and Hiri districts, with six intervention schools using the app and six control schools serving as comparisons.
PNG is the first country in the world to implement the math app program, which is now expanding to other countries such as Palau, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Nepal.
During the media tour, about 30 students from Grades 4 and 5 were observed working independently on their tablets.
Teachers interviewed on-site said the app has improved student attendance, boosted
For more than 20 years, JICA has contributed to improving the quality of education in PNG through various initiatives, including developing math and science textbooks, supporting teachers’ colleges, and providing educational opportunities in remote areas through television programs.
JICA says it will continue to work with development partners to enhance education quality in PNG, including expanding the math app initiative to more schools.
The media tour marks another significant step in JICA’s long-term commitment to strengthening education outcomes and promoting ICTbased learning in PNG.
Students urged to be healthy and live a productive lifestyle: Sia
BY NELSON JOE
EASTERN Highlands Governor
Simon Sia has urged the 300 students of Agarabi Primary School in Kainantu district to cultivate healthy and productive lifestyles, starting with avoiding bad habits and committing their time to meaningful activities.
Speaking during the school’s 24th graduation ceremony last week Tuesday that has seen 144 of them becoming the pioneer grade nine students at the newly established Agarabi Day High School, Mr Sia said: “Don’t spoil your career and your future by touching illicit drugs and alcohol.”
He instead urged them to think of the investment in their personal development process by their hard working parents, grandparents, relatives, guardians and sponsors and reward them with educational qualifications at tertiary level and career security.
He pointed out that getting a tertiary level qualification has become easier with more universities and colleges established in the country and the provincial government consistently subsidising the tertiary students’ tuition fees
consistently since three years ago and will continue to do so going forward.
“The onus is on you to give us the result from our investments in your educational journey,” he said.
“The certificates you are awarded on graduation day do not mean it is time for you to get married.
“It is not time for this.
“You have a long way to go, seven years or so from grade nine to when you complete you college and university. Make us proud by securing a career in whatever profession you aspire to serve in.
“Your career is your future and it is all that we want to see from our investments.” One of the key factors contributing to personal development is time management which is a compulsory course in tertiary institutions for first year students.
Mr Sia urged the students to start cultivating time management skills by helping their parents and grandparents in gardening and other meaningful activities from Monday to Friday and engage in church and sporting activities on weekends, rather idling their days away in towns and cities.
THE Assistant Commissioner of Police Logistics, Chris Smith, spent two days in Kikori district, Gulf Province, to see for himself how police infrastructure and police officers are operating in that part of the country.
The two-day visit brought him to Wabo, Ihu and Baimuru government stations, where he chatted with locals and the police officers there.
ACP Smith said the visit was a fact-finding mission, and he wanted to see for himself how police accommodation, police stations, and police officers are operating there.
He stated that during his visit, he discovered that two police stations in Ihu and Baimuru, which were burnt down by locals, are now affecting police service in the area.
He also noted that the police accommodation was run down and needs major changes, and that
police manpower is also a concern there.
“With the government’s aim to recruit more police officers, infrastructure is one thing that must be in place to attract more police officers to that location, such as housing, other government services, and good transport services to the main centers.
“I visited the locations and noted what the management needs to do to help the policing service in the Kikori District. I also want to thank TotalEnergy, the company operating there, which has been very helpful to locals.
“During my visit, I witnessed them assisting a woman who had complications in delivering her baby; the TotalEnergy response team assisted her to the site where she was helped by their doctor, the company is doing great work there,” ACP Smith said. He said that the three government
stations have people living there who need police services.
Wabo government station have police houses, and a police station is now under construction, while Baimuru, which had its police station burnt down, is operating in a building at the station. Ihu police officers are operating in the LLG office.
He said the fact-finding visit was very important, during which he managed to speak with some of the community policing officers and the leaders there.
His visitation report will be presented to the RPNGC management so they can discuss how best to help. He mentioned that the trip is one of the many trips that the logistics division has planned.
ACP Smith also thanked the TotalEnergy team, who assisted them while visiting the three locations.
BY TANISHA SASSAH
THE International Organisation Migration and the National Weather Service co-hosted a two-day media workshop at Grand Papua Hotel in Port Moresby on strengthening early warning systems and community preparedness in PNG.
The media workshop was supported by the Government of Japan and was from Wednesday December 3 to Thursday December 4, 2025.
The initiative contributes to PNG’s Medium Term Development Plan IV (2023- 2027 SPA 10.3(ii)) and aligns with the global Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) framework.
Internal Organisation Migration Emergency Management and peacebuilding coordinator Peter Murorea said that the purpose of the media workshop was to provide early warning systems to communities and strengthen disaster preparedness.
“We will explore how to make warnings clear, actionable, and inclusive ensuring they reach remote villages, persons with disabilities, and communities in their own languages.
“Your coverage, creativity, and credibility are what transform warnings into resilience.“I invite you to share your experiences, your challenges, and your ideas.
“Because when the next storm come, it will be your word, your broadcasts, and your posts that help families prepare and protect what matters most,” he said.
National Weather Service Assistant Director Benjamin Malai said that the workshop was a good initiative to bring together media partners to build a relationship that will help to disseminate early warning systems to local communities with stakeholders in the country.
The expected outcome of the workshop was to share understanding of PNG’s hazard and risk landscape, identification of gaps in risk knowledge and community preparedness, strengthen collaboration and coordination frameworks among stakeholders and contributions from government and partners to support implementation and sustainability of early warning systems.
PAPUA New Guinea’s Minister for Defence, Dr Billy Joseph, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles and Indonesia’s Minister of Defence General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, met on December 3, 2025 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for their inaugural Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
The Ministers welcomed the development of the trilateral partnership, built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a collective vision for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
They reflected on the signing of the PNG-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty (Pukpuk Treaty), and the substantive conclusion of negotiations on an Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, and their contribution to the peace, stability
and security of our shared region. They also welcomed this opportunity to discuss defence cooperation between the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
They shared perspectives on regional defence and security cooperation and noted the breadth of military engagement between three close neighbours.
The three ministers explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and aviation best practice.
The Ministers agreed to holding the trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting annually, with Indonesia agreeing to host the forum next year.
BY JEFFREY ELAPA
A WARD councillor in the Southern Highlands has thanked his people for observing a peaceful election, that led to him being elected President for the second time.
Upupia ward councillor of the Poroma LLG in the Nipa Kutubu Oscar Mepam who was elected President of the Poroma LLG, NipaKutubu electorate in the SHP said that the violent free election in all Wards in the LLG shows maturity and respect.
He thanked the people for observing a trouble-free election, that indicated that the people exercised their rights to choose and
vote for their leaders.
Mr Mepam also thanked the people led by their councillors for electing him to lad the LLG for another five years.
He said he is also humbled to have been given the mandate by the people through their councillors to lead them for another five years, and he his humbled to lead the thirdtier government with the support of the Southern Highlands Provincial Government.
On behalf of my family, my tribes and the people of Utupia Ward, I want to sincerely thank the people of Poroma and our leaders for trusting my leadership and giving me another opportunity to continue
BY ROBERT TIKI
PROVINCIAL Police Commander for Jiwaka Province Chief Inspector Laimo Asi has described this year’s LLG elections as one of the “worst ever election marred by violence and fights”.
PPC Asi said people totally forget to take ownership of the LLG election and instigate problems when the outcome of the election did not favour them.
“This is the worst ever LLG election being conducted that I could say,” he said.
He said there is a new trend where people start to kill each other when the result of the election is not favourable.
The PPC said Jiwaka Province has experienced many fights related to the LLG election.
Mr Asi said people are living in the 21st century and should understand what is meant by election.
He said the mentality of the people are still yet to be developed to fully understand the meaning of electing a leader through the democratic process.
PPC Asi said voters were subjected to violence and intimidation during polling.
“This clearly shows that we are still way behind to progress,” he said.
He said the violence and fight caused by people during the time of LLG election process has put to test the work of the police.
Mr Asi said law and order is a collective effort but people seem to go the other way by creating a lot of issues thus giving a lot of pressure to police to deal with it.
BY TANISHA SASSAH
A 50-year-old man was allegedly killed by 19 suspects at Taupota village in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, after an unresolved dispute between two clans, resurfaced.
Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Benjamin Kua said that the victim was cleaning his banana patch at his garden when the 19 men allegedly attacked him.According to PPC Kua the attack happened on Wednesday December 3, 2025 between 9am and 10am.“The victim was at the mentioned village cleaning his banana patch when he was surrounded by 19 identified men,” he said.
He said that the 19 men have been identified but are yet to be arrested.
Victim was allegedly killed after he was surrounded and chased down at his banana patch by the men with bush knives, PPC Kua said.The 19 suspects left after allegedly attacking and killing the man and went back to their home village located between Garuai village and Taupota village, he said. PPC Kua said that the alleged attack and killing was because of an outstanding issue between two clans which were not yet solved.
the work we began together.“A special thank you to the voters and supporters of my team of councillors. All 16 councillors were elected with the same mandate and hold the same title as I do. Yet, you have humbled yourselves and chosen me to lead as the Utupia councillor. I deeply appreciate this trust and confidence.
“I also extend my gratitude to the leaders on the other side of the house with whom we successfully took our oath of office. Since our LLG can have only one president, I was elected to serve in that role, and I respectfully call on all leaders, both sides to unite and work together for the benefit of our people.
REPORTS BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
PNG yesterday opened its firstever national Climate Investment Summit on the first day of the Investment Week 2025 held currently in Sydney Australia.
It marked a historic moment in the country’s efforts to strengthen climate governance and climateresponsive development planning.
The event brought together government leaders, development partners and climate experts to set a coordinated national direction as PNG accelerates its adaptation and mitigation agenda. Delivering the keynote address, National Energy
Authority managing director and chairman of the newly constituted National Climate Change Board, Ronald Maketa, said the summit came at a pivotal time.
He noted that the inaugural board was formally appointed this year after a decade of waiting, representing a major breakthrough in PNG’s climate governance framework. The new board now provides the highest level of statutory oversight for climate action. Mr Maketa highlighted several reforms underway, including the introduction of climateresponsive budgeting for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal cycle. For the first time, climate and disaster risks are being
systematically integrated into national economic decisions, from capital works and revenue strategies to expenditure controls, ensuring long-term resilience and fiscal stability. The Government has also introduced climate risk screening tools for major infrastructure, aimed at protecting public investments, improving safety and supporting modernisation of energy and digital systems.
Mr Maketa emphasised PNG’s growing focus on renewable energy, including solar mini-grids, upgraded hydropower, geothermal potential, clean cooking technologies and early preparation for electric mobility.
PNG is positioning itself to tap emerging opportunities in green hydrogen and green ammonia as global markets shift toward decarbonisation.
On forests, Mr Maketa reaffirmed PNG’s status as a global leader in conservation, with the lifting of the carbon project moratorium enabling participation in regulated carbon markets and initiatives such as Reef Plus, offering significant revenue potential.
BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG
PNG is entering a “dangerous decade” of rising seas, deadly heatwaves and collapsing food systems unless the country accelerates nationwide climate action and energy reform, worldrenowned environmental scientist Professor Tim Flannery has warned.
Speaking at the opening of the PNG Investment Week Climate Summit yesterday, Prof Flannery delivered one of the strongest climate assessments yet heard in a national forum—describing PNG as “one of the world’s most exposed nations, but also one of the most capable of leading the region in climate resilience.”
Prof Flannery is one of Australia's most influential voices on climate change and environmental conservation.
He is an international acclaimed scientist, explorer, and author.
Prof Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007 for his outstanding contributions to science and sustainability.
He revealed that global temperatures have already risen 1.6°C, driving surging tides that are swallowing coastal communities in Northern and East Sepik, eroding food gardens, washing away homes and placing critical infrastructure at risk.
“Wewak’s airport, roads and settlements are in the pathway of
PNG has taken a major step toward ending its reliance on imported cement, with the signing of the essential terms for the Pacific Lime and Cement (PL&C) project, an initiative government leaders describe as transformational for the nation’s economic future.
This following the announcement and signing of the deal yesterday in Sydney, Australia, between Pacific Lime and Cement Limited formerly Mayur Resources, PNG Government and the state negotiating team.
Representing the Government, International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said the agreement, which will go before Cabinet next week for formal approval, represents one of the best mid-sized resource deals negotiated in PNG’s history.
“Since independence, PNG has continuously imported cement despite having significant limestone potential.
“This will be the start of a transformational journey for our country,” he said.
He said the project is expected to create up to 2000 jobs, deliver equity benefits to landowners and government, and position PNG as a net exporter of cement in the coming years.
A key condition of the deal is the company’s listing on the national stock exchange, a move the Minister said will allow ordinary Papua New Guineans, families, and local businesses to invest in the project.
Pacific Lime and Cement Chairman Richard Pegum and CEO Paul Mulder acknowledged the long and difficult path to get the project to this stage.
Mr Mulder, who has spent more than a decade working with landowners from Kido and Rearea in the Hiri Koiari District, Central Province said trust, patience, and genuine partnership were central to achieving agreement.
“The project will allow the area to become known as “building PNG,” as locally produced cement will underpin infrastructure development nationwide,” he said.
The State negotiating team, led by chairman Dairi Vele, confirmed that the agreement secures up to 20 per cent equity for landowners, the provincial government, the district, and the State.
“Government has also allocated an additional K40 million in IDG and BDG funding to support local development around the project area,” he said.
Central Province Governor Rufina Peter and member for Hiri Koiari District Keith Iduhu described the milestone as both historic and symbolic, marking a strong foundation for Central Province’s next 50 years.
The final agreement will be initiated this week before submission to Cabinet next Wednesday.
an unstoppable rise,” he said.
In Western Province, floodwaters are drowning gardens, while West Sepik Province is experiencing heatwaves beyond anything previously recorded.
Traditional planting seasons have become unreliable, threatening PNG’s subsistence-based food system.
Despite the escalating danger, Prof Flannery pointed to homegrown leadership as a beacon of what is possible.
He warned that the biggest barrier holding back PNG’s development is expensive, unreliable power.
He called for a rapid shift to solar, hydro and decentralised clean energy systems that would unlock domestic manufacturing, reduce reliance on diesel and extend economic opportunity to remote communities.
While praising PNG’s political class as “highly skilled and deeply community-connected,” Prof Flannery said decisive, coordinated national leadership is now essential.
“PNG can lead the world in climate-resilient development.
“But the actions taken in the next few years will decide the nation’s future,” he said.
PNG reinforced its position as a global leader in climate governance and forest conservation at the Climate Investment Summit during Investment Week, with Acting Managing Director of the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), Debra Sungi outlining the country’s major advancements in climate policy, carbon markets, and green finance.
“PNG has transitioned from fragmented climate efforts to a unified, regulated national climate system over the past decade, built on the Climate Change Management Act 2015 and strengthened through 2021 and 2023 amendments.
“CCDA is not just a technical agency, it is the national climate investment authority,” she said, emphasising that PNG’s frameworks now align with the Paris Agreement and international reporting obligations.
Ms Sungi highlighted PNG’s growing international credibility, including the delivery of its first, second, and third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Adaptation Plan, biannual transparency reporting, and the country’s internationally verified Forest Reference Level.
PNG recently secured its first US$64.3 million Green Climate Fund results-based payment, marking a major milestone for national implementation.
A central feature of her address was the announcement that PNG’s Carbon Market Regulations have now been fully enacted and gazetted, enabling robust governance for both domestic and international carbon market participation.
She outlined emerging domestic emissions reduction measures, including offsetting frameworks for high-emitting sectors and potential levies on fuel and nitrogen fertiliser imports to stimulate corporate decarbonisation.
Ms Sungi also reaffirmed PNG’s ambition to scale jurisdictional forest carbon programs under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, supported by structured crediting mechanisms and international partnerships, including with Singapore and Japan.
BY STEVEN BUSIN
BOUGAINVILLE is currently facing an acute shortage of TVET instructors and a general plea has been released for experienced, skilled and qualified Bougainvilleans with technical expertise come forward to be instructors in the region.
The general plea was made by Bougainville Education Department TVET Inspector Rigin Habea for certified TVET instructors from around PNG to apply to the Bougainville Vocational Education Training institutions to upskill young Bougainvilleans in various trade courses. The Bougainville TVET inspector revealed this shocking fact during the recent Bougainville Technical College Graduation. Mr. Habea exemplified that, currently, out of all six technical colleges in Bougainville, there is only one qualified plumbing instructor throughout the entire region, as he revealed this staggering fact during the recent Bougainville Technical College Graduation ceremony in Tinputs.
“I am now trying to entice certified TVET instructors to join Bougainville TVET education,” Habea further revealed, pointing out that there are no teachers' colleges for TVET instructors here in PNG.
“We have teacher colleges for
primary and high school teachers; however, there is not a single college in PNG that exclusively trains teachers for technical colleges or trades,” Habea added.
He pointed out that Bougainville has a huge pool of highly skilled and experienced individuals who can do much better jobs than trained tradesmen; however, they lack certified training qualifications. He strongly urged skilled Bougainvilleans to undertake the sixmonth training at the Bougainville Technical College to complete their trade testing and become certified tradespeople, so they could then serve as instructors for vocational centers and the technical college in the region.
“It is pleasing to note that Bougainville Technical College would be doing Trade Testing for skilled and experienced individuals living in communities, and hope in turn, these individuals are absorbed into training and upskilling young professional Bougainvilleans,” he added. He also pointed out that it would be ideal for all NC 1 and NC2 training programs to be conducted by vocational schools here in the region, and the technical college only concentrates on training NC 3 and NC 4.
However, this cannot happen anytime soon as Bougainville still lacks certified technical experts on the ground for Bougainville to realise this educational pathway.
BY PETERSON TSERAHA
THE Bougainville college of nursing last week Wednesday hosted its 8th graduation ceremony with 30 students graduating with flying colours. To add more gold onto the graduation it has signed an MOU with Divine word university to seal its affiliation and all graduands have been formally declared Divine word university graduates, complete with certificates bearing the Divine word logo. Changing from ASON (arawa school of nursing) to BCON (Bougainville College of Nursing) was a very challenging transition according to out going Principal and Founder Celyne Tusala.
Present also at the graduation banquet on Monday night and the actual graduation ceremony on Monday was the Divine word university President Fr. Philip Gibbs who flew in to sign the MOU with Bougainville college of nursing.
The event started on Monday night with the Banquet and then
on Wednesday morning as usual before the graduation students attended mass at our lady or mercy church in Arawa before proceeding to the campus within the Vicinity of ten Arawa district hospital for the graduation ceremony. Present at the ceremony were two ABG Ministers Henry John Potabu Minister for lands and Willie Masiu Minister for Police and correctional services. BCON board of governor’s deputy charman Ignatius Girana and another board of governor’s member John Donna students’ staff and parents. In her speech outgoing Principal Celyne Tusala acknowledged everyone who attended even though it wasn’t a big audience.
“This school rose from the ashes with me the founder and a lot of people who helped me bring this school this far and now we’re in the 8th graduation where 30 of our students are now being certified as health and more specifically nursing professionals.” Mrs. Tusala said.
BY MICHELLE STEVEN
THE International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is observed on December 3, was celebrated in Mt Hagen, with the city authority granting the Hagen Central Persons Living with Disabilities K20,000 to support the association.
Western Highlands health authority representative Noel Tanku said most of the time PLWDs are not given priority and that has to change.
He said sometimes their disabilities make them stand backand let able-bodied people take priority but that should not be the case.
“People with disabilities are capable in their own way and they can do things that most able-bodied people cannot even do.”
Mr Tanku said the government should consider helping PLWDs and how they can be given a space of their own.
Hagen Central Persons Living with Disabilities Association Chairman Thomas Peter raised some concerns.
“There are PLWDs throughout the country and not just in Mt Hagen. They also belong to a family and most have families of their own as well,” he said.
Mr Peter said PLWDs have rights just like any other citizen of PNG.
“One important right is the right to vote and that has been a big issue,” he said.
Mr Peter said when it comes to voting, able-bodied people do not make way for PLWDs and sometimes
they are left out. He urged the provincial government to look into that matter and create a separate venue for PLWDs to vote.
Mr Peter requested for an office for the association to be set up at Mara Haus.
“Every department has an office; PLWDs don't.”
Mr Peter asked the provincial government to create market space for PLWDs so they can participate in the economy.
Mt Hagen City Authority PLWDs coordinator Bond Mamb said working with PLWDs has opened his eyes to see the world differently.
“Physically you can see that they are disabled but mentally these
people are quite intelligent,” he said.
Mr Mamb said some parts of their bodies may be disabled but other parts are quite active.
He commended PLWDs for their constant cooperation and collaboration to support each other.
“Despite being faced with everyday challenges, you have all pushed
through and ended the year on a high note,” he said.
Women with Disabilities Chairlady Freda Mali thanked the municipal authority for its support. City authority community development executive manager Andrew Kerowa said his office handles a lot of issues that affect people and how they live.
COUNCILLOR John Kopi of Ward
19 is the new president of Kol Local Level Government (LLG) in Upper Jimi, Jiwaka Province.
Kopi's election followed a peaceful and lawful election held on Wednesday at the Minj Council Chamber — the duly-designated venue for all LLG swearing-in and election processes.
He was unanimously voted in as president, marking a significant moment for one of Jiwaka’s most remote and rugged LLGs.
Officials present confirmed that the process complied with relevant laws and administrative requirements, ensuring legitimacy and transparency.
Kopi has served three consecutive terms as a ward councillor, and said his elevation to the presidency was a responsibility he embraced with humility.
“I will take my people’s wishes to the provincial executive council with transparency and fairness,” he said moments after his confirmation.
Educated to Grade 10, Kopi is widely regarded as a down-to-earth community leader with a strong
understanding of local issues. He thanked the people of Ward 19 for placing their confidence in him.
“I am grateful to my constituents for trusting me over the years. I will serve all wards in Kol LLG without fear or favour,” he said.
Kol LLG, known for its difficult terrain and limited government presence, has long struggled with infrastructure, health, and education challenges.
Community members hope Kopi’s leadership will bring stronger advocacy at the provincial level and greater attention to development needs across the area.
The orderly election at Minj Council Chamber also stands in contrast to the violence and disruptions affecting several other LLGs during the current council cycle, reinforcing Kol LLG’s commitment to lawful governance and stability.
Kopi is expected to begin consultations with ward representatives immediately as the new LLG administration prepares its priority list for 2026 and beyond.
TALASEA district in West New Britain Province is taking a stand to address law-and-order issues head-on, marking a new chapter in its development.
Talasea MP Freddie Kumai, said the district is determined to clear the way for a peaceful and just society where people can live, work, and prosper without fear.
He said achieving a stable, peaceful society requires the eradication of lawlessness that has challenged the district for more than three decades.
“We had a lot of law-and-order issues in our district in the last 30 years as we didn’t have police in our district,” Mr Kumai said.
“Today I am proud to bring that policing services back to the district. I am so proud of this achievement. Today is significant because it is a new beginning for Talasea.”
He said this during the opening of the renovated Talasea District Police Station on Friday.
Invited guests, including Vice Minister for Police Jacob Maki, Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, Deputy Administrator (economic services) Hubert Kawa, Talasea District Administrator Melchior Babo, WNB Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Fred Kaiwa, and former Police Commissioner Gari Baki, police personnel, contractor and the local communities.
Mr Kumai described Friday’s occasion as significant, signaling a new era for Talasea as it works to create a safe and just society for
all, “where our women and girls can walk around freely”.
Mr Kumai extended his appreciation to Mr Maki for declaring the Talasea Police Station a district police station, elevating its operational mandate.
As part of the district’s investment in security infrastructure, the MP confirmed that 20 new police houses have been funded.
Seven were commissioned on Friday, while 13 are nearing completion.
Once completed, the station will accommodate 20 police personnel.
Mr Kumai highlighted that during his research into the history of the Talasea Police Station, he discovered that the original structure provided for only two police personnel.
“If that is the case, why were we building stations and houses?” he asked.
He said the new district police station corrects this oversight and positions Talasea for stronger policing.
Mr Kumai said the strategic importance of the station's location, noting that it will serve all surrounding communities, including the island communities of Bali and Vitu where Talasea police will go on regular patrols and those for policing.
At the same time, Governor Muthuvel said it is good to see the local MP has a strong vision for Talasea in terms of law-and-order and that is why a lot of emphasis has been with police.
He said he had seen lot of police personnel living in rundown houses and inadequate facilities but at Talasea, it was a new beginning for them.
“There are no proper tools and equipment in their role but we appreciate the local MP for taking
this investment decision.
“The high covenant houses and the permanent police station is a great investment,” he said.
Mr Muthuvel said there were issues with bringing in more police into the province due to accommodation shortages.
Now that they are building more houses, they will request for police officers to be posted to the province. He said the provincial government had helped renovate the Kimbe Police Station with K2 million, as part of tackling lawlessness in the province.
THE Talasea Police Station in West New Britain Province has been elevated to a district police station following major refurbishment and extension works, including the construction of new staff accommodation.
Vice Minister for Police and MulBaiyer Member of Parliament (MP), Jacob Maki, made the announcement last Friday at the opening of the upgraded station, seven new staff accommodation units, including the police station commander’s residence.
He said the elevation reflects the growth of the area and the increased policing needs of the district.
Mr Maki made this undertaking after a request was put to him by Talasea MP Freddie Kumai asking for a proper manpower structure to be established for the station.
The declaration now means that the police station will serve the people of Talasea LLG and Bali Witu LLG.
Mr Maki issued instructions to Acting Provincial Police Commander,
Chief Inspector Fred Kaiwa to work with the Office of the Commissioner of Police and ensure a manpower structure is in place to support the elevation of the police post to district police station.
The facilities at the police post will be able to support a manpower structure of 20 officers including a commissioned officer to run its affairs.
“I now elevate the status of Talasea Rural Police Station into Talasea District Police Station, and it will accommodate other police stations within its zone,” he said.
“It will be manned by an inspector and look after more than 25 police personnel.
“It will be a fully functioning police station.”
Mr Maki acknowledged Mr Kumai for securing funding through the Government Incentive Fund and thanked West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel for his continued support.
AVARUA: A one-day workshop on the potential development of hate crimes legislation in the Cook Islands was recently at the Muri Beach Club Hotel, drawing attention to the need for stronger protections against discrimination.
Independent consultant Janette Olliver (pictured), who helped facilitate the workshop, said its purpose was to examine the possibility of introducing hate crimes legislation in the Cook Islands or obtaining technical assistance to draft such laws.
“The aim is to provide better protections for all groups in our society, including different religious
subgroups, migrant workers, and communities with distinct cultures, where bias and discrimination may exist,” Olliver said. She added that legislation is necessary because people often face hostility due to their religion, gender, or other personal characteristics, and in some cases, this can escalate to violence.
“When there isn’t a framework to recognise crimes motivated by bias, they often go unrecorded,” she said.
“This makes it difficult for the media or the criminal justice system to track what is happening.
The absence of data doesn’t mean it’s not happening - it simply remains invisible.”
Facilitated by Ariane Adam, Head of Legal at the London-based Human Dignity Trust (HDT), an organisation that provides legal support to protect marginalised communities worldwide.
HDT works globally with LGBT activists, defending human rights in countries where private, consensual sexual activity is criminalised.
- RNZ
SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday it had struck a A$1.4 billion (K3.94bn) contract with Boeing Defence Australia for six operational Ghost Bat drones for the Australian Defence Force, after conducting the first live weapon test on an aerial target.
The announcement coincided with talks between Australian and US defence and foreign ministers in Washington,
where the security allies agreed to joint production and maintenance of hypersonic cruise missiles in Australia, and more rotations of US bomber aircraft.
The US is pressing its Indo Pacific ally to increase defence spending.
Australia social media ban set to take effect, sparking a global crackdown
SYDNEY: Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use today, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube forced to block more than a million accounts, marking the beginning of an expected global wave of regulation.
From midnight (1300 GMT), 10 of the biggest platforms will be required to block Australians aged under 16 or be fined up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). The law received harsh criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was praised by parents and child advocates.
The rollout closes out a year of speculation about whether a country can block children from using technology that is built into modern life. And it begins a live experiment that will be studied globally by lawmakers who want to intervene directly because they are frustrated by what they say is a tech industry that has been too slow to implement effective harm-minimisation efforts. Governments from Denmark to Malaysia - and even some states in the US, where platforms are rolling back trust and safety features - say they plan similar steps, four years after a leak of internal Meta documents showed the company knew its products contributed to body image problems and suicidal thoughts among teenagers while publicly de-
nying the link existed.
“While Australia is the first to adopt such restrictions, it is unlikely to be the last,” said Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Curtin University.
“Governments around the world are watching how the power of Big Tech was successfully taken on. The social media ban in Australia ... is very much the canary in the coal mine.”
A spokesperson for the British government, which in July began forcing websites hosting pornographic content to block under-18 users, said it was “closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions.”
“When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table,” they added.
Few will scrutinise the impact as closely as the Australians. The eSafety Commissioner, an Australian regulator tasked with enforcing the ban, hired Stanford University and 11 academics to analyse data on thousands of young Australians covered by the ban for at least two years.
Though the ban covers 10 platforms initially, including Alphabet’s YouTube, Meta’s Instagram and TikTok, the government has said the list will change as new products appear and young users switch to alternatives.
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH: Thailand said it was taking action to expel Cambodian forces from its territory on Tuesday, as renewed fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours spread along the disputed border. Each side has blamed the other for the clashes, which have derailed a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump that ended
five days of fighting in July.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said two civilians had been killed overnight, taking its death toll to six. One Thai soldier has died in the fighting.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Thai Navy said Cambodian forces had been detected inside Thai territory in the coastal province of Trat and military operations were
launched to expel them, without providing further details.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said late on Monday that Thailand “must not use military force to attack civilian villages under the pretext of reclaiming its sovereignty”.
Earlier, Cambodia said it had not retaliated even after its forces came under sustained attack.
The Thai Navy said Cambodian forces were increasing their presence, deploying snipers and heavy weapons, improving fortified positions and digging trenches, adding it saw the actions “as a direct and serious threat to Thailand’s sovereignty”.
Monday’s clashes were the fiercest since a five-day exchange of rockets and artillery in July. – REUTERS
The Ghost Bat or MQ-28A is the first military aircraft designed in Australia in more than 50 years, to fly as a partner with crewed surveillance and fighter jets to a range of more than 3700 km. – REUTERS
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has agreed to a management procedure for South Pacific albacore tuna. The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) said this decision will allow the formation of a binding framework to be applied to South Pacific albacore fishing, for all fleets operating in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. It said the new management procedure introduces a structured decision-making framework that ties fishing levels to the stock’s condition.
Six Pakistani soldiers were killed in a militant attack on a security post in the country’s northwest, three police and security sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The attack took place between Monday night and Tuesday morning in the former tribal district of Kurram, which is close to the border with Afghanistan.
Three staff from Tonga’s rugby league team face a potential two-year ban from NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) competition, in the wake of the serious head injury to Eliesa Katoa. Katoa, 25, underwent brain surgery after suffering multiple blows to the head during Tonga’s Pacific Championships match against New Zealand on Nov 2. Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season but is aiming to return to the game.
Japan is threatening China militarily which is “completely unacceptable”, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his German counterpart, after Japan said that Chinese fighter jets had aimed their radar at Japanese military aircraft. Japan has denounced the encounter as a dangerous act, though China has blamed Japan for sending aircraft to repeatedly approach and disrupt the Chinese navy as it was conducting previously announced carrier-based flight training east of the Miyako Strait. Relations have soured in the past month since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that Japan could respond to any Chinese military action against Taiwan if it also threatened Japan’s security. – AGENCIES
TOKYO: At least 30 people were injured after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit north-eastern Japan on Monday night, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
The quake occurred at 14:15 GMT at a depth of 50km, about 80km off the coast of the Aomori region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It prompted tsunami warnings which have now been lifted, while waves of 70cm were seen.
Some train services have been suspended and thousands of homes have been left without power as a result. Authorities have also warned that a stronger tremor could occur in the coming days - urging the public to remain on high alert for at least a week, according to local media reports.
Addressing citizens affected by the earthquake, Japanese Prime
Minister Sanae Takaichi said: “Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, such as ensuring that you secure furniture, and prepare to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking.” Orders were issued for about 90,000 residents to evacuate, according to Reuters news agency.
The Aomori prefectural government said around 2700 homes have been left without power. East Japan
Railway has also suspended some services along the north-eastern coast.
The Japanese government has set up a response office within the prime minister’s crisis management centre and convened an emergency team, chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara has said.
“We are making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response meas-
ures, including rescue and relief operations,” he added.
Following the tremors, Japanese electric company Tohoku Electric Power said no irregularities were reported at its Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants as a result of the quake, Tohoku Electric Power said.
None were detected either at the disabled Fukushima nuclear power station site. –BBC
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has unveiled a $12bn (K50.58bn) farm aid package aimed at helping farmers impacted by low crop prices and the administration’s ongoing trade wars.
Most of the money – $11bn – is earmarked for one-time payments to farmers for row crops as part of the agriculture department’s Farmer Bridge Assistance programme, with another billion reserved for crops not covered by the programme.
While farmers have broadly supported Trump, the agriculture sector has been disrupted by trade
disputes during his second term, particularly with China.
Also on Monday, Trump threatened to hit Mexico with an additional 5% tariff in a row over water supplies to US farmers.
The White House says the aid package will help farmers suffering from “years of unjustified trade actions” and accumulated inflation.
Trump made the announcement during an event at the White House, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Members of Congress and corn,
cotton, sorghum, soybean, rice, cattle, wheat and potato farmers were also in attendance.
“Maximising domestic farm production is a big part of how we will make America affordable again and bring down grocery prices,”
Trump said.
Sorghum and soybean farmers have been hit hard by the Trump administration’s trade dispute with China, the greatest importer of their crops.
According to a White House official, the payments are intended to help farmers market this
year’s harvest and plan for next year’s crops, as well as act as a bridge until the administration’s policies “deliver a better market environment”.
Rollins said the last $1bn would be held back to help officials understand the state of “specialty crops” and ensure that the government is “making every forward moving position that we need to”.
When asked if further farm aid packages were planned, Trump said “it depends” on how the market develops. – Bbc
KYIV: Ukraine is preparing to present a revised peace plan to the White House, as it seeks to avoid making territorial concessions to Russia.
Kyiv is set propose alternatives to the US after President Volodymyr Zelensky again ruled out surrendering land, saying he had “no right” to do so under Ukrainian or international law.
He made the comments as he met European and Nato leaders on Monday, part of a collective push to deter the US from backing a peace deal which includes major concessions for Ukraine, and which allies fear would leave it vulnerable to a future invasion.
Meanwhile, the city of Sumy in north-western Ukraine was left without power overnight after a Russian drone attack.
The region’s governor said more than a dozen drones had hit power infrastructure, the latest in Russia’s nightly attacks. No deaths were reported.
Zelensky’s ongoing diplomatic tour of Europe comes after days of intensive talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend, that failed to produce a deal Kyiv could agree to.
Zelensky was due to be briefed on that private summit on Monday by his chief aide Rustem Umerov, who wrote on Telegram that he would feed back details of direct talks between the US and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian president told a news conference that his team could send a new proposal to the
Two Afghan teens jailed for raping girl in England
LONDON: Two teenage Afghan asylum seekers, who had both arrived in Britain alone in the last year, were given long detention sentences on Monday for raping a 15-year-old girl in central England.
The boys, Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both aged 17, carried out the attack in a park in Leamington Spa in May after taking the girl, who was very drunk at the time, away from her friends, prosecutors said.
The court was played footage that the highly distressed girl had managed to capture during the attack, in which she could be heard sobbing loudly and screaming: “Please help me ... let me go ... I want to go home.”
“The day I was raped changed me as a person,” the girl, who said the incident was her first sexual experience, said.
Crimes, particularly sexual offences, committed by asylum seekers have become a major political issue in Britain. – REUTERS
SYDNEY: Australia today will become the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures as concerns mount over the effects of social media on children’s health and safety. Below is a summary of what other countries and tech companies are doing to regulate access to social media.
AUSTRALIA
Americans as soon as Tuesday, AFP news agency reported.
On the subject of surrendering land, Zelensky said: “Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don’t want to cede anything.”
He continued: “We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don’t have any moral right either.”
Zelensky has long maintained that any changes to Ukraine’s borders
would need to be authorised by a public referendum.
Elsewhere, he told reporters that the initial 28-point plan proposed by the US - and rejected by Kyiv and European leaders as being too favourable to Russia - had been cut down to 20 points, according to Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
He said no “pro-Ukrainian” points had been removed from the draft, though there had also been no “compromise” on the subject
of territory. Zelensky singled out control of the eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as being among the “most sensitive” issues.
The original leaked version of the US-backed plan proposed that Ukraine hand over total control of the Donbas to Russia, despite the fact that Kremlin forces have been unable to capture it in full after almost four years of war.
– Bbc
Catholic Church agrees to mediation for 1300 sexual abuse claims
NEW york: The Roman Catholic Church in New York and more than 1300 accusers on Monday announced they have agreed to mediation to settle sexual abuse claims that could result in one of the largest payouts ever by the church in the United States.
Similar cases against the Catholic Church in the United States have resulted in billions of dollars in
payouts, as priests and church lay workers were found to have sexually preyed on children for decades while being protected by the church hierarchy.
With civil litigation against the Archdiocese of New York due to come to trial next year, the archdiocese agreed to negotiate settlements over the next two months, said attorney Jeff Anderson, who represents
Congo president accuses Rwanda of
KINSHASA: Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi (pictured) on Monday accused Rwanda of violating its commitments to a USbrokered peace deal aimed at ending years of conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east, just days after attending a signing ceremony in Washington. Tshisekedi made the accusations in a speech to lawmakers. There was no immediate response from Rwanda. The US State Department urged Rwanda to prevent escalation. Deadly clashes have marred
some 300 of the 1311 accusers whose claims date from 1952 to 2020.
Settlements would have to be accompanied by full disclosure of wrongdoing and measures to prevent future abuse, Anderson said.
In announcing the negotiations, the Archdiocese of New York acknowledged a “darkness” in its past and said it hoped to achieve a global settlement. – Reuters
efforts to begin implementing the terms of US and Qatar-brokered agreements brokered in recent months between Congo, Rwanda, and the rebel group M23. Over the weekend, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced in an area close to the border with Burundi, seizing the village of Luvungi, according to two residents who spoke to Reuters and
shared a video of the rebels holding a meeting there. Rwanda denies backing the rebels.
Some Congolese soldiers fled the town and clashed with Wazalendo defense forces on Sunday in the nearby town of Sange, offici als said.
Sange was bombed or struck with grenades, and as many as 36 people were killed, an official and other sources said on Monday. It was not immediately clear which party to the conflict had fired or which type of weapon had caused the explosion. – REUTERS
A landmark law passed in November 2024 forces major social media platforms to block minors younger than 16 starting on Wednesday, one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting major tech platforms. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million.
BRITAIN
The Online Safety Act sets tougher standards for social media platforms, including age restrictions to block minors from accessing harmful content. The law was passed in 2023 and enforcement began this year. No age limit for accessing social media has been set.
CHINA
China’s cyberspace regulator has put in place a so-called “minor mode” programme that requires device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to restrict screen time depending on age.
DENMARK
Denmark said in November it would ban social media for children under 15, while allowing parents to give exemptions for youngsters down to the age of 13 to access certain platforms. A majority of parties in Parliament said they would back the plan ahead of a formal vote.
FRANCE
In 2023, France passed a law requiring social platforms to get parental consent for minors under 15 to create accounts. But according to local media, technical challenges have impeded its enforcement.
GERMANY
Minors between the ages of 13 and 16 are allowed to use social media only if their parents provide consent. But child protection advocates say controls are insufficient.
ITALY
In Italy, children under the age of 14 need parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required from that age upwards.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia said in November it would ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting next year.
NORWAY
The Norwegian government in October 2024 proposed raising the age at which children can consent to the terms required to use social media to 15 years from 13, although parents would still be permitted to sign off on their behalf if they are under the age limit. The government has also begun work on laws to set a minimum age limit of 15 for social media use.
THE US
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act prevents companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states have also passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media, but they have faced court challenges on free speech grounds.
BY MAYSON LUIS
THE budgeted funds for agriculture is not an issue but the continued decline of production and productivity, as drastic reform needed in the sector, according to a farmer.
Next year’s agriculture budget is K190 million, which is a dropped by K35 million compared to this year’s (at K225 million).
Highlands Smart Farmers Association (HSFA) President Wilson Thompson said despite the amount invested in agriculture, the sector continued to attain decline in production (and productivity) over the years.
“So much money allocated in
PAPUA New Guinea is strategically positioned to meet the region’s growing energy needs says Santos managing director and chief executive officer Kevin Gallager.
Mr Gallagher when addressing the PNG Leaders Investment Summit during the PNG Investment Week yesterday in Sydney, Australia, set out a confident vision for Papua New Guinea’s role in the regional energy landscape.
With Asia’s LNG demand projected to nearly double by 2050, Gallagher argued that PNG’s proximity to key markets, coupled with stability and predictable approvals, creates a compelling environment for long–term investment.
He said Santos currently provides 17 per cent of PNG LNG’s gas supply, a share set to rise to 25 per cent within five years, underscoring the company’s growing footprint.
The chief executive officer highlighted a portfolio of near–and long–term projects designed to sustain output for decades, including the Papua LNG Project, the Agogo Processing Facility tie–in—which will connect Agogo to the main gas pipeline to sustain and increase LNG production—and opportunities in P’nyang, Muruk, and Juha.
“Energy is the backbone of development,” Mr Gallagher said, framing LNG not only as a growth engine for PNG but also as a pragmatic contributor to the Asia region’s coal–to–gas transition and energy security.
Mr Gallagher said beyond PNG, Santos is advancing complementary projects that strengthen its reliability and decarbonisation credentials stating Moomba CCS has safely stored 1.3 million tonnes
of COe this year and received the largest single issuance of carbon credits from Australia’s regulator; Barossa LNG is producing and nearing first cargo; and Pikka Phase 1 in Alaska is over 98 per cent complete and targeting first oil in the coming months.
These achievements, Gallager argued, position Santos to deliver dependable energy while lowering emissions, reinforcing confidence in Papua New Guinea’s investment prospects.
“PNG offers stable leadership and certainty—critical for companies committing capital that creates jobs, builds local businesses, and contributes to national revenues,” he said, inviting investors to “look to Santos’ own experience” as proof that PNG is ready to anchor the next chapter of Asia–Pacific energy.
THE Ministry of International Trade and Investment will be entering into a strategic partnership with the Nasfund superannuation funds to raise capital to invest in Special Economic Zones and national transformational projects like the planned acquisition of shares in the Ramu Agri Industries.
This was discussed in a meeting between the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, and the Nasfund chief executive officer and chairman of Pacific Island Investment Forum (PIIF), Rajeev Sharma, on the margins of the PNG Investment Week in Sydney.
“My ministry will partner the superannuation industry of PNG and the Pacific by entering into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pacific Island Investment Forum (PIIF).
“The Marape-Rosso Government do not want only the foreign companies to benefit from tax incentives; we also want our Papua New Guinean companies to invest and when our superfunds invest, they are investing on behalf of thousands of our citizens so it is very important that we sign this MoU in January,” said Mr Maru.
Mr Sharma said the MoU will be drafted and will be ready for signing
in January next year for investment drive.
Plans to reform the Capital Market of PNG was also discussed in the meeting.
“We want to look at how we can provide tax incentives for companies right across the world to list on our stock market so more financial products will be offered
on the market for our domestic investors.
“Our citizens are currently spectators in their own country. They are only getting 1.5 per cent interest by investing in the commercial banks when they could be earning 10 to 15 per cent in return of investment from investing in a stock market,” said Mr Maru.
2019 to 2025 but production and productivity and exports will not increase as there been no increase and that's the reality.
“We need drastic reform and activities right at the ward levels in the farms and gardens.
“There must be more planting and rehabilitation and clearing the gardens that will change the agriculture statistics,” he said.
He added that the 2026 year is bound to achieve similar issues if the sector is not properly looked at.
“In 2026, almost the same story from the previous year and the same from the preceding years.
“I won't say anymore than continue to lament over the declining production and productivity and
exports.
“Whatever program and projects have not improved us so we must refocus to the planting and growing.
“Certainly, there are littering of projects and activities right across Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the eight Commodity Boards and two research and quarantine authorities,” he added.
Underpinning Marape-Rosso Government’s development agendas agriculture remains the core driver of rural development.
About 85 per cent of total population in PNG rely on agriculture as a source of sustainability.
The sector also plays huge role in transforming the economy to reach
self-reliance.
However, these 85 per cent lacks the necessary skills needed to upscale their productions and productivities, leading to the sector lagging overtime.
“The 2026 would not reverse anything for our sector. Agriculture provides for 85 percent of the population but we aren't moving forward nor climbing up,” said Mr Thompson.
“We also want to rebrand, rename and list the Pacific Balanced Fund to reflect PNG ownership for massive funding drive in the new year.
“We will host a Capital Market Summit in PNG next year where we will discuss this and also learn from other countries like India where everybody is involved buying and selling on the stock market.”
PAPUA New Guinea has taken a major step toward ending its reliance on imported cement, with the signing of the essential terms for the Pacific Lime and Cement (PL&C) project, an initiative government leaders describe as transformational for the nation’s economic future.
This following the announcement and signing of the deal yesterday in Sydney Australia between Pacific Lime and Cement Limited formerly Mayur Resources, Government of PNG and the state negotiating team. Representing the PNG Government and International Trade and
Investment Minister Richard Maru said the agreement, which will go before Cabinet next week for formal approval, represents one of the best mid-sized resource deals negotiated in PNG’s history.
“Since independence, PNG has continuously imported cement despite having significant limestone potential.
“This will be the start of a transformational journey for our country,” Mr Maru said.
He said the project is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs, deliver equity benefits to landowners and
government, and position PNG as a net exporter of cement in the coming years.
A key condition of the deal is the company’s listing on the national stock exchange, a move the Minister said will allow ordinary Papua New Guineans, families, and local businesses to invest in the project.
Pacific Lime and Cement
Chairman Richard Pegum and CEO Paul Mulder acknowledged the long and difficult path to get the project to this stage.
Mr Mulder, who has spent more than a decade working with
SANTOS PNG to date remains one of PNG’s largest taxpayers, paying K1.8billion (AUD$640m) in corporate taxes and K150 (AUD$53m) in royalties and development levies in its latest accounts—funds that help finance schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said this when spotlighting the company’s economic contribution and community programs in Papua New Guinea.
Mr Gallagher said workforce localization is a central pillar of Santos’ PNG strategy.
“Over 90 percent of employees are PNG citizens, with a 43 percent increase in nationals in mid–senior leadership over the past three years and more than 80 percent of leadership roles now held by locals.
The company’s Global Support Centre in Port Moresby, opened by Prime Minister James Marape last year, has enabled engineering and maintenance services to transition from overseas contractors to PNG talent, reducing 1,400 planning hours and showcasing the operational strength of local expertise,” he said. Gallagher also detailed the Santos Foundation’s health–care initiatives, founded in PNG 14 years ago. In 2025, medical teams treated 1,500 patients, conducted 100 emergency medical evacuations, and supported over 30 childbirths onsite.
The Foundation opened its second cervical cancer screening clinic in Hela Province, building on the success of the Mendi Provincial
landowners from Kido and Rearea in the Hiri Koiari district of Central Province said trust, patience, and genuine partnership were central to achieving agreement.
“The project will allow the area to become known as “building Papua New Guinea,” as locally produced cement will underpin infrastructure development nationwide,” he said.
The State negotiating team, led by Chairman Dairi Vele, confirmed that the agreement secures up to 20 per cent equity for landowners, the provincial government, the district,
and the State.
“Government has also allocated an additional K40 million in IDG and BDG funding to support local development around the project area,” he said.
Central Province Governor Rufina Peter and Member for Hiri Koiari Keith Iduhu described the deal as both historic and symbolic, marking a strong foundation for Central Province’s next 50 years.
The final agreement will be initiated this week before submission to Cabinet next Wednesday.
IN 2025, K92 Mining paid K407 million in corporate tax, invested K800 million in capital projects, and delivered K37 million in royalties and levies by October. The mine also injected K500–600 million in local expenditure and paid K120 million to landowner-backed joint ventures, ensuring wealth retention within PNG’s economy.
“This is money that stays in PNG, building businesses and human capital capabilities,” says K92 Mining Ltd CEO John Lewins.
“When done right, mining strengthens communities and creates opportunities that endure beyond the life of the mine.”
Speaking during the PNG Leaders Investment Summit panel discussion on “Stronger Together – Minerals Investing for the Future”, Lewins said the theme reflects the foundation of K92’s journey in Papua New Guinea. “It is our investment in exploration and capital development – ‘The Future’ – and the strength of our partnerships that has enabled K92 to grow from a modest, or rather failed mine, into the fastest-growing gold producer in the country and one of the lowest-cost emerging mid-tier gold producers globally.”
Mr Lewins said since recommissioning the Kainantu Gold Mine in 2016, K92 has reinvested every kina of cash flow back into operations, expansions, training,
and community development rather than paying dividends. Over the past 24 months alone, the company invested K1.4 billion in capital, culminating in the inauguration of the Stage 3 Process Plant in October, delivered under budget and in partnership with government, provincial leaders, and landowners.
“K92 is now PNG’s largest explorer, responsible for about 50% of total mineral exploration investment in the country. In 2025, the company spent K69 million on exploration, advancing world-class deposits like Kora, Judd, and Arakompa, which underpin its transition to a Tier-1 mid-tier producer with projected output of 300,000–400,000 ounces annually,” he said.
Lewins emphasised that success comes from partnership: “Every step forward—whether in infrastructure, exploration, taxation, employment, or safety— has come through collaboration with government, landowners, and communities.” With over 93 per cent of its 2,400-strong workforce being Papua New Guineans, hundreds of scholarships, and thriving landowner-backed businesses, K92’s reinvestment model is creating multi-decade value.
“PNG’s advantage is not geology alone, it is partnership. “That alignment is what makes us stronger together and enables companies to commit for the long term,” he said.
RESOURCE projects must go beyond royalties and dividends to deliver lasting social and economic impact for landowners and host provinces, says Mineral Resources Development Company managing director Augustine Mano.
Hospital clinic, which has screened more than 5,000 women and treated over 800 cases in the past 18 months.
“Investing in PNG means investing in capability and growth,” he said.
“Community investment extends to sport and culture.
From the Santos National Football Stadium to sponsorship of the PNG Orchids and the Santos Cup women’s rugby league competition—where the Central Dabaris triumphed over the Goroka Lahanis this year—Santos is backing platforms that promote equality, teamwork, and pride.
These are the skills that matter in business and in community. PNG is ready for investment—and we’re committed for the long haul.”
Mr Mano in his presentation yesterday outlined the company’s evolution from a state nominee in 1975 to a diversified investment manager with K14 billion in assets, representing equity interests in PNG’s flagship projects such as PNG LNG, Ok Tedi, Porgera, and Ramu Nickel. Yet, he warned that financial returns alone have not improved living standards.
“The missing link is genuine partnership, participation, and collaboration,” Mano said, reflecting on MRDC’s 50-year journey and calling for a new approach to resource development.
He stressed that royalties and dividends have too often failed to translate into better health,
education, and social outcomes, creating what he described as a “resource curse.”
Mano highlighted three transformative examples of partnership-driven impact: Health Sector Reform: Collaborations with Santos Foundation and provincial health authorities have improved governance and accountability, lifting Hela and Southern Highlands PHAs to top national rankings and earning Gulf Province a World Bank award for antenatal care.
Electrifying Hela: A landmark agreement with ExxonMobil and Hela Province will deliver 5MW of low-cost power to 50,000 landowners, schools, and SMEs by 2026—“a game-changer compared to cash benefits over the last decade.” Landowner Empowerment at Ok Tedi: OTML’s progressive model now includes leasing heavy-duty mine fleets and ATR aircraft to landowner companies.
THE Papua New Guinea government, RD Tuna Canners Limited and RD Corporation yesterday (Tuesday) announced that they have finally agreed to the terms of the Project Development Agreement (PDA) for the cannery project within the new Madang Integrated Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The letter of agreement was signed and witnessed by the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru at the PNG Investment week in Sydney, Australia.
“The investment is subject to final National Executive Council and RD board Approval.
“This new cannery will be developed under a new joint venture company which will be 50 per cent owned by the State and 50 per cent by RD, with initial expertise to be provided by RD to help PNG transition from being a rent collector to being an owner of initially a cannery and later a fishing company.
“Each of the Parties will contribute K80 million each towards this joint venture and RD will have a 10-year Management Contract.
“The project will create well over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs for the Madang Province,” said Minister Maru.
The Minister thanked all parties for their commitment, patience and contribution towards finalising the PDA.
“I personally take this opportunity to thank the Government for providing the State funding of K80 million for this strategic investment.
“The Prime Minister will launch
the new joint venture fish canning company early in the new year and the construction of the cannery will commence immediately after the launch.
“This is a critical project under our PNG Reset economic independence agenda as we go into the next 50 years where we cannot export raw materials anymore, including our fish,” said Minister Maru.
THE Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, has welcomed the decision of a Swedish company, Epiroc, for a potential long-term investment in Papua New Guinea with a particular focus on the mining sector, downstream processing and the development and skilling of PNG workforce in the area of engineering.
He met with Epiroc’s Business Development manager, Kent Howlett, and Business Sweden’s Trade Commissioner to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Martin Ekberg, on the margins of the PNG Investment Week in Sydney yesterday.
“Epiroc provides equipment, tools, and services for the mining, infrastructure, and natural resources industries.
“They develop and sell a range of products including drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment, and underground loaders.
“They operate globally, serving customers in around 150 countries and operating in 36 countries.
“We welcome their plan to establish their operations in the country.
“Our Government will go all out to support them,” said Mr Maru.
He encouraged Epiroc to consider setting up their operations including storage, warehouse and training facilities at the proposed Lae Port Special Economic Zone in Morobe Province.
“Epiroc is currently supplying
and supporting the mining sector in PNG by providing equipment, service, and automation/digital solutions through its Australian operations.
They want to move the bulk of their Australian operations to PNG so they can continue to supply and support our major operators including OK Tedi, K92 Mine, Porgera, Harmony and Newmont out of PNG instead of from Australia.
This will create employment opportunities for our citizens and skill transfer through partnerships with National Polytechnic Institute of PNG and the PNG University of Technology.
“I have encouraged them to also consider entering into a Joint Venture with all the mining landowner companies so their operations will also benefit the landowners,” he said.
Epiroc would be formally submitting a letter to the Government of PNG on their decision to invest in PNG.
It was also agreed during the meeting for a high-level meeting to be held between the Governments of Sweden and PNG to establish Government-to-Government relationship and to discuss investment opportunities in PNG for Swedish investors, scholarship opportunities for PNG students to study especially engineering courses in Sweden, and to discuss a possible Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
He further stated: “This is the start of a deliberate attempt by our government to invest in downstream processing so we can replace all canned fish imports from other countries.
“This 300 metric tonne cannery is the anchor investment needed for the proposed Madang Integrated Special Economic Zone. Another eight more canneries are expected
at the zone.
“This is a very exciting development and we all look forward to the launch and construction of the cannery in January next year,” he said.
Minister Maru said the Government’s long-term plan was to list Kumul Fisheries Limited on the National Stock Exchange as a public company once it proved to
be profitable.
“The initial shareholders are the State through KCH, Madang Provincial Government, and RD. We want to get it off the ground and make it operational and profitable before the public can buy shares. We want this to be a fully-fledged PNG fishing company.
“If we can own a mine, we can own a fish canning company”.
SP BREWERY’S corporate darts teams, the Brew Masters and the Draught Masters, donated K11,000 to the Port Moresby General Hospital Oncology Unit following their victory in the Port Moresby Metro Corporate Charity Darts Competition.
The cheque presentation took place on Friday 5 December at the SP Brewery Head Office in Port Moresby.
“Winning the competition was an honour, but the true reward comes from being able to support those who need it most.
“By giving this donation to the hospital’s cancer unit, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families facing an incredibly challenging journey,” said Joshua Wanji SP Brewery company lawyer and team captain.
“At SP Brewery, care for people is one of our values.
Supporting the cancer unit reflects that commitment, and we are proud to stand with the community in the fight against cancer,” he added.
Dr Benjamin Daur, Paediatrician
at the Port Moresby General Hospital Oncology Unit, was present to receive the donation on behalf of the unit.
“Thank you for thinking of us during this festive season; we are truly grateful for the support.
“This donation will help us to carry out essential tests that enable timely diagnosis and treatment,” Dr Daur said.
SP Brewery is among 35 corporate teams in Port Moresby that participated in the competition
Development Company manages 14 subsidiaries and 7 investment companies, whose combined asset value stands at around K14 billion today from K250 million 20 years ago.
speaking at the investment week in Sydney yesterday, MRDC managing director Augustine Mano said the company has grown 65 times. Adding that the company celebrated a milestone when it turned 50 last week.
Mr Mano said MRDC was first incorporated in 1975 as an exploration company, which later evolved into a State Nominee, holding State equity interests in both Mining and Petroleum projects.
He said through policy changes, MRDC today is a State-owned company managing landowners’ and respective provincial governments’ equity interest in resource projects.
These include Kutubu, Moran, Gobe oil projects, the Ramu Nickel, the Ok Tedi and Porgera Mine and the PNG LNG Project.
“Reflecting back on the last 50 years we have learnt that royalties and dividends from projects alone is not a measure of success and has not translated to improvement in health, education and other social indicators for the landowners and the host province, but has become a resource curse.
“The missing link is genuine partnership, participation and collaboration with the State, the host
provincial governments, landowners and Operator to foster long term positive impacts to the communities, provinces and the country. There are 3 examples that stands out,” he said.
MRDC’s partnership with Santos Foundation, the 3 provincial governments of Hela, Southern Highlands and Gulf (who are host oil provinces) with the respective provincial health authorities (PHAs) have seen remarkable progress in the Health Sector in
delivering quality health services to these provinces.
“Being the chairman of the 2 of the PHA where Santos Foundation is a part of in terms of the technical and strategic advice to the Board, I have seen first-hand the positive impact of the sector as a result of improved governance, compliance and greater accountability to the management of PHA when you bring private sector experience to the Board.
Last year’s improved ranking of Hela PHA to number 4 and SHP PHA to number 2 in the country is a testimony.
“Gulf has also shown remarkable improvement in last 10 months, winning a World Bank award for being top improver in Antenatal Care.
ExxonMobil – MRDC recently signed an agreement with Hela provincial government and ExxonMobil to deliver 5MW of low cost power to landowners in Hides and Hela province.
Work has commenced and will completed in the second half of 2026. ExxonMobil will supply cheap gas and generate power.
MRDC using its Community Infrastructure Trust Funds (CITF) will build power lines and distribute power to ensure all households in the project area is connected.
Hela PG will be redistributing to the rest of the province.
Imagine the impact of lightening up homes of 50,000 landowners, schools, health centres and SME with cheap and reliable power for the first time.
This partnership will transform our landowners and the province, when you compare it to monetary benefits received over the last 10 years from the PNGLNG project.
OTML has the best model in the extractive industry when it comes to landowner participation and empowerment. Besides the tradi-
tional contracts such as security, catering, and other small scale service contract, OTML has raised the bar by leasing all light vehicles in the mines, and have extended the ownership of the heavy-duty gigantic mine fleets to landowner companies.
Recently, OTML agreed to lease 3 brand new ATR 72 aircrafts owned by landowners.
The collaboration between MRDC and OTML in providing guarantees have propelled national content to a different level.
“One thing I have learnt in the last 50 years in any resource development in PNG is that Governments change, Governors Change, even project operators change, but only one thing that remains constant is Landowners.
“It doesn’t change; it just passes from one generation to another. That’s why partnership that is built on mutual respect and trust centred on LOs will always stand the test of time.”
THIS December, CocaCola Papua New Guinea is bringing joy, music, and refreshing moments to holiday celebrations across the country with the launch of its “Refresh Your Holidays” campaign, a festive celebration designed to help you slow down, have fun, and enjoy the spirit of Christmas with every sip. From December 15-26, 2025 at the Vision City Amphitheatre, Port Moresby, and December 15-24 at Seeto Kui, Lae, the Coca–Cola Christmas Fest will sparkle with activities for friends, families, and Christmas lovers. Attendees
can enjoy lively ‘Caroloke’ singalongs -- a fun fusion of traditional Christmas carols and karaoke -- with Coke Studio artists, plus enjoy interactive games, photo booths, gifting stalls, live entertainment, and tasty seasonal treats. And of course, there will be plenty of refreshing ice–cold Coca–Cola to go around.
This year’s Coca-Cola is also shining the spotlight on the unsung heroes of the holidays -the “Perfect Christmas Makers” -- the people who decorate, host, bake, gift, and make the season special for others. Through social media
nominations and radio callins, you can share who your Christmas Maker is and why they deserve a moment to relax and refresh. The most heartwarming entries submitted in FM100 and Hot FM will get the chance to win a Refreshing Staycation in Port Moresby. Follow Coca-Cola on Facebook for all the latest updates
Coca-Cola PNG marketing manager Rachel Miryam Nainggolan said: “Christmas can be a busy time, but we believe they’re also the best time to press pause and enjoy small moments of joy.
Whether it’s through a cold Coca-Cola, singing your heart out at Caroloke session, or simply being with the people you love, we want to give everyone a reason to smile this season.”
In the leadup to Christmas Fest, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck -- a colourful, musicfilled mobile stage will be rolling through Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Mt. Hagen and Kokopo and stopping by your favourite outlets with music, fun games, and exclusive festive giveaways! The full schedule is on Coca–Cola website https:// www.coca-cola.com/pg/en
TREASURY Minister Ian Ling-Stuckey has held a productive discussion with Asian Infrastructure Bank that is responsible for the public sector operations in Pacific region.
Mr Ling-Stuckey said: “It was a pleasure to hold productive discussions with Toshiaki Keicho, Manager at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), last week where they held discussions covering the best ways to progress AIIB’s planned program of assistance to PNG.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, started in 2016, has grown rapidly, providing 'Infrastructure for Tomorrow' across its 111 members. PNG was pleased to join the AIIB last year (2024). AIIB has capital of US$100 billion (K425 billion-nearly three times the size of the PNG economy). AIIB is a key international partner for PNG as it moves into its next 50 years.
He said: “One particular priority for AIIB investments in PNG is agriculture. The AIIB is planning up to US$100 million (K425 million) in a co-financed project with the World Bank. AIIB’s contribution will focus on infrastructure investments.
This will include rural feeder roads to help link farmers to markets. Investments in cold storage are also planned to help improve the quality of goods that are able to make it to markets, thereby raising the value of the goods, and incomes for farmers. Using digital technology, options are being explored to enhance communication flows to farmers in areas such as weather, markets and even insurance products. These are all priority areas of investment for the Government, building on its reputation as being the Infrastructure Government for PNG as a whole, not just Port Moresby.
He said; “Another area of activity is planned support for the AIIB to assist with the trans-island highway. This project will have 3 parts – one part funded by the PNG Government through the Public Investment Program, one part through the Asian Development Bank, and the third part through the AIIB. This is a clear demonstration of the AIIB supporting the Government’s visionary PNG Connect Program.
“The third focus area is on climate change. Once again, this is being done in conjunction with the World Bank through a co-financing model. This could also include what is essentially a line of credit to provide up to K50 million in case PNG suffers a major natural disaster.
“The fourth area considered, covered the possibility of grant assistance to help fund a Project Management Unit linked to the Department of Works to help design and tender for the infrastructure activities.
These are all important activities for PNG’s continued development. Better access of farmers to markets. Better infrastructure.
BY HEZRON KISING
THE Eliseo Group Limited (Eliseo Supermarket) is doing its million-kina lucky draw competition again this festive season with K1 million give-away prizes to be won.
Eliseo launched its Christmas Lucky Draw Promotion on December 1, 2025 for this festive season for its valued customers throughout Port Moresby. The lucky draw promotion will run from December 1 to January 3, 2026.
The supermarket chain is giving away prizes ranging from household goods to (3x) JMC utility double cab vehicles. Only customers registered as members of Eliseo supermarket are eligible to take part, while non-members can register and take part. Eliseo Product Centre director Jason Wen Li-Hui said items up for grabs are mobile phones, fridges, television (TV), electric kettles, microwave, electric rice cooker plus many more prizes. The grand prizes are the three vehicles.
Mr Wen said “this competition aims to provide citizens with affordable and high-quality goods and product as gifts for this Christmas with a great and memorable shopping experience with Eliseo”.
“We are not only creating a pleasant shopping experience, but also providing a service to create a warm and joyful holidays for every family in celebrating Christmas and New Year 2026.”
In gratitude for the long-term support and dedication from our valued customers, we have a specially organized Christmas Lucy Draw Competition for the 2025-year end promotion.
Customers will have to spend more than K88 to be able to enter the draw. After shopping, write their names and contact details at the back of their receipts, get it stamped by Eliseo officials then drop the receipt into the entry bins. Draws will be staged at various Eliseo supermarkets and outlets throughout Port Moresby city, while the main draws for the grand prizes will be drawn on January 4th, at Rainbow Plaza.
Similar competition was host for 2024 festive season where a table-mama, a trade store owner and the wife of a politician won the vehicles.
After weeks during which you’ve dealt with partnership issues, some straightforward but others very complicated indeed, you’ll be relieved to know that most of those are settled. Those problems that remain are about the practical or financial side of plans and, while they’re rather dull, they really can’t be ignored.
LEO JUL 22 - AUG 22
Every year, around 21 December, your ruler the Sun moves into Capricorn. This year is unusual, however, because on the day before, the 20th, Capricorn’s ruling planet Saturn moves there, for the first time in nearly thirty years and actually meets the Sun on the 21st, a significant encounter, for you and others.
SAGITTARIUS
Since 2015, the planet of discipline and focus, Saturn, has been positioned in Sagittarius. While you’ve
on the
Even now, before it’s moved
you’re beginning to recognise how much you’ve learnt and how
those insights will be.
Nobody likes being told they’re about to be disillusioned. However, the insights you gain as a result of the clash between your ruler Venus and Neptune, the planet of both illusion and intuition, will clear things up. They will, in fact, help confirm that the worrying instincts you’ve had certain arrangements are justified.
VIRGO AUG 23 - SEP 22
Unsettling, if not annoying, as having to rethink plans you’ve only just organised may be, there really is no choice. Tempting as it is to try to do the minimum, that would be unwise. The more extensive those changes are, they more you’ll benefit, now and over the coming days, weeks and months.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 19
Although you dislike being dependant on anybody, obviously life doesn’t work that way. However, when you first organised certain arrangements that make you feel uncomfortable or even vulnerable, you didn’t make it easy for those involved. Things are moving swiftly and could change. Acknowledge their efforts and thank them now, while you can.
GEMINI MAY 21 – JUNE 20
Judging by the series of aspects being formed of several of the planets, including your ruler Mercury, to the planet of the unexpected, Uranus, over the coming weeks, sudden developments are inevitable. Unsettling as these will be in the short term, looking back on them, you’ll realise they were vital turning points.
LIBRA SEP 23- OCT 22
Having been born under the thoughtful Libra, rather than blame problems or misunderstandings on others, you seek a solution. This time, however, others are to blame and, what’s more, you’re urged to discuss this frankly. Only when the individual in question realises the problems their carelessness caused will they be more cautious.
Talking about changes in the structure of your life is one thing, but actually making them is quite another. Now that the planet of action, and of courage, Mars has moved to accent these matters, a shift in both your mood and in circumstances will mean you’ll turn those ideas into action.
CANCER JUN 21 - JUL 21
While your capacity to sense what others are feeling is a gift, it can lead to confusion. This is especially the case now, mostly because certain individuals aren’t nearly as aware of their own feelings as you are. Say little and observe a lot. You’ll soon figure out how to deal with them.
SCORPIO OCT 23 - NOV 21
The time has come to rethink, if not substantially reorganise, elements of your life. Disruptive as this seems, these minor changes will make it easier for you to recognise and benefit from the brilliant but not always recognisable, ideas and offers triggered by the bountiful Jupiter’s presence in Scorpio, for the coming year.
PISCES FEB 18 - MAR 19
For weeks, if not months, you’ve been debating complex plans for the future. Just when you thought these were settled, yet more changes in the situation of others has meant rethinking things. Frustrating as this is, within days you’ll realise that you, too, are reconsidering your own ideas and priorities.
SOLUTION NO. 131580
ACROSS: 3 Bombs,9 Retain,10 Rotate,11 Dubai,12 Movies,15 Create,17 Scent,18 See,19 Urn,20 Splendid,22 Mole,24 Pie,25 Asps
26 Aberrant,28 Lea,29 Ace,30 Fails,33 Arrive,34 Bobbin,35 Impel,36 Sienna,37 Allege,38 Entry
DOWN: 1 Drums,2 Stove,3 Bidet,4 Onus,5 Bracelet,6 Soiree,7 Marauds,8 Legends,13 October,14 Infer,16 Tripoli,18 Spine
20 Spaceman,21 Nawab,22 Malaise,23 Learned,27 Ravine,30 Folly,31 Ibsen,32 Sneer,34 Bear
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Dear valued customers.
In our ongoing commitment to Papua New Guinea, our Newspaper and Printing Press is under going a number of enhancements. To succeed in these changes, we are required to advance our Advertising Deadlines a few business hours.
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On behalf of the Ministry of State Enterprises, the Members of the Parliamentary Wing and supporters of the United Resources Party, the people of Mt. Hagen, and my family, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the wife, children, family and relatives, the people of Telefomin, and the people of West Sepik Province, on the untimely passing of their father, brother, and Leader, the Late Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP, Minister for Works and Highways, and Member for Telefomin Open.
The Late Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP was re-elected to the 11th National Parliament in the 2022 National General Election for the Telefomin Open seat. He was appointed as Minster for Works and Highways on 24 August 2022.
Connect PNG Program, will have a lasting impact on the country for years to come.
As the Minister for Works and Highways and Member for Telefomin, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his people and the nation, until 2 December 2025
The passing of Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP is not only a big loss to the people of Telefomin and of West Sepik Province, but a loss to the Marape Government, the Ministry of Works and Highways, and people of Papua New Guinea. We will remember his vision, leadership, and dedication to public service.
May his legacy continue to inspire us all.
MAY HE REST IN ETERNAL PEACE. Hon.
CRICKET:MICHAEL Neser
described Mitchell Starc as “the greatest lefty of all time” after the 35-year-old top-scored for Australia and then helped bowl his side to the verge of victory in the second Ashes Test.
At stumps England were 134 for six in their second innings, 43 behind Australia’s firstinnings total of 511. None of their partnerships lasting as long, or scoring as much, as Starc’s with his fellow bowler Scott Boland. They scored 75 off 164 balls, with Starc ending on 77.
“He’s a special player. He doesn’t like to admit it, but he is the GOAT, the greatest lefty of all time,” said Neser, who, like Starc and Boland, took two wickets, both of his caught and bowled. “He does it with the ball, the bat, and to be next to him, witnessing what he does, is just amazing. I don’t know
how long he batted for, but it was serious heat out there and to back it up with the ball like he did, it’s very special.”
Neser, who was raised in Queensland after moving to Australia at the age of 10 and knows conditions here intimately, had some sympathy for England’s bowlers. They toiled through the hottest part of the day, leaving Australia to have their turn in the cool of the evening. “Being a Gabba local, I know how hard it is bowling under the heat,” he said. “It just seems to radiate through the Gabba.
To be bowling as late as we did, it definitely keeps you fresher and it only benefits us leading in to tomorrow.”
Marcus Trescothick, England’s assistant coach, admitted it had been “a tough day” that left the team “not in a great position”, but
defended their bowling to Australia’s lower order and their batting, despite a wearily familiar collapse. On England’s approach to the partnership between Starc and Boland, he said: “We were trying to bowl in a way that we were going to hopefully force an error. That didn’t necessarily happen in the fashion we wanted it to do.”
Trescothick insisted it would be wrong to suggest England’s batters have been unnecessarily reckless.
“I think we are trying to play the way we want to play. We want to try to utilise that in the best possible fashion,” he said.
“It doesn’t always go right, of course.
“This game here, we have been put under pressure for the second innings. I don’t think you should be looking too much necessarily at what the guys are trying to do.
You’ve got to have a style of play that you stick to.
“We’ve been put under pressure in various places in the last two games and that’s been challenging. We’re always trying to respect the situation, respect the game and learn and be better next time we get the chance.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, will be ready to return from injury for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, the fast bowler said on Saturday. Cummins missed the series-opener in Perth and the day-night match in Brisbane while recovering from a back injury.
“I’ll have one more bowl tomorrow [in the nets] and then we’ll go to Adelaide and have a bowl there. So barring any hiccups, I’ll be good to go,” he told Fox Sports. “The body feels great.”
‘We’ll leave it out there’ Steven Smith on Jofra Archer confrontation
CRICKET :STEVEN Smith played down his confrontation with Jofra Archer as nothing more than “good banter” after the latest instalment in their engrossing head-to-head battle. Smith raced to 23 not out off just nine balls to take Australia to an eight-wicket win at the Gabba, and was involved in a heated backand-forth with England’s fast bowler picked up on stump microphones. On Test debut at Lord’s 2019, Archer hit Smith on the neck with a ferocious bouncer that knocked him off his feet, and ultimately ruled him out of the following Test due to concussion. But Smith has otherwise dominated their matchup in Tests: after Australia’s win in Brisbane, no bowler has bowled to Smith as much as Archer (33.2 overs) without ever dismissing him. With only 65 runs to defend, Archer charged in during Australia’s run chase and regularly hit speeds of 93mph/150kph in the quickest spell of the match. Smith decided to take him on in the knowledge that there were impending storms in the area, pulling the first ball he faced from Archer for four and then missing an attempted uppercut. It was at that point that they exchanged words at close quarters.
RUGBY UNION: South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been banned for 12 weeks for his eye gouge against Wales on Saturday. That ban is on the lower end of punishments, with a Disciplinary Committee reducing the ban from the 18-week entry point. South Africa thrashed Wales 73-0 at the weekend, though the win was marred by Etzebeth being sent off in the final minute for the incident with Alex Mann. “I don’t know what I can say that isn’t controversial,” coach Rassie Erasmus said. “It didn’t look good. It was a justified red card. It’s definitely not the way we’d have liked to have ended the game. The optics weren’t great.”
CRICKET: The viral clip of Liverpool’s media manager reacting to Mohammed Salah’s explosive mixed zone interaction on Saturday struck a chord over in Brisbane.Just under 10,210 miles separate Elland Road and the Gabba, where England head coach Brendon McCullum, in the aftermath of a second eight-wicket Ashes defeat, stated he thought the team had trained too much. The sentiments were as far apart as the straight-line distance, but the reaction was still the same: why, oh why, have you gone and said that?The motivation behind McCullum’s comments, which are likely to live in infamy, is far easier to unpick. For this England Test team enjoy the luxury of shelter from the realities of toplevel, international sport. A bubble that may be invisible but has long been audible, with the head coach, and, up until his press conference after the second Test, the captain, Ben Stokes, the two prominent voices quipping down missiles headed for their citizens.Judging by the reactions, McCullum’s latest attempt has only attracted more unfriendly fire. Particularly at him. Though his contract runs until 2027, a deal which takes into account his white-ball head coach role, he will likely be first for the block if things go further south. Depending on how badly it goes - who can rule out 5-0 right now? - he won’t be the only collateral.
CRICKET: Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya “are looking healthy and fit” ahead of the first T20I against South Africa, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said ahead of the series opener in Cuttack on Tuesday.”Both [Gill and Pandya] are looking healthy and fit,” Suryakumar said. Gill had suffered neck spasms during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, while Hardik was out with a quadriceps injury he suffered during the Asia Cup in September. Gill is yet to play since his injury, but Hardik made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Playing for Baroda, he picked up a wicket in each game, but more importantly, bowled four overs both times. With the bat, his 77 not out off 42 against Punjab helped his team chase down 223. “What you saw in the Asia Cup also, when he [Hardik] was bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options, combinations for us with respect to the playing XI,” Suryakumar said. “That’s what he brings to the table. His experience, the way he has done well in all big games, all ICC events, ACC events. I think that experience will count a lot and his presence will definitely give a good balance to the side.” With Gill back in the side, Suryaumar made it clear that Sanju Samson would have to compete with Jitesh Sharma for a spot in the middle order. He also emphasised that all batters apart from the openers need to be flexible with respect to their position in the order.
BASKETBALL: Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 by the NBA for firing the basketball at New York’s OG Anunoby in an unsportsmanlike manner.Bane was assessed a technical foul with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 win over the Magic on Dec. 7.Anunoby was on a breakaway when two Magic defenders converged on the Knicks wing and knocked the ball out of his hands. As Anunoby fell out of bounds, the ball remained under the basket and Bane picked it up and launched it off Anunoby.This is the second time this season that Bane has fired a basketball at an opponent who was on the floor. During a 127-112 Magic loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 4, Bane was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Onyeka Okongwu and an ensuing technical foul. After Bane grabbed Okongwu’s forearm for a hard foul, the ball went up in the air as Okongwu fell to the floor. Bane fired the ball down onto Okongwu. The ejection happened after officials reviewed the play.
“Why play your shots when there’s no rush on the scoreboard?” Archer asked Smith.
“[You] bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion,” Smith replied. Ben Stokes also exchanged words with Jake Weatherald immediately after, before umpire Sharfuddoula intervened.
“I like it,” Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, said on Channel 7’s coverage. “Jofra’s finally come to life, six days into the series, when the second Test match is gone, he starts chirping. Too late for that, champ… Too late boys, you’ve had your chance for
four days. You haven’t been good enough. It’s too late to start.”
Smith hit the next two balls that Archer bowled to the boundary, topedging a hook over wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for four before swivelpulling a six over deep fine leg. Archer did not bowl another over, as Smith launched Gus Atkinson over deep square leg for six before an animated celebration with Weatherald.
Asked about the exchange in the context of his history with Archer, Smith replied: “What history do I have with him?” When reminded of
the blow at Lord’s six years ago, he said, laughing: “He was just bowling [at] good pace, and [I’m] not really too sure what he said and not sure what I said either - and it’s not really any of your business either, so we’ll leave it out there.”
Smith explained that he saw his attacking intent as a “highpercentage” option, with a short boundary behind him, and said that the threat of rain had played a role. “I heard there’s a bit of a storm coming around,” he told Fox. “We obviously had a few behind us. It was a chance to just play a few shots.”
A GAME after he failed to reach 10 points for the first time in 17 years, LeBron James turned back the clock to score 10 straight points in the fourth quarter and lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
“At 40 years old, I mean, it just takes a while for my body to kind of get back into a rhythm,” James said. “And so it felt good tonight to kind of feel like myself a little bit.”
In Toronto on Thursday, he missed 13 of 17 shots as his record streak of 1,297 games in double-digit scoring was snapped -- albeit in poetic fashion with James finding Rui Hachimura for a game-winning assist on his shot at the buzzer.
Against Philadelphia, he looked like his usual self, scoring a seasonhigh 29 points while shooting 12 for 17 from the field, with 7 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal to thwart the Sixers’ final offensive possession for the finishing touch.
“I do think it’s important to be reminded every now and then of what you’re capable of,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Said Sixers coach Nick Nurse: “He’s done that a time or two in his life, right?”The game provided
plenty of reminders of just how long James has been at the top of the sport.
The 76ers were playing in their black throwback uniforms made popular by franchise legend Allen Iverson. It was the same style uniform Philadelphia wore as its standard set when James entered the NBA in 2003.
And after James made a fadeaway 20-footer with 27.4 seconds left to put the Lakers up by five points -- his fourth straight jump shot -- he paraded down the court in a building, Xfinity Mobile Arena, that has had four different title sponsors since he was drafted.
That last jumper caused the Sixers to call a timeout and James combined a recent signature celebration -pantomiming placing a crown on his head -- with a tried and true one, “the silencer” -- pounding his chest
A BRUNO Fernandes brace has helped Manchester United get back to winning ways as rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers’ wretched campaign continued with a 4-1 loss on a night of protest at Molineux.
Fernandes put the visitors into a deserved lead on Monday night, only for meek added-time defending to allow Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to score Wolves’ first Premier League goal since October 26.
But whatever United manager Ruben Amorim said at halftime did the trick, with Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount and Fernandes hitting the target in front of Unitedsupporting world darts champion Luke Littler.
The Red Devils move up to sixth with a win that leaves Rob Edwards’ men rooted to the bottom of the standings with just two points from their opening 15 matches.
Wolves fans turned on their players at points during an evening when owners Fosun and chairman Jeff Shi were implored to leave, with many supporters only arriving in the 15th minute in protest.
“Look, I understand the frustration totally,” Edwards said of the protest and the potential impact on players.
“I think it’s been six months since we’ve last won, so I get it.
“The players are trying, I can promise that. But there’s clearly a lack of confidence and a lack of belief there.”
Those home fans in place for kickoff made sure to boo former star
and then pushing both hands toward the court while taking exaggerated steps.
“I meshed it for the first time in my life,” James told Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell of the new-look celebration in the on-court walk-off interview.
And James, playing in only his seventh game of the season after sitting out all of training camp, the preseason and the first 14 games of the regular season because of sciatica affecting his lower back and the lower right side of his body, meshed perfectly with L.A.’s star backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on a night the Lakers needed it.
Doncic had just taken a transatlantic flight from Slovenia to Philadelphia to rejoin the team after a two-game absence to be with his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, for
the birth of their second daughter, Olivia.
And Reaves, who came into the game averaging a career-best 29.3 points, endured a rare rough outing, going 3-for-16 from the field.
“I felt like the opportunity kind of presented itself,” James said. “I felt like my two heavy hitters kind of didn’t have it or needed a little kick, and I tried to punch in from there.”
The effort was appreciated.
“I mean, that was amazing,” Doncic said. “That was vintage Bron. We’re happy he was there to save us.”
Lakers center Deandre Ayton scored 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting with 12 rebounds and helped limit Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid to just 4-for-21 shooting, but all he wanted to talk about afterward was James.
“It was like a movie,” Ayton said. “Ever watch a movie? Felt like a movie. I was in the movie.”
AUSTRALIA women’s sevens team have snapped a run of four straight final defeats by New Zealand to win the Cape Town Sevens and immediately turn the tables from last week’s result in Dubai.
Australia went undefeated in South Africa over the weekend and crushed their fierce rivals 26-12 in the decider, having earlier opened up a 26-0 lead.
Led superbly by co-captains Madison Ashby and Isabella Nasser, who was named Player of the Final, and with the obligatory contribution from superstar Madi Levi, Australia were unstoppable in Cape Town. Levi ran in four tries as Australia thumped the United States 34-7 in the semifinal, before Tim Walsh’s side then established a vital early lead against the Black Ferns Sevens they were never in danger of relinquishing.
“It feels really good, we were hurting last week when we lost to the Kiwis but we put it out there today,” Nasser said.
“We worked on things we needed to get right for this week and it was a big squad effort.
“We soak in the crowd energy and atmosphere and it’s absolutely amazing.”
Australia’s men meanwhile faced a difficult weekend following their runner-up finish in Dubai, the Aussies finishing seventh with just the one win in Cape Town.
The sevens now takes a break until the final weekend in January when the focus shifts to Singapore, before Australia then hosts its stop on the circuit in Perth a week later.
Matheus Cunha’s every touch.
Wolves conceded a shambolic 25th-minute opener as Andre was dispossessed by Casemiro and Fernandes was allowed to squirm a shot past goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The home fans raged and so nearly saw their side concede another minutes later, with Mbeumo denied by Johnstone and Cunha seeing an effort cleared off the line before Amad Diallo volleyed wide.
There were audible groans as Wolves’ toothless attack faltered, only for Amorim’s retreating visitors to cough up a leveller.
David Moller Wolfe had time to hit a cutback from the byline into the ground and stretching Bellegarde struck.
United’s players met for a huddle before a second half they played with renewed vigour and was only six minutes old when they went ahead.
A strong Luke Shaw challenge on Bellegarde - one that would force the goalscorer off - started a counter that saw Cunha play in Dalot.
Johnstone rushed off his line and the wing-back smartly played the ball across for Mbeumo to direct into an empty net.
The United relief was palpable and another followed in the 62nd minute as Fernandes clipped a brilliant ball into the box for Mount to sweep home.
Yerson Mosquera was then adjudged to have handled a Diallo attempt and, having been sent to the monitor, referee Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot, from which the skipper slammed home in the 82nd minute.
ARNE Slot has cast further doubt on Mohamed Salah’s future at ¬Liverpool by admitting that he has “no clue” whether the forward has played his last game for the club. The head coach also insisted his politeness should not be mistaken for weakness after leaving Salah out of the Champions League game against Inter on Tuesday.
Slot gave his first public ¬reaction on Monday to Salah’s incendiary interview at Leeds when ¬previewing ¬Liverpool’s match at San Siro.
He denied Salah’s claims that their relationship had broken down and said only the Egypt international knows who supposedly threw him under a bus and wants him out of the club.
Salah trained on Monday for the second day in succession before Slot told him directly that he would not be travelling to Italy for the Champions League game. The decision to remove the 33-year-old from selection for a short period was taken by the Liverpool hierarchy in conjunction with Slot, and with the full support of the Dutch coach. Salah could also miss the home game against Brighton on Saturday. He is due to report for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt on Monday and could be away from Liverpool until mid-January, when Saudi Arabian interest in the forward is likely to be rekindled.
Asked whether there is a way back for Salah at Liverpool, who have the player under contract until the summer of 2027, Slot replied: “I am a firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player. But that is not … I can leave it with
that I think.”
The head coach, however, was pressed again on the possibility that the third highest goalscorer in Liver¬pool’s history may have played his last game for the club. “I have no clue,” Slot replied. “I cannot answer that question at this point in time.”
Slot said that he was taken aback by Salah’s comment that their once healthy relationship has broken down, having been benched for three consecutive games for the first time in his Liverpool career.
“That is not the way I feel, but he has the right to feel how he feels things,” Slot said.
Arne Slot said he was baffled by the claim that he had no relationship with Mohamed Salah.
“I haven’t felt that at all until Satur¬day evening for sure. When I don’t play someone usually players don’t like the manager that much but he was really respectful to the staff and manager, his teammates and he trained very hard so it was a surprise to me when I heard the comments he gave.
But it is not the first or last time a player who doesn’t play says something similar to what he did.
But my reaction to that is clear and that’s why he is not here tonight.”
Slot said it was difficult to know who Salah was referring to when he claimed someone at Liverpool had thrown him under a bus.
But he admitted having only a brief exchange with the player since Saturday – when informing him of the decision to leave him behind on Merseyside – and insisted the club’s reaction demonstrated his authority.
“Usually I’m calm, I’m polite,” Slot said. “But that doesn’t mean
I’m weak so if a player has these comments about so many things then it’s up to me and the club to react. We reacted in a way you can see – he’s not here.” Liverpool would have been low on numbers against Inter even if Salah had been included on the trip. Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are absent through illness and injury – Chiesa could fly out on the day of the game should he recover from illness, while Gakpo is out for a few weeks having picked up an injury against Leeds – leaving Slot with a squad of 19 players that includes three goalkeepers and three teenagers.
The first-choice keeper Alisson also addressed the media on Monday and said he hoped Salah would play for Liverpool again.
“I don’t think anything but I hope he plays again for the club,” he said.
“That’s a personal situation between Mo and the club. We as his teammates and his friends, we hope the best thing happens for him, but as Liverpool players we want the best for the club as well.
We want a win-win situation for everyone.”
Alisson also insisted the remainder of the squad were firmly behind Slot following a miserable run of results and performances.
The Brazil international said:
“Before Arne came in everyone talks about the huge challenge being a substitute for Jürgen Klopp. Now it looks like everyone takes for granted what we achieved last season. It should not be taken for granted. That should be enough but we believe in his knowledge. We believe in his style of play and that he is capable of helping us to turn around this situation.
RUGBY LEAGUE
BY FIDELIS WASARI
A HIGH-profile contingent of NRL
Sydney Roosters players, including club captain James Tedesco, new recruit Daly Cherry-Evans and NSW Blues hooker Reece Robson, arrived yesterday in Port Moresby for a challenging pre-season initiation - to walk the historic 96km Kokoda Trail.
The group, reportedly handpicked by Roosters coach Trent Robinson, are geared for the demanding trek designed to build resilience and teamwork ahead of the upcoming season.
The players will not just face a physical test, they will undertake a pilgrimage across one of the most sacred and significant historical paths in Australian military history.
The track cuts through the rugged Owen Stanley Range, dense jungle, steep ridges, and fast-flowing rivers between Port Moresby and the village of Kokoda.
The Kokoda Trail gained its notoriety during the pivotal 1942 Pacific Campaign of World War
II, when the Japanese Imperial Army attempted to seize the vital strategic port of Port Moresby, only to be blocked by resolute Australian forces, primarily from the 39th Battalion and AIF troops.
Fought over four brutal months (July–November 1942), the conflict was characterised by relentless, close-quarters combat against both the enemy and the incredibly lethal jungle environment, which exposed soldiers to malaria, dysentery, exhaustion, and treacherous, muddy terrain. This brutal struggle led to the legendary emergence of the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,” local Papuan carriers who risked their lives to ferry supplies and evacuate the wounded, embodying extraordinary compassion under fire. It is this profound history of physical and mental struggle that attracts elite NRL clubs, including the Roosters, to choose the Kokoda for their pre-season build-up. The isolation, the shared suffering, and the necessity of relying entirely on teammates offer a unique proving ground to strip away individual ego and build the unbreakable bonds required for
success in elite team sport.
On arrival, Cherry-Evans spoke positively about his move and the challenge ahead.
“Yeah, I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great group of folks and they’re making me feel very well,” he said, addressing the immediate shift in the team culture. Wayne Wetherall, owner of Kokoda Spirit, emphasised the purpose of the physical test in relation to the track’s history.
“We’re very excited to be taking them across the track,” Wetherall stated. Wetherall noted the
difficult conditions the players will face, which echo the historical challenges.
“It’s going to be a really tough challenge for them.
“It’s a bit wet out there on the track, it’s muddy, but they’re up for the challenge and we’re really excited to have them out here.”
The intense challenge, set against a backdrop of national historical significance, signals a rugged and deeply meaningful start to the Roosters preparation for the 2026 NRL season.
By JOHN PANGKATANA
TWO PNG triathlon athletes from their development squad are in Nadi, Fiji for the Oceania Development Camp.
Technical official Terence Tuohik confirmed that the two athletes Brendan Kilala and Gearson Ambab, based in Wewak are currently in Nadi as part of their development process.
He said they are accompanied by coach Otto Wafia.
Tuohik said the trip is supported by PacificAus Sports in partnership with World Triathlon.
He further explained that this is part of Triathlon Oceania’s progressive development of Pacific athletes for a week of growth and competition.
“At the end of the day it is all about further developing Pacific athletes to be competitive on the world stage,” added Wafia.
The duo will also compete in a Aquathlon set for today and the World Triathlon Development Regional Cup set for tomorrow. Brendan
Marape hopes the Chiefs will be a ‘national unity project’
Mr Marape was visiting Australia for an annual PNG investment conference in Sydney, also attended by Anthony Albanese.
The PNG leader was wrong-footed by a goosestep from colourful ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, who said rugby league would be a tool to repel Chinese influence.
“Having rugby league there for the community as a whole - taking the kids to school, bringing all the people together like a glue,” Mr V’landys said on Tuesday.
“No matter how much investment China makes in PNG, it can never achieve that.
“You can never achieve the heart and soul and brain of the PNG person - and we can in sport.”
Mr Marape hurriedly stepped in to affirm support for critical Chinese investment in his country.
“I want to quickly say a word or two, a big thank you to China and all our bilateral partners,” he interrupted.
Divisions at home and abroad are the last thing Mr Marape is hoping for from the team’s historic entry into the NRL in 2028, saying he wants the Chiefs to be a “national unity project”.
However, it’s plain that Australia - which is spending $600 million on the team - hopes the Chiefs will give a diplomatic boost with PNG at Beijing’s expense.
Mr Albanese hailed the Chiefs as an opportunity for education investment across the largely rural nation.
“Prospects of representing the Chiefs in the NRL when (PNG kids) grow up will encourage education, because (they will) have to be at school to play,” the prime minister said.
Under Mr Albanese, Australia has made vast commitments to deepening the trans-Torres relationship.
The recent Pukpuk treaty, which elevates PNG to Austalia’s third defence ally, will drastically increase defence co-operation.
Australia maintains a high level of development aid for its northern partner, which includes climate financing.
Australia was also investing hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure projects such as ports and highways designed to help diversify the traditionally resourcesheavy PNG economy, Mr Albanese said. The PNG leader wasn’t short of a rhetorical flourish of his own though, enticing the hundreds of companies in attendance with a substantial offer.
“When the economy hits 200 billion kina ($A71 billion), I will drop corporate tax,” the leader of the 135 billion kina economy said to wrap up his speech. As to who would eventually coach the much-anticipated NRL team, Mr V’landys ensured Panthers multipremiership-winning mentor Ivan Cleary would have an awkward few days ahead.
“I’ll say something controversial - there’s a reason why the prime minister was at Penrith,” he said.
BY SIMON KESLEP
DAWN of a new era is upon Lae Corporate Touch.
Set to field in new faces in their eight respective divisions for the upcoming National Touch Championship, head coach Vidler Artang is banking on the newbies alongside few experienced hands to deliver winning results on home turf.
Having the only representative player in Andrew Turlom, Artang said the opportunity is now on the young talents in the team to showcase their skills during the championship.
Turlom who is not a stranger to plying his trademark game performance of speed and quick footwork has represented Lae Corporate Touch at the World Cup and Pacific Games level including the national championship.
“For Lae corporate touch, the team is made up of both employed and unemployed youths.”
“They love this game (touch footy) so much and they come from communities around Lae city like Bumbu, Papuan Compound, second street and Bundi camp.”
“They put in a lot of time and effort…not a lot of experience players, most of them are first timers.”
“It took time for us to groom them up with our experience,” said Artang
He said players deserved their spot in the team given they have proven themselves at club level.
“They performed at their clubs and that is why we selected them (players).”
“The first timers have not travel out to compete and this applies to Open men’s and open women’s,” said Artang.
Lae Corporate Touch Association
has a long history in terms of reigning supreme for seven consecutive years in winning the open men’s title. This record still stands and they were last defeated by current reigning champions, Corporate Touch Port Moresby.
One of those players who was part of that successful Lae Corporate team was Artang himself, Andrew Ari, Buddy Mitau and other touch footy icons of Lae.
“The advice and story we always share with the players is that we were once champions for seven years, undefeated and nobody defeated us…up until CTPM led by Eugene Eka and his boys defeated us is when we knew our time is up.”
“Our goal is to restore the lost pride of touch in Lae.”
“My advice to the players is to always be patient, think touch footy as it comes, stay disciplined and be fruitful towards what they aim to achieve,” said Artang.
Corporate Touch Port Moresby has been preparing for the National Championships in Lae with a roster focused on developing emerging talent.
The team enters the tournament with a core of raw talent, despite missing a few key senior players this season.
CTPM sees this championship as a critical step in their long-term development strategy. They will miss the experience of few of our senior players, however they have the belief that their homegrown talent from the development teams have the potential and they expect them to rise to the challenge.
The tournament will provide a platform for the new faces to showcase their abilities and gain invaluable experience, which aligns with the organization's vision of building a strong future for the sport.
CTPM are proud to say that they
have produced 90 per cent of the National Team dedicated to the development of local talent and community engagement.
The executives have reviewed and implemented processes, one of which is the selection criteria process. The purpose and objective of the selection criteria process is to ensure transparent and comprehensive process that aligns with the overall CTPM goals. They have also introduced a Player Representative Code of Conduct and
expect their players to comply.
Divisions that CTPM will be competing in are Open Men, Open Women, Open Mix, Junior Boys U20, Development Men, Senior Men and Senior Mix.
A total of 90 athletes.
Women and children in touch is their focus as they see a decline in statistics within the CTPM competition and a need for growth. They further extended their gratitude and appreciation to their sponsors, Vodafone and NCDC.
Since 1962 the Territory of Papua and New Guinea under the Australian Colonial Administration took on the greatest challenge to participate at the first ever major international event British Empire and Commonwealth Games followed by a major regional event the inaugural South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji in 1962
The participation of the Territory of Papua New Guinea at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and at the inaugural South Pacific Games in the early 1960s laid a firm foundation as well as set the pathway for the next generation to pursue in earnest bearing in mind that since the establishment in 1961 the Papua New Guinea Sports Federation & Olympic Committee (PNGSFOC) now the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has always upheld its mission ‘’to enable our elite athletes to participate at national, regional and international levels.’’
This article will begin with the first ever two major international sports the Territory of Papua New Guinea the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1962 and the inaugural South Pacific Games I 1963. Since the 1960s the Territory and now PNG has participated in each of these games to date.
1962 PERTH BRITISH EMPIRE & COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The Territory of Papua and New Guinea team that participated at its first international sports event at 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia comprised only 21 male athletes that competed in 4 sports; athletics, boxing, bowling and weightlifting. With the highest level of international ever faced by our athletes only our boxer Kenneth (Ken) Hopkins in his Lightweight division was the only successful athlete to have won the Territory’s first bronze medal at these games.
1963
Following the Perth British Empire and Commonwealth Games the previous year, the Territory team to the South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji in 1963 geared up with the experiences gained from the Perth Games was now well prepared to send its biggest contingent ever to these regional games to compete in six of the eight in the games program.
The sports were Association Football (Soccer) , Basketball, Boxing, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis and Swimming.
The sports that we did not participate in were Rugby Union and Volleyball.
The contingent totaled 86 which included 55 males and 23 female competitors with 7 male and 1 female officials
1963 SPG RESULTS.
ATHLETICS:
GOLD:
Edward Laboran (High Jump), Oe Ivaharia (Javelin), Charlie Harrison (400m & 4x400m Relay), Mike Joyce
(800m, 5000m), Waituka Maina (4x400m Relay), John Vuia (4x100m Relay), Kahi Vela (4x400m Relay), Meli Muga (4x100m Relay), Bruce Richter (4x100m Relay & (4x400m Relay) & Tunga Sale (4x100m Relay).
SILVER:
Waituka Maina (400m Relay), Mike Joyce (1500m), Ivaroa Haro (Javelin).
BRONZE: Otto Malatana (Pole Vault), Bruce Richter (200m).
BOXING
GOLD:
Mathew Julius (Bantamweight).
SILVER
P. Nelson (Welterweight)
BRONZE
Terry Hopkins (Lightweight), Arthur Tomaira (Lightwelterweight), Ken Hopkins (Lightmiddle weight), L. Hui (Middleweight).
LAWN TENNIS
Bronze L. Davis, A. Marks, N. Brown, M. Smith, B. Bretag, C. Walters (Mixed Doubles).
SWIMMING (MEN)
GOLD:
Tovitolon. Jovel (110 yds Butterfly)
SILVER: K. Jarope (110 yds Butterfly). Popeu. Kangon (220 yds Breaststroke), John Hardy (440 yds Medley Relay) Bonawan Selan (440 yards Medley Relay), Popeu. Kangon (440 yds Medley Relay), Kanawan. Jarope (440 yds Medley Relay).
SWIMMING (WOMEN)
SILVER: Jan Finn (110 yds Backstroke), Suellen. Mathews (440 yds Freestyle), Jan Finn (4x110 yds Freestyle Relay), Suellen. Mathews (4x110yds yds Freestyle Relay), Pia. Mae (4x110 Freestyle Relay), Audrey. Cronan (4x110 yds Freestyle Relay).
BRONZE: Pia. Mae (220 yds Breaststroke).
TEAM SPORTS
BASKETBALL (MEN)
BRONZE: (Jeffrey Chui, Michael Hilton, Prit Hiob, Jerry Labi Nalau, Lawrence Ning), Jackson Seeto, Meriba Tovae, Charles Yip, Martin Heist – Player/Coach).
BASKETBALL (WOMEN)
BRONZE: Josephine Abaijah, Lynn Allen, Patricia Flaherty, Idau, Kea Kapulu, Eli Kila, Taunao Morea, Vele Raula, Rita Flynn - Player/ Coach).
Note: Women’s Basketball was in effect Netball.
There were 13 countries that participated at the first regional games hosted by Fiji in 1963. At the conclusion of the first South Pacific Game, Territory of Papua and New Guinea came second on the medal tally with 9 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze with host team Fiji raking up the medals with 34 gold, 23 silver 27 bronze well ahead pf TPNG, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Tonga that took up the top five placings.
RUGBY LEAGUE
BY TOM WARK - AAP
IN the PNG Chiefs, James Marape sees a "national unity project" akin to South Africa's Rainbow Nation Rugby World Cup win in 1995.
"Sport has more unification than any other pursuit of life," Mr Marape said in Sydney on Tuesday.
"Look at the Nelson Mandela strategy using rugby union to unite South Africa... we find common unity behind a team."
The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister hopes the incoming NRL team will get children in school and companies investing in the economy, transforming his nation.
CONTINUE PAGE 46
SEVERAL high profile NRL stars landed yesterday in Port Moresby with the Sydney Roosters contingent that will be tackling the historic 96km Kokoda Trail as part of the pre-season program. Pictured is former Australian Kangaroo and NSW Blues fullback James Tedesco arriving at Jackson’s Airport. PICTURE FIDELIS WASARI.
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