The People’s Alliance is leading the official 2022 general elections results tally with 17,737 votes after the completion of the count at 491 of the 2071 polling stations. This is 49.78 percent of the votes counted. The FijiFirst Party is in second place with 9,310 votes which is 26.13 percent of the votes. SODELPA is in third place with 2,947 votes which is 8.27 percent of the votes counted. NFP has 2,022 votes which is 5.67 percent of the votes counted. Unity Fiji has 1,332 votes, We Unite Fiji has 909 votes, Fiji Labour Party has 701 votes, All People’s Party 522 votes and New Generation Party has 130 votes. Independent candidates Rajendra Sharma and Ravinesh Reddy have 18 and 5 votes respectively. Under section 89 of the Electoral Act, immediately upon closing of the polls, the counting of ballot papers is to be undertaken and completed in the respective polling station by the presiding officer and such election officials designated by him or her. The figures in the protocol of results must be entered by the presiding officer at each step of the counting process. The presiding officer must proceed continuously with the counting of the votes until the count is complete. The Act says the Supervisor may conduct a recount of any ballot box. Section 97 states that following completion of the protocol of results, the presiding officer must sign it and immediately notify the Supervisor by the most expeditious method, including by telephone or any electronic means, of the results or the total number of votes cast for each candidate, as contained in the final protocol of results. A copy of the final protocol of results must be immediately posted by the presiding officer in a publicly accessible place at the polling station, such as a notice board, another copy kept inside the ballot box and a copy sent to the Supervisor by the most expeditious method. Section 103 of the Electoral Act states that after the original of the final protocol of results are received from all the polling stations and after all the votes received by each candidate at each polling station is recorded on the National Results Tally, the Supervisor shall prepare the Final National Results Tally, which must contain the total number of votes received by each candidate and the total number of votes received by each political party. Source: FijiVillage

Kompiam District Hospital was a typical rural health facility in this country with numerous challenges not many aspiring doctors had wanted to be committed to it . But not anymore, thanks to the work done by an Australian doctor Dr David Mills who has over the past 23 years set the course of this hospital for bigger things, including changing the medical culture in this country: one that was focused on urban large hospitals to those that served the majority of the country's population who are living in the rural areas such as aid posts, health centres and district hospitals. Dr Mills and his family came to Kompiam in March 2000. At the time, it was a two-small building hospital of 25-beds. It had no x-ray, no laboratory and a basic theatre. People were using kerosene lamp, its generator had not worked for three months and there was only one staff house. “At the beginning it was very difficult because we needed more people especially in admin, but had nowhere to stay. The road was only passable to 4WD so building anything new was very difficult. So it was a very, very frustrating few years,’’ he says. [caption id="attachment_32526" align="alignnone" width="960"] Screen shot of Kompiam District Hospital[/caption] The biggest improvements in the first 10 years were in the administration: It helped greatly when the traditional CEO structure was changed to a management team, taking away pressure on one person as in a village scenario. It paid dividends, although it took awhile to settle as the staff had to get used to it. He says Enga is an extremely unstable environment due to tribal fights, so gaining community confidence and a sense of neutrality takes a very long time. Despite its huge challenges, Dr Mills and his wife and four children made their home in Kompiam, on the deep north of Enga and saw the hospital develop to its current status, a modern 55-bed hospital, and soon to increase to 88 when the ward under construction is complete. It is equipped with two operating theatres, an excellent lab and digital Xray. It also has good speed satellite internet connecting all departments and it is just about to launch its electronic medical record system using fingerprint ID of all patients. The staff houses have increased from one to 44 and the hospital is entirely solar powered 24 hours and the residences all have solar power 240V for nine hours a day. Funding is being sought to double the size of the solar system from 100kW to 200kW. The hospital has recently been upgraded to Level 4 so the staff numbers have increased from 47 ceiling to 202 for the entire health service. Funding is being sought for extra housing as well. [caption id="attachment_32527" align="alignnone" width="906"] Dr David Mills teaching anaesthetics to the MMED (Rural) candidates[/caption] The hospital is also in discussion with the Enga Provincial Government to possibly take over responsibility for some of the more remote aid posts in the region to reduce confusion between the Government and mission arms of the health sector in the area. Training has long been part of the work at Kompiam District Hospital, but it has not been as more obvious as during Dr Mill’s tenure. Apart from taking the medical students on practical at the hospital, Dr Mills has gone beyond this by helping start the MMED (Rural) program at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences UPNG. This was in 2008. He says this program was about changing an entire medical culture. “One that is currently focused on urban large hospitals rather than rural facilities such as aidposts, health centres and district hospitals. “That culture affects NDOH, PHAs and medical training as well. So changing that culture was never going to occur overnight. It will take lifetimes of sustained work.’’ However, he is optimistic that good progress has been made. “When we started MMED (Rural) training in 2008, no-one was talking about rural medicine as a career. No one was talking about district hospital. Now, there are Rural SMO’s enshrined in the National Health Plan, PHAs are talking about getting their district hospitals up and going, and they are asking about MMED (Rural) candidates, and most importantly of all, medical students and RMOs are talking about rural medicine. The number of students applying for Rural training is increasing and need the support of the government and NDOH. The PHAs are also behind this.’’ The partnership with SMHS UPNG will be enhanced next year when the hospital opens a Rural Clinical School in July which will see fifth year medical students based at Kompiam for six months and then 12 months for the entire year from 2024. Having students on training at the hospital ensures a constant stream of doctors at Kompiam Hospital which has health patrols to villages and communities. [caption id="attachment_32528" align="alignnone" width="480"] Dr David Mills and his wife Karina and children pose for a picture with friends.[/caption] The patrols cover part of East Sepk Province as well and used to be done mostly through walking but they now have a weekly flying patrols with the help of MAF. The patrols give the medical students a good feel for rural PNG and the issues involved in delivering health care in remote areas. Dr Mills did his training at Flinders University and as part of his training he did come to Kompiam Hospital for a short time. So what had motivated him to return? He says, it was not a motivation but a call and it would have been disobedient for him not to go. The suffering he’d seen was also enormous. “The suffering is enormous – actually it’s really unimaginable to most people. Can you imagine someone with their leg torn off, or in obstructed labour, in screaming agony, and that person has no prospect for being evacuated, of receiving pain relief or medical help of any kind. “They will just stay where they are and suffer like that until the inevitable transpires. That is not a fiction, but a daily reality in rural PNG. When you come face to face with it, it’s hard not to feel very strongly about the need to change the status quo.’’ The Mills are relocating to Australia to care for Dr Mill’s aging parents, but he will be travelling back and forth to teach his students at SMHS UPNG. “While my family are relocating to Australia I will be continuing to work for UPNG, especially on the rural training program, both remotely from Australia and in a FIFO role (month on and month off) for the Uni so I can visit my students,’’ he says. Dr Mills is happy that the hospital is in good hands Papua New Guinean Dr Rebecca Williams is now the Medical Superintendent of Kompiam Hospital. “The hospital is in good hands with Dr Williams at the helm and helped by an Australian and another UK doctor, as well as a steady stream of RMO’s and students,’’ said Dr Mills. Dr Mills is from Adelaide, Australia. Source: Papua New Guinea National Department of Health

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) has partnered with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) this year, to roll out NSL’s free Financial Literacy Training (FLT) to the over 6,000 officers and staff of the RPNGC across the Country. The FLT program is delivered by fully certified NSL officers and covers five modules that cover the following topics:  Module 1 – Taking Charge of Personal Finances  Module 2 – NSL Superannuation Products and Services  Module 3 – Planning for Retirement  Module 4 – Buying Your Own Home  Module 5 – Financial Literacy Skills for MSMEs This year, NSL has trained 218 RPNGC officers and staff from Port Moresby and Buka. The participants completed modules 1 to 3 of the FLT where they learned to develop valuable skills needed to improve their financial well-being. NSL Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Sayer commended the RPNGC for prioritising the wellbeing of their workforce by partnering with NSL to deliver this valuable training. “We are pleased that the RPNGC has taken the initiative to empower their staff with this training, allowing them to develop useful financial management skills that they can utilise in their daily lives to build a better future for themselves and their families”, Mr Sayer said. “The over 6,000 RPNGC employees perform an important role in ensuring that all Papua New Guineans can feel safe in their communities and live productive peaceful lives. As such, we aim to continue building on this partnership to ensure we are doing our part to support our hardworking Police officers and staff.” “The RPNGC employees join more than 3,700 Nambawan Super Members, from both the Private and Public Sectors, trained by NSL in 2022. All our Members have access to and are welcome to attend this fully certified FLT course”, Mr Sayer added. RPNGC Acting Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Division, Mr Samson Siguyaru welcomed the roll-out of the program and remarked that this was the first time an organization has partnered with the Constabulary to deliver a comprehensive FLT for all RPNGC employees. “Firstly, I would like to thank NSL for the great opportunity given through this training for its Members, especially with Police from all ranks and files given access to the FLT”, Mr Siguyaru stated. “Secondly, the RPNGC is serious about developing its members at all levels, including those that will be exiting the organization through retirement.” “On behalf of Police Management, HR Division under my command, we will continue to roll out programs that give purpose to our officers, to serve our people, our visitors, and the Country with full capacity and commitment”, Mr Siguyaru added.

From the 10th – 11th of December, our UPNG CleanGen Leaders carried out a two-day DREAM Program on the Motupore Island Research Centre. This was their first project under the Clean Generation Innovation Grants Program (CGIG) funded by The Voice Inc (TVI). A total of 39 young people participated in the DREAM and were taken through sessions on being Driven by Purpose, Experiences, Attitude and Mission Statements. Additional sessions were conducted on the CPC Report and the National Dream of PNG to instill a sense of patriotism and help participants reflect on how best they can be nation-builders. It has been a few years since the DREAM program was facilitated in person and on Motupore Island thus we congratulate our UPNG CleanGen Leaders for their successful project and hope that they will continue to work closely with their program participants! Should you wish to learn more about the Clean Generation Innovation Grants Programs join the CleanGen Academy at www.cleangen.org . You can also do the DREAM program online under the Learn section of CleanGen Academy. Source: Clean Generation Campaign

The National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has come onboard to support the St John Ambulance in purchasing a fully kitted ambulance worth more than three hundred and ninety thousand kina (K390, 000.00) that will increase optimal healthcare and ambulance services in the country. The donation is in line with NGCB’s Agreement to purchase three ambulance vehicles per year starting this year to 2024 in the effort to maximize essential medical and ambulance services to the people of PNG through NGCB’s ‘Give Back Program’. NGCB Director for Community Benefit Fund Naomi Eringe speaking on behalf of NGCB CEO Imelda Agon, said the Board is pleased to partner with St John Ambulance and committed to purchase a total of nine (9) ambulance vehicles for St John Ambulance within a span of three (3) years “For NGCB, we are owned by the 8 million plus people of this great country hence we are fully committed to our social corporate obligation to support community-impact projects and programs that will directly impact the lives of people through our ‘Give Back Program’. “Health is one of our priority sectors we support and the purchase of this fully kitted ambulance is part of the three vehicles earmarked for this year to St John Ambulance. “The NGCB is committed in supporting the government’s vision to improve health services and our partnership with St John Ambulance is a step forward in achieving tangible outcomes in the health sector”, Ms. Eringe said. Eringe said the donation will boost and strengthen ambulance service in the country and ensure ‘help is just one call away’. Receiving the cheque for St John, Chief of Ambulance Service, Rigona Rita said, “the demand for St John has increased greatly. St John plays a crucial role in providing emergency medical service to our people and we’re responding to an average of 60 incidents each day.” “Such services can only be maintained with the support from organizations such as the National Gaming Control Board and others alike. The purchase of ambulances from this cheque presentation will see to it going directly to support our expansion to enhance our operations in the Southern and Highland regions. Getting additional ambulances on road means we can get immediate care to the patient within minutes after a medical emergency occurs.” “We are grateful for this contribution and we will continue to deliver to the communities in their greatest time of need and that this support will have a much more positive impact to the lives that will be saved when someone dials 111 for help.” Said Chief Rita.

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring all infrastructure investments across Papua New Guinea serve people of all backgrounds and abilities, ensuring communities everywhere benefit from secure, reliable and sustainable infrastructure. Infrastructure – that reflects and responds to people’s diverse needs – plays a pivotal role in empowering communities, especially women, girls and marginalized people. At its best, infrastructure can change the behavior and habits of the people it serves, driving a wide social impact. It can reduce inequality, widen access to jobs and education, make communities more resilient to climate change and promote public health and wellbeing. Australia’s Economic and Social Infrastructure Program (ESIP) works to ensure all Australian-funded infrastructure is designed and built using an inclusive approach. This means engaging communities – the people who will use the infrastructure – as well as local construction companies, and government agencies throughout each part of the construction process. ESIP is engaged in several major infrastructure redevelopments across PNG, from the new Kimbe Town Market in West New Britain Province to the Daru General Hospital in Western Province, the Metoreia Health Centre in Port Moresby and the Lae City Market in Morobe Province. Each of these developments has the power to transform people’s livelihoods in PNG, especially women, girls and people with disabilities. Designing infrastructure that considers the people’s different needs means everyone can experience the benefits of a new hospital, market, school, or other facility. ESIP’s Director of Social Infrastructure (Markets and Education), Taiko Lalo, emphasised how inclusive infrastructure accounts for the needs of everyone by ensuring equal access and benefit for all (regardless of gender, race, class, sexuality and disability and especially for the vulnerable and marginalised). “When designing markets, you must ensure everyone accessing the market is safe and secure, the space is functional, and it meets the needs of the majority women vendors and patrons accessing the infrastructure,” Ms Taiko added. The Australian Government, through its infrastructure investments, values the needs of women and girls, vulnerable groups including people with disabilities and ensures their voices are included in the design process of construction projects.

Thirty-eight (38) participants comprising of BSP SME customers and BSP staff recently completed a two week training on understanding the different aspects of businesses and how to grow them. BSP Financial Group Limited’s SME Retail in partnership with Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) facilitated the two-week pilot training for “Your Enterprise Scheme” through its network of Skilled Business Professionals. The training comprised of three (3) working models designed for the PNG SME market covering 17 different topics, primarily fundamental building blocks for SMEs in any market segment. These areas included business structure, compliance and the importance of keeping SME receipts records and growth by way of increasing revenue and profitability through simple fundamental approaches. BSP Head of SME, Samuel Mulina said this Financial literacy training is part of BSP’s continued focus on supporting the SME Sector and is designed to augment the considerable success BSP has had in rolling out the Governments Credit Enhancement Scheme program (CESL). In 2022, BSP assisted 1,105 SMEs by lending K177m under the Scheme. Since the program’s inception, BSP has funded 1,484 SME loans to a total of K266m.   “Apart from the government funded Credit Enhancement Loan Scheme, BSP has been offering its own SME Lending Products since 2013. More than 151 businesses have been assisted with over K14m from BSP’s Smart Business Loan while 64 customers have been assisted with a total funding over K657,000 through BSP’s Micro Business Loan Products,” the Head of BSP SME said. Mulina said the training also covered areas of Business Models, Cost structure, Profit & Loss, how to explore potential business options and how small business can develop road maps among others. “We are not only looking at giving out loans but one of our obligation as the leading financial institution is to provide financial literacy trainings in our chosen markets and the SME segment is no exception. We had 32 BSP SME customers attend our coaching sessions with 6 BSP Lending officer and support staff in the segment. Training commenced on November 22nd that saw one on one coaching sessions covering 17 business related topics on how SMEs can grow their businesses. The trainings were free of charge to our customers and we are looking forward to extend similar programs to SMEs from other parts of PNG,” Mr Mulina added. Certificates of Completion were presented to each SME and BSP staff who attended the Training on Tuesday 6th December 2022

The OSHKOSH Global Striker is the name of the specialized rescue and firefighting vehicle which is used by the National Airports Corporation’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Team at Tokua Airport in East New Britain Province. The OSHKOSH is fitted with all essential elements that will enable quick response, rescue and firefighting capabilities during any emergencies at the airport. At Tokua Airport, 26-year old Ruth Tenanga, who is the only female in a Team of 10 Aviation Rescue Fire Fighters, is tasked to operate this specialized vehicle. That would make Miss Tenanga the first Papua New Guinean female to operate an aviation fire fighting vehicle in the country. The other airports who have these specialized aviation fire fighting vehicles are operated by her male colleagues. “To be honest, I never thought I’d end up as a Tender Operator (Aviation Fire Truck Operator) but when the opportunity came, I took it and became part of the ARFF Team,” Ruth recalls. She added: “NAC have mentored and trained me to be who I am today and I am thankful to the ARFF trainers for their tireless efforts, dedication and commitment.” Ruth believes that stepping into this new area particularly one that is male dominated, had a positive impact on her growth and has been motivating, inspiring and empowering. “As long as there is respect, having an opening mind, trust and teamwork, there is a team regardless of gender,” Miss Tenanga explained. The job of a tender operator role requires stamina, top coordination skills, excellent physical fitness and mental toughness among others and Ruth has been the perfect fit says George Kalago who is the Tokua Airport Fire Chief and also Ruth’s immediate supervisor and mentor. “I’ve known Ruth since she was recruited in July 2019. She is a brilliant lady and she is very brave in performing the drills and has been involved in two emergency turnouts as an operator for Rescue1 (Global Striker) here in Tokua of which she’s performed exceptionally well.” Said Kalago. “Since here recruitment, Miss Tenanga has undergone in-house trainings of Basic Firemanship, Topography, Radio and Fire Control Centre Procedure, Aircraft Familiarization, Fire Vehicle Operation and Pump Operation Trainings and is competent in her job,” Mr Kalago added. As the aviation fire fighter and tender operator, Miss Tenanga’s work involves: • In the event of an emergency, conducting rescue & firefighting operation to passengers involved in aircraft incidents and accidents. • Providing Firefighting service to aircrafts and buildings within the airport aerodrome. • Giving technical advice on firefighting & fire precaution in the airport as well as providing first aid • Transporting ARFF personnel & firefighting equipment to a scene of an accident and • Operating and conducting firefighting using its pump operation to establish a conducive environment for rescue and evacuation to be mounted. Ruth’s advice to young women who may wish to take up the role in male dominated environment is to never let fear stop them from achieving their goals or their dream job. “Go for the job you desire regardless of the gender.” She said. NAC encourages equal opportunities in its workforce and the support provided to Ruth reflects the organization’s commitment to encourage and promote equal and merit-based opportunities in its workforce which is aligned to the broader efforts by the Government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This is an appeal to the general public to refrain from pointing laser beams at aircraft during landing as this can interfere with the pilots’ ability to operate the aircraft and may cause an accident. Air Niugini pilots have recently noted an increase in instances of high intensity laser lights being pointed at aircraft while on approach to a number of airports around PNG, but especially in Port Moresby during night landing at both ends of the Jackson’s airport. Laser lights pose a threat to the safety of the flight as the glare makes it difficult to concentrate on flight instruments and if the pilots are temporarily blinded by it at a critical phase of flight, this can endanger the safety of the aircraft and may lead to an accident. This distraction during critical flight phases such as landings, take-offs and emergency manoeuvres can have serious consequences Under the Civil Aviation Act of PNG, those interfering with safe operations of an aircraft can be criminally charged with imprisonment for up to two years. Air Niugini therefore appeals to the public not to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft and furthermore, to report those who are caught doing this to relevant authorities including police. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation on this matter.  

Prime Minister James Marape said today he was pleased to receive the audited financial accounts for Mineral Resources Development Company Limited (MRDC) for the years 2018 and 2019. “The audited financial accounts for both years that were presented to me were impressive,” he said. “The reports for both 2018 and 2019 were unqualified, or clean, reflecting that the accounts were properly kept in accordance with compliance requirement under international accounting standard. “The only exception was an emphasis of the impact of COVID-19 on investment in the 2018 accounts, which is understandable, given the adverse impact the pandemic had on businesses in the country and globally.” The Prime Minister commended the board and management of MRDC for working hard to meet its compliance obligations, while growing the assets under management. “When we passed the MRDC Authorization Act 2020, I stressed that MRDC was incorporated under the Companies Act and therefore must be independent and perform as a company, in compliance with company law, its Constitution and Trust Deed requirements,” he said. “I am very pleased that the MRDC Board and the management under the leadership of the former Chairman and the Managing Director Mr Augustine Mano has worked hard to deliver on the intent of that legislation. This is a milestone achievement.” The company’s 2018 financial statements received by the Prime Minister were accompanied by an Audit Opinion of the Auditor General, which carried out an independent audit of the accounts. “MRDC has been subjected to public criticism regarding various matters relating to project benefits for landowners. The board and management have been questioned in various forums about the status of audit of the company accounts,” PM Marape said. “Despite these criticisms, the board and management have worked tirelessly on these matters, and I am pleased that the result has been a clean audit report of the company’s financial statements for 2018 and 2019.” The Prime Minister, who is trustee/shareholder of the company, said he expected the audited financial accounts for the subsequent years of 2020 and 2021 to be completed within Q1 next year. The Prime Minister said he was also pleased to learn that apart from MRDC’s accounts, almost 90 per cent of MRDC’s 16 subsidiaries had also attained unqualified audit outcomes for their respective financial accounts, and the MRDC Board and management intended to bring all audits up to date by 2023.

Prime Minister James Marape has encouraged Chinese enterprises operating in the country to diversify their investment and partner local businesses to support the government’s downstream processing ambition and export finished products. Prime Minister Marape said this at a Christmas dinner hosted by the Chinese Enterprises Association of PNG (CEA PNG), at the Hilton Hotel, in Port Moresby, last night (13/12/22). He said major Chinese enterprises operating in PNG have contributed enormously to the development of the country in terms of infrastructure, employment, tax revenue both in construction and the retail sectors. Prime Minister Marape said PNG and China have a strong trade and bilateral relationship and China is one of PNG’s major investors, in fact the second trading partner in the Pacific region with PNG also exporting raw materials and mineral resources. He said for the Chinese businesses, they have a market made up of 1.4 billion people back in China at their fingertips and encouraged them to go into downstream processing and export finished products to Asian markets. “The reason why I am making this statement is simple. You have been here in PNG longer and I encourage you, please do not pack up and leave. “Please diversify your businesses and help incubate the other local SMEs and bring them up with you and they become your project partners and project security. “We urge you to pay your taxes and your dues, follow the laws of our country, produce and export more to your own country China as well as the Asian market place and the world because we have strategic links to all markets that PNG is connected with,’’ said Prime Minister Marape. He also thanked the Chinese enterprises in PNG for their service and for contributing to the development of the country by creating employment, building infrastructure and promoting local spin off businesses. “To all the Chinese enterprises who are all here tonight, thank you all for your services to Papua New Guinea. “In the last three years when we took office most of your businesses know how the backlog of claims and payments for the businesses who won contracts was piling up and we were trying to clean those up. “The previous government which I was part of issued contracts and never honoured them or the state components were never paid up so we have tried to resolve these issues in the last three years, we have been in government. “Consequently, we have been supporting businesses in our country with no discrimination, whether you are an Asian business, Western business or Papua New Guinean business, so long as you operate within your space. “For foreign businesses, we have kept our limits. That is, anything K10 Million and above, is open for anyone to bid for. For any business opportunity below 10 Million, it will be reserved for local PNG businesses and SMEs only to bid for. “I want to thank the Chinese businesses who have been operating in PNG and have been bidding for some of our PNG Government funded projects, where some have been successful and some have not. “For those who have not been successful, my government has issued contracts with no bias and or discrimination based on the tenders that have come through and we are starting to ensure their dues are paid,’’ he said. Prime Minister Marape also said Chinese firms are starting to feature prominently in some of the government projects and contracts that the government has been giving out or tendering. “I want you to remain focused at work in my country and I kindly urge you to incubate local Small to Medium Enterprises SMEs with you. "They are your security and they are a combined security to your investment and businesses because when the locals are engaged, they are happy, you are happy and I am also happy with it. “Keep on maintaining your business address here in PNG, keep supporting our local SME, keep on obeying our laws, as you have been, whilst doing businesses with our government and private sector. ‘We will be fair to everyone with no form of discrimination as Christians should be. Being friends to all, we will not be selective or discriminatory,’’ he said. The Prime Minister informed the Chinese enterprises that they are in fact operating in a fair environment. “So therefore, any Chinese investor, investment or business in our country under my watch or any other watch into the future will not experience any form of indiscrimination whatsoever. “You are operating in a fair place and in fact our own history with the Chinese investors and based enterprises date back, over a hundred years. The dinner was hosted by the Chinese Enterprises Association of PNG (CEAPNG). The Association is made of many of the major Chinese owned and based businesses in the construction, mining and retail sector, who are operating in the country. Prime Minister Marape was graced by the Chinese Ambassador H.E Zeng Fanhua and the CEA PNG Chairman Wang Hongming. Mr Marape also acknowledged the fact that PNG has a ‘friends to all, enemy to none’ foreign policy agenda, which covers both trade and investment, bilateral and multilateral relations PNG has with China and other countries and will be fair to all. PNG recognizes the ‘One-China Policy’ and will continue to do so but the government will make its own decisions to promote investment as a sovereign and independent nation.

Defending champion France ended Morocco’s 2022 World Cup dream on Wednesday thanks to a 2-0 victory at the Al Bayt Stadium. Theo Hernández scored on five minutes with an acrobatic finish, with substitute Randal Kolo Muani tapping home late on as France reached its fourth World Cup final just four years after winning in Russia. But Morocco, the first African team to reach the semifinal stage of the World Cup, can go home with its head held high after running France close before Kolo Muani’s decisive strike. France is the first defending World Cup champion to reach the final in two decades. Lionel Messi and Argentina now await as France seeks to win back-to-back World Cup titles. “Here we go again. It’s just an amazing feeling,” France captain Hugo Lloris said afterwards, per FIFA. “We suffered a lot, especially in the second half. We played too deep and they showed they’re not a team only focused on defending. They know how to attack. They deserve a lot of credit for this World Cup. “Now the last step, the most difficult.” [caption id="attachment_32485" align="alignnone" width="906"] Kolo Muani celebrates with teammates after scoring France's second goal against Morocco.[/caption] Breaking of hearts It felt like this semifinal was being played in Rabat or Casablanca rather than Al Khor, such was the support for Morocco. Moroccan players were cheered like heroes every time they touched the ball, while their French counterparts were booed and whistled. Not that France were flustered by the vociferous support for Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium and it didn’t take long for Didier Deschamps’ team to take control of the match. Antoine Griezmann – so brilliant in the quarterfinal win over England – took advantage of a slip from defender Jawad El Yamiq to break into the Morocco box, before crossing towards Kylian Mbappé. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, twisting and turning in the box, had two efforts at goal blocked by despairing defenders, but the ball spun to Hernández, who acrobatically finished to give France an early advantage. Remarkably, it was the first goal Morocco had conceded from an opposition player at the tournament and was the first time the team had trailed at Qatar 2022. However, Morocco wasn’t flummoxed and minutes later Azzedine Ounahi drew a fine save from Hugo Lloris as the Atlas Lions grew into the match. Olivier Giroud, who is joint-second goalscorer at the tournament behind Mbappé and Messi, missed two glorious opportunities for France to extend their lead. First, his shot cannoned off the post as he broke towards the Morocco goal, before the AC Milan forward curled just wide shortly after Mbappé had been denied by Yassine Bounou. Morocco’s riposte was El Yamiq’s brilliant bicycle kick, which came off the corner of the post, inches away from giving his country a route back into the semifinal. [caption id="attachment_32486" align="alignnone" width="906"] El Yamiq attempts a bicycle kick which comes off the French post.[/caption] After the break, it was one-way traffic, with Morocco pressing for an equalizer. Countless times Morocoo played around a scrambling France defense, but between an errant touch or a last-ditch touch from a defender, the Atlas Lions couldn’t find an equalizer. Morocco pushed and pushed, but to no avail and then Kolo Muani – just seconds after coming on as a substitute – tapped home a deflected effort to claim his first international goal and confirm France’s place in Sunday’s final. Kolo Muani’s goal was the third-quickest goal for a substitute in World Cup history, the Eintracht Frankfurt forward scoring 44 seconds after coming on, according to Opta. The goal seemingly took the air out of Morocco’s fans at the Al Bayt Stadium, though it continued to search for a miracle back into the game. Having captured the hearts and minds of the footballing world, it was a sad end to Morocco’s aspirations. But having given reigning champion France a run for its money, Morocco leaves the competition knowing it has achieved more than just success on the pitch. For France, an mouthwatering final against Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday will see Mbappé face his PSG teammate, Messi, as the two nations clash to decide the 2022 world champion. Argentina is chasing a third title, while Les Bleus is attempting to become the first side to retain the World Cup since Brazil managed the feat 60 years ago. A World Cup winner with France as a player in 1998 and as Les Bleus’ coach in 2018, Deschamp said that he wants his players to savor their achievements at Qatar 2022. “Obviously this was an important match. There will be one last one,” Deschamps said, per FIFA. “It’s been a month we’re together with the players. It’s never easy. “But it’s been such a joy until now, and that my players, the group has been compensated for this success. We’re going to go after the title on Sunday. “We’re going to take the time. I tell this to my staff and players: ‘Take every moment in the day to really appreciate and savor the moment.’ In four days, we are going to play for a world title. We’ll enjoy it now and get ready for the last match of this World Cup.” Source: CNN News