Her rise to power at the head of the party she founded has been meteoric, but Giorgia Meloni has been politically active since she was a teenage activist in a neo-fascist party's youth wing in Rome. Now at 45 she has accepted the role of Italy's first female prime minister, although she has picked a government in which only one in four ministers are women. Meloni has come to power partly by fortune. Her Brothers of Italy party was one of very few that chose not to join Mario Draghi's national unity government and she became a solitary opposition voice. Although she has led her party for 10 years, her experience in government is limited to a spell as Italy's youngest minister in the Berlusconi government from 2008-11. Her party won the September 2022 elections with 26% of the vote, even though it had polled only 4.3% four years earlier. "Italians have sent a clear message in favour of a right-wing government led by Brothers of Italy," she declared after her election win. With her partners from the far-right League and centre-right of ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, she has a strong majority to steer through her programme. A clue to her priorities came in a typically raucous speech she gave in Spain last June. "Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology... no to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders, no to mass migration... no to big international finance... no to the bureaucrats of Brussels!" In another well-quoted speech from 2019 she said: "I am Giorgia, I'm a woman, I'm a mother... I'm Christian." For the role of Italy's new family and birth rate minister, she has picked Eugenia Roccella who has spoken out against abortion and threatened to reverse recently agreed rights for same-sex parents. Nevertheless, the new prime minister has promised to govern "for everyone" and she has sought to assure Italy's allies in both Nato and the European Union that there will be no change in direction in foreign policy. An important point as both Matteo Salvini who heads the League and Silvio Berlusconi have been strong admirers of Russia's Vladimir Putin. "Giorgia Meloni comes from a post-fascist cultural background but recently she's taken a very moderate position and stated she won't change [predecessor Mario] Draghi's policy on Ukraine," Italian political scientist Prof Roberto D'Alimonte told the BBC. "She did this because she had to build her credentials to be a legitimate candidate for prime minister." Giorgia Meloni hails from Garbatella in southern Rome, a working class but up-and-coming area. It isn't easy to find many Brothers of Italy voters in this district seen traditionally as left of centre. Raised by her mother, after her parents separated, she gravitated to the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement, born out of the ashes of Benito Mussolini's wartime fascists. Aged 19, she was filmed as a party activist in 1996. "I think Mussolini was a good politician. Everything he did, he did for Italy. And we haven't had any politicians like that in the past 50 years," she told French TV. The piece even had a clip of her mother, Anna Paratore, saying she had not sought to push her own far-right views on her daughter. Giorgia Meloni later headed the student branch of the movement's successor, National Alliance. At the age of 11 she discovered Tolkien's fantasy classic, Lord of the Rings, and regularly dressed up as a Hobbit. The book was to influence her political career too. When she became youth minister in 2008 she posed for a magazine beside a statue of Gandalf, one of five wizard's in Tolkien's book. She even referenced a Tolkien battle speech at the end of her election campaign. "I think that Tolkien could say better than we can what conservatives believe in," she recently told the New York Times. Meloni is adamant that the party she formed in 2012 has no links to fascism, but some of its members appear to hold a candle for Mussolini and it retains an old logo of the tricolour flame, often thought to represent the fire on Mussolini's tomb. The new Senate speaker, Ignazio La Russa, collects fascist memorabilia and his brother was seen making what appeared to be a fascist salute at a funeral. "The hard core of the party is still far right, yet the new voters who backed Meloni are not," says Prof D'Alimonte. He believes the new prime minister is taking Brothers of Italy into uncharted territory and needs to give it a new profile. That may require a more moderate approach than she and her allies would naturally adopt. Meloni may have picked an anti-abortion minister but she has promised to fully enforce the law that protects access to abortion. Same-sex couples have fewer rights in Italy than many other European countries, and Meloni has no plans to overturn existing laws. But she has spoken out against adoptions and surrogacy involving LGBT couples. For now her coalition appears united. One look at the make-up of Italy's two houses of parliament shows the strong majority she has been able to muster with her own party backed by Forza Italia and the League. The centre and left parties failed to find enough common ground to challenge her bid for power. But that unity may not last. Forza Italia in particular could become an awkward ally, with veteran ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi consigned to little more than a walk-on part. Italian media seized on a scrap of paper in parliament on which he appeared to label Meloni as "patronising, bossy, arrogant, offensive", and with the word ridiculous scribbled out. He also wrote that there was "no willingness to change - she's one you can't get along with". Berlusconi had wanted the plum Senate job for his top aide Licia Ronzulli but the Brothers of Italy leader had refused. The two women are described as bitter enemies, which does not bode well for the future. Source: BBC News

A huge blaze has engulfed a train line and homes in Aguascalientes, central Mexico, after a fuel truck crash. Dramatic video of the fire went viral on social media, including aerial shots of black smoke blanketing a large area of the city. One video showed a cargo train hurtling through flames. Mexico's El Universal website says more than 1,500 people were evacuated. Some homes and cars were gutted by fire. There are no reports of deaths, but several people were taken to hospital. Police have detained the truck driver. A Facebook post by Mayor Leo Montañez speaks of 300 homes in the crash area, 120 of which have been damaged. It is not clear exactly how the crash happened. Initial reports said the truck had collided with a train, but Reuters news agency now says the truck hit an overpass. State oil firm Pemex has denied owning the truck, and says it is helping efforts to contain the fire. Some 200 firefighters are trying to contain the blaze, El Universal reports. One video shot from a car parked nearby showed a long cargo train passing through flames on both sides of the track. Source: BBC News

An investigation was initially launched by US authorities in 2019.A hacker who stole two unreleased songs from Ed Sheeran and sold them on the dark web has been jailed for 18 months. Adrian Kwiatkowski traded the music by Sheeran and 12 songs by rapper Lil Uzi Vert in exchange for cryptocurrency. The 23-year-old, from Ipswich, managed to get hold of them after hacking the performers' digital accounts, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Kwiatkowski admitted 19 charges, including copyright infringement and possessing criminal property. He had made £131,000 from the music, City of London Police said. Ipswich Crown Court heard that when the defendant's Apple Mac laptop was searched, 565 audio files, including the songs by Sheeran and Vert, were uncovered. An investigation was initially launched by US authorities in 2019. It came after the management of several musicians reported to the New York District Attorney that someone known online as Spirdark had hacked a number of accounts and was selling the content. The investigation linked the email address used to set up Spirdark's cryptocurrency account to Kwiatkowski. His home address in the UK was also linked to an IP address used to hack one of the devices. The case was then referred to the City of London Police and Kwiatkowski was arrested in September 2019. According to police, seven devices, including a hard drive that contained 1,263 unreleased songs by 89 artists, were seized. A document saved on the hard drive summarised the method he had used to obtain them along with a stash of Bitcoin which was seized. Chief crown prosecutor Joanne Jakymec said Kwiatkowski had "complete disregard" for the musicians' creativity, hard work and lost earnings. "He selfishly stole their music to make money for himself by selling it on the dark web," she said. "We will be pursuing ill-gotten gains from these proceeds of crime." In August, Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates Court to three charges of unauthorised access to computer material, 14 charges of selling copyrighted material, one charge of converting criminal property and two charges of possession of criminal property. He also admitted receiving bitcoin cryptocurrency for the songs. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt said Kwiatkowski was highly skilled but it was unfortunate he used his talents unlawfully. "Not only did he cause several artists and their production companies significant financial harm, he deprived them of the ability to release their own work," he added. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr said the case showed "cybercrime knows no borders". "This individual executed a complex scheme to steal unreleased music in order to line his own pockets," he said.   Source: BBC News

Commissioner of Police, David Manning, has directed RPNGC Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Anton Billie, to investigate allegations that the owner of a business in Banz, Western Highlands, was attending his public store wearing a police uniform. A video of the man has also been circulated on social media and this has prompted further questions from the public. Mr Manning said, “DCP Ops (Deputy Commissioner Operations) has reported to me that the man had no legitimate reason to be wearing a police uniform at the time he was seen in public. “The man has been identified and had the right to have his explanation heard, however he could offer no plausible reason for him purporting to be executing official police duties when he had no authority to do so. “Based on the evidence before me, this person will now be charged with a series of disciplinary and criminal offences likely under the Police Act and the Criminal Code. “Through this disciplinary process, that comes with penalties including fines, his purported appointment in the Reserve Constabulary will be subject to further investigations, and criminal charges filed.” Commissioner Manning said the incident serves as a warning to any member of the Reserve Constabulary that they are bound by a code of conduct and disciplinary measures, and these are being enforced. “Reservists around the country were stood down following the elections, after they had completed their appointed roles. The only Reserve personnel who are performing official tasks now are RPNGC specifically trained and approved reserves. “All other Reservists require formal authorization from the Office of the Commissioner of Police in order for them to wear a uniform or carry out policing tasks. “The RPNCG has undertaken a program to reform the Constabulary Reserve that included standing down most Reservists soon after I was appointed Commissioner. “Since then, we have been building the ranks of the Reserves, with appropriate training and understanding of their constitutional duties and responsibilities."  The Commissioner concluded by noting the success of the PRNGC Reservist recruitment program from 2021 has provided a number of quality new recruits who served the country diligently during the recent National General Election.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and defence minister Richard Marles says his government's foreign policy on Bougainville remains unchanged. Mr Marles' comments follow scathing criticism from the Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama, who had accused him of taking sides with Papua New Guinea over the Bougainville independence question. Toroama issued a statement saying Marles has made clear that Canberra would back whatever position the PNG Government reached on the Bougainville issue. Bougainvlle's Government is committed to achieving independence by 2027 at the latest with progress expected in the next year. Toroama says since the end of the Bougainville Civil War Australia had maintained a neutral stance, but now Australia has clearly come up in support of Port Moresby. Marles was asked by the Pacnews Agency to respond and he said Australia remains committed to the Bougainville peace agreement. "Australia was a witness to the Bougainvillle peace agreement more than 20 years ago. And as such, we are completely committed to the processes contained within the Bougainville peace agreement," he said. He said nothing in his comments last week in Port Moresby were intended to signal any change in Australian policy over a long period of time, in respect of that. "The political settlement that will ultimately be reached by all parties to that agreement is one that Australia will obviously support. And that's where Australia stands. And that's where we've always stood," Marles said. Source: Radio New Zealand

A dazzling Test debut by Nathan Cleary and four tries to Josh Addo-Carr led the Kangaroos to an 84-0 win over Scotland in Coventry. Three weeks after leading the Panthers to back-to-back premierships, Cleary had a personal tally of 28 points, while Addo-Carr took his tournament tally to six tries in two games as Australia racked up their biggest World Cup win since 2000. Australia got the ball rolling in the sixth minute when Cleary sent a cut-out pass over the top to Addo-Carr before the halfback took the ball to the line and put centre Jack Wighton into a hole on the right edge to make it 10-0. Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton made it two tries in two games when he pounced on the loose ball after Lachlan Walmsley spilled a Cleary bomb. Campbell Graham celebrated his Test debut with a try in the 21st minute when he finished off some good lead-up by hooker Harry Grant, Cleary and Wighton. Cleary's impressive opening to his Test career continued in the 28th minute when he scooted over from dummy half and the Kangaroos were keeping pace with the clock at 28-0. A dropped ball by Scotland five-eighth Bailey Hayward on the halfway mark was swooped on by Crichton who found Matt Burton and he sent the ball out to Addo-Carr who raced 50 metres to grab his second of the night. Wighton completed his double in the 35th minute after a strong run by Liam Martin, who evaded a couple of defenders and sent a well timed pass back inside to the Raiders star. Skipper James Tedesco opened the second half in style with his second try of the tournament before a scheming Cameron Munster skipped across field and put Ben Hunt into a hole as the score hit 52-0. Addo-Carr completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute before Graham made it a double 10 minutes later and Burton crossed on debut as the magin blew out to 68 points. Graham's dream debut continued in the 74th minute when he made it a hat-trick courtesy of a deft grubber by Grant. Isaah Yeo also enjoyed a fine Test debut and he grabbed a late try in the match after Munster hooked a kick across field and Ben Hunt flew high to pull it down and find the Panthers co-captain in support. Some brilliant play by Burton to keep the ball alive gave Addo-Carr the chance to kick ahead and chase for a dazzling four-pointer to give him four tries. Source: NRL.com

The Kumuls squad was forced to adapt against Tonga with unexpected injuries ruling out all three wingers prior to the match. But in true Kumuls spirit, all those who were asked to step up played the game with heart and produced some stellar performances. To have a player go down in any squad is devastating news for any Coach. Having received the results from the MRI scans, the decision has been made that it is in the best interest of the injured players that they return home to start their rehabilitation. Edene, unfortunately, succumbed to a complex injury to his groin and pelvis. He was unable to progress conservatively through stages of return and thus will require an extended period of rehabilitation, ruling him out of the tournament. Xavier has suffered a non-contact injury during training to his hamstring, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament. Jimmy Ngutlik has recovered and has been training well. At this point, no decision has been made on replacement players coming into the squad.

Following an earlier delivery in April of a 20-foot container of donations for the Gulf Province the PNG Gulf Association of Queensland has now sent through a 40-foot container of donations. The 40-foot container was packed and sealed on Saturday 24th September at the Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment Compound in Brisbane. Most of the donations came from Rotary and a lot of it was also collected and donated by members of the association and friends and family in the community. The medical and school supplies to be delivered to Port Moresby and forwarded on to the Gulf Province includes wheelchairs, crutches, hospital beds, medical mattresses, medical care and first aid kits, birthing kits, hospital gloves, medical consumables, sanitary packs, toiletries, sanitising wipes, hospital linen, desks, chairs, tables, book shelves, computer equipment, primary reading books, secondary text books, teachers resources, whiteboards, exercise books, pens, pencils and other stationery, dictionaries, sports equipment, sports kits, tools, portable solar lights and more. Some of the donations are brand new including a very generous donation from Spencil stationery. The unpacking and distribution will take place on Saturday 22nd October at the compound of one of our most valued corporate partners GFS Limited. The items will be delivered throughout the Gulf Province – from Iokea, Vailala, Moveave, Lese Kavora, Lese Ilaval, Lese Oalai Lese Avihara, Kerema, Koaru, Terapo, Malalaua, Uritai, Hamuhamu, Meii Uaripi, Karama and other locations around the Gulf province. Donations sent up were received from families, friends and individuals in Brisbane and schools throughout the community including St Flannans Primary, St Josephs Nundah, Nudgee College, St Pats College Shorncliffe, Bracken Ridge State School and Payne Road State School. We also thank our wonderful partners and network of extraordinary supporters SolarBuddy.org, Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment Northern Region, Rotary Boroko, Days for Girls International, GFS (Gobe Freight Services) and Swire Shipping. We also sincerely thank Hon Thomas Opa MP Kerema District for logistical support to deliver on the ground.

Ritz-Carlton's highly-anticipated superyacht cruise has finally made its debut, three and a half years after its maiden voyage was originally scheduled to begin. Evrima, the first of three custom-built yachts from the famous hotel chain's Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, began a seven-night cruise from Barcelona, Spain to Nice, France on October 15. The 190-meter vessel, which can accommodate 298 passengers, is made up of 149 suites with a private terrace, as well as floor to ceiling windows, and features an infinity pool, a wine vault, a Ritz-Carlton Spa, a nightclub and its very own "marina." Rates for a one-week stay start at $6,400 per person for Mediterranean voyages, while Caribbean voyages begin at $5,100 per person, with accommodation options ranging from standard cabins, to two-story "loft-style" apartments, and a sprawling 1,091- square-foot "owner's suite" with a private hot tub. [caption id="attachment_28810" align="alignnone" width="636"] According to Ritz-Carlton, Evrima has one of the highest space ratios in luxury cruising, with 85.2 square feet of space per guest.[/caption] Those who splash out of these luxury cruises can expect "service at a gold standard" -- the yacht claims one of the highest staff and space to guest ratios at sea -- as well as fine dining experiences, complimentary water sports, and on-board entertainment. There's also a dedicated on-board children's facility with a jam-packed program for those aged from four to 12. Evrima, which means discovery in Greek, will sail to a range of destinations throughout the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, as well as Central America and South America, with most cruise durations ranging from seven to 10 nights. The luxury yacht is to be followed by two others, Ilma and Luminara, currently under construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Ritz-Carlton first announced plans to move into the luxury yachting world back in 2017, describing the venture as "a hybrid between luxury cruising and yachting." "The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is revolutionizing the luxury cruising industry, creating an entirely unique category designed for those in search of unmatched getaways, highly curated itineraries, insider access and a level of personalization previously unseen in the space," Douglas Prothero, chief executive officer for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection said in a statement. "Every element of the luxury yachting experience was considered when designing and creating Evrima, and we are excited to deliver unforgettable journeys for both longtime cruisers and those who are new to the industry." All three of the superyachts will be available for private charter. While Ritz-Carlton have not revealed the charter price, it's safe to assume that those who opt to hire the vessels out will need pretty deep pockets. "We are thrilled to introduce The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and usher in an exciting new chapter for this beloved brand," says Chris Gabaldon, senior vice president for luxury brands at Marriott International. The launch of Evrima has been rescheduled several times due to supply chain issues and the global pandemic. Earlier this month, the Four Seasons announced plans for its first vessel, a 14-deck, 207-meter-long superyacht with 95 suites, which is scheduled to enter service in late 2025. Source: CNN News

Secretary for Education Dr. Uke Kombra and the Managing Director for NHC, Mr. Henry Mokono signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, October 12th on the Duran Farm Housing Project – Portion 528. The signing of the MOU paves the way for the two organizations to work collaboratively to ensure that the housing scheme is realized. A pleased, Dr. Kombra said this is the first attempt by the Department to engage in a housing scheme for its officers and the journey so far was long but worthwhile. “I am pleased to inform all our officers that the signing of the MOU was done Wednesday, 12th October. It will pave the way for further work between the two organizations to ensure that officers who are eligible are assisted to purchase homes under the scheme,” Dr. Kombra said. The Department expressed its interest in 2014 to the then administration of NHC however; it has taken until 2021 for real progress to be made. “I am happy that we have achieved an important milestone with the signing of this MOU and I encourage our officers to prepare financially in order to benefit from this scheme,” he said. A total of 100 allotments have been allocated for the Department of Education. The Teaching Service Commission will also be included in this housing scheme. Six building companies have been engaged for officers to choose to build their house once they have met all the requirements. So far 300 officers have expressed interest by applying to the Department of Education Housing Committee which is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Teaching and Education Standards, Mr. Walipe Wingi. The DoE Housing Committee will continue to work with NHC to ensure the department’s desire to help its officers own homes becomes a reality. The Committee will also come up with some criteria to assess the expressions of interests by officers. Dr. Kombra has instructed the Housing Committee to inform the officers of the progress made and what to expect in the coming months through an internal Secretary’s Circular. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will soon be signed by the two organizations to guide them to work closely together to achieve the ultimate goal of providing affordable housing for officers in the department who are able to afford one.

After an international search, The Australian National University (ANU) has appointed Dr Dave Peebles as the new Director for the Australia Pacific Security College. Dr Peebles will lead the College from February 2023, holding the title of Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University (ANU). Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, welcomed Dr Peebles’ appointment. “Dr Peebles will make a vital contribution to the life of ANU with his extensive academic background, connections across the Pacific and strategic outlook. I look forward to the Australia Pacific Security College going from strength-to-strength under his direction,” Professor Sullivan said. “Dr Peebles joins the most concentrated community of Pacific scholars in the world.Importantly, those scholars are increasingly drawn from the Pacific and are making crucial impacts back in their communities.” Dr Peebles has been passionately engaged with the Pacific academically and professionally for almost 30 years, and said he was delighted to take up the appointment. “Pacific Islanders will confront some of the most difficult security challenges in human history in coming years. Climate change. Geostrategic competition. The impact ondevelopment from the COVID-19 shock,” Dr Peebles said. “I am honoured and privileged to have this opportunity to lead the Australia Pacific Security College, as we work together on these challenges. “We will take this voyage together as a Pacific family, guided by the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and Boe and Biketawa Declarations. “My family and I have a deep love and affection for the Pacific. Many of our happiest times as a family, and our most professionally rewarding work, have been in the Pacific. My wife Justine has also served as the RAMSI Special Coordinator in Solomon Islands and my children’s formative years were spent in the Pacific. “I look forward to working with Pacific governments and citizens as the Director of the Australia Pacific Security College.” Dr Peebles currently works in the Office of the Pacific in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, where he has been responsible for some of the most critical Pacific strategic issues, including climate change and oceans, the Pacific Islands Forum and Australia’s overall Pacific policy. As part of his diplomatic career, Dr Peebles served as Deputy High Commissioner in Solomon Islands, Minister Counsellor in Indonesia and as a peace monitor in Bougainville as part of the regional peace monitoring group. Dr Peebles has also served as a Senior Adviser on Overseas Aid and Pacific Island Affairs at Parliament House and as the Chief of Staff to the ACT Minister for Education and Training. Dr Peebles has a PhD, Master of Strategic Affairs, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons). He is the author of Pacific Regional Order, published by ANU. The Australia Pacific Security College is an educational institution that enables critical thinking about national security pressures and opportunities, and new pathways to a more secure Pacific. The College works in partnership with Pacific Islands Forum members on the region’s security challenges. The College is funded by the Australian Government.

The Marape/Rosso government is serious in taking the Ministry for Tourism, Art and Culture to the next level by considering and including music as an integral part of it. How far have we thread the road of music as musicians and how far have we benefitted from music are the questions that I as Minister responsible have to answer. Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture Hon, Isi Henry Leonard expressed these views at the tribute concert hosted for the late PNG music icon and artist Steve Lahui at Elevala village on Wednesday 19th. The late Lahui who was a household name in the 80s and 90s, had passed away several weeks ago, and Mr Leonard as Minister for Tourism was attending the event to show the government’s support and share in this time of loss with the family of the late musician from Central Province. “The passing of late Steve Lahui has prompted me and allowed me to come into this occasion to make known to our people and musicians that it is about time now we all have to work together to position the music industry to where it must be and where it supposed to be. “For me as Minister, I consider it very differently at this time, today we come here to mourn but at the same time we come here to celebrate the life of Steve Lahui as a musician,” Mr Leonard said. Stressing that musicians and lyrical content makers had to be compensated for their creativity and the material they produced as artists among other content makers. He said artists needed to make money and as a responsible government, it was willing to provide the necessary platforms. As Minister, he was taking music seriously, while expressing the need to give recognition to artists and the music industry in the country. Mr Leonard paid tribute and respect to the late Steve Lahui and his family, who he described as an outstanding singer and artist from the Southern region of PNG. Minister Leonard presented Ten-Thousand-Kina (K10,000.00) from his office to the family of late Steve Lahui to help with costs and expenses of the hauskrai. Other artists that performed at the tribute concert featured, Makali, Dokona Manoka, Dika Dai and Incense Gospel band among others. Meantime, the body of the late Steve Lahui was laid to rest in his village of Barakau last week.