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U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported 181 people, including 140 women (77 percent), to access financial literacy training in Madang Province. From August 29 to September 2, five local trainers, certified through USAID’s partnership with the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), trained 181 people in the basics of financial literacy at various locations in Madang. Participants in the financial literacy training now have a better understanding in the basics of saving and budgeting, which are the foundational skills for creating new enterprises and increasing household and personal financial security, particularly for women. Unfortunately, many people from marginalized communities in PNG, especially women and people from rural and remote communities, find it difficult to access services like banking so they often miss out on its associated economic benefits. For example, banking provides people the ability to save money in a secure place for future use or the option to access financial credit to grow their small-scale business and expand their livelihood options. Illan Baboa, is a graduate of the financial literacy training conducted by trainer Tina Manamb at the Tusbar Secondary School in Madang said “Thank you USAID, this training has taught me better ways to save and budget my money so I can continue to help meet my family commitments and put money aside to grow my small floral business”. This is part of USAID’s commitment through the PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) and its partnership with CEFI to deliver financial literacy training for Papua New Guineans that focuses on the economic empowerment of people form marginalized populations, particularly women. Led by Cardno International Development – a DT Global Company, USAID’s PNG LGP works in partnership PNG Government, local communities, and a range of implementing partners from the private sector, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations to empower traditional landowners to sustainably manage their resources and particularly to economically empower women to be full participants in PNG’s economy. Improving people’s livelihood prospects helps communities to reduce pressure on forest resources and contribute to protecting PNG’s rich biodiversity for future generations.

President of the Nimamar LLG Stanley Tunut was officially sworn in as Chairman of Tourism & Culture, Youth, Sports & Religion on Monday 05 September 2022. He takes over the portfolio from Kavieng Town Mayor Sikal Kelep who held the position since winning office in 2019. Governor Sir Julius Chan when making the announcement said Tunut's appointment was not a demotion for Kelep but rather a means to allow Kelep more space to carry out his duties as Mayor of Kavieng Urban. Stating it was rare to change appointments when the PEC member has been performing well. “ We have discussed the increasing roles and responsibilities of your leadership as the Kavieng Town Mayor and custodian of our Capital City with the booming economy driven by business growth since this Government upgraded and continues to upgrade the infrastructures and municipalities with a greater focus on Tourism and Autonomy. “It is with this foresight and our mutual understanding and your given consent that I relieve you of the responsibilities in the PEC as Chairman Youth, Sports, Tourism, and Culture & Religion. “You have been a loyal and committed participant in the PEC. My Government will support you and together build your capacity to manage and run the township efficiently in line with the development aspirations of my Government,” said Sir J. Tunut’s appointment allows for fair representation from the LLG’S and districts as per section 25 (6) of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments, which states, “The Governor shall appoint a Chairman for each committee under this section, but such appointment shall be made so as to ensure fair representation of the various electorates and districts within the province.” Officiating at the swearing in ceremony was magistrate Patricia Tivese who called on the three arms of Government including Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary to work together for the betterment of society. “The three arms of Government must work independently and in accordance with the law. As elected members you are mandated to carry the people's burdens and to ensure our province progresses,” said Magistrate Tivese.

PNG Air wishes to advise our customers and the travelling public that flights to Lae, Nadzab Airport and Kiunga Airport resume today. Our Call Centre team will be in contact with passengers with existing bookings for further information and arrangements to your travel. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding, and look forward to seeing our Lae and Kiunga passengers onboard soon. PNG Air currently flies to Lae multiple times daily, and Kiunga up to 3x per week. For bookings, log on to www.pngair.com.pg, or visit your nearest PNG Air, Post PNG Sales Office and Travel Age

The 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series Week One schedule will feature two traditional Sydney rivalries as well as a return to Melbourne for the first finals game since 2019. The NRL today confirmed the times and venues for all Week One matches, featuring: Minor Premiers and 2021 Premiers Penrith Panthers (1) taking on Parramatta Eels (4) in a battle of the west at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night; Melbourne Storm (5) in an elimination final against Canberra Raiders (8) on Saturday at AAMI Park; Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2) facing North Queensland Cowboys (3) in a Qualifying Final on Saturday night at PointsBet Stadium; Sydney Roosters (6) clashing with traditional rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs (7) on Sunday in an elimination encounter in the first Finals match at the new Allianz Stadium; NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said that we are in for another exciting finals series, with every match providing an unpredictable outcome. “The 2022 season has been entertaining, with the outcome of the final eight positions being decided on the final day of Round 25,” Mr Abdo said. “Fans have shown their support for the game with great attendance and viewership numbers. We have had over three million fans attend games and our TV audience is up 7% for the regular season compared to last year. “It all sets up for an unpredictable and enticing four matches in week 1 of finals. Fans in Sydney will get three massive games, while fans in Melbourne will get to experience their first Finals match since 2019.” Tickets will be on sale for all matches to the competing clubs’ ticketed members at 10am on Monday (September 5), while tickets for the competing clubs’ non-ticketed members and NRL Account Holders will be on sale at 1pm on Monday. Finals Series tickets will be on sale to General Public at 10am on Tuesday (September 6) at www.nrl.com/tickets. All matches in Week One of the NRL Telstra Premiership 2022 Finals Series will be broadcast live on the Nine Network, Fox League, Kayo Sports, 9NOW and Sky NZ. NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series – Week 1 Qualifying Final: Friday, September 9, 7.50pm (EST), BlueBet Stadium Penrith Panthers (1) v Parramatta Eels (4) Elimination Final: Saturday, September 10 5.40pm (EST), AAMI Park Melbourne Storm (5) v Canberra Raiders (8) Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 10, 7.50pm (EST), PointsBet Stadium Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2) v North Queensland Cowboys (3) Elimination Final: Sunday, September 11, 4.05pm (EST), Allianz Stadium Sydney Roosters (6) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (7)   Source: NRL.com

Two members sitting on opposite sides of Papua New Guinea's parliament are making waves after the country's most recent election. They were the first women voted into PNG's 118-seat parliament in five years. Kessy Sawang and Rufina Peter may be serving different constituents and different parties, but they share a bond. The pair met up last week for the first time since being voted in and embraced in a tight hug. The return of women to the Parliament has been welcomed, but they still make up less than 2 per cent of MPs in PNG. And their success has reignited debate around how best to increase female representation in parliament. PNG's election went down to the wire As PNG's more-than-month-long election was drawing to a close, there were fears it may result in another all-male parliament. That was until Ms Peter was declared the new Governor of Central Province late on a Friday night, just days ahead of the first sitting day. "It has been a struggle for women and just to be there, it's very significant. For that reason, I'm very happy," she told the ABC. As she celebrated her win, Ms Sawang was still waiting on counting to be completed in her electorate. She took to Facebook to congratulate her fellow candidate. "In [the 2017 election], both of us were the last two women standing and we bowed out of the race in third place," she wrote. "We resolved that we [would] work on our strategies for the next five years and go all out in 2022." On the first sitting day of the new parliament as the new MPs were sworn in and James Marape was returned as Prime Minister, counting in Ms Sawang's electorate on the other side of the country finished. There would be a second woman in parliament. "It still hasn't really sunk in yet," Ms Sawang laughs. "My friends call me by my nickname Kez and then they realize 'OK, we have to call you Honorable Kessy Sawang'." As she joins the government, Ms Sawang says her focus is on improving the lives of people in her Rai Coast electorate by providing basic services like water and electricity and improving law and order. But as one of only two women in the House, there is added pressure. "I represent my people, the Rai Coast people, but because I am a woman and there's only two of us there's already Papua New Guineans saying we represent the voices and aspirations of Papua New Guinean [women]. "I'm happy with that, I'm OK with that." Ms Peter similarly has a list of issues she wants to address in her region, but also has an eye on the many problems women face in PNG. "One of the important issues is gender-based violence, there's also the lack of treatment for women with [breast and cervical] cancer," she said. PNG has elected nine women since independence The two MPs become the eighth and ninth women elected since PNG gained independence in 1975. Ms Peter will serve in opposition while Ms Sawang will be in government, but the pair say they will "definitely" work together. Their time in parliament is expected to be heavily scrutinized. Ms Peter says more work is needed to change many people's perceptions "that women aren't good leaders, are not effective political leaders". Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with Ms Peter and Ms Sawang on Tuesday, carving out time during a diplomatic visit to Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. Senator Wong said Australia was pleased to see women more involved in political leadership in Papua New Guinea after the latest election. "I believe that we need to harness the talents of our whole community, and that communities are stronger when we do that," Senator Wong said. "So while these are ultimately decisions for Papua New Guineans and for your democracy, we are really pleased to see two women involved in that level of leadership." 'Vote Women for Change': Female leaders back the new MPs One of PNG's best-known former MPs, Dame Carol Kidu, mentored both women and several others who stood in the election. Last year Dame Carol conducted community workshops in eight electorates where women who had polled well in the 2017 election were standing again. The Vote Women for Change program, which focused on educating voters about representation in parliament, was funded by the Australian National University and the Australian government. The eight women in those seats continued to support one another through campaigning, voting, and counting. They traded messages and advice in a WhatsApp group, urging one another on. The fact that they came from different political parties was pushed aside by their shared experience as female candidates. At the end of the election, the group came back together at a beach outside Port Moresby to debrief, plan for the next five years, and to talk about how they can all continue to support the two women who made it across the line. "We need a balance to get a decent future for Papua New Guinea, I don't see a good future for Papua New Guinea with no women in parliament," Dame Carol said. "I'm not saying women are better than men, and there are some very good men in parliament, but we need a balance." Dame Carol points to Rwanda as an example, which now holds the title of highest representation of women in any national parliament. Following the brutal genocide in the 1990s, Rwanda wrote quotas into its new constitution in 2003, mandating that a third of seats must be reserved for women. Today, 49 of the 80 Lower House seats are held by women. Dame Carol says corruption decreased and development improved as more women were elected in Rwanda. She believes it has become harder for women to be elected in PNG in the years since she left parliament. 'Two is not enough, we need a critical mass' Reviews of previous elections have found that female candidates are particularly disadvantaged by the corruption, violence, and money politics in PNG's elections. Ms Sawang says more female MPs are needed. "Two is not enough, we need a critical mass," she said. There had been a plan to introduce reserved seats for women, but the Prime Minister has now ruled that out. "Women can win on merit — we don't need special seats for women," Mr Marape said. "If women want to contest, this coalition, led by Pangu Party, gives an assurance for a better electoral process in 2027." The idea of reserving seats for women has been divisive, with some female leaders supporting it as a way to change attitudes, while others are concerned it may diminish the standing of women in parliament. When asked if other measures would be considered, Mr Marape instead focused on Australia's record. "It took 40 years for Australia to produce its first female member of parliament, it took three years for Papua New Guinea to produce two members of parliament. Never forget this," he told the ABC. As the two new MPs begin their political journey, Dame Carol has sounded something of a warning. "They are very, very competent women — I would say they are stateswomen. But it's going to be very hard for them, the atmosphere in parliament is not gender friendly," she said. "But I have every confidence they are going to cope with the difficulties." Source: ABC Pacific

The PNG Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA PNG) this morning (Monday 05th September) has approved the resumption of flights to both Lae/Nadzab and Kiunga airports, allowing airlines to operate flights again to the two airports, effective today. CASA PNG had closed both airports due to outstanding regulatory issues by the National Airports Corporation. These issues however are now addressed, allowing the airlines to resume flights. Air Niugini customers are advised to revalidate their travel to the next available flight. Lae flights resume after lunch today (PX 104 ) while Kiunga resumes tomorrow (Tuesday 06th Sept). Air Niugini regrets the inconvenience caused, however the situation is beyond the airline’s control. Safety is always of paramount importance in their  operations.

PNG Power confirm that water levels at its Yonki Dam catchment area has reached critical level, due to the impact of an unusual dry season experienced in the area. The reduced water levels have forced PNG Power to decrease generating capacity and carry out load shedding on the Ramu Grid, supplying power to Lae, Madang and the Highlands Provinces. Currently, Ramu Hydropower Station is operating thirty-five percent (35%) of its total generation capacity, due to the reduced water levels in the reservoir. PNG Power is accelerating projects to rehabilitate alternate power generating supplies, to reduce the need for load shedding. Centres supported by the Ramu grid will supplement power supplies with generators, where possible. Load shedding will continue until water levels improve substantially and generating capacity can return to normal operations. Independent Power Producers (IPP) are continuing to meet generating capacity shortfalls, especially in Lae with Posco Daewoo (Munum Power Station) and PNG Forest Products through their Baiune Power Station. PNG Power relies heavily on clean, hydroelectric power. Presently, 38% of the power generated on the company’s three grids originates from PNG Power’s hydroelectric facilities. Unfortunately, however, similar issues are occurring at Sirinumu Dam in Port Moresby, supplying the Rouna Hydropower Station and the river system feeding the Warangoi Hydropower Station in East New Britain. PNG Power is appealing to the general public to be mindful of water use and to conserve and ration water supplies when possible. The situation is unlikely to improve in the short term

PNG Football Association has announced its squad for the OFC U-19 Championship 2022 in Tahiti. The tournament runs from September 7-25 (New Zealand time), with the two semi-final winning teams qualifying through to represent Oceania at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023™. The squad is made up of ten players who have played in National Soccer League (NSL) including two players who play in Premier Leagues in Australia, while others are respective players from PNGFA Member Associations, who were selected from two split camps held in Port Moresby and Lae respectively. The final squad has players from all the 4 regions of PNG. Among those named in the squad includes 2021 NSL season players which includes Madang’s NSL experienced campaigner Jason Wadunah (Tusbab Stallions), Rex Naime (Hekari) and Nigel Kiaka (Northern Youth), Joshua Urro (Morobe Wawens), Jeremiah Kamake (Northern Youth), Alfred Tinge (Northern Youth), Michael Gambu (Northern Youth), and Maroa Tom (Southern Youth). "Mr Pakakota said the team’s target is to make the top three in our Group in order to advance to the quarter-finals, but whatever extra mile to the semi-finals would really be a bonus for his team." Within the squad, three of the core players that have been part of the progressive international youth teams with OFC level playing experiences since 2018 (OFC U16 Championships, Honiara) and 2019 (U20 UEFA/OFC Tournament, Port Vila), includes Jason Wadunah, Lee-Navu Faunt (Brisbane, Redlands FC) and Joshua Urroh. For the rest of the squad, it would be their first OFC tournament and will look to the leadership of these three experienced players. PNG Coach Anthony Pakakota said he is content with the team despite a very short notice and preparation. This OFC tournament was cancelled twice due to Covid-19 pandemic and was only confirmed in July. Despite, late preparations, the boys are pushing themselves in training and surely there are more room for improvement They've played one friendly match with the Hekari Youth NSL team (combined U23 and U19 players) during the week, winning 4-1. However, the match exposed a few areas in our transitions to defending, which we’ll go back to training to correct. "We’re hoping for one more friendly game in Tahiti before the first match with Fiji on 8th September 2022," said Coach Pakakota. Papua New Guinea: Jeezreel APISING, Issac BASA, Lee-Navu FAUNT, Michael GAMBU, Kuman GENE, Jese GRESE, Charles HAYES, Cyril KADIKO, Jeremiah KAMAKE, Nigel KIAKA, Randell KUAPAITAM, Balthasar MARI, Jahnnel MEIO, Nick NAA’RU, Rex NAIME, Vianney NONENG, Felix SUAIMBAU, Jarvin SUDII, Alfred TINGE, Christian JIMMY, Maroa TOM, Joshua URRO, Jason WADUNAH, Claus WALI, Jezshril WARREN, Hamray WAYNE. Head coach: Anthony PAKAKOTA. Group B – Draw Sept 08, 1700 Fiji vs PNG Sept 11, 2000 Tahiti vs PNG Sept 14, 1700 PNG vs Tonga

Project Yumi Inc an Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered not for profit today is delighted to announce the launch of its youth empowerment initiative, Project Wok, in Port Moresby. Project Yumi Inc is committed to empowering the youth of PNG in building sustainable skills that will help them create the foundations they need to build a successful future. Project Wok is Project Yumi Inc’s contribution to overcoming the youth unemployment challenge in PNG. Today’s announcement is the culmination of a considerable behind the scenes work since borders were reopened in early 2022. Project Yumi Inc Founder, Renee Mero, said that “The Project Yumi team is very excited to see Project Wok launch as we have seen through the pilot program that attending the program can change lives. The team look forward to seeing the opportunities the program creates for its participants in 2023.” Dawn Robinson, Project Wok’s Volunteer Facilitator, explained that the program is facilitator led and experiential and comprises four modules of job search and employment readiness education. Project Wok is designed to equip Grade 12 students with job search strategies and employability skills to help them to transition from school to work. The program also aims to offer work experience and internship opportunities for program graduates. More information about Project Wok will become available over coming weeks.

Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown joked he was going to take Nathan Cleary’s head off in Friday night’s finals match as the Panthers star gets set to make a return from a four-match suspension. Brown saw the humour in playing Cleary again first-up after the Eels locked in fourth spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder to book a showdown with the defending premiers at BlueBet Stadium for a spot in the preliminary final. Cleary’s return from a lengthy ban for a dangerous tackle on Brown was welcomed by the Eels five-eighth after the pair cleared the air over the incident in Round 20. After being sent off in the match for lifting Brown in a dangerous position, Cleary reached out to the Kiwi international before copping his punishment. He will return on Friday night fresh and ready to mark Brown on the right edge. “We haven't spoken much, we don't speak on the regular but he did apologise after the game at the time,” Brown said. “I'm gonna take his head off. Nah, I'm joking. I saw the video after and he was hitting his head saying 'that was dumb'. It was dumb but he understood that. “It was just heat of the moment sort of thing. There's no beef there or anything. "If anything, it's good to have him back playing because you want to play a good quality side with him and Luai back next week it’s going to be fun and a good challenge for us.” Brown made no apologies for declaring Penrith were the team he wanted to make life difficult for in the finals by forcing them to play again in week two by beating them for a third time this season. The Panthers opted to rest their starting side against the Cowboys, a luxury few sides are afforded at this time of the season. “I understand that tactic, we did that last year. They are obviously minor premiers and can rest as much as they can," Brown said. “[But] I'm excited. They're the one team I want to play at this time of the finals. That's who I want to knock out first. “Beating Penrith is probably one of the hardest things to do against any team. Beating them at their home is the hardest thing to do in league. When you do that it shows what we're all capable of.” The Eels have their own halfback to be proud of with Mitchell Moses weathering a barrage of hits last week against the Storm before putting a shot on Kenny Bromwich to signal his intentions to stand up this finals series. “It was unreal. 100 per cent (it inspired us),” Brown said. “When you see a halfback do it, he's been massive in defence this year as well. He's got way better. “People target him, so when your halves are defending well it makes it hard for people to get through. It helps us. “Mitchell's tough. He's really tough. He's still playing with his fingers [not 100 percent]. I'm sure it's fine, but at the same time, he did break it two weeks ago.”   Source: NRL.com

At the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Saturday, former president Barack Obama and the late actor Chadwick Boseman had notable wins. Obama won the outstanding narrator Emmy Award for his work on the Netflix documentary, "Our Great National Parks." Higher Ground, Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, created the five-part docuseries on national parks and wildlife throughout the world. Obama is the second US president to win an Emmy. Dwight Eisenhower was awarded an honorary Governors Award by the Television Academy while he was still in office in 1956. Obama is now halfway to becoming an EGOT winner, someone who has received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards. The achievement has only been accomplished by 17 people, including Rita Moreno and John Legend. The former president has previously won two Grammys for audio versions of his memoirs. Also on Saturday, the late actor Chadwick Boseman was honored with a posthumous Emmy. Boseman won the character voice-over performance category for his role in the Disney+ animated series "What If...?" as Marvel's Star-Lord T'Challa. The "Black Panther" star died in 2020 at age 43 of cancer. Source: CNN News

To all my brothers and sons who are fathers, “Happy Fathers Day”, and I request you all to serve our families today instead of them serving us. Papua New Guinea can be a better place if all fathers lead a life of service in all our homes. If you are a Christian father going to church today or have gone to church on Sabbath yesterday, here are some pointers for you on fatherhood and leadership. Leadership starts at home: the first person to commit sin was Eve but when God came looking for our first parents, it was Adam. He called out for Adam and not Eve in Genesis 3:9. Why did God call out Adam despite mother Eve causing the sin? My assumption is that it was Adam whom God placed responsibility on by being first to be created and first to be tasked work as steward over rest of creation in Genesis 2:15. Therefore, man as a father, the leader of the family, has greater responsibility over our household as its chief steward. Sometimes, our wife and children may cause us grief, but it is us as man and father that must show direction, forgiveness, tolerance, kindness, love and peace at home. Leadership comes first at Home. All fathers must serve well at home, instead of waiting to be served, not just today but all the days of our lives. PNG fathers must care for all your family members. As Government, we are trying our best as our Nation’s Father through our efforts to bring back school dropouts to second chance education; our programmes to pay school fees from elementary up to universities/colleges; our removal of taxes for those earning salaries under K770; we are trying our best to link people back into earning money through SMEs, agriculture and so forth. But our efforts will be in vain if the father of the individual family is non-responsive. Good leadership at home will impact the society positively from the ground up. I ask all fathers of PNG to be a good server at your respective homes and you rise up. My colleagues in Parliament will try our best with the good people first programmes we have started and we will come down to meet you all halfway up! Take Back PNG starts by taking back our homes. Don’t look elsewhere to work for your God and your country if you are not serving your family well. To all PNG fathers, it starts at home. Pray that Government does the right things but you too do it right at your home because your next generation is watching you. At 12 years of age as a Grade 7 student with no shoe and torn Sunday clothes (I had only 10 pieces of clothing back then). It was February of 1984 when my dear hardworking father left me at Paglum High School as a boarder with K35, one suitcase with 10 items and a comb, a Bible and his parting words: “Son, education is your pathway into your future, don’t come back home, keep on the educational road.” To all of you fathers out there, I am looking for ways to make education affordable, wholesome and meaningful for our children to prepare them for formal work or being a good economic contributor after Grade 12. Myself and Government cannot do this alone. We need all the fathers of our country to rise up by being a leader at home. If me and my father can do it, based on his word to me to focus on education almost 40 years ago, the rest of you rural and settlement families too can do it. All fathers, let us rise and serve our family and our nation of families. May God bless all our fathers today. And to my old man back in the land of Huli, you gave me God and education. I left you and mother at 12 years of age on the education road and you, to this day, allow me to serve others first. I love you, my Father, and thank you for your steady presence in my life.