President Joe Biden on Friday dug into Republican opposition to advancing federal voting rights legislation during a commencement address at South Carolina State University. His remarks came ahead of a renewed push on voting rights, even as he acknowledged Thursday night that another major legislative priority of his administration, the Build Back Better social spending bill, will need to wait until 2022. "I've never seen anything like the unrelenting assault on the right to vote. Never," Biden said Friday during his address to the graduates. Showing some clear frustration, Biden said, "We have to protect that sacred right to vote, for God's sake." The president mentioned his key role in getting an extension of the original Voting Rights Act passed with bipartisan support in 1982, saying that at the time he thought the nation was "finally beginning to move." "But this new sinister combination of voter suppression and election subversion, it's un-American, it's undemocratic, and sadly, it is unprecedented since Reconstruction," he said. He said his administration has supported Democratic efforts to reform voting rights since "day one" and that there is "unanimous support" within the party, but with the filibuster in Congress blocking its efforts, Biden again criticized Republicans for not even wanting to debate voting rights legislation. [caption id="attachment_17758" align="aligncenter" width="914"] Picture: Carolyn Kaster/APPresident Joe Biden delivers the keynote address at the South Carolina State University's 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony in Orangeburg, S.C., Dec. 17, 2021.[/caption] "But each and every time it gets to be brought up, that other team blocks the ability even to start to discuss it. That other team -- it used to be called the Republican Party. But this battle is not over. We must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. We must!" Biden said. Earlier this year, Biden expressed support for altering filibuster rules to pass voting rights legislation, but he did not make the same call Friday. The president also focused on "hate and racism" in his remarks. There is currently a "reckoning on race not seen since the 50s and 60s," he said, adding that the graduates are entering a "tumultuous and consequential moment in modern American history." He pointed to the Orangeburg, South Carolina, massacre of 1968, when police shot three men during civil rights protests, and the mass shooting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. He said there was a "through-line" of hate and racism that extended to the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Those marchers were "carrying torches and Nazi banners, screeching [the] most antisemitic and anti-Black rhetoric in history," Biden said. Referencing former President Donald Trump, he said that "when asked what he thought about it, Trump said, 'well there's some very good people there.'" "Hell very good people! They're racist, they're fascist," Biden said. [caption id="attachment_17759" align="aligncenter" width="928"] Picture: Meg Kinnard/APHouse Majority Whip Jim Clyburn looks on as President Joe Biden receives an honorary degree after speaking at South Carolina State University's 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony in Orangeburg, S.C., Dec. 17, 2021.[/caption] Biden also invoked the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, saying that he gets asked by world leaders, "Is America going to be alright" after witnessing those scenes play out. After his speech, Biden was presented with an honorary doctorate from the university. The university also gave a degree to Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat representing South Carolina. Clyburn graduated from South Carolina State University in December 1961 but only received his diploma by mail and did not walk across the aisle until Friday's ceremony. [caption id="attachment_17760" align="alignnone" width="939"] Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty ImagesUS Representative Jim Clyburn, President Joe Biden and Interim South Carolina State University President, Alexander Conyers, arrive for the university's graduation ceremony in Orangeburg, S.C., Dec. 17, 2021.[/caption] In remarks before Biden spoke, Clyburn told the audience about how his late wife, Emily Clyburn, who he met after they were both jailed for civil rights demonstrations while students at the university, encouraged him to support President Joe Biden in the 2016 Democratic primary. "Not long before she passed away a little over two years ago, she said to me: If we want to succeed in this upcoming election, we'd better nominate Joe Biden," Clyburn said. "She passed away before the South Carolina primary, but what she said to me in that night stayed on my mind… And I followed her directions, just I had for the fifty-eight years that we were married." Clyburn's endorsement of Biden in 2020 is credited as a deciding factor in helping him clinch the presidency. SOURCE: ABC NEWS

The major sponsor for match officials of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has condemned the violence against referees and touch judges last weekend. Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) denounced the violence and called on PNGRFL to take appropriate actions in imposing strict penalties on those involved in humiliating the standard of rugby league in the country. MVIL Managing Director, Mr. Michael Makap, said first and foremost, the match officials are human beings who deserve to be treated with decency and respect. They play a crucial role in ensuring that the game is played in a spirit of good competition and fairness. Secondly, the match officials who were assaulted in this PNGRFL-sanctioned match had MVIL-branded uniforms on. Hence, the attack on the officials is an indirect attack on MVIL. “Those referees and touch judges who were assaulted were wearing MVIL-branded uniforms. It is an unpleasant thing to see in the print media, on television and on social media. MVIL is against all forms of violence,” he said. “I mentioned during my opening speech before the 2021 Digicel Cup Grand Final Match that MVIL will not tolerate any form of violence against match officials. I condemn such behaviour in the strongest possible terms as a sponsor and avid supporter of the sport.” Mr. Makap has formally written to the PNGRFL to provide a written response on how the organisation is handling the matter and its strategies to protect match officials in future matches. He further added that the rugby league body should impose life bans on those involved to show that there is no place for violence in this sport as well as a stark reminder to those taking part in the league. MVIL stands together with PNGRFL match officials against this senseless behaviour. The company will reconsider its future sponsorship.

It was a forlorn hope, perhaps, but after a second year of pandemic-era monotony — pat your pocket for a mask; yep, there's the QR code; ooh, the text says we've got another parcel coming soon — a few of us had hoped the Ashes might occasionally offer something exciting and unexpected. Maybe exciting wasn't the word for it, but on day three in Adelaide, it was certainly novel that England went the entire first session without losing a wicket. Joe Root and Dawid Malan, their country's first and last batting defence in this series, put on 123 runs in 32 overs. And it was not just that England played well, it was that Australia didn't. Shorn of the best fast bowling combination in cricket, Australia was learning that the excellence of Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser is not quite the same as the outright brilliance of generational quicks. Every second over, it seemed, there was a boundary-ball. Singles were easily accumulated. The pink ball softened. And wasn't this pitch meant to take spin? What happened after lunch — combined with the British media's depressed chuntering of the last 24 hours, which suggested the tourists' performances this summer are actually the result of years of meticulous planning — showed that comedy remains England's great cultural export. Cameron Green, who Australia picks mainly to bat, dismissed world-beater Root for the second time in three innings. From a relaxed 2-150, England fell apart like Nigella Lawson's aromatic lamb shank stew. The paltry score of 236 was one thing, England's rolling out of the greatest hits another. Like so often, one brought two (and then many more) when Malan departed for 80. Faced with a crisis, Jos Buttler brought his usual gung-ho-no-matter-the-stakes batting. To go with his sketchy keeping, it's made him as useful as a chocolate teapot in this game. Again, Ollie Pope did everything in fast-forward and was hopelessly undone by spin, looking more and more like a bunny for Nathan Lyon. Again, England was revealed as a team with three No.11's. And again, as he'd done with the ball, Ben Stokes was left to restore some sense of national pride, although he was so stiff and sore he could barely play shots. The respective home-team advantages being what they are, we have come to expect a competitive imbalance in the Ashes. But this one is really testing the theory that Australians don't care for even contests when England is down and out. It's over. Green swings momentum Australia's way A hallmark of the top Test sides is not putting in two bad sessions on the trot, a metric by which Australia fared well. In the second session, 4-57 from 30 overs was a faultless recovery from the morning and the momentum kept rolling. Already a dominant presence in this game with the bat, Steve Smith pulled off a tactical masterstroke after Root's departure. Common sense said keep Green on — he was troubling the new man Stokes, too. But to murmurings all over the country, Smith replaced him with Starc. Immediately Starc removed Malan. For all the pre-game excitement about Neser and Richardson, the biggest ticks were for Starc, Lyon and Green, who accounted for nine of the wickets. After forcing a collapse of 8-74 in the second innings of the first Test, Australia rammed home its advantage with 8-86 here. Green proved the great upside to being an all-rounder, banishing thoughts of his batting struggles with two subtly aggressive spells of genuinely fast bowling. You wouldn't call it mongrel, but Green has revealed that he has a few more gears than his first summer of Test bowling suggested. He is a momentum-changer. Lyon turned the ball square, taking 3-58 from 28 probing overs that kept the quicks fresh. "Can SOMEONE please smack Lyon?!?!! FFS!" Kevin Pietersen had tweeted at one point. "Off spinner with zero variations and bowling on world crickets flattest road!!!!" (Sorry, but if we began to fix the grammar and punctuation, where would it end?) If remotely true, of course, Pietersen's diss could be read as a more scathing review of England's performance. And are variations even needed against this lot? Chris Woakes can handle himself with the bat. Lyon made him look like a synthetic-wicket slogger. The bigger boon for Australia was Starc, the recipient of more than a few scathing reviews over the years. He rose impressively to the challenge provided by the contenders for his spot, taking four wickets with fast spells full of attitude. Neser was tidy, Richardson uncharacteristically loose, if a little unlucky. There is nothing unlucky about England's bleak prospects. At the end of the day, Smith could have enforced the follow-on and made things really ugly. Instead he batted again, which opens up the possibility of a fifth day of this very dreary contest. Thanks for that, skip. SOURCE: ABC NEWS

Hong Kong holds elections for the city’s legislature on Sunday — the first for the Legislative Council since the central government in Beijing led an overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral process this year. An analyst who spoke to CNBC predicted less interest in the polls this time, because those electoral changes have “narrowed” the choices for voters. The amendments that were introduced as part of the electoral overhaul mean there will be fewer directly elected representatives, and more Beijing-approved officials. Kurt Tong, partner at The Asia Group, expects voter turnout at the polls to be “rather low.” “Really the choices are quite narrowed for voters, and as a result, I would expect the voter turnout to be rather low,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Friday. “The character of the election has changed significantly from five years ago where there was really a sense that the legislative council election could have a major impact on the direction of the governance of the city. And that just doesn’t seem to be the case now,” Tong added. Under the new electoral system, the total number of seats in the legislative has been increased from 70 to 90. But the number of directly elected representatives has shrunk. Previously, half the Council’s representatives were directly elected by regular Hong Kongers. Under the new rules, about a fifth of them will be. An Election Committee that previously held only limited powers will now hand-pick almost half the Council’s representatives outright, and screen anyone who wants to run for the other seats. Criticism of process Democracy advocates and Western governments have accused China of using the new rules to suppress political opposition. Hong Kong’s “radical” electoral changes “mean that parties not closely aligned with the mainland or that are not pro-establishment will be excluded almost entirely from the legislature,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Dec. 14. Leaders in Beijing and Hong Kong openly say the new system is designed to ensure that only “patriots” hold office in Hong Kong. But they’ve rejected outside criticism of the electoral changes, which they characterize as fruitless interference in domestic affairs. Henry Tang, standing committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, argued to CNBC on Friday that the electoral changes are a step forward for democracy. The CPPCC is China’s top political advisory body. He was responding to a question on whether Hong Kong has lost some autonomy, with the decreased number of directly elected seats. “I would say that the democratic progress in Hong Kong has moved one further step forward,” the former Hong Kong chief secretary for administration told “Street Signs Asia” on Friday. “Because first, we have 90 members of the Legislative Council, instead of the previous 70. The composition has changed because we want more diversity and more inclusiveness.” Tang, who was also the former financial secretary of Hong Kong, explained that the candidates comprise individuals from “many different backgrounds.” SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

The future of bitcoin is anyone’s guess, but one academic has warned that the world’s most popular cryptocurrency could fade out in the near future. Eswar Prasad, senior professor of international trade policy at Cornell University, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” earlier this month: “Bitcoin itself may not last that much longer.” Bitcoin’s price has been highly volatile over the last few years and in the last month the price of one coin has fallen from around $58,000 to less than $46,000. At 10:15 a.m. ET on Friday, the price of a bitcoin was $45,637. While there used to be just a few cryptocurrencies, today there are hundreds and some of them are more useful and more environmentally-friendly than bitcoin. Blockchain is the underlying technology behind most cryptocurrencies. It’s essentially a digital ledger of virtual currency transactions which is distributed across a global network of computers. “Bitcoin’s use of the blockchain technology is not very efficient,” said Prasad, who is the author of ’“The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution is Transforming Currencies and Finance.” The cryptocurrency “uses a validation mechanism for transactions that is environmentally destructive” and “doesn’t scale up very well,” he explained. Indeed, bitcoin’s carbon footprint is bigger than the whole of New Zealand. Prasad said some of the newer cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology far more efficiently than bitcoin does. He believes blockchain technology will be “fundamentally transformative” in the way that finance is done and in the way we conduct our day-to-day transactions, like buying a house or buying a car. “Given that bitcoin is not serving well as a medium of exchange, I don’t think it’s going to have any fundamental value other than whatever investor’s faith leads it to have,” Prasad said. More generally, cryptocurrencies have “lit a fire under central banks to start thinking about issuing digital versions of their own currencies,” Prasad said. He added that such digital currencies could be beneficial as they may provide a low-cost payment option that everyone has access to, thereby increasing financial inclusion and potentially financial stability. “Much as you might not like bitcoin, it has really set off a revolution that ultimately might benefit all of us either directly or indirectly,” Prasad said. SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

The Biden administration said Thursday it imposed trade restrictions on more than 30 Chinese research institutes and entities over human rights violations and the alleged development of technologies, such as brain-control weapons, that undermine U.S. national security. The Commerce Department accused China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and 11 of its research institutes of using biotechnology “to support Chinese military end uses and end users, to include purported brain-control weaponry,” according to a notice in the Federal Register. The notice does not elaborate further on the alleged brain-control weaponry. “The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo wrote in a statement referring to the People’s Republic of China and human rights abuses in China’s far-west region of Xinjiang. The State Department has previously described the abuse of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities as in the Xinjiang region as “widespread, state-sponsored forced labor” and “mass detention.” Earlier this month, the White House announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.” Beijing denies that it has abused religious and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The Commerce Department listed four additional Chinese corporations to its Entity List for their role in modernizing China’s military, which runs contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The department also added five other Chinese companies for allegedly “acquiring or attempting to acquire technology from the United States to help modernize the People’s Liberation Army.” U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. They have also said that it threatens national security. Meanwhile, Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft. Later Thursday, the Treasury Department announced sanctions on eight Chinese tech entities for “biometric surveillance and tracking of ethnic and religious minorities in China, particularly the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.” The entities cited by Treasury are: Cloudwalk Technology, Dawning Information Industry, Leon Technology Company, Megvii Technology, Netposa Technologies , SZ DJI Technology, Xiamen Meiya Pico Information and Yitu. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., dismissed the U.S. moves as “unwarranted suppression” of Chinese entities. “The facts and truth on Xinjiang-related issues are very clear. China’s development of biotechnology has always been for the well-being of mankind. The relevant claims of the US side are totally groundless,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement provided to CNBC. The Commerce Department also took action against entities located in Georgia, Malaysia and Turkey for allegedly “diverting or attempting to divert U.S. items to Iran’s military programs.” “Specifically, these entities are a part of a network used to supply or attempt to supply Iran with U.S-origin items that would ultimately provide material support to Iran’s defense industries, in violation of U.S. export controls,” the notice said. In total, the Commerce Department took action against 34 entities in China, three in Georgia, one in Malaysia and two in Turkey. SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

Well over 2000 Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have applied for loans under the National Government supported loan facility, the SME Credit Enhancement Scheme Loan (SME CESL) through BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) with over K115m funded as at 15th December 2021. Of the 2100 SMEs that have applied for loans through the SME CESL facility, over 50% have been successful, with close to 30% of loans in the application stage and 20% have been declined through the Bank’s normal credit assessment process, according to BSP Group CEO Mr Robin Fleming. Mr Fleming added that BSP Financial Group Limited has continued to fund loans using its own funds under the SME CESL facility despite exceeding the K100m support funding provided by the National Government. “BSP continues to lend through the festive period to our SMEs and we are able to do this with run-offs from funded loans and by maintaining loan delinquencies within the Bank’s delinquency thresholds,” said Mr Fleming. “The festive period has been hectic so far with an increased number of applications coming through, and already we have over K90m in value from applications under processing, as the numbers pick up from all around our regions and the three SME Business Centres in Lae, Goroka and Vision City in Port Moresby,” said Jeffrey Singer Head of SME BSP. Mr Singer added that BSP was able to exceed the K100m funding support before year end with  the reduction of equity requirement from 30% to 10%, and the change in the maximum loan amount from K3m to K5m, enabling more SMEs to be eligible to access the SME CESL facility. “It’s obviously been a challenging year for our SMEs in particular but as they say, tough times don’t last, tough people do. We’d like to wish all our SMEs throughout PNG a fantastic festive with a holy Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2022.” The BSP SME Credit Enhancement Scheme Loan is open to all SME owners including non-BSP customers and it does include the ability to refinance existing loans. Customers can enquire at all BSP branches throughout the country and particularly at the three dedicated BSP SME Business Centers, at Vision City - Port Moresby, Goroka and Lae.  

Adolescents from Buna and Kokoda in Oro Province recently graduated from Kokoda Track Foundation’s (KTF) Kicks 4 Kokoda sport for development program. To great excitement, 168 students from schools in Kokoda (116 participants) and Buna (52 participants) from age ranges of 12 to 19 years, graduated from this health awareness and soccer-based skills training program. After a nine-week program of activities focused on topics ranging from gender equality to changing adolescent bodies, the graduation of participants took place on the 27th and 28th of November in the respective locations of Buna Primary School ground and Kokoda Primary School ground to adhere to COVID-19 protocols. Celebratory songs, or Kicks 4 Kokoda ‘KILOS’ rang out during the ceremonies. Kicks 4 Kokoda uses the power of soccer to connect young women and men with the mentors, information, and health services they need to grow, develop, and thrive. KTF partnered with the PNG Olympic Committee and Grassroot Soccer to deliver the adolescent-focused sports program that has educated, inspired, and mobilised the youths to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives, and become agents of change in their communities. The Kicks 4 Kokoda program, through the Team Up partnership, is supported by the Australian Government. KTF Health Programs manager, Kate Donnellan shared her thoughts about the positive impacts of the program. “The program has obviously created a special bond for the participants and Kicks 4 Kokoda coaches who now have each other for support with the challenges faced by adolescents in rural PNG. This demonstrates the importance of running such a program, even under COVID restrictions,” she said Semi-Semi-professional soccer player and KTF Kicks 4 Kokoda Project Coordinator, Basil Jofari, has seen participants’ progress through the program. "The best part of the Kicks 4 Kokoda program is seeing the kids coming out and expressing themselves during the activities. There was good feedback from the children in terms of their participation. At first, they were shy, but then the safe space was created which made it much easier for them to participate." The program was inclusive, promoting equal participation by male and female participants, as well as persons living with disabilities. Participant with additional needs, 12-year-old grade four student from Buna Primary School, Rose, was excited to be part of the cohort that recently graduated. “The program has really helped me to be on the same level with my friends. I know and believe that my future is bright,” Rose said. Kicks 4 Kokoda aims to leverage the transformative power of sport to support a positive shift in social norms that contribute to increased gender equality and improved wellbeing, all while having fun. Meanwhile, the graduating participants are looking forward to the Kicks 4 Kokoda sports tournament involving PNGOC hero athletes and the local community, which will take place early next year in the province.

PNG Motors representatives handed over the keys of a brand new Hyundai Mighty Dump Truck to representatives of the Mt Hagen Urban Youths United Volunteer Association this week at the headquarters of Western Highlands Province . The truck will greatly assist the 4000 plus volunteer “army” in their mission to clean up Mt Hagen. “The Association is a part of a changing trend in Western Highlands Province which is seeing people ‘doing it for themselves’ rather than sit back and wait for Governments to do it for them,” said PNG Motors Marketing Manager, Stephen Lane, at the handover. “We are proud to be associated with an organisation staffed by people with passion, drive and ambition – people who are prepared to stand up and make things happen instead of simply complaining”, he added. The Right Hon. Paias Wingti, Governor of WHP was in attendance along with representatives of PNG Motors Mt Hagen branch - Tom Allen, Branch Manager and Sani Bona, Sales Executive for PNG Motors - as well as Christopher Philip, Provincial Minister for Youth, Women, Religion and Sport, members of the Association Executive and a group of enthusiastic and grateful volunteers who had decorated the truck for the handover. The volunteer organisation is just a part of the Governor’s vision for Western Highlands Province to demonstrate to the nation what can be done when local people take ownership. “Show us you can do it, demonstrate your passion, become engaged and we, the Government, will be there to assist”. That approach has seen local communities build 28 high schools in the past 10 years, enrolments rise to 90% and plans for another 40 plus new schools as well as the delivery of Science Blocks, Libraries, Satellite access once communities complete construction. Meanwhile members of the Association are hitting the streets of Mt Hagen to clean up the city and make it a welcoming place for visitors with the help of PNG Motors and Hyundai.

Police in the Nations Capital, Port Moresby will continue with an eviction exercise that started this week at the Garden Hills removing illegal settlers. In a statement, police said they were acting on a legally obtained court order which must be respected unless there is a restraining order preventing the eviction. “Anyone who attempts to or stops an eviction exercise based on court orders is liable to be held for contempt of court.” The statement said. This is the stance the NCD police command is taking at the back of an attempt by Prime Minister James Marape to halt the eviction exercise and allow Lands Department and City Hall to intervene to ensure a plan is in place for the resettlement of the displaced families in the demolished settlements. The Prime Minister said his instructions are now with the Department of Lands to find vacant state land and put into motion the relocation of settlers as part of the programme to convert settlements into suburbs. He said this is the government policy and is in line with the National Capital District Commission efforts to convert settlements to suburbs for existing settlements. The Prime Minister said people who are misplaced would be relocated properly if they are employed or have lived in city for more than one generation. "I understand the frustrations proper title holders have with respect to settlements over their respective titles but ample warning and time must be given to people as well as working with city authorities to ensure minimal or no social and welfare issues will affect displaced families, especially at this time of Christmas,” Mr Marape said. “For Garden Hills, I have been informed of the court order and have instructed my office to intervene to halt the eviction until we are able to move the people properly to new sites if they are employed or have SMEs.” "For those second to third generation settlers, we will also give due consideration. "Recent city immigrants will be relocated back to their respective home districts so we can ease pressure on the socio-economic life in Port Moresby.” Meanwhile, PM Marape is setting up a task force to be headed by the Housing and Urbanisation Minister to look into converting settlement properties into titled properties for those who can fully justify their living in cities and towns. Picture: courtesy: Lawrence Lai Aipit

The Bulldogs have announced the release of winger Nick Cotric, just 12 months into a three-year deal with the club, with the 23-year-old confirming a return to the Canberra Raiders. "I'd like to thank Nick on behalf of the club, for the great effort and level of professionalism he has shown while here at the Bulldogs," said chief executive Aaron Warburton. "He has been a fantastic ambassador for the club, on and off the field, and we greatly appreciate the way that he has carried himself through this process." Cotric has signed a three-year deal with Canberra, the club where he made his NRL debut in 2017, playing 93 matches for the Raiders. "We're looking forward to having Nick re-join the club for the next three seasons," said Radiers CEO Don Furner. "Nick is a local boy who made his way through the local rugby league pathway program to the NRL, NSW and Australia while playing for us and we know the skills and capability he has as a player." "Nick has indicated to us that he's really excited about returning to Canberra and the Raiders, and we're confident he can play his best football for us." "The Raiders are a proud development club who invest heavily in our pathway program and to have a top-level player like Nick Cotric who has been through our system return to the club is a show of faith in this." Cotric will resume training with Canberra as early as next week. His move is the final piece in a complex jigsaw puzzle that saw the Eels pickup both Josh Hodgson and Bailey Simonsson from the Raiders. Simonsson will join Parramatta immediately, while Hodgson will switch clubs at the end of the 2022 season. Cotric's release gives the Bulldogs some breathing room under the salary cap, having signed a host of new players in recent weeks. SOURCE: NRL NEWS

Commissioner of Police David Manning has directed an investigation into the social media posting of National Planning Minister Rainbo Paita who was featured in a video firing a high powered semi-automatic rifle. As the matter involves a national member of parliament and state minister the Commissioner has directed Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Anton Billie to lead this investigation. He will be ably assisted by a senior detective from the NCD command and a senior officer from the Police Internal Affairs Directorate. The Commissioner’s decision to investigate was a matter of course to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident before recommending further action. Mr Billie and his team are expected to report their findings to the Commissioner with recommendations by Friday December 17. Meanwhile the Commissioner commended Mr Paita for stepping aside from his ministerial duties to allow for the investigation to proceed smoothly.