The White House on Monday said it will require airlines to check U.S.-bound air travelers’ proof of Covid-19 vaccination and provide contact information to federal officials as part of new rules that take effect when the U.S. lifts curbs on international visitors next month. The Biden administration earlier this month said it plans to lift pandemic restrictions that barred most visitors from more than 30 countries, including the U.K. and Brazil, on Nov. 8, allowing in vaccinated travelers. The rules were put in place first by the Trump administration in early 2020 and then extended by the Biden administration this year. The new rules, issued by President Joe Biden on Monday, will be applied to foreign visitors, including those coming to the U.S. from countries that were not on the prohibited list. Exemptions to the visitors’ vaccine requirements include travelers under the age of 18 or those who have medical reasons prohibiting them from getting a vaccine, senior Biden administration officials said. Foreign visitors between age 2 and 17 must still take a Covid test three days before departure if they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult. Other exemptions include those traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with low vaccine availability. A senior administration official said there are about 50 countries that would fit that bill, but that individuals who receive the exemption for low vaccine availability have to provide a U.S.-government issued letter stating the urgent need for travel. Officials consider fully vaccinated two weeks since the last dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or a single-dose vaccine like Johnson & Johnson’s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month said it would accept a combination of two doses from vaccines that have Food and Drug Administration authorization or are on the World Health Organization’s list for emergency use. Digital and paper copies of vaccine certificates will be accepted. The CDC will require airlines to collect and track contact information from travelers and potentially share that with federal officials. Airlines, hotels and other travel companies have urged the U.S. government for more than a year to reopen borders. The U.S. established those restrictions in early 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines executives this month said that that bookings for trans-Atlantic travel have surged since the Biden administration announced it planned to replace the country-specific travel bans with the vaccination requirements. “Clearly, there’s significant pent-up demand for travel to and from the U.S. and many customers are eager to return to travel when it’s permitted,” American’s president, Robert Isom, said on a quarterly call on Thursday. European countries began opening up to U.S. travelers in the spring with testing and vaccine requirements, but the move was not reciprocated  by Washington. SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

The current Covid-19 Delta wave is among issues contributing to the revised GDP growth of 1 percent for 2021, well below the earlier forecast of 2.5 percent despite soft commodities benefiting from favourable price shifts. This is according to BSP Financial Group Limited’s (BSP) Q3 2021 Pacific Economic and Market Insights. The report also stated that while the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases continue to pose a threat to PNG’s economy, businesses and the economy cannot afford nationwide lockdowns. BSP Group General Manager for Corporate Banking, Peter Beswick said focus must remain on appropriate containment measures and safeguards of masks, social distancing, restrictions on gatherings, and most critically with high levels of vaccination coverage to slow the pandemic, which will in turn reduce the loss of life and stress on health systems and drive our medium term economic recovery. “Major projects will provide PNG businesses certainty and growth prospects in the economy will remain challenged until resource projects like the Papua LNG finalise fiscal terms and conditions for the project and detailing the framework to complete upcoming negotiations. “Barrick Gold CEO remains committed to restarting the Porgera Mine in 2022, while Total has announced the remobilisation of the project teams with the objective to launch in early works in late 2022. This positive development follows the Government’s reconfirmation of the Papua LNG Gas Agreement 2019, the signature of the Fiscal Stability Agreement and the License extension,” Mr Beswick said. Newcrest also recently announced Lihir would be carrying out a Pre-Feasibility Study to accelerate the mine to be a 1 million ounce plus per annum producer from 2024. Mr Beswick said this is another important progression for the economy as “the USD180 million project delivers increased ore reserves, brings forward gold production and improves operational flexibility by establishing an additional independent ore source.” In the South Pacific region, the economy is projected to contract by 0.6% in 2021, a reflection of severe constraints of the Covid-19 containment measures, particularly border restrictions; continue to have on business activity and tourism in, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Cook Islands. Fiji is already seeing the positive impact of reopening of its borders to tourists next month following its aggressive vaccination program. Despite the severe economic impact of Covid over the past 2 years, the sub-region's economy is expected to rebound by 4.8% in 2022 as countries reopen borders.

Brian Bell Foundation officially handed over K12,000 worth of white goods to the PNG Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) on Friday 22nd October 2021. The goods were handed over by Brian Bell’s Business Development Manager Corporate Services, Bill Doa Neill. PNGBTA Executive Director Tony Kotauga received the donation on behalf of the organization. The white goods will be used in PNGBTA’s Townsend Hall at its headquarters at Makora Road North Waigani. The donation by Brian Bell will go towards equipping the hall for it to be used by the ministry and also help the ministry raise funds by putting the venue out for hire. Funds raised will go towards funding language projects in the communities. Mr Bill Doa Neill said the foundation was set up about four or five years ago and has been contributing towards improving lives of people in communities. “What you’re doing here at the PNGBTA is in line with the education side of things,” Doa Neill said. “You’re going out there into the rural communities and preaching the good news of education through the Bible and the literature you have.” Mr. Doa Neill said they were happy to support that work and were looking forward to continue the partnership. Mr. Tony Kotauga said PNGBTA works with 66 languages and that was about 66 communities and cultures. He said PNGBTA has published 21 New Testament translations so far. [caption id="attachment_16281" align="alignnone" width="1056"] Brian Bell Business Development Manager Corporate Services, Bill Doa Neill (left) receiving a certificate of appreciation from PNGBTA Executive Director Tony Kotauga during the donation ceremony[/caption] “We have a literacy program that goes with the translation work. We do not only translate the Bible; we help them to read it as well. So, literacy comes with it,” Kotauga said. “But before translation takes place, we have to develop the language. Development of language helps us to restore our cultures and languages. And we are probably the only national organization that is going out to develop languages and save the languages of the country with partners such as SIL.” Mr. Kotauga said developing languages was a huge task and one organization cannot do it alone so it values the partnership it is developing with the foundation because the support will contribute to work in the field. He said the donation will be used in equipping the hall which will be used to raise funds to support the work of PNGBTA and its language programs. PNGBTA is an indigenous Bible translation organization in PNG. It recruits, trains and supports locals to translate the word of God from English to their native tongue. PNGBTA works alongside the church to form the translation communities and equip mother tongue speakers to use the scriptures. Its’ field centers are established in Port Moresby, Alotau, Madang, Ukarumpa and Manus. PNGBTA serves with partner organizations such as Summer Institute of Linguistics, Bible Society, Pioneer Bible Translators, New Tribes Mission and Wycliffe Bible Translation.

Six Air Niugini staff walked away with K10,000 last Friday from a lottery by the company to reward employees who have volunteered to receive vaccine against Covid-19. The first prize winner won K5,000 followed by K1,000 each for the rest of the five winners. Staff participated by sending in copies of their green cards to Air Niugini to show that they have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or were fully vaccinated. Air Niugini has provided the venue each week for medical staff from NCD Provincial Health Authority to be on site to provide the vaccine, however the decision to receive vaccine was made voluntarily by individual staff. The airline in partnership with stakeholders has also been conducting awareness amongst staff on Covid-19. The vaccine significantly reduces the risks of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 or possibly dying and also reduces the risks of catching and spreading the virus to colleagues, families and the community.  Over half of Air Niugini staff have been fully vaccinated so far. The NCD PHA staff will be back each week for staff who want a first dose or need their second does of the vaccine. Being fully vaccinated is already a requirement for anyone travelling to Australia, the USA or European Union, including airline crew travelling for recurrent simulator. Additionally, Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to require all passengers as well as operating crew flying to these destinations to be fully vaccinated before the end of this year. Air Niugini will be conducting a second lottery draw on 10th November with another K10,000 to again reward staff who have volunteered to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

125 Grade 8 students from Goilanai Primary School in Milne Bay Province join the rest of the country in sitting for their first English paper today and the rest of their National Exams this week. School Head Teacher, Mr Eugene Awilo said that students and staff will be practicing social distancing and mandatory mask wearing during the exam week. “We have suspended classes for Prep to Grade 7 for this whole week while our grade 8 students sit for their exams,” Mr Awilo said. He believes that the students will do well as they have been prepared well by their teachers throughout the academic year. “We convey our best wishes to all our Grade 8s as they sit for the Exams.” Mr Awilo added that the rest of the students (prep to Grade 7) will resume classes next week, however they will be having shift classes so they can continue to practice safe hygiene measures in the school. “For this week, their teachers have prepared work for them to take home and do at home until they resume next week,” Mr Awilo said. Meanwhile, Secretary of Education Dr Uke Kombra said that a total of 137, 769 are expected to sit for their national exams. This number includes those students with special needs. Dr Kombra said that he is confident that students have prepared well, as there were minimal disruptions to teaching and learning this year compared to last year. “I wish every Grade 8 all the best in the National Exams and also in their future endeavors,” Dr Kombra Said.

Telstra and the Australian government have finalised a deal to buy and operate the largest telecommunications company in the Pacific, in a move largely seen as an effort to counter China's influence in the region. The $2.1 billion deal to acquire and run Digicel Pacific is being funded largely by the government, which will provide $1.9 billion toward the acquisition. Telstra said it would contribute $360 million and own 100 per cent of the company's ordinary equity. The deal, which is expected to be completed within the next six months, is "consistent with Australia's longstanding commitment to growing quality investment in regional infrastructure," the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. Digicel, founded by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, is the largest mobile phone carrier in the Pacific with operations in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tahiti. The company makes more than $300 million a year in profit. The deal comes after several months of discussions between Telstra and the government over the strategic asset. The talks followed reports that China Mobile, the biggest telecoms operator in China, had shown interest in buying the Pacific arm of telecommunications giant. Telstra said it was initially approached by the Australian government to provide technical advice in relation to Digicel Pacific and subsequently considered acquiring the business with its financial and strategic risk management support. Stopping Digicel Pacific from ending up in the hands of a Chinese company has been seen almost as strategically important as stopping Huawei from getting a hold in Australia's 5G network. That's especially since Digicel Pacific uses a 4,700km undersea cable from Sydney that was largely funded by the Australian government in 2018 in an effort to prevent PNG and the Solomon Islands from contracting Huawei for the project. SOURCE: ABC NEWS

“The Lockdown in NCD will only come about based on medical advise.” “My view is that the advise will be that great enforcement of the NIUPLA PASIN will have to be done such as enforcing the No Mask, No Entry rule for the shops and even schools,” said the National Pandemic Controller, Mr David Manning. The Controller said this after rumours of a lockdown to be imposed here in the National Capital District. He said that a lockdown will be expensive and challenging however it did serve its purpose last year in controlling community transmission in the city. He further said that they should be investing the limited resources more on enforcing non clinical measures such as banning mass gatherings and enforcing mandatory mask wearing. He also said that statistics show that community transmission is evident however there will be no lockdowns but more work to be done on enforcing the NIUPLA PASIN. He will be giving more updates after a briefing today.

Alec Baldwin was the tough screen face of blue-collar America in the 1990s. And it suited him. His best early roles were gritty ones in brutal films such as Miami Blues, or the screen adaptation of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, where he gave a showstopping performance that won him many fans. Baldwin had the manner and look of an ordinary man who wanted to survive at all costs. Now, in the saddest of media storms, following the accidental shooting of a colleague on the set of his latest movie, the actor will need every ounce of the self-preserving grit he once accessed so easily on film. Baldwin comes, authentically enough, from the sort of unpretentious middle-income American family that politicians fight over, desperate to win their trust. His father, Alexander, was a football coach with a deep admiration of President Kennedy, and his mother, Carol, was a history teacher. He was the eldest of four boys and two sisters in a Long Island family with a strong Roman Catholic faith and an equally active Democratic allegiance. Yet, although the Baldwins cared about both politics and books, it was a cultural universe away from the sophisticated LA life of poke bowls, valet parking and yoga that Hollywood stars enjoy. Law was the first plan for the young Alec, and he applied to study at George Washington University. At the last moment, however, a confident audition for the acting course at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York diverted Baldwin from this path and away from an imagined future in state politics. [caption id="attachment_16243" align="aligncenter" width="776"] Baldwin with his daughter, Ireland. Photograph: PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy[/caption] Scholarship in hand, his ambitions turned towards becoming a performer. It was a switch that may also have shaped the future of his younger male siblings. Daniel, Billy and Stephen have all followed Alec into the cinema, each working to a greater or lesser extent under the shadow of their big brother. In his 20s, Baldwin’s charisma and leading-man looks earned him a string of fairly soppy roles, such as in the Dallas spin-off television series Knots Landing, or as the best friend in She’s Having a Baby, but it was his “real man” credentials that got him noticed in those crucial years. A small but important role in Working Girl, playing the uneducated boyfriend that Melanie Griffith has to shake off, is typical of this work. Baldwin also has a back-catalogue of action adventures to his name, appearing in thrillers such as The Hunt for Red October and lately in a succession of Mission Impossible outings with Tom Cruise. In recent years though, having been first claimed by glittering fame then washed up on the shores of Tinseltown before being raised up high again by a run of acclaimed work on television, stage and film, Baldwin has become something of a showbiz emblem of the straight-talking American left. In middle age, he has told interviewers repeatedly, he has gained control. As the father now of six young children, dubbed “the Baldwinitos” by their mother, Baldwin’s second wife, Hilaria, the actor is now mostly concerned about remaining available to his family and providing for their future. Why does all this heavy emphasis on “being in control” matter, even before the terrible events of the last few days? Well, Baldwin has the kind of mucky track record of reckless and angry behaviour that has often seeped out from under the shimmering veil that protects cinema’s elite from the public eye. His courtship of Kim Basinger, one of the biggest female stars of the 1980s and also perhaps the last of the old school “screen sirens”, put Baldwin in the headlines immediately after they met on the set of the 1990 film The Marrying Man. Despite a turbulent relationship, they married three years later. A decision to separate permanently came not long afterwards, but Basinger was pregnant and a nasty custody battle over their new daughter, Ireland, followed. In 1995, Baldwin was reported to have hit a cameraman who was filming Basinger as she took the baby home from hospital. In 2006, in what was probably the most damaging debacle for the actor, a tape of Baldwin berating his 11-year-old daughter on the phone for not staying in touch was leaked to the press. The language and tone were not at all fatherly. In fact, Baldwin accused her of being “a pig”. Ireland, now 25, describes their relationship these days as “excellent”. Baldwin hit the news pages again for riding his bike the wrong way down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and arguing with the police about it. And on another occasion he was thrown off a plane before take-off after an argument with a flight steward who had told him to turn off his phone. More recently, in 2013, the star resorted to leaving Twitter for a while in the wake of an unseemly row with a journalist over whether or not Hilaria had been caught texting on her phone during the funeral of Sopranos actor James Gandolfini. Baldwin had used homophobic language in his furious response. And Hilaria herself has taken some direct public criticism. Last year, she was accused of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation by some for claiming she had Spanish-American heritage. The truth, it seems, is that she grew up in Boston as plain old Hillary. The incident prompted her husband to rail publicly against the attack-dog mobs he believes stalk social media, waiting to pounce on celebrities who are found wanting. “Cancel culture is like a forest fire in constant need of fuel,” he tweeted. The composure that has largely characterised Baldwin’s public persona in recent years has come along with greater recognition from his peer group. Screen performances for Martin Scorsese in The Aviator and The Departed and in Woody Allen films, including Blue Jasmine, and then opposite Meryl Streep and Steve Martin in the mid-life comedy It’s Complicated, have coincided with fresh television kudos. His work on Saturday Night Live, where his impersonations of Donald Trump became staple comic fare, and his part in the award-winning sitcom 30 Rock have placed him at the heart of America’s savvy, satirical community. So too has his job as host of his own evening chat shows on MSNBC and then ABC. In the light of the death of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last week, it is tempting to see Baldwin’s recent bold claims to be in control of his life as a bad case of baiting the fates. A man who has worked so hard to win back the respect of the liberal elite, and of women in particular, has now accidentally killed a rising female camerawoman. Certainly, the actor appears to be one of those unlucky people who live at the mercy of the Gods, either buffeted by ill-fortune, or actively inviting disaster. His Tony-winning Broadway portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, playing a sensitive but angry man who ultimately seriously harms a woman, could make a compelling comparison. But this episode is not really part of Baldwin’s own dramatic narrative. It is Halyna Hutchins’ sorrowful story, one felt by her family much more keenly than any other. And it is the failure to safely handle dangerous props on a film set that will likely soon be in the dock. The fates, even in a Hollywood tragedy like this, do not come into it. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Legal services provided to more than 15,000 people living in Daru have been improved following village court information sessions and inspections held in the area recently. A team of officials from Western Province accompanied by an officer from PNG’s Village Court and Land Mediation Secretariat met with village court officials and community members from the Tamate, Iaru, Cawo’o, Darowaro, and Central Kiwai Village Courts. The meetings were an opportunity to share information and ideas about court and mediation services and how they can best support the community. The officials inspected village court records, reviewed the conduct of court officials, observed court procedures and held information sessions for more than 300 community members. The activities were supported by the Australian Government through the PNG-Australia Partnership to strengthen village court and land mediation services in Western Province, recognising the central role village courts play in bringing justice to remote communities. Australian High Commission representative Elizabeth Beard, who supported the inspection team visiting the Daru area, said effective village courts and land mediation services were important to improving community safety and security. “For many people, village courts are where they can access justice and resolve disputes over land, debt or petty crime before they escalate into something more serious,” said the representative. “That is why the PNG-Australia Partnership is committed to working with PNG to strengthen village courts by training officials, providing resources and conducting inspections.” Since 2016, the Partnership has provided training for more than 2360 village court magistrates and clerks across Papua New Guinea, improving the quality and accessibility of legal services provided to more than 1.4 million people.

The PNG Council of Churches (PNGCC) has launched a handbook to promote health and theological messages supporting the safety, effectiveness and importance of COVID-19 vaccination. The PNGCC COVID-19 Vaccine Handbook was launched in Port Moresby on Monday 18th October by PNGCC Chairman Cardinal Sir John Ribat along with Health Minister Hon. Jelta Wong, Heads of Churches and Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp. Cardinal Sir John Ribat said the handbook gives all churches a starting point for informed discussions with their congregations and broader communities about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. “Our great God in his wisdom has blessed the world’s leading scientists with knowledge which has led to advanced research and development of vaccines to protect the lives of men, women and children,” he said. “The PNGCC has given its undivided support for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine as a safe, effective and lifesaving provision by God for the protection of our people during the unprecedented times of COVID-19 Pandemic.” “We now need church leaders to give their congregations accurate information about vaccines and combat myths that are causing people to avoid vaccines to the detriment of their health and community wellbeing.” The PNGCC had previously declared its support for COVID-19 vaccines as a safe, effective and lifesaving tool to protect people from sickness and death because of the pandemic. “The PNGCC church leaders support the vaccine as the safest way to protect people against COVID-19,” Cardinal Sir John Ribat said. “This was a stance taken after examination of the theological, cultural, social, academic, media and political issues; analysis of common doubts and suspicions; and believing in God as the giver of life. “We commit our members to protecting their families, communities and country by supporting the national vaccination rollout.” The PNGCC is a coordinating body of the seven Mainline Churches in Papua New Guinea, mandated to be the prophetic voice of the Churches to the nation on social, political, religious, and economic issues. The PNGCC Covid-19 Vaccine Handbook is freely available online at https://tinyurl.com/56a9sbtz

The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to fund a science scholarship programme in 2022 for Year 11 students of Nauru Secondary School. The signing ceremony was held at the USP Nauru Campus on 18 October 2021 between the USP Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia and NORI in-country Manager Peter Jacob. VCP Ahluwalia thanked NORI for its generous support towards the initiative and further acknowledged USP Nauru Campus Director Sarina Tamakin for their work. “This partnership is an important one for the campus as it brings the school and University closer together. In addition, it is more efficient and cheaper for the students to transition from the school to the campus because they can further their studies in their home environment,” VCP Ahluwalia said. He went on to say that the University was delighted to be a part of the effort since it would help the region meet its needs owing to a scarcity of people in science, technology, and engineering. NORI in-country Manager, Peter Jacob said he was proud to be part of the historic signing that would fund preliminary and foundation science programs for 2022 and 2023. “NORI also funds a diverse number of community projects with education as a major sector; there are shortfalls in our level of education especially in the areas of science and engineering which are identified in our National Sustainable Development Strategy as weaknesses that needs to be addressed,” he said. He added that NORI was excited to engage with Nauru and the USP Nauru Campus to expand their science support and activities. Nauru Campus Director Sarina Tamakin said that was the first time the Campus had received funding support from an external organization. “The funding will go towards investing in our children’s education through a science scholarship program for the students from Nauru Secondary School,” she said. NORI annually awards science scholarships to undertake further studies at the USP Laucala Campus with the first recipient in 2013 graduating in Electrical Engineering.

The Bomana Correctional Service maximum security detainees, staff and family of staff will no longer have to look far for clean water, thanks to BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP)’s subsidiary - BSP Finance who came to their aid with a new backup water system and other related support to the value of  K30, 000. BSP Finance installed a backup water system that comprises of two water tanks (9,500 and 9,000 Liters), a pump and hand-washing basin at the facility. The BSP subsidiary and its contractor also carried out minor renovation to the prison clinic under its 2021 Community Project Initiative and handed over the project today, Thursday 21st October, 2021. Bomana prison Acting Commanding Officer, Superintendent Yelly Oiufa thanked BSP for this timely support especially during the Covid Pandemic saying, it will cater for over 700 detainees, including 200 Correctional service officers and their families. “We sometimes, take the detainees to Bomana River when water doesn’t come, to use for bathing and doing laundry because there is nothing much we can do because water is a need for all human beings. Thank you BSP, this is a very worthy community project,” said Oiufa. BSP Group Financial CEO Robin Fleming said BSP’s Community Project is not just about giving back to the communities but more about being part of the community. “Sometimes we forget what PNG is. If you want to run a good business, run the government or a good community, you really have to understand what it is like to be in those areas. Whether it is here in Bomana, Namatanai in New Ireland, Koroba in Hela and up in Aitape; you have to be there to really see, and be part of that experience. It gives you an opportunity to participate more fully with the community, and that BSP! We participate and assist, not only as a corporate organisation but as the leading banking institution in PNG,” Mr Fleming added. Bomana Prison, its clinic inmates living areas now have 24 hours water supply for drinking and for hygiene upkeep. The new water supply and hand-washing basin makes it convenient for prisoners, staff and visitors to wash hands and bathing before any engagement or prisoners attending to health clinic facilities or court cases instead of going days without washing.