The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) in conjunction with Trukai Industries have reaffirmed efforts to continue to raise funds for Team PNG through the sale of Trukai Fun Run shirts. As a result of Covid-19, the Trukai Fun Run was cancelled in 2020 primarily for the safety of participants. In 2021, both organisations will be taking a new approach by downscaling the mass event to smaller activities to comply with the varying Covid measures. Since its inception in 1983, the Fun Run has been the major fundraising event for the PNGOC. The event consistently raises funds for Team PNG to participate in various international sporting events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth and Pacific Games with Trukai Industries as the current naming right sponsors to the event. “PNGOC and Trukai will still raise funds through the selling of the Fun Run Shirts which will go towards Team PNG’s participations at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games” said Rapilla. “The working committee will announce a new approach in the near future outlining the range of activities.” “We look forward to the continued support of the corporate community and the public at large in this year’s activities and purchase of shirts to support Team PNG”. Picture sourced: via rainylae.com

Living in the big city of Port Moresby can be very challenging especially in trying to earn an honest income just to put enough food on the table to feed a household. With the hassle and commotions going on, rise in crime, and with all the civil incidents occurring daily in a typically fast-paced city life; and especially with the COVID19 pandemic cases increasing in the country, life is waiting to fall apart if we allow it to. However, this has not been seen as an obstacle for two persevering women, Heni Arua and Manoka Gorogo. Heni, (51) and Manoka (45) who both hail from Porebada Village in the Central Province are business-minded and creative when survival matters; they use shells found along the beach collected on an Island called Haidana back in Porebada to create very stylish pieces of accessories, home decorations and art and craft. Manoka said the task is daunting especially with the process of collecting shells and cleaning them which take so much of their time. “We go to the Island to collect the shells, which are kept in the water overnight. The next day the shells are buried in the sand and after a week of being buried, we take them back to the sea for a final rinse then the next day the shells are heated with the sand on fire to give off a shiny look. Then, after they cool off, we wash them and make holes using the darts”, said Manoka. The talented duo with help from their husbands and children have created basic accessories like Hair Bands, Head Bands, Earrings, neck pieces and also have created house decorations like Macramé’s, Door Hanging pieces, Flower Vases and Wind Chimes all carefully crafted from shells and creatively sewn together. Heni and Manoka started their ‘Wokabaut Business’ back in 2011 but due to personal reasons, they took a recess. Then business came alive again in 2016 and has continued till present. “We would usually leave the village in the morning with all our products to sell and would usually walk around the city selling our items from as low as K5 to K100 depending on the item we are selling”, said Manoka. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the days scheduled to create the accessories and on Thursdays and Fridays are the days they walk around to sell their products. Even though Heni is over 50 years, she said that giving up is not an option for her right now. “My husband and I are very keen to continue engaging ourselves in such creative activities and whatever income I get from the sales helps buy much needed basic items for my family and I”, said Heni. Heni has four grown up children and five grand Children whilst Manoka has six kids and two grand children and are usually invited to attend Women Fellowship Programs in the village and around NCD to showcase their skills and to teach and facilitate training and teaching programs. During most of the Women’s Fellowship programs around the city, the women are usually invited to showcase their skills by teaching young women in basic sewing of shell bags and how to create the littlest things using shells. Big occasions in the village and in NCD like craft markets, village feasts and church-related programs are the main avenues that the women showcase their talents and sell the fruits of their hard work. So far Heni has contributed a good amount on the Bride Price of her elder sister’s from her hard work since she started her little business and she is currently looking forward to helping out in another bride price.

Link PNG, a subsidiary of Air Niugini, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hides Gas Development Company (HGDC), a major landowning company engaged with ExxonMobil, the operator of the PNGLNG Project- to provide chartered services for its personnel engaged within the LNG gas project in the Komo Magarima District, Hela Province. The MOU sets the platform for a partnership arrangement between LinkPNG and Hides Gas Development Company (HGDC) to operate regular Charter flights into Komo Airfield. The signing paves the way forward for the two parties to engage in firming the charter service schedule.  Link PNG Acting General Manager, Mr Alex Kia said the national airline is proud of the step taken towards the partnership arrangement, and is confident this partnership with one of the biggest landowner companies (LANCOS) in the country will contribute to nation building, as the country journeys through an uncertain period brought on by the COVID19 pandemic. HGDC Executive Chairman, Tuguyawini Libe Parindali said HGDC was proud to enter into this agreement to ensure HGDC personnel travelling in and out of PNGLNG project site can travel seamlessly. “Link PNG does a fantastic job in providing travel services at the convenience of its clients throughout PNG, and HGDC for the first time is thrilled to enter into this agreement with Link PNG to boost efficiency and effectiveness in our operations. “We look forward to sustained efforts and collaborations in ensuring that the MOU is executed for the mutual benefit of both companies. “Once operational, this agreement will see Link PNG chartered flights into Komo increase to two (2) boosting LinkPNG operations into Komo and ultimately Hela – considering commercial flights into Tari,” Mr. Parindali concluded. All Link PNG services are operated by the airline’s Dash 8 fleet. For further information, please call toll free number: 180 5465, email sales.linkpng@airniugini.com.pg or find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/linkpng   

Former Papuan New Guinean international James Segeyaro will be free to resume his playing career in June after he was handed a 20-month suspension by the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal. Chaired by the Ian Callinan AC QC with panellists Dr Sharron Flahive and Sean Garlick, the triubnal found Segeyaro breached the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy in September, 2019 when he tested positive to the presence of Di-Hydroxy LGD-4033 (Ligandrol). The tribunal found that the 30-year-old, who was playing for the Broncos at the time after stints with the Cowboys, Panthers and Sharks, bore a significant degree of responsibility for the positive result but ruled he had not intentionally taken the Ligandrol. It was likely to have entered his system via the use of a food blender maintained by a member of his household that contained residues of the substance.  As the tribunal was satisfied that the doping was not intentional, Segeyaro was entitled to a reduced sanction under the WADA Code.  His ban has been backdated to when he was provisionally suspended on October 3, 2019, which means he would be eligible to be registered again as a player on June 2. Source: NRL.com - Photo source: qt.com.au

Air Niugini is pleased to announce that it will increase services between Port Moresby and Hong Kong from once to twice weekly, commencing Saturday 03rd April 2021. Services will be operated by Air Niugini’s Boeing 767 aircraft, in partnership with Cathay Pacific Airways under a code share arrangement. Flights to Hong Kong were resumed in October last year, operating once a week on Wednesdays, opening up new opportunities to bring freight and essential travellers to and from Port Moresby via Hong Kong, including the export of live crabs, lobsters and other products from Papua New Guinea to the Asian markets. From 03rd April the Wednesday service will be complemented with a new Saturday service. The code share with Cathay Pacific, as well as agreements with Air France, Emirates Airline, and Qatar Airways, allows passengers to transfer between flights at Hong Kong from worldwide destinations, including mainland China, and the rest of Asia. Air Niugini CEO Mr Bruce Alabaster said, “Hong Kong is a major global gateway and connecting hub for both passengers and freight, and Hong Kong’s homebased airline Cathay Pacific is one of the largest and most respected airlines in Asia. When we resumed Hong Kong flights in October last year we were confident that the service would quickly become popular with both travellers and freight shippers – and this has proved to be the case.” Mr Alabaster continued, “With Singapore and Manila still effectively closed for transfer / transit passengers, we are sure that the capability of Air Niugini and Cathay Pacific, as well as our other three partner carriers, to provide seamless and convenient transfers via Hong Kong, including issuing of boarding passes from origin to destination, and through check in of bags to final destination, will prove to be a winner with our customers”. Air Niugini has the ability to increase Hong Kong services to five weekly as demand for international travel gradually recovers through next year and beyond. From 03rd April flight PX008/CX6898 departs POM at 1500 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving Hong Kong at 1935 local time. In the return direction flight PX019/CX6899 departs Hong Kong on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2045 local time, arriving POM at 0530am on Thursday and Sunday mornings. Air Niugini continues to operate with strict health and safety measures in place including a requirement for a pre-departure COVID test, temperature testing of all passengers, and providing face masks and hand sanitiser to ensure your air travel is safe.

The youth of the Laloki community, just outside Port Moresby, kept occupied during the school holidays by participating in the ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) supported PNG Flying Labs, a local non-governmental organisation, where they attended basic coding and drone flying classes. Under the theme "breaking barriers", the three-week workshop introduced thirty-seven young learners, nearly half of them girls, to digital tools that promote team building, the importance of well-being, and problem-solving skills through computer game coding, robot building, and drone piloting. "Without EMPNG's assistance and endorsement from Laloki Ward 1 Councillor, Hon. George Pote Girisa, we would not have been able to train and expose these children, especially young girls, to this Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) based program,” said PNG Flying Labs Co-Founder Sophia-Joy Soli.  "We are also grateful for EMPNG volunteers visiting our classes to share their professional experience with our young participants." The participants proved eager to learn new skills. "After the first day of hands-on training, I was so grateful that my dad encouraged me to join the course," said 12-year old Paul Kaluwin. Speaking at the closing ceremony, EMPNG's Public Policy Manager, Sam Koyama, encouraged participants to share their knowledge from the workshop. "Motivating our students to value their education is a driver that we need here in Papua New Guinea. It is everyone’s responsibility to not just learn, but pass their learning on to others in our respective communities," Sam concluded PNG Flying Labs was conducted with the support of EMPNG’s Science Ambassador Program (SAP). Since 2013, more than 5,000 Papua New Guinean students have participated in SAP with EMPNG volunteers visiting 90 classrooms across PNG LNG Project areas and Port Moresby schools to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

Residents in the nations capital Port Moresby are urged to go for a test for COVID-19 if they have the symptoms of the disease. The Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning announced that if there are four urban clinics in NCD that are now doing swabbing for COVID-19 tests for those with symptoms and get test results within a short time for free. These clinics are Badili, Tokarara, Morata and Gordons clinics. He said the common symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, headache, difficulty breathing, sore throat, loss of taste or smell and muscle aches. These sites are part of the nine clinics that have been selected to participate in the Antigen (Ag) Rapid Diagnosis (RDT) validation in NCD. The public will be informed when the rest of the nine clinics begin swabbing too. Other sites that are also providing routine swabbing for symptomatic clients are Pari clinic in Moresby South, and the Port Moresby General Hospital. The general public are encouraged to utilize any of these services to check for COVID-19 infection. Mr Manning said that this Antigen test is easy and results will be given within 20 to 30 minutes. Further GeneXpert testing is then performed on positive samples to confirm if the patient has the coronavirus disease or not. The turnaround time is about an hour which is more convenient for isolation and contact tracing. He also confirmed that Rita Flynn is no longer swabbing but only tests the positive samples it receives from the urban sites to confirm, using GeneXpert. All negative samples from the Ag test are sent to CPHL for confirmation. Meanwhile, when making this announcement, Mr Manning reiterated his call on the importance of going for COVID-19 test. “By going for a test you will know your status which will help you get the help you need and stop you from spreading the virus to others, including your loved ones,’’ he said. Mr Manning also said he was happy to learn that more and more people are going for tests for COVID-19 unlike before and applauded the health workers that are swabbing, testing and providing counselling so that patients going for tests feel at ease. Furthermore, he said that COVID-19 is just another respiratory illness and people should not fear going to the appropriate health facilities for testing. Through testing they will get the care they need if they test positive. “At the beginning of our response there was a lot of fear surrounding COVID-19 so we did not see many people coming for test, but we are seeing a change now as more people in the NCD are coming to the clinics to get tested for COVID-19 as they are more worried about their health and the health of their loved ones,’’ he said, adding also that like all new diseases COVID-19 will eventually be integrated into the public health system. Mr Manning has also reminded the public that, “As we do not have a cure for COVID-19 at this stage the best defence we have is prevention which is through the observation of the public health measures that are in place under the new normal or niupela pasin.” Mr Manning also urged the public to follow these simple but important health measures’’ for COVID-19 including: • Hand hygiene - wash your hands frequently at least for 20 seconds; • Cough etiquette - cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue into a bin after you finish; • Wear a facemask or face covering in public spaces; • Avoid crowds or enclosed buildings; and • Practice physical distancing of 1.5 to 2 metres when out in public such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing, avoiding crowded places and wearing masks. The antigen Rapid Diagnostic validation roll-out is happening not just in NCD but also in other provinces such as the East New Britain; Western Province and Western Highlands. The aim is to speed up the turnaround time for test results.

Promising up and coming sprinter Monica Korowi leaves for the United States today (Wednesday 17 February) where she will join the track team at WmCarey University in Hattiesburg Mississippi whilst studying Health Information Management. The former Gordons Secondary School student was identified by Athletics PNG in March 2019 at the Pacific Games selection trials which were held in Kimbe. She had been participating in local competitions  in Port Moresby after relocating from Goroka early in 2017 where she had first started running as a 13 year old with the Givim 60 athletics club run by John Hou. Korowi attended the 2018 National Championships whilst attending Gordons Secondary, which is one of the schools that has strongly supported Port Moresby Athletics for many years. It was at the  Oceania Under 18 Championships which were held in Townsville in June 2019 where Korowi established herself as a quality sprinter. Competing against athletes from Australia and New Zealand as well as Pacific Islanders, she won the bronze medal in both 100m and 200m, clocking times of  12.84 and 26.47 secs respectively in the process. After missing out on selection for further studies the 18 year old turned her attention last year to seeking alternative ways of furthering her education, and with the assistance of Athletics PNG connected with WmCarey University. “The Covid 19 pandemic has created a very challenging environment for everyone, but it has also created some opportunities for our athletes.” said APNG President Tony Green. “Monica will be receiving a scholarship which will go a long way towards covering her tuition costs. Its not a full scholarship, but Monica has not had the opportunity to compete and prove her ability so it is really a very good offer and we are very grateful to Sprints and Hurdles Coach Malcolm Dias for the confidence he is showing in Monica by giving her this opportunity.” Green also commended the family for a great fundraising effort over the past year without which Monica would not be able to take up this opportunity. There are currently 19 girls in the track and field team at Wm Carey including a few good sprinters so Korowi will not be short of good quality good training partners to push her. WmCarey University is a Private Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. It is a small school by US standards, with an undergraduate population of less than 3000 and approx. 220 teaching staff. Coach Dias said that he was looking forward to welcolming Monica to the WmCarey  track & field family,adding that he believes she will be good fit academically, athletically, and personally. “We have built a successful team which Monica will add value to, and I’m sure she will represent her country well.” National 100m hurdles champion and former US Collegiate athlete Adrine Monagi has been assisting Korowi with her training for the past few months and is very pleased with her preparations for what will be a life changing experience. “Monica has been  consistently running sub 8 seconds for the 60m in her trials," said Monagi

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the annual competition for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for the academic year 2021-2022. The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) provides a diverse group of emerging student leaders with a scholarship for one semester of non-degree academic study at a U.S. college or university. Global UGRAD is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State and aims to recruit participants from under-represented backgrounds who have not had other opportunities to study in the United States. Successful applicants can expect an in-depth exposure to U.S. society, culture, and academic institutions, as well as opportunities to enhance their professional skills. All participants will be enrolled in full-time, non-degree, undergraduate coursework chosen from their host institution’s existing curriculum. Participants will be required to take one, 3-credit U.S. studies course to enhance their understanding of the United States. Participants will live in campus housing facilities with American peers and will be required to participate in 20 hours of community service. There will also be a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.  Candidates from the Pacific Islands countries are eligible. Global UGRAD is administered by World Learning on behalf of its funder, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Only online applications will be accepted and are due on Monday, March 15, 2021 via https://webportalapp.com/sp/home/n9bqhdalu1. Detailed application instructions are available at the U.S. Embassy Port Moresby website: https://pg.usembassy.gov/.

Prime Minister, James Marape, MP expressed sorrow on the recent decision taken by the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit in a Communique to formally exit from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). “I note this decision, and Papua New Guinea respects completely, the rights of the Micronesian Presidents’ Group, to make such decisions,” said Prime Minister Marape. But in the interest of regional stability Papua New Guinea proposes that, the PIF immediately reviews its charter and processes to ensure it is relevant to matters concerning all areas as well as a sub-regional balance in its structure, functions and mandate now and into the future. “My strong views in terms of amicable solution is for the Secretary General’s position to be rotated amongst the three sub-regions for a four-year term, non-contestable upon expiry. This will strike a balance in terms of fair representation and composition of PIF,” said Prime Minister Marape. "These are amongst other proposals I will be putting forward to ensure all voices are heard and I appeal for the Micronesian Group to remain with the PIF whilst we collectively work to reform it to ensure all Members’ rights are respected and preserved in the true “Pacific Way”. "I wish to place on record Papua New Guinea’s unequivocal support to all Micronesian Island States now and into the future, and seek their collective wisdom and understanding to reconsider their decision. In fact, I have written to the Chair of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit and President of Nauru H.E. Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, MP on this matter." The Forum has survived and achieved much together in its 50-year journey and we are at a particularly trying time in our region’s history in terms of the challenges that we face. "I remain confident in the political leadership of our region in that we can find a way forward together as one voice to address our regional issues and development challenges that we are presently confronted with." With contemporary global and regional issues like the climate change and sea level rising, our blue Pacific economic matters, regional and global trade including the use of our sea and air spaces, the collective muscle of our unity is better than smaller individual voices and PNG would like to appeal to our sisters and brothers of Micronesia through their leadership to remain in PIF and join PNG reforming PIF from within then from outside. “As a leader who voted with the Micronesians in the recent Secretary General vote, I will offer them my support for their line of thought on reforms to PIF they may also propose,” said Prime Minister Marape.

The National Airports Corporation (NAC) wishes to advise the General and Travelling public that Upgrade works on existing Runway at Madang Airport has commenced as of 12th of February 2021 and will continue thereon. First stage of works will see a minor reduction in the existing runway length to allow for these works to commence and also Airline Operators to continue operations into and out of Madang. Works on the runway will include; construction of new shoulders; removing existing seal, Pavement Strengthening; bituminous sealing; associated strip and drainage works including installation of new Airfield Lighting (AFL) systems. It is anticipated works at this stage (first Stage) and at the succeeding stages (to cover the full Runway) will take approximately eight (8) months to be fully completed and made available, however, this is subject to the prevailing weather condition(s) in Madang Province. Whilst NAC acknowledges and regrets the effect of this on the travelling public, it is however, necessary at this present time to ensure and maintain safety and compliance at Madang Airport. It is NAC’s objective is to ensure all 22 national airports in and around PNG are maintained and operated in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Recommendations and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority PNG (CASAPNG) Rules and regulation. NAC hereby appeals for your understanding and patience at and during this time to allow the contractor, HBS-Essar JV to continue and complete the required upgrade works on the runway.

Empowering the next generation of legal professionals with anti-corruption skills will strengthen the national integrity of Papua New Guinea for years to come. This was among the sentiments expressed at the formal closing of Transparency International Papua New Guinea’s (TIPNG) innovative LegalInternship Program (LIP). This annual program by TIPNG, in partnership with the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), began in 2017. Through the LIP four students in their 3rd and 4th year of study at the UPNG School of Law are engaged for 8 weeks to develop their professional skills and assist people in Papua New Guinea to take action againstcorruption.\ “We are thankful to Larry Agdop, Dempstar Kiasaka, Marlyna Kispe and Rebekah Watinga for their contribution to the work of TIPNG since they started in December 2020." "They have been exemplary young Papua New Guineans in their conduct and commitment." "It is our hope that the skills they have learned in theTIPNG office will inform how they, as legal professionals, contribute to the fight against corruption in Papua New Guinea,” said Arianne Kassman, TIPNG Chief Executive Officer, at the closing of the LIP on Friday 12thFebruary 2021. The four Interns in the 2020-21 LIP intake primarily assisted with TIPNG’s Anti-Corruption Help Desk (AnCoHD) which offers free and confidential advice to victims and witnesses of corruption in Papua NewGuinea. Corruption complaints can be lodged by either visiting the TIPNG office, or calling 180 6000 which is the toll-free hotline. While TIPNG cannot investigate, arrest or prosecute cases of corruption, through the AnCoHD matters can be referred on behalf of clients to responsible agencies for assistance. In addition to AnCoHD duties, the LIP interns assisted with legislative review, policy briefs, clerical tasks, events preparations and stakeholder meetings while with TIPNG. During the internship they also received presentations from the Interim ICAC, the PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI)Secretariat, Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR), Aila Consulting Ltd, TIPNG founding Director Richard Kassman and legal professional Nou Vada. TIPNG recently signed an MoU with UPNG to run the LIP till 2024 and as such the next intake will be in November 2021.