"More and more women are coming forward to report sexual crimes at the Family and Sexual Violence Unit at the Waigani Police Station." 2nd In charge of the Waigani FSVU, Mary Louise Avu said that they receive about 20 new cases each day. “We usually get women coming in to report cases however we get about 2-3 men coming in to report their partners.” “More men are coming forward due to awareness we carry out where we inform the community that men too suffer abuse at the hands of their partners, and it is ok to come forward and report it to the police.” The work of the Family and Sexual Violence Unit is to prosecute those who commit crimes of FSV such as assaults, wounding, attempted murder, incest rapes, and sexual assaults should be recorded and investigated. Avu told PNG HAUSBUNG 5yrs ago, they were only getting 5 cases a day as people were scared to come forward and there was not much information available on reporting FSV and Gender based violence cases. “At the Waigani FSVU, people can go in and report new cases on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays while Tuesdays and Thursdays are for following up on the progress of the cases.” Avu said that once a report is done on a case, the officers then work on getting the interim protection order organised for the survivors. “FSVU facilities ensure that survivors of FSV have access justice and protection services in a secure and more comfortable environment.” She highlighted that the unit is a small unit however they try to assist everyone that comes in to put in their reports. “There is a lot more work to be done in combating FSV and GBV in the communities however, logistics is a big issue and manpower as well.” “If you or someone you know is experiencing family and sexual violence or child abuse, FSVU can help you through centres in Port Moresby, Lae and other provinces as well.”

A total of 25 male and 12 female national squad members from Athletics PNG are at training camp at the National Sports Institute this week as part of the team’s preparations for the Pacific Games. Head Coach Brett Green has taken charge of the programme, assisted by Luke Donatini (hurdles and jumps) , Subul Babo and Allan Akia (sprints) ; Philip Kamane and Malcolm Limbai (middle/long distance). Cairns based Team PNG Head Physiotherapist Matthew Natusch is also attending the camp to screen all the athletes and identify any issues that need addressing. The team has been deeply saddened by the loss of Head Sprints coach Samu Sasama on Monday but after consulting with senior staff the camp is continuing. All of the male sprinters based in the United States of America have returned to the country and will participate in the PNG Air National Championships from August 11 to 13.   The training camp is an opportunity to get everyone together and plan their final preparations and to consider which athletes can fill gaps in the team such as the sprint hurdles and some of the jumping events. President Tony Green said that the final travelling team will be announced after the national championships even though they have been through process of selection with the Justification Committee of the PNG OC. “Whilst most places in the team have been determined in accordance with our selection policy, we know that the mens sprints will be very competitive and it would not be fair to the PNG based athletes to pre select overseas based athletes.” “So we are looking forward to a high standard and very competitive National Championships.” Green thanked sponsors, PNG Air and Prima Smallgoods for their ongoing support for the athletes preparation for the Games. Green further added thanks to the management of NSI for their support for the teams preparations, especially Director Janet Gimots and Kylie Martins. Cairns based Team PNG physio Matthew Natusch was very impressed with the set up at NSI and has seen all the athletes over the past few days. He has been able to spend time with each individual and use his expertise to identify actual and potential issues that they have. The importance of recovery from training sessions and how to keep themselves in shape and avoid injuries has been emphasised by the coaches as well as Mr Natusch, as a number of athletes have poor stability and tight muscles. Head Coach Green is pleased with the Camp so far and with the athletes overall preparation for the Games. He said Matthew’s help is invaluable at this stage because getting athletes into peak physical condition will certainly improve their performance and he is looking forward to seeing some good results at the National Championships. Green and Luke Donatini are also mentoring the local coaches and assisting them with the athlete training programmes towards the Games. Coach Green also said it was great to see the younger athletes in the NSI Development Programme joining the camp because they are the national reps of the future.

BSP Financial Group Limited continues to support sports in Papua New Guinea when they presented a cheque of K73,425 to the PNG Paralympic Committee for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in July, in Paris, France. A team of 3 will be representing PNG which includes a coach and para–Athletes Dorna Longbutt who will be competing in Javelin and Shot Put and Regina Edward to compete in Discus and Shot Put as well. Both athletes have qualified through the World Para Athletics Minimal Standard Process, with neither of the two PNG Athletes requiring wildcard entries. Dorna Longbutt, winner in the SP Sports Awards category, has very bright prospects to perform at an International elite level and make World Top 8 for Javelin and Shot Put, with the potential to compete for medals in the future. Experienced athlete, Regina Edward who has recorded her personal best results this year, also an athlete that has strong prospects for her Shot Put event at an international level. BSP Deputy Retail General Manager Peter Komon when presenting the cheque said that BSP is proud of its continued association with Sports in the country. “We believe that sport has the power to change our community and through our continued support, we can change lives, mindsets and communities.” “Our continued support to sports at all levels gives everyone including athletes with special categories an equal opportunity to achieve their sporting aspirations.” “Our core values of community, people and teamwork also encourages us to not just value but celebrate them and partnerships like this are part of how we practice our values.” “Congratulations and good luck to the athletes in representing our country.” PNG Paralympic Sports President Peter Curtain thanked BSP for the timely support saying that they are pleased that BSP was able to come onboard as a sponsor. “Our athletes will do their best in their respective fields, representing not just PNG but our bank.” The team will depart PNG 3rd July 2023, for the Paris World Para Athletics Championships which is scheduled from 8th to 17th July, 2023.

The Minister of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Don Pomb Polye has come out to air his views concerning the post on social media titled, “Cash for Grades” at the University of Papua New Guinea. Minister Polye said that as the Minister responsible for the Higher Education Sector, he is concerned that the post circulating on social media and later printed in the newspaper is based on actual evidence. He said that the Chancellor of UPNG is working with the Acting Secretary of DHERST to make inquiry to verify those claims. “I want to assure the public that proper investigation to those allegations is made.” “I also wish to assure the public that cash for grades in PNG’s higher education institutions is not a practice as many universities and higher education institutions in our country uphold its integrity and they do not compromise its core values.” “I would like to take this opportunity to share with the public my views concerning corruption and the steps which I undertook as a Minister responsible for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.” “Corruption is a global, cross-cutting issue that the public and private sector must face together to guarantee a sustainable future and progress on the long-term challenges we are facing.” “The Zero Corruption in all Higher Education Institutions in Papua New Guinea is my manifesto when I launched the program to digitalize the Higher Education Sector.” Polye further stated that Higher Education and digital technologies are powerful and mutually reinforcing tools. Polye also said that in August this year, there will be a Higher Education seminar with roundtable discussions related to transparency, accountability, and efficiency of all Higher Education Institutions. This event will bring together representatives of the PNG’s Universities and Colleges to discuss innovative ways of tackling corruption, looking specifically at the role that education and digital technologies can play. At the same time, ICT anti-corruption tools can be successful in creating awareness, mobilizing citizens, and reforming Higher Education Institutions. “In line with key principles of anti-corruption, ICT tools can play a great role in supporting transparency, participation, and integrity.” “However, to be truly effective, they need a functioning accountability framework that includes an independent judicial system, press freedom and an active civil society.” This also includes a more transparent and decentralized governance system of our Higher Education Institutions. At the beginning of May 2023, there was a workshop with PCG Academia to finalize the development of one integrated ICT learning, teaching, and research digitized system. New technologies and open data now allow anti-corruption people to detect, prevent and even predict corrupt practices that in the past could have been hidden behind a curtain of paper document opacity. “Technology is becoming a reliable friend of our Government and the Higher Education Ministry is seeking to combat corruption, because combined with their political will, technology can change the policy-making process of public service delivery and the higher education space.” “Digitalization will allow the Government and the Ministry to establish effective anti-corruption bodies and adapt to the requirements of the digital society and achieve the goals of sustainable development.” Thus, during the seminar one of the agenda items will be introduction of the digital means of combating corruption in the higher Education Sector: 1) Creation of an e-Higher Education Minister’s system. 2) Provision of digital higher education services with the use of information and communication technologies. 3) Creation of tools to detect manifestations of corruption, including e-declaration, electronic selection of students, recruitment of staff and electronic reporting. 4) Use of social networks to detect cases of corruption in the Higher Education Institutions link to the e-Higher Education Minister’s system. 5) Use of the DHERST’s website to access public information and the opportunity to obtain the necessary information on the activities of Higher Education Institutions, through open access, e-mail, etc. “One of the main goals of digital Higher Education Sector is to decrease corruption.” Minister Polye further stated that in the digital age, people must use the information to reduce misconduct and increase institutional transparency, accountability, efficiency, and citizen involvement. “The strategic plan for the Digital Higher Education Sector in PNG aims the use of the Internet and other digital devices to deliver quality of education, other services to staff and students and information.” “And to develop process of connecting citizens digitally to their Higher Educating Institutions and the Ministry so that they can access information and services offered by the Ministry and Higher Education Institutions.” “Additionally, the mechanisms through which digital Higher Education works to reduce corruption are straightforward and that is for the Higher Education Minister’s system to reduce contact between corrupt officials and citizens and increases accountability and transparency across the whole Higher Education Sector.” Minister Polye further added that all other information distributed through social or traditional media which is contrary to the facts stated above should be dismissed and disregarded.

"Crime rates in the city are rising at an alarming rate and here in Gerehu, it is also the same issue." Gerehu Police Station Commander, Inspector Hanson Tokally said that the main reason why crime rates are high in the suburb is because there is not enough manpower and resources available. “We currently have one vehicle that we use for attending to complaints in the community.” “In the last month, we had 3 carjacking that we attended to.” “I only have 20men and where we a supposed to have atleast 10 men to a shift, we only have 3-4 men for each shift.” PSC Tokally said that most times, carjacking happens in the residential streets in the early hours of the morning or late in the night when criminals know that police response will be slow. He added that community policing is important in all communities however they are struggling to engage with the community and carry out awareness as there is only one officer in that section. Police try to carry out awareness programs in the main areas such as the 24hr market, Waikele and the main bus stop area on the different types of crimes such as sexual crimes and murder and the penalties for those type of crimes. Tokally further stated that they also carry out awareness on alcohol abuse and drug abuse for youths as this is one of the main contributing factors that lead to the rise in crimes in the suburb.

It was the Best of times for Newcastle and the worst of times for the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday as the Knights routed the blue and whites to the tune of 66-0. The Knights had stars across the park but it was rampaging centre Bradman Best who stole the show with his first career hat-trick as Newcastle racked up the biggest win in the club's 35-year history. Skipper Kalyn Ponga was also outstanding for Newcastle with 154 running metres, three try assists and 11 goals from 11 attempts to equal Immortal Andrew Johns' club record for most goals in a match. After errors punctuated the game early it was the Knights who struck first in the 13th minute when Jackson Hastings took the ball two passes off a scrum and raced 25 metres to score untouched. The Knights struck again in the 17th minute when Ponga went left and put Best into a hole for his sixth try of the season. Ponga converted for a 12-0 lead. With 14 minutes remaining in the half Newcastle went further ahead when back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon proved far too strong for Khaled Rajab from close range and the score blew out to 18-0. The Bulldogs then put the kick-off out on the full to invite the Knights straight back on the attack but the Bulldogs' defence held firm. Come the 35th minute and the Bulldogs cracked again when Ponga delivered the final pass for Phoenix Crossland to scoot over for the Knights' fourth try. The Knights needed just three minutes to strike in the second half when Kurt Mann crossed before Greg Marzhew finished off a left side raid to make it 42-0. When Hastings crossed for his double in the 52nd minute after slick lead-up by Ponga and Best the Knights were out to 48-0 and the Bulldogs' missed tackle count had hit 45. A dropped ball by Bulldogs centre Paul Alamoti in the 57th minute was scooped up by Best who ran 60 metres to score to complete the first hat-trick of his career. Enari Tuala was next to cross for Newcastle with 14 minutes to play and Ponga's 10th conversion of the day made it 60-0. The Bulldogs' pain continued in the 70th minute when Crossland made it a double and the Knights had 11 tries for the day. The Bulldogs have now conceded 173 points in their past four games and their points differential of -220 is the worst in the competition. Source: NRL.Com  

Penrith weathered an early storm from Melbourne's big names to come from behind and record a 34-16 win at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. The Storm dominated for 32 minutes to set up a 14-0 lead before the defending premiers made a statement of their own with three tries in eight minutes to take a two-point advantage into half-time. It was a remarkable turnaround from the competition leaders during the match, who were without Nathan Cleary but had the likes of Origin stars Jarome Luai and Liam Martin stand up in his absence while Izack Tago was enormous in the win. Melbourne took a penalty goal early and then went up by eight when Harry Grant charged down a Jack Cogger kick to race to the line. Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona then laid on a huge hit on Isaah Yeo before crossing in the 24th minute. Penrith appeared to have an almighty challenge ahead of them in the second half but a penalty try in their favour through Stephen Crichton - who was ruled to have been impeded by Nick Meaney - sparked a remarkable passage of play. The visitors went the length of the field the following set to strike again through Tago before Martin dived over courtesy of some skill in the air by Scott Sorensen and Lindsay Smith to get the ball back to the representative forward. An early penalty goal to Melbourne after half-time levelled the scores but the Panthers regained the lead four minutes later when Tago steamrolled over Will Warbrick to split the Storm defenders to the line. Tago's collision with Warbrick saw the Storm winger ruled out for the remainder of the contest after failing a head injury assessment before the Panthers centre was again in the thick of the action to send Zac Hosking over through a grubber kick. An error to Nick Meaney on tackle one just as the Storm needed a chance to create some momentum summed up the evening for the home side as Craig Bellamy's looked off the pace late. Some light-foot stepping from Jarome Luai, who looked dangerous throughout the contest, set up Penrith's sixth of the evening when he laid on a kick for Brian To'o to go over next to the posts and ice a rare away victory in Victoria. Source:NRL.Com

The Sharks unleashed their full array of attacking weapons in a 52-16 win over arch-rivals the Dragons at PointsBet Stadium on Thursday night. Cronulla have now won their past seven clashes with the Dragons but they found themselves behind early after a mistake by Briton Nikora invited the Red V into the red zone and Mikaele Ravalawa scored. Zac Lomax converted from the sideline for a 6-0 lead. The Sharks steadied the ship and hit back in the eighth minute when Nicho Hynes ran a great angle off a Matt Moylan pass and the scores were locked 6-6. Four minutes later the Sharks got across the line again through Ronaldo Mulitalo but desperation defence from Tyrell Sloan and Lomax denied the winger. A penalty against Sharks lock Dale Finucane for a dangerous tackle handed the Dragons another opportunity and they sent the ball wide to the left for Tautau Moga to score and the visitors led 10-6. Sharks edge forward Briton Nikora powered onto a Hynes pass in the 25th minute to grab his sixth try of the season and Cronulla had the lead for the first time. Come the 32nd minute and it was Jesse Ramien getting his name on the scoresheet for the Sharks when he flew high to pull down a Moylan bomb and the home side led 18-10. Another air raid in the next set drew a mistake from Moga and the Sharks had four sets on the Dragons' line before Thomas Hazelton took an inside ball from Hynes and crashed over for his second try in as many weeks. Trailing by 14 at half-time the Dragons struck first after the break when Sloan produced a spectacular 90-metre solo try before Mulitalo answered for the Sharks with a trademark dive into the corner. When Siosifa Talakai powered his way to the line in the 68th minute the Sharks were well and truly home at 40-16 and the Dragons were consigned to a 12th loss of the season. Talakai then turned provider with a deft grubber kick for Mulitalo to grab his second and the margin was out to 30 points for Sharks. With three minutes to play the Sharks brought up their half century when Nikora poured into a hole to complete his double. Hynes' conversion made it 52-16 to Craig Fitzgibbon's men. Source: NRL.Com

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett is set to shift star fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to centre for Saturday night's clash with the Broncos at The Gabba. With the Dolphins desperate to avoid a fourth-straight defeat when they take on second-placed Brisbane in Round 18, halfback Sean O'Sullivan confirmed the move after Tabuai-Fidow trained at left centre on Wednesday, with Kodi Nikorima at fullback and rookie Valynce Te Whare remaining at right centre. The reshuffle comes after the Eels scored four tries down the Dolphins' left edge in a 48-20 victory last week. Tabuai-Fidow – who has 14 tries in 13 games this season – impressed at centre for the Maroons across the first two State of Origin matches this year, while Nikorima has played fullback for the Dolphins at times in 2023 as well. "Hamiso has been going unreal at fullback, but just with some of our injuries and how our team is unfolding, Wayne thinks that is the best spot for him at the moment," O'Sullivan said. "I'm not sure it'll be a long term one, but Hamiso is really exciting and no matter where he is playing he's going to do a job for us. Hamiso brings a unique skillset and his strengths, not many in the game have what he brings to the footy team. Sean O'Sullivan "Kodi has played at fullback and has done an unreal job for us when Hamiso was in Origin, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. "[It's about] trying to get our best 13 on the field for a massive game." After giving up just 17.5 points on average across their first four games, defence has become a major issue for the Dolphins during their current slump and they've failed to hold a team to under 30 points in their last three matches. O'Sullivan said while that area of the game is concerning, the squad weren't going into panic mode ahead of facing a Broncos side who rank third in terms of tries scored this season. "Wayne has let us know that it's not acceptable and it's not what we are building at this club," O'Sullivan said. "[But we are] also trying to stay calm and the world is not burning around us. "We know how to do it... it's just up to us to bring it on game [day]. "You look at us in especially the first four rounds of the NRL, we really played together and valued looking after our teammates and having each other's backs [in defence]." Saturday's match will be the second time the Dolphins and Broncos have clashed, with their prior meeting back in Round 4 – a 18-12 win for Brisbane – attracting a crowd of 51,047 at Suncorp Stadium. Source: NRL.Com

Queensland coach Billy Slater has dismissed suggestions that his side’s preparations have been ‘too smooth’ as they try to defy a poor Game Two record and wrap up this year’s Origin series. Heavy favourites going into Wednesday night's clash, the Maroons must overcome the fact that they have struggled in recent years to win the second game of the series, last winning in 2017. The Blues, on the other hand, have won nine of the past 12 Origin II matches. “No, I don't,” Slater said when asked if he read anything into the statistics. “History is history and it'll be what it'll be. “But that's not going to make us play any better or any worse, what's happened before in Game Two. “So, it's important that we just push all that energy into playing well for the game in front of us tomorrow.” Blues coach Brad Fittler knows that his side will also have to defy some history of their own if they are to claim a win at Suncorp Stadium to keep the series alive. “Depends on if you have won the first,” Fittler remarked when asked about the ‘bounce back’ qualities of the Blues and their recent Game Two record. “It shows you the closeness of the competition. “If you go through history, it just happens so often, needing to win just becomes the desperation that can make a difference. “The majority of the team have played up here enough to expect anything. Nothing can be an excuse, we just have to get out there and fight hard and keep going until the whistle blows.” Queensland enter Game Two with a smooth preparation far unlike some of the challenges they endured last year with COVID and injuries forcing a number of disruptions. Captain Daly Cherry-Evans wasn't buying the "seamless" tag as a worry for the side, however, and dismissed suggestions it would play a part in the result. “That’s just one perception of it, we are certainly not viewing it as a seamless camp, it’s Origin,” Cherry-Evans said when prompted for a comment on if their preparations had been “too seamless” for their liking. “If you are looking at it as a seamless transitioning from one game to the next, you are kidding yourself because you are going to sell yourself very short to what’s going to happen out there on Wednesday night. “We have been training at a level of intensity that we feel is going to give us a good chance of winning on Wednesday night. “We have had to make a few changes through injury, so it’s not as if we are just rolling out the same side again. We have got the new boys up to speed and we’ve just tried to apply ourselves at training.” “It's been a good week, but the most important part of our week comes at 8.05pm tomorrow night. That's where everything is channelled towards and as good as preparations can be, that's the most important part of the week,” Slater added. “We're in this position 36 hours before Game Two and everything's happened well so far, but it means nothing if we don't turn up tomorrow night and play our best football. I know there's a bit of a myth around that Queensland are underdogs; I could not care less. Maroons coach Billy Slater "I honestly could not care less who is favourites and who's not favourites, who's got players in and out and all that sort of stuff. “You've just got to do the best with the team that you've got. “We're very happy with the team that we have and you've got to adapt to their strengths and that's what we've been looking to do this week.” Source: NRL.Com

Slavery and human trafficking may sound like issues of a different time. However, people, particularly women and children, are forced into exploitative situations for other’s profit every day around the world. Modern-day slavery and human trafficking are real global problems that also affect Papua New Guinea. The Salvation Army facilitated a three-day workshop in May to introduce its officers at their Koki Office in Port Moresby to these concepts. The workshop focused on identifying potential victims, provide referral pathways, and help survivors reintegrate into their communities and restore livelihoods. Commander of the South-Central Division of The Salvation Army, Major Muru Igoto, said; “The key takeaways for me were learning about a range of strategic responses such as prayer, policy, relationships, prevention, and protection.” “And understanding how the work we do protects vulnerable men, women, and children.” Since completing the training, Major Muru has been making plans to implement awareness activities in communities around Koki and Badili in Port Moresby and in Papa Lealea in the Central Province. Major Muru is having conversations with primary schools, community leaders and even looking at opportunities during church activities to create awareness of the issues. “Many people don’t know about this issue, especially parents.” “For example, their daughter can be employed but paid very little and expected to sleep at work and not come home.” “These are signs of potential modern-day slavery that don’t align with community values and expectations.” “So together with my team, we’re planning to roll out awareness programs.” Major Muru said the Salvation Army’s efforts will help people in their communities’ notice and identify the various signs of modern-day slavery and human trafficking and understand how to act against it. Since establishing a working committee in 2022, the Salvation Army has been delivering similar trainings in other parts of Papua New Guinea and there are plans for more later this year. The Salvation Army hopes that discussions from the upcoming Church Partnership Program Forum will provide opportunities to collaborate and grow greater awareness and action in response to modern-day slavery and human trafficking. The Salvation Army’s work is supported by the Australian Government.

The Sharks have bounced back in style from last week's defeat to down the Bulldogs 48-10 in front of a sell-out home crowd. Coming off a disappointing 54-10 defeat to the Storm, Craig Fitzgibbon's men were desperate to make amends with the Cronulla faithful, running in five first-half tries before piling on another 18-points in the second term. With all eyes on Nicho Hynes after the halfback missed selection in the NSW side for Origin II, the reigning Dally M Medallist had a shaky start with several errors but quickly took control of the match, featuring in several of his side's tries and running for 236 metres. Losing halfback Matt Burton to Blues camp earlier in the week, Cameron Ciraldo unveiled a new-look spine in Karl Oloapu and Kyle Flanagan and while the two sides traded sets for the first 10 minutes, the Sharks soon took the wind out of the Bulldogs' sails. Hynes put his stamp on the match early, having his hand in two early tries for the home side. Firstly, breaking through the Bulldogs line to streak downfield and opening up space for Teig Wilton to crash over the left edge in the next play and nine minutes later finding Braden Hamlin-Uele on the inside who surged over to make it 14-0. The Sharks extended their lead in the 24th minute when Hynes ignited a raid down the left-hand side, linking up with fullback Will Kennedy who created an overlap out wide for winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to score. The Bulldogs got on the board ten minutes before half-time when Kyle Flanagan got one against his former club. In his first game back since being dropped to NSW Cup in Round 9, Flanagan looked to have a point to prove when he fooled Sharks defenders, scooting from dummy half to burrow over the line and score. But the Sharks just about put the game out of reach late in the second half when hooker Blayke Brailey set up tries for forwards Cameron McInnes and Jack Williams who both barged over next to the posts, handing the home side a 30-4 lead at the break. The second half was all the Sharks with rookie Tom Hazelton crossing in the 47th minute for his first NRL try and putting the game out of reach, handing the Sharks a 30-point lead. Milestone man Briton Nikora crossed for his 30th career try, while centre Jesse Ramien got in on the action five minutes later, strolling across the line. A consolation try to Bulldogs forward Kurtis Morrin in the 71st minute brought the final score 48-10 but that's as close as the visitors came to reducing the deficit. Source: NRL.Com