Madang Province is taking a new approach in its attempts to resolve social issues, break down in law and order, gender-based violence and many more crippling the province in recent times, and hoping to restore the province to its glory days. Madang governor Ramsey Pariwa has already thrown his support behind PNG Football Association under the leadership of President John Kapi Natto to utilise football as a development tool for the people of Madang and Papua New Guinea. Governor Pariwa was guest of honour to the John Kapi Natto hosted PNGFA Congress in Madang and was delighted to learn that Mr Kapi Natto took time off from his busy scheduled to visit two primary schools and one international school in Madang town while attending the PNGFA Congress in Madang over the weekend. Mr Kapi Natto said PNGFA and Madang Provincial Government can work together to change lives and unite the people through football. Governor Pariwa, who is a keen soccer follower, said people of Madang are passionate about football and it has always been part and partial of their livelihood. It has become the way of life for people of Madang. Mr Pariwa said he firmly believes that football (PNGFA) can work in partnership with the province in service delivery through Integral Human Development. Both parties; PNGFA and Madang Provincial Government must seek a workable solution to work in partnership in resolving social issues; breakdown on law and order, gender-based violence (GBV) plus many more. “Football can be used as a tool to amicably resolve the everyday law and order problems in the town and rural communities," the Madang Governor said. “I have pledged my 100 percent support in the political arena to see PNGFA grow moving forward,” Mr Pariwa said. Mr Kapi Natto said he is looking forward to work with Madang Soccer Association as an affiliated member and the Madang Provincial Government.

East Tanna residents in Vanuatu urgently need following two tropical cyclones and now acid rain from Mount Yasur which is an active volcano. The Vanuatu Daily Post quoted Rita Kelema, who is seven months pregnant, as saying the majority of locally grown food has been damaged. Images show some houses badly damaged. Trucks are taking water to impacted residents and the French Army has been reponding there, handing out essential supplies. Australia and New Zealand have also provided aid. Meanwhile, Save The Children Vanuatu is working to ensure the thousands of people affected by the cyclones get vital assistance. The charity's Pacific manager Kim Koch said her organisation is focusing on the needs of children, both in the short and long term. "Right now what children need are hygiene kits, shelter materials and that's really just buckets and tarps - making sure that families have something to help them get their house back in order and to get access to safe water, to be able to wash food and wash themselves." Koch said they were working with the Ministry of Education to get schools re-opened.   Chinese assistance The Government of China has given $US500,000 to aid recovery efforts in Vanuatu after cyclones Judy and Kevin. Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau received the donation from the Chinese Government Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs, Qian Bo, last week. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports this contribution is additional to the $US100,000 donated by the Chinese Red Cross Society. The Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu said this assistance will go a long way in supporting the people of Vanuatu during these difficult times. The initial estimate of the recovery cost is estimated at six billion vatu, or just under $US50 million.   Coffins exposed Six coffins were reportedly visible at the surface of graves in Port Vila, after Cyclone Kevin smashed through Vanuatu. A family member expressed shock at the sight, and alleged that it was due to a lack of extra effort to properly maintain the cemetery. The Port Vila City Council said it was not aware of damage, but claimed the coffins surfaced due to heavy rainfall during the cyclone. It said this was not the first time graves had opened during such weather. The council confirmed that the coffins would be reburied. Source: Radio New Zealand

Feni Primary School in Tanir Local Level Government now has a new double classroom after its officially launching on Friday. The officially opening was done by The Member for Namatanai and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Mr Walter Schnaubelt during his electoral tour on remote Anir Island. The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd including students, teachers, community leaders and the general public. A local contractor with the help of the Feni community constructed the double classroom with funding under the ward development support grant at the cost of K50,000. During his speech, Schnaubelt said that he knew it was challenging to build this classroom due to the island being isolated and how hard it was to bring in the building materials. “I understand and appreciate the challenges and as long as I’m your leader, we will work together in addressing some of these challenges going forward.” “I want to say thank you to the school board of management, carpenter and the community for working together in building the double classroom.” He shared that he was happy with the people working together and he committed another K50, 000 to the school for other school infrastructure projects. Minister Schnaubelt also announced that there will be a new policy shift that will help people in the rural areas and that is the Ward Development Support (WDS) program. “This program allows each ward in Namatanai to receive K50,000 each year for the development needs of the people at the ward level. It will be administered by the NMT (Network Management Team) based in each ward,” he said. Schnaubelt further announced as well a housing project whereby 50 recipients in a council ward will receive 16 sheet red colour bond roofing irons together with a K300 voucher from a hardware store to purchase nails and other needed items to help build a house.

Jacob Kiraz and Josh Addo-Carr provided the magic and Viliame Kikau the muscle as the Bulldogs outgunned the Storm 26-12 at AAMI Park on Saturday night. Canterbury went in as heavy underdogs but took the game up to Melbourne early and were rewarded with the opening try through second-gamer Jake Preston, who stormed onto a Reed Mahoney pass on the right edge and got the ball down despite the attention of three defenders. Melbourne found their groove and threatened to grab their first through Nelson Asofa-Solomona but four Bulldogs defenders muscled up and denied the Storm big man. When Young Tonumaipea was sent to the bin for a professional foul in the 25th minute the Bulldogs were quick to pounce, winger Kiraz cruising into the right corner to make it 10-0. Another dazzling attacking raid by Canterbury in the 34th minute set former Storm man Addo-Carr free on the left wing and he dived in to make it 16-0 with Matt Burton's sideline conversion. On the stroke of half-time the Bulldogs went close to a fourth try when Burton grubbered ahead and Kikau picked up the ball to score but replays showed Addo-Carr had knocked on as he tried to regather the kick. A storming run by bench forward Franklin Pele put the Bulldogs on the front foot and a quick shift to the right gave Kiraz the chance to show his strength to get across for his second try of the night early in the second term. Mahoney nailed a 40-20 in the 48th minute and the visitors rubbed more salt into the Melbourne wounds with a try to Jake Averillo, who carried three defenders over the line to make it 26-0. The Storm took their first steps on the long road back when Asofa-Solomona crossed in the 53rd minute and Nick Meaney converted to cut the margin to 20. A blow for the Storm soon after when Asofa-Solomona left the field with a knee injury but superstars Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes lifted, the Kangaroos hooker putting the Kiwi playmaker in for a try in the 58th minute. Down by 14 and with time running out the Storm muscled up in defence to force a mistake from Ryan Sutton but Melbourne's attack wouldn't click when they needed it to and the Dogs snuffed out the raid. With Mahoney controlling the game out of dummy half and Kikau muscling up in defence, the Bulldogs held on for their first win at AAMI Park since 2016. Source: NRL.com

A double to fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow led the Dolphins to an emotion-charged 20-14 win over the Raiders on Saturday night. With heavy rain falling throughout the second half it was the forwards who led the way for the Dolphins, laying the foundation for halfback Sean O'Sullivan and Tabuai-Fidow to work their magic. The Raiders were first to strike in the 14th minute when Jack Wighton took a pass from Danny Levi and powered over from close to the line. A loose offload by Tesi Niu in the slippery conditions handed the Raiders a chance to extend their lead but Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich came up with a one-on-one steal on Hudson Young to defuse the situation. Come the 23rd minute and Wighton was starring at the defensive end, denying Jamayne Isaako with a diving cover tackle that knocked the ball from the winger's grasp. A clever grubber by Tom Starling earned the Raiders a repeat set in the 29th minute and the Green Machine cashed in through winger Nick Cotric after slick lead-up work by Corey Harawira-Naera and Matt Timoko. Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King was sin binned six minutes before the break for a hip drop and Jamal Fogarty knocked over the penalty goal to give Canberra a 12-0 lead. Despite being a man down the Dolphins struck back when O'Sullivan grubbered and Seb Kris failed to clean up, allowing Tabuai-Fidow to pounce on the loose ball. The Dolphins mounted pressure early in the second half when O'Sullivan earned a line dropout with a neat grubber but Mason Teague came up with a dropped ball and the pressure was released. Another inch perfect grubber by O'Sullivan in the 63rd minute laid on a try for back-rower Tom Gilbert, who showed great desperation to get to the ball first. Isaako's conversion tied it up at 12-12. With 10 minutes to play, Tabuai-Fidow jumped out of dummy half close to the tryline and caught Young offside at marker. The Raider was sent to the bin and O'Sullivan landed the penalty goal to put the Dolphins up 14-12. Just as the Dolphins took control, O'Sullivan was sin binned for making contact with Harawira-Naera's head after the Raiders back-rower had kicked ahead and Fogarty slotted the penalty goal for 14-14. With the Kayo Stadium crowd in full voice the Dolphins worked their way downfield and five-eighth Isaiya Katoa went to the line and put Tabuai-Fidow into a hole for the match-winning try. Source: NRL.com

A 101-year-old woman has been awarded an honorary degree more than eight decades after qualifying as a teacher. Madge Brown, who lives in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, graduated with a diploma in physical education in 1942 after three years of study and training. The University of London said Mrs Brown and others who became teachers at that time deserved the level of recognition they would have received today. She received the degree on the same day as 94-year-old Sheila Gordon. Both reside on the Isle of Wight and attended the now-defunct Nonington College of Physical Education in London during the 1940s. Mrs Brown said she felt "rather old" to finally be getting a bachelor of education degree, and described her time training as a teacher as "the happiest days of my life". "I'm very grateful for this - but it has been a long time coming," she said. "When I left college, they always said it should be a proper graduation because of the hard work we did. "Why they never made the diploma of physical education a degree I don't know, because it was very intense." Teachers were typically trained on two-year or three-year certificate courses at training college until the 1980s, but this was later replaced with the requirement for all trainees to complete a graduate or postgraduate course. A University of London spokesperson said it was working to present all those who gained teaching certificates from the now non-existent teaching colleges in the city with degrees to recognize "their dedication to teaching and enriching the lives of young people". Source: BBC

Health care workers, Senior lecturers from Lutheran School of Nursing and selected health institutions in Madang Province are preparing themselves for a weeklong training on increasing COVID Vaccinations rates in the province.  This training will be from March 20th to 24th and will be facilitated by donor agencies, the National Department of Health, National Control Centre, and the Madang Provincial Health Authority.  The focus of the Vaccine Taskforce is to ensure that March onward, COVID-19 Vaccines, like routine Immunizations, will be normalized and the uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccines in the country will increase.According to the Deputy Controller/Executive Director Vaccine Taskforce National Control Centre Dr. Daoni Esorom, increasing the COVID vaccination is the way forward to making sure of the protection of one’s health and their families too.    “Make sure to protect yourself and your family by getting fully vaccinated at an authorized vaccination site near you today.” For more information about COVID 19 and vaccination sites., Call hotline number 1800 200 or visit the National Control Centre Facebook Page.   

After news circulated of the sexual assault of a young girl in remote Koroba in Hela Province, Prime Minister James Marape has called on the Police Commissioner to receive a petition by concerned citizens.    Prime Minister James Marape was in East New Britain to launch a project when he made this call.     “I have asked the Police Commissioner to attend to receive the petition and for police to do their job in making arrests on all law-and-order related issues including assaults of all forms on our daughters and mothers.    “My government’s policy focus is more money to Police, Magisterial and Judicial services in 2023 than other government of pasts years.”    “We have passed tougher laws like life imprisonment for rapists and gun handlers, so it is now on law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.”    “It cannot be the Prime Minister doing the police and magistrates' job. Police must do their job of arresting offenders, prosecuting the case, and securing convictions on those who break laws in our country.”    “My job is to pass laws and allocate enough money, both of which we have secured for 2023. Police right across our country must do their jobs.”    Marape said that they will continue to increase funding and capacity building for the police, courts, and correctional facilities over the next 10 years to address these issues.    He added that he will continue to work towards empowering the law enforcement agencies to convict those that commit offenses against the women and daughters of this country.    

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children have officially been named as prince and princess on the Royal Family's official website. It comes the day after Prince Harry and Meghan announced their daughter Lilibet had been christened and they used the title princess for the first time. Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, are named as the Prince and Princess of Sussex on the line of succession page. They are sixth and seventh in line to the throne. Previously they were listed as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. The rules governing the titles of royal children were set out by King George V - Queen Elizabeth's grandfather - in 1917. Archie and Lilibet were not prince and princess at birth, because they were not grandchildren of the monarch, but they gained the right to these titles when King Charles acceded to the throne. A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan said: "The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. "This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace." It comes after the couple announced that Lilibet, who was born in June 2021, had been christened at their home in California. The Right Reverend John Harvey Taylor, the Bishop of Los Angeles, presided over the christening last Friday. Prince Harry and Meghan relocated to the United States after stepping down as working royals in 2020. Source: BBC

A stunning Broncos debut by Reece Walsh has led Kevin Walters' men to a 28-16 win over the Cowboys in Friday night's Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium. With Walsh at his mesmerising best and five-eighth Ezra Mam also enjoying a magical night, the Broncos made it two straight wins to start the season. The Cowboys flew out of the blocks with Jason Taumalolo making big metres and star back-rower Jeremiah Nanai capitalising on the early possession with some trademark footwork to cross in the fifth minute. Some desperate defence by Chad Townsend denied Mam a chance to hit back in the 12th minute before the Cowboys extended their lead to 8-0 midway through the half courtesy of a Val Holmes penalty goal. The Broncos had several chances to open their account with 16 tackles inside the Cowboys' red zone in the first 25 minutes but Todd Payten's men held firm. Herbie Farnworth looked to have jagged a try for Brisbane when he dived into the corner in the 30th minute but the try was disallowed for obstruction in the lead-up. In the 34th minute the Broncos finally took their opportunity inside the 20-metre zone when skipper Adam Reynolds grubbered for Kurt Capewell to score. A penalty against Martin Taupau for a hip drop tackle handed Holmes the chance to add two more points and the Cowboys took a 10-6 lead before the Broncos had the final say with a superb try to Mam. With 30 seconds remaining in the half, Walsh found space and sent the ball to winger Corey Oates who put a perfectly weighted grubber back inside for Mam to gather and score. Reynolds missed the conversion and the score was locked 10-10 at the break. The Cowboys lost fullback Scott Drinkwater to the sin bin in the 44th minute when he made high contact on Oates as the Broncos winger tried to score in the corner and the home side cashed in immediately when Kotoni Staggs scored from a Walsh kick. The Broncos went further ahead in the 50th minute when Walsh sparked another raid and Mam finished it off to make it 20-10 to Brisbane. Drinkwater returned to the field in the 54th minute to make it 13 on 13 but the Cowboys looked to be out of gas and a penalty goal to Reynolds with 10 minutes to play made it 22-10. Nanai made it a double in the 73rd minute when Townsend put a perfectly weighted grubber into the in goal and the Cowboys were back in the contest. The Cowboys threw everything at Brisbane in a bid to level up but Walsh had the final word when he backed up a Farnworth break to score the Broncos' fifth try. Source: NRL.com

Prince Edward has been named as the new Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace has announced. The King has given the title to his youngest brother on Prince Edward's 59th birthday. It is a title strongly associated with their father, Prince Philip, who was Duke of Edinburgh for more than 70 years, up until his death in 2021. The new Duke and his wife Sophie, who becomes Duchess of Edinburgh, visited the Scottish capital on Friday. The couple went to a reception in Edinburgh which recognised the efforts of volunteers in supporting Ukrainian refugees over the past year. Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic criticised the award of the title to Prince Edward, saying the "views of the people of Edinburgh" should have been considered before the title was given as a "birthday present". Prince Edward becomes Duke of Edinburgh almost two years after the death of his father, Philip, who was given the title in 1947 when he married the then Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II. It was understood that Philip had wanted Edward, his youngest son, to take on the title, but the decision was left in the hands of King Charles. It means that Edward, 13th in line of succession to the throne, will attend the coronation in May as a duke, with a title that was synonymous with his late father. With Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, no longer a "working royal", there could be a more high-profile role for Edward, the King's youngest brother. At the end of last year, Parliament fast-tracked a change in law to add Prince Edward and his sister Princess Anne to the "counsellors of state" who can act on behalf of the King. In his earlier career, Prince Edward had worked in theatre and television production, but had increasingly focused on public duties, including taking on a number of roles from Prince Philip as he grew older. This included supporting the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, created by Prince Philip in 1956, which provides activities and training programmes for young people in the UK and overseas. When Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, Buckingham Palace had announced that "in due course" it was expected by the Queen and Prince Philip that Edward would eventually become Duke of Edinburgh. Although it is a prestigious title, it does not come with any land or income. But the announcement was challenged by Graham Smith of the anti-monarchy group Republic. "If we're going to have such daft titles they should be decided by Parliament or government - and it should not be possible for the head of state to award his own family," said Mr Smith. The title of Duke of Edinburgh will not be hereditary, so when Edward dies it will not go to his children, but could be given to another senior member of the Royal Family. Prince Edward's former title of Earl of Wessex will now go to his son, the 15-year-old Viscount Severn. But there will be no change in title for Edward's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip's legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential." The first Duke of Edinburgh was created in 1726, when the Hanoverian monarch George I gave the title to his grandson, Prince Frederick. Queen Victoria recreated the title in 1866 for her second son, Prince Alfred, and it was created again in 1947 for Prince Philip.   Source: BBC

The Panthers are on the board in 2023 after surviving a late comeback from the Rabbitohs to win their clash 16-10 in the opening game of Round 2 on Thursday night. It took a desperate diving effort from Dylan Edwards to stop Alex Johnston from scoring in the final minute to secure the result, after the Panthers had 15 minutes earlier held a 16-0 lead and appeared to be cruising. Earlier tries from Johnston and Isaiah Tass, the second of which was converted by Latrell Mitchell, set up the tense finish. The Panthers had started with a hiss and a roar, after being upset by the Broncos in an opening-round defeat, and with a mid-week jibe from Latrell Mitchell no doubt fresh in their minds. Outside of the late comeback from their opponents, the major scare for Penrith came when skipper Nathan Cleary left the field with a limp just before the break, although he was able to return and play the second half without issue. The Panthers terrorised South Sydney's back three with high kicks all night, while they wore the Rabbitohs down with an 80 percent completion rate and high tempo play, led by impressive bench dummy-half Soni Luke. Penrith got over the line twice in the first five minutes, with the first effort ruled out by the Bunker and the second ending in Stephen Crichton scoring in the corner. After some brave defence from the Rabbitohs, and blown opportunities of their own causing, the Panthers finally got a result again a minute before the break, with Izack Tago scoring and Crichton converting for a 10-0 lead. A penalty goal and Brian To'o try saw the hosts stretch the gap to 16 by the 52nd minute, before Johnston's try 14 from time created some interest. Tass then scored to set up a thriller, before Edwards saved the day on the last set with a desperate lunge to clear the ball before Johnston got there in the in-goal area. Source: NRL.Com