Nicole Lynn bet on herself, and it is paying off tenfold. According to a post from Sports Business Journal, she is set to become the first Black female agent to represent a quarterback in the Super Bowl. The post Nicole Lynn Is The First Black Female Agent To Represent An NFL Quarterback In The Super Bowl appeared first on AfroTech. As AfroTech previously told you, Lynn represents Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is gearing up to play the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes II on Feb. 12. The opportunity wasn’t handed to her. Instead, Lynn took a chance by sending a direct message to Hurts. “Hey, have you picked an agent? If not, I’d love to link,” Lynn wrote on Instagram, according to Sports Illustrated. Hurts, who had not yet hired a sports agent, felt strongly that Lynn would be the right choice to step into that role due to her determination and her impressive work history. While considering the idea, Hurts was presented with concerns by those who questioned women’s success in the heavily male-dominated industry. Yet, none of that wavered his decision. “I know the agent world in the NFL, and all sports, is very male-dominated,” Hurts explained to Sports Illustrated. “But Nicole was really on top of her stuff. She was prepared. She knew what she was talking about. She was hungry. And she was determined. And I feel that determination like that never rests. Once you come across such a determined individual, that just hits me a little different.” Work History Lynn’s accomplishments in the sports world also include becoming the first female agent to represent NFL agency PlayersRep, which was later acquired by Lil Wayne’s Young Money APAA Sports Agency, in 2015. What’s more, she was just 26-years-old when she signed her first client. By 2021, Lynn had positioned herself as Klutch Sports Group’s President of Football Operations. She now represents over a dozen athletes, per Insider. “Any time someone thinks of an agent, they’re gonna think of me,” Lynn said, according to NBC News. “The first person that’s gonna come to their mind is a Black woman. I’m the Jerry Maguire — that is who I am.”   Source: Yahoo News!

Actor and producer Alec Baldwin has been criminally charged in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” the Santa Fe County, New Mexico, district attorney’s office told CNN Tuesday. The charges against Baldwin and the set’s armorer, Hannah Guiterrez Reed, include two counts of involuntary manslaughter, the DA’s office said. Attorneys for both defendants previously insisted their respective clients are innocent. “Negligent use of a deadly weapon charges were also filed against ‘Rust’ assistant director David Halls, who has pleaded no contest and has entered into a plea agreement that is pending approval,” according to a media statement issued by the DA’s office. “Today we have taken another important step in securing justice for Halyna Hutchins,” District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. “In New Mexico, no one is above the law and justice will be served.” Carmack-Altwies told CNN earlier this month she would charge Baldwin and the film’s armorer with involuntary manslaughter, accusing them of failing to perform safety procedures that could have prevented the accident that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins was struck and killed by a live round of ammunition fired from a prop gun being held by Baldwin, who maintains he did not pull the gun’s trigger. Director Joel Souza was also shot and injured. Baldwin did not take firearm training on the “Rust” movie set seriously, prosecutors said in probable cause documents outlining evidence in the case. “A training session for at least an hour or more in length was scheduled, but the actual training consisted of only approximately 30 minutes as according to (armorer Hannah Gutierrez) Reed, Baldwin was distracted and talking on his cell phone to his family during the training,” the document states. Gutierrez Reed is also charged with involuntary manslaughter, with prosecutors stating she did not insist on Baldwin’s safety training, did not check each round loaded into the firearms, and did not follow appropriate safety protocols in storing ammunition. “Gutierrez Reed was reckless in her responsibility to ensure set safety with the firearm. She failed to correct Baldwin from committing the dangerous and reckless safety violations by pointing the weapon at/towards people and by having his finger on the trigger,” according to the probable cause statement against Gutierrez Reed. “The photos and videos clearly show Baldwin, multiple times, with his finger inside of the trigger guard and on the trigger, while manipulating the hammer and while drawing, pointing, and holstering the revolver,” prosecutors said. Repeated FBI testing on the weapon determined it could not fire without the trigger being pressed. In interviews with CNN and ABC Baldwin has claimed he did not pull the trigger. CNN has reached out to representatives for both Baldwin and Gutierrrez Reed. Baldwin has maintained he was not aware the gun he fired during a rehearsal contained a live round. In a statement to CNN on Jan. 19, his attorney called the prosecutors’ decision “a terrible miscarriage of justice.” “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set,” Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas said in his statement. “He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.” An attorney for Gutierrez Reed said he believes jurors will find his client not guilty. “We were expecting the charges but they’re absolutely wrong as to Hannah – we expect that she will be found not guilty by a jury and she did not commit manslaughter,” attorney Jason Bowles said in a statement to CNN earlier this month when the indictment was first released. “She has been emotional about the tragedy but has committed no crime.” Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed each face two counts of involuntary manslaughter so that a jury can decide which specific count may be more appropriate, Carmack-Altwies previously told CNN. If convicted, “they will only be sentenced to one count,” the prosecutor said. In either case, a conviction is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and up to a $5,000 fine, prosecutors said. But one count would involve a firearm enhancement, or an added penalty, because a firearm was involved. In that case, the crime could be punishable by up to five years in jail, prosecutors said. Source:CNN News

Prime Minister (PM)  James Marape, said that peace and unity must prevail amongst the leadership of Southern Highlands Province, in order for their people to maintain and promote peace and unity. He said the Government fully supports the move made by the leaders of Southern Highlands Province, to establish unity and peace for progress, in the province. Prime Minister Marape was present to witness the swearing-in ceremony of SHP Governor William Powi, as the Chairman of the Provincial Executive Council, in Mendi Township this morning. Following the swearing-in of Governor Powi, he continued the process by officially swearing-in the other SHP MPs, including Imbonggu MP, Pila Niningi, former PM and Ialibu-Pangia MP, Peter O’Neill, Nipa-Kutubu MP, Dr Billy Joseph and Mendi-Munihu MP, Raphael Tonpi. Kagua-Erave MP, Maina Pano, who was in his electorate to open a school with the Minister for Finance, Hon. Renbo Paita, could not make it to the ceremony on time, so he will be sworn-in at a later date. In addressing the people of SHP and neighboring provinces, PM Marape said he was pleased to see reconciliation between leaders of SHP, during the Provincial Assembly swearing-in of MPs and said this would enable our people to promote and maintain peace and unity in the province. He appealed to the leaders of SHP to come back home and promote vital sectors such as agriculture, health, infrastructure and education, among others. PM Marape also thanked his predecessor Hon. Peter O’Neill for putting his differences aside and attending the Provincial Assembly, expressing forgiveness, true leadership and maturity. “This is a form greater transformation to restore leadership in governance, for this province. “It is good to see our SHP leaders are now working with Governor Powi to transform this province, for the better,” PM Marape said. He said Governor Powi has brought back unity to SHP. “Let us all return as ‘One Mendi’ and move forward in rebuilding Mendi Township again. “I acknowledge Mendi-Munihu MP Tonpi in his vision to grow mendi in agriculture, infrastructure, education and health. “Enough of remaining stagnant. It is us the leaders who have caused so much unrest and now we have to work together to bring back peace and untiy to Mendi, especially,” PM Marape said. He said when Governor Powi returns to Mendi, I want you to welcome him and let bygones, be bygones, and work with him to improve and rebuild Mendi Township. “For impact projects, the National Government is giving a total of K53 million, to distribute amongst the five electorates of SHP, to assist them in completing outstanding projects,” PM Marape said. He also delivered K4m for the the completion of the Mendi Airport. He thanked Gov. Powi for the SHP Provincial Referral Hospital by 2027 and announced that the National Government stands ready to support the provincial government is completing high impact projects in SHP. “I further urge contractors to be true to our people and complete their contracts or their contracts will be terminated. “I expect local contractors to do their part and deliver what they owe us, as funding had already been released,” PM Marape said. He also said for unity to grow, we must adhere to rule of law. And, this starts with us the leaders. He advised public servants to work accordingly and lawfully. “For the next five years, I want all leaders to work together and lawfully, for our people’s benefit. “That’s the least we can do for our people,” PM Marape concluded.

CPL Foundation has committed to another round of year support to Queenpads Menstrual Health programs in 2023 as Retail and Program Partner. Queenpads Founder Anne Shirley Korave, in thanking CPL Foundation Chairman, Sir Mahesh Patel said “We are extremely pleased to receive the on-going support of CPL Foundation for the Menstrual Health Programs 2023 targeting their employees, schoolgirls and women in communities and even extended to working individuals in PNG. She added “we hope to grow and strengthen the partnership and to continue to meet the silent needs, and care for the special days of menstruators in PNG also through its known pharmacies nationwide." Sir Mahesh Patel, commented “we are all about serving our communities and supporting local initiatives that adds value to our team members, and lives of people. Women’s Health is also important; we hope to see our team get more involved in getting the message out there and in doing so, allows them to give back to communities.” Queenpads MH Programs involves Menstrual Health and Hygiene Education and Awareness, distribution of reusable sanitary cloth-pads and other Queenpads products in Papua New Guinea. The Queenpads Awareness team will be conducting sessions commencing February and will end in October 2023. Through this collaboration, we hope to also make useful information on Menstrual Health and Hygiene accessible and convenience for shoppers in the City Pharmacy shops nationwide too. Thousands of school girls have missed class due to no access to decent sanitary facility and products to manage their special days – and because of the taboos and cultural barriers many do not seek support or assistance and end up staying home during school days affecting their learning performance. Thousands of young women, mothers in communities or suburbs are choosing alternative options due to no access of menstrual products or proper WASH/Change facility just to get home chores done or to fend for family needs selling at market or gardening. Even many working women due to a tight budget prioritize food and other necessities over menstrual needs. Queenpads aims to bridge this gaps one step at a time, prioritize Education and Menstrual Needs of school girls, women in communities and workplaces through such collaboration and thanks CPL Foundation in caring for special day’s needs”. Through CPL Foundation’s support and in collaboration with other partners, Queenpads hope to reach ten thousand (10,000) women and young girls sharing useful Menstrual Health and Hygiene information with them, and giving them an alternative PNG Owned and PNG Made sustainable product (Queenpads) that will be useful safe for up to 5 years. Menstruation is NOT a Choice! It is Everyone’s Business. Together let us prioritize the silent need that affects many women and young girls every month.

The Vanimo Power Station is intact and resume supply of electricity to consumers and the general public in Vanimo and surrounding villages yesterday (31/01/23) afternoon. PNG Power Chief Executive Officer, Obed Baita denied a report by NBC News on its Facebook page claiming that the Vanimo Power Station caught fire yesterday morning and destroyed all its generators, disrupting power supply in the township. The news report is misleading and not true. PNG Power switched-off the power station, following an unfortunate fire that started from the PNG Defence Forward Base, which shares the boundary with the power station and the fire quickly spread out to the power station yard. With quick action from our team and assistance from Vanimo Forest Products, the fire put off using water carts. It could have been catastrophic, but the quick action saved the power station and its fuel tanks. PNG power Vanimo team are awaiting clearance from our Safety Team, before starting up the generators to restore full power supply. PNG Power Safety Team will investigate the cause of the fire, and recommend appropriate action, to mitigate such, happening in the future.

Police have negotiated for a peace agreement between two warring tribes in the Jiwaka province. The fight which began over a stolen pig has resulted in five deaths. Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Albert Korin said the fight started on January 04 between the Wika and Waka tribes in Nondugl. The Waka tribe accused the Wika tribe of stealing a pig and a fight broke out in which a man from the Waka tribe was killed. Mr Korin said the Wika tribe refused to surrender the murder suspect so the tribesman of the deceased (Waka tribe) organized and attacked and killed four men from the Wika tribe. Mr Korin said police intervened and arranged a peace mediation team supported by the two Mobile Squad (MS) sections from the Western Highlands province and local police unit as well. The team negotiated a peace agreement whilst police units maintained law and order in the province. Mr Korin said an understanding was reached between the two warring tribes who have agreed to sign a peace agreement. However, whilst the Waka tribe agreed to peace the Wika tribe leadership wanted more time to consult its tribesmen. Mr Korin is confident that a date will be set anytime this week for the peace agreement to be signed between both tribes.

A dull and dreary morning in Redcliffe can’t dampen the spirits of The Dolphins NRL squad as they flock to the training fields, midway through yet another week of a gruelling inaugural preseason preparation. The usual whoops and cheers of a footy team echo across the carpark as the entire playing group begins the morning’s session, and scattered throughout the laughter is the irresistable and undeniable tones of a Papua New Guinean accent – four of them, to be specific. For Judah Rimbu, Rodrick Tai, Sherwin Tanabi and Emmanuel Waine, this is not just any other preseason. All four current SP PNG Hunters players are a long way from home as they lace up their boots alongside NRL household names like Jesse & Kenneath Bromwich, Anthony Milford and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow this morning, but that’s not to say they look out of place. As the Hunters faithful know all too well, there is a wealth of rugby league talent in Papua New Guinea and for Rimbu, Tai, Tanabi and Waine, this preseason is a chance to showcase that talent thanks to an exciting new partnership between the SP PNG Hunters and The Dolphins NRL clubs. [caption id="attachment_35424" align="alignnone" width="788"] Rodrick Tai watches on[/caption] That partnership sees four Hunters players undertake a full NRL preseason under the watchful eye of mastercoach Wayne Bennett, with two of those players promised a fulltime NRL contract with The Dolphins for the 2023 season – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The SP PNG Hunters in collaboration with the PNG RFL and the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program is currently in the process of ushering in a new era for rugby league in Papua New Guinea. A strategic pathway designed to identify and develop home-grown rugby league talent is slowly being introduced in PNG across all levels – from grassroots football, the Digicel Cup and all the way through to international programs – with one key purpose; to create a genuine pathway into the NRL competition for players and coaches of Papua New Guinean heritage. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for these four young Hunters and if this morning’s session is anything to go by, they are taking it with both hands. As the players are all put through their paces, the power and skill of the Hunters representatives is evident. They all possess the brute strength and fearlessness in contact that is part-and-parcel of their Papua New Guinean heritage, growing up playing in regional junior comps and watching the notoriously physical Digicel Cup competition. But where the real growth and potential lies for these four Hunters is in the elite rugby league education they are receiving while training within an NRL system. [caption id="attachment_35425" align="alignnone" width="788"] Judah Rimbu enjoying every moment[/caption] Indeed, while the distance between The Dolphins’ high-performance training facilities in Redcliffe and the hallowed turf of the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby is long forgotten this morning, Rimbu, Tai, Tanabi and Waine are already keenly aware of the experiences afforded them. As we sit down to chat following a gruelling two-hour session in the rain, there is a shared sense of appreciation for and awareness of the opportunity before them. There is also a fierce pride for representing not only their friends, families and SP PNG Hunters teammates, but the country of Papua New Guinea as a whole. These four Hunters are living out a childhood dream shared by thousands of kids growing up in villages back home, and the weight of that expectation and responsibility is not lost on them. Instead, Rimbu, Tai, Tanabi and Waine are taking in every moment and soaking up every drop of information they can. For Rodrick Tai – a breakout star of the SP PNG Hunters ‘22 campaign and a hero of their Round 20 win over the Mackay Cutters last season – the attention to detail required at this level has been eye-opening. “Everything is done with great intensity and there is a real attention to detail,” said Tai. “Getting the one-percenters right; positioning in defence, footwork, combinations and timing with the players around you. All those little things are so important and we’re working hard to ensure we pay attention to the details and get those moments right.” [caption id="attachment_35426" align="alignnone" width="788"] Sherwin Tanabi catches his breath[/caption] For 21-year old playmaker Judah Rimbu, it’s the application to training and emphasis on building good habits that has been impressed upon him most. “When we’re training there is a big focus on transitioning between drills quickly and moving onto the next job,” said Rimbu. “There’s a real feeling of professionalism about the way we train. We’re expected to adjust quickly and always get ready for the next job, which is exactly how we need to play during games. You can’t switch off for even a second – you need to be ‘on’ all the time.” That’s fair reflection from a rookie halfback with just 28 Cup games to his name and is testament to Rimbu’s eagerness to learn – a trait written all over his infectious smiling face. For Tanabi and Waine – both standouts for the Hunters last season and recent members of the PNG Kumuls World Cup squad alongside Tai – the practical applications of training has made the biggest impact on them, three weeks into the latest preseason block. “Everything we do is short and sharp. There’s a clear correlation between what we’re working on in a drill and how it might translate into a game scenario,” says Waine, as Tanabi nods in agreement beside him. [caption id="attachment_35428" align="alignnone" width="788"] Emmanuel Waine taking it all in[/caption] “There’s a purpose to everything which makes the training enjoyable. It’s easy to see how practising our footwork or positioning in a drill will help us defend on an edge in the game, for example,” Tanabi added. “It’s challenging and done at high speeds which all helps to develop our skill and prepares us better for when we’re finally back out on the field.” It quickly becomes apparent that the maturity of these Hunters players has developed out of sight since living and training within an elite NRL team environment. No doubt the challenges of a difficult 2022 Hostplus Cup season and the experience of a World Cup campaign with the PNG Kumuls has contributed to that, with the result being four young rugby league players desperate to make the most of the talent and opportunities presented to them. A warm welcome from The Dolphins NRL playing squad has certainly helped with their transition this year, with all four Hunters representatives paying tribute to The Dolphins senior players for supporting the move. “Everyone has been really welcoming and made sure we feel a part of the team,” said Waine. “There is no seperation – we’re all here to learn and get better as a team and the senior players really drive that on and off the field. It’s been really good so far.” Of course, we couldn’t talk footy without mentioning a man who is revered both back home in Papua New Guinea and in the wider rugby league community, too. The Dolphins NRL Head Coach Wayne Bennett has long been a proponent of the relatively untapped football talent coming out of Papua New Guinea, and to be training and learning under his guidance is proving as inspiring as it is surreal for the four young Hunters. “He’s just so wise,” says Tanabi with a big grin on his face. “He’s very motivational – he always knows exactly what to say to get you focussed and working in the right direction. He has so much experience and it’s awesome to be learning from him every day.” Whether or not their preseason efforts eventuate into an NRL debut for The Dolphins this year, Rimbu, Tai, Tanabi and Waine all know they are working towards more than just that single goal. The experience and lessons taken from Bennett and The Dolphins NRL squad this preseason will undoubtedly set them up for success with the SP PNG Hunters in the upcoming 2023 Hostplus Cup competition. All four players will be available to play for the Hunters this year when not selected in The Dolphins NRL side, giving the proud PNG-based club a foundation of NRL talent and experience that has long differentiated them from the majority of the QRL competition. Having four players like Rimbu, Tai, Tanabi and Waine to set the standards at training and lead the way in games will be a major boost for the club looking to improve on their 12th-placed finish in 2022. When you consider that the SP PNG Hunters will also enjoy a home-crowd and home-ground advantage this season after being relocated to the Gold Coast for the past two years, there is plenty to be excited about for the footy-mad fans of Papua New Guinea in 2023 and beyond.

Yesterday was a significant day for the Department of Information and Communications Technology as the Interns received certificates upon completing their intensive program with us since joining the Department in November of last year (2022). The 14 interns are University level graduating students who have completed their undergraduate studies from the four major Universities within the country - University of Papua New Guinea, University of Technology, University of Goroka and Divine Word University. Some of the interns flew into Port Moresby from other parts of the country for the program. At the farewell luncheon today, Acting Secretary Mr. Flierl Shongol and other senior management Staff gave encouraging remarks and appreciation to the interns for their contribution during their period of engagement, and handed them certificates marking the end of their program. Each intern had turn to share with the management and staff of DICT of their experiences of what they’ve gain from the program and how they intend to leverage that moving forward in their career. The presentation was witnessed by all staff. Source: PNG Department of Information Communication and Technology

With Manly’s opening game of the 2023 NRL season just 31 days away, champion fullback Tom Trbojevic is back from the USA and back in the positive frame of mind that carried him to Dally M glory in 2021 before injuries again rocked his world last season. The gun No.1 played just seven games in 2022 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, and when he was struck down by another hamstring issue in December, the club decided to send their main man to Philadelphia to spend time with reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles. What had worked so spectacularly for Souths with Latrell Mitchell last season could surely work for Manly, and if Trbojevic’s demeanour at his media conference on Tuesday is anything to go by, Knowles could yet again turn out to be the saviour. Echoing the message of Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who also spent time working with Knowles during January, Trbojevic said “going there was not about a timeline” but rather “what I can do to become a better athlete and become more sustainable in the long term”. “Bill shows you a reason behind everything you are doing and he’s very good at the detail. “The first few days was like an assessment for Bill and he gets an understanding of where you are at as an athlete and from there he can develop a plan on how you can improve your athletic performance. [caption id="attachment_35399" align="alignnone" width="788"] NRL Fantasy Club by Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles[/caption] “He isn’t just worried about the hamstring but more about making you a better athlete - how can we improve your athletic performance to make everything work as a symphony, that’s one of his things. “It’s good mentally in that it provides you that direction as to where you need to go. It’s not an overnight fix it’s a long-term process. Preparation is key, how you structure a week.” For Sea Eagles fans who watched in horror as their team won just six of 17 games without him last season, Trbojevic’s return can’t come soon enough, and all signs point to the 26-year-old suiting up against the Bulldogs at a packed 4 Pines Park in the NRL season opener on March 4. “He isn’t just worried about the hamstring but more about making you a better athlete - how can we improve your athletic performance to make everything work as a symphony, that’s one of his things. “It’s good mentally in that it provides you that direction as to where you need to go. It’s not an overnight fix it’s a long-term process. Preparation is key, how you structure a week.” For Sea Eagles fans who watched in horror as their team won just six of 17 games without him last season, Trbojevic’s return can’t come soon enough, and all signs point to the 26-year-old suiting up against the Bulldogs at a packed 4 Pines Park in the NRL season opener on March 4. “I’m definitely on track to play in Round 1,” Trbojevic declared on Tuesday. “I have taken a patient approach, there’s still a few things to work on but the body is feeling really good. “There’s been a lot of changes at our club but everyone is really positive and we’re all just keen to get out there and put on a performance for our fans.” The imminent return of the man who scored 28 tries in 18 games in 2021 and at times looked like he was playing on another stratosphere is a huge boost for new coach Anthony Seibold, who will base much of his strategy around Trbojevic’s attacking genius. “We wanted to provide Tom with the best opportunity to be the best athlete, so that’s why we sent him to Bill Knowles,” said Seibold. “It has been seven weeks since he had the injury at training and there has been a lot of hard work go into the last seven weeks with Tom and I feel we have provided the best avenue for Tom to recondition his body. “The big learning here is trying to cater for Tom and others in our group as individual athletes and to identify what weaknesses or areas Tom can improve in his running mechanics.” Source: NRL.Com

The Department of Information and Communications Technology will be hosting the first-ever Pacific Island Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Dialogue in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, from 13 – 14 February 2023 The meeting will bring together heads of government ICT agencies in the Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand, to discuss issues affecting the ICT space, and to collaborate in finding solutions to address these in global forums, such as that of the International Telecommunication Union, while expressing such issues, as a ‘One Voice’ of the Pacific. This meeting will be the first technical meeting by Heads of ICT in the Pacific, leading toward the Pacific ICT Ministers Forum which is scheduled to be hosted in the country in March this year. Meantime, plans are currently underway to host this significant dialogue. The advance team comprising officers from the Departments of Information and Communications Technology, Foreign Affairs, and the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) traveled to East New Britain Province early this month, and met with the Provincial Administration, including the East New Britain Governor’s Office and the National Broadcasting Corporation, to prepare for the meeting. The manager for the National Broadcasting Corporation in East New Britain, Ms. Dorcas Tindri shared with the team, the positive reception from local leaders and the people to host the Pacific ICT Dialogue in Kokopo. The people of East New Britain have expressed their willingness and excitement to support the organizing committee to ensure that the Pacific ICT Dialogue was a success and are ready to welcome the delegates in February. Ms. Tindri and her team are working closely with the East New Britain Provincial Administration and the Office of the Governor Hon. Michael Marum to ensure all requirements and preparations on the ground are properly coordinated with the Port Moresby organizing team.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has apologised for losing a tiny radioactive capsule that went missing as it was being transported across Western Australia. An emergency hunt for the device, which is about the size of a pea, is under way along the 1,400km (870 mile) route. The capsule contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness to anyone who comes into contact with it. That could include skin damage, burns or radiation sickness. Emergency services are searching for the device using radiation detectors and other specialised equipment, and say the chances of finding the tiny device are "pretty good". But Australia's Department for Fire and Emergency Services said the silver capsule - which is just 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter and 8mm long - was so small it might have become lodged in the tyre of a vehicle passing along the road. There is also concern that if it is found by a member of the public, they might inadvertently keep it as a souvenir. Authorities are keen to stress that holding the capsule could result in radiation burns, while long-term exposure could cause cancer. The capsule may have gone missing up to two weeks ago. Rio Tinto, which has big mining operations in Australia and has been the subject of a series of controversies in recent years, said it was sorry for the alarm that had been caused. The firm would be launching its own investigation into what had happened, it said in a statement. The lost device is part of a density gauge, which is common in the mining industry. It was being used at Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine in the remote Kimberley region. The gauge was being transported by a subcontracted company, who picked it up from the mine site on 12 January to move it to a storage facility in the north-east suburbs of Perth. When it was unpacked for inspection on 25 January the gauge was found broken apart and the radioactive capsule was gone. One of four mounting bolts and screws were also missing. The authorities said vibrations during transit may have caused the bolts to become loose, allowing the capsule to fall through gaps in the casing and truck. The search route is huge. It is roughly equivalent to the distance by road from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall, or from Washington DC to Orlando, Florida. Specialist radiation detection equipment is being fitted to patrol vehicles that will cover the length of it. Over five days, they will travel in both directions along the Great Northern Highway at speeds of around 50km/h (30mph). Simon Trott, chief executive of Rio Tinto's iron ore division, said: "As part of this investigation we are working closely with the contractor to better understand what went wrong in this instance. "Rio Tinto engaged a third-party contractor, with appropriate expertise and certification, to safely package the device in preparation for transport off-site ahead of receipt at their facility in Perth. "Prior to the device leaving the site, a Geiger counter [a device to detect radioactivity] was used to confirm the presence of the capsule inside the package," Mr Trott added. State officials have issued a radiation alert across a vast swathe of Western Australia and warned of the potential danger of coming into contact with the object. Exposure to trace quantities of the metal is like "receiving 10 X-rays in an hour, just to put it in context, and... the amount of natural radiation we would receive in a year, just by walking around," said Western Australia's chief health officer Andrew Robertson. The state's desert is remote and one of the least populated places in the country. Only one in five of Western Australia's population lives outside of Perth, the state's capital. But if anyone does stumble across the capsule, they should avoid handling it, Mr Robertson said. "If you have contact or have it close to you, you could either end up with skin damage, including skin burns... and if you have it long enough near you, it could cause what is called acute radiation sickness, and that will take a period of time," he added. This incident comes as Rio Tinto tries to repair its reputation in Australia after it was hit by a backlash for destroying sacred Aboriginal rock shelters in Western Australia. In 2020, Rio Tinto blasted the 46,000-year-old rock shelters at Juukan Gorge to expand an iron ore mine, sparking a major outcry that led to several of the company's top bosses standing down. And last year, a parliamentary inquiry found sexual harassment was rife at Australia's mining firms, after an internal review at Rio Tinto found more than 20 women had reported actual or attempted rape or sexual assault over five years. Source: BBC

The most recent signing for the Dolphins, Tesi Niu is relishing the chance to make a fresh start this year after enduring a tough 2022. Still young at 21 years of age, the talented outside back had to overcome many personal challenges last year that would test any person, losing his father early in the year and dealing with the emotion brought up by the devastating tsunami in Tonga. On the field, it was also a difficult season, with a hamstring injury and a dip in confidence restricting him to only 10 games for the Broncos after featuring in 16 games for the club in 2021. “Yeah, it was a tough year for me, but really, really grateful for opportunities I got at the Broncs, I got my debut, so, very thankful for that club, but a new journey begins here,” Niu told assembled media on Monday morning following the club's training session at Kayo Stadium. “Just (with) everything going on in my life, so it wasn’t the best year for me ... (but it’s a) new start, fresh club. “I’m settling in good, it's really good. The boys are really welcoming and they make it a lot easier for me.” While many players have been drawn to the Dolphins by the appeal of working with head coach Wayne Bennett, for Niu, another major drawcard was the familiar face of assistant coach Kristian Woolf, who most recently oversaw Niu at the Rugby League World Cup. “I was really close with Woolfy, been doing a lot with Tonga and him,” Niu said. “He gave me my debut with Tonga, so have been really close with him and working with him a lot, so good to be working with him and to have him here.” In his two games at the World Cup, Niu played fullback, prompting some questions about his preferred position and if he was looking to push expected custodian Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, but Niu said he simply wanted an “opportunity to prove myself and try and get a spot in that 17”. “I'm happy playing anywhere, if things happen, I will fill in the team where I can,” Niu said. “I’m training at centre at the moment, so just trying to do my best at that position and trying to nail it down and improve on what I need to be better at centre. “(My goal this year is) to be consistent and play a full a season in the NRL … just to be better me, (and) I guess to find a lot of confidence in myself this year and just be really consistent.” Source:NRL.Com