Nominees for the YUMIFM PNG Musik Awards 2023 have been announced and this year the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards 2023 will celebrate the work of local artists over the last two years 2021-2022. The local artists have been nominated in ten various categories. Hotwills Wagon has been nominated as one of the nominees for the Producer of the Year 2022 category where he is amongst two other producers nominated for the same year. “When I got a call, I got a shock, because in those two years of 2021 and 2022, I didn’t produce a lot of tracks.” This is his third year now he has been nominated under the same category. He was also nominated in 2016 and 2017, however, did not win the award. After being the nominated the third time, Hotwills is optimistic about this year’s nomination. “I hope for a win in this year’s Yumi FM PNG Musik Aawards for the Producer of the year 2022 award.”

St Anthony’s Vunavavar Primary school in NCR of Gazelle district in East New Britain has received funding support of K50, 000 from the East New Britain Provincial Government (ENBPG) which will be used for school infrastructure upgrading and renovations. This was announced by ENB Governor Michael Marum recently during the primary school opening of a new two in one classroom. Governor Marum thanked Chinese Jiangsu International (CJI), a Chinese business operating in Kokopo for core funding the classroom through their partnership with the education division and provincial government. He said CJI came forward to support the projects in two schools; Vunavavar and Mope in Kokopo district which is a big support to the province and the children. “I am here to witness what has been done and what are some of the other things that the school needs so that we can all work together to improve them so that our children will have better classrooms and facilities to learn.” He added that the school is now privileged to have a new classroom and has urged the students and teachers to take ownership of the facility and look after it while the government will also look to other areas to support not only in Vunavavar but other schools as well in the province. Meanwhile, Board Chairman, Gerard Awei, said the opening of the new classroom is a historical event at Vunavavar primary school because this is the first building built again after eighty years. According to Awei, the school serves three wards and it is a great joy for the wards and parents to see a new infrastructural project being built like this new building. He added that there are lot of facilities that need change. CJI donated K30, 000 towards the building and the Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul for the K16, 000 worth of building materials towards the classroom.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have posted a photo online to mark their 12th wedding anniversary. The photo shows the couple on bikes in Norfolk during sunny weather last year. It was posted on the couple's official Twitter account, with the simple caption "12 years" and a heart emoji. On Thursday and Friday the pair spent time in Wales abseiling off a cliff, ordering pizza and visiting Aberfan Memorial Garden. The couple married at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011 after an eight-year relationship. They spent their first three years of married life in Anglesey, where Prince William was doing his helicopter training to become an RAF search and rescue pilot. William's marriage to his former university flatmate was the royal event of 2011 as 2,000 guests filled the abbey. The grand affair featured two dresses, two receptions, a carriage procession through central London, flypasts and two kisses on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Nearly 25 million people in the UK tuned in to watch the live televised ceremony, with the worldwide TV audience estimated to be two billion. Twelve years on, the couple have three children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis five. They were named Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles last September after the Queen's death. Source: BBC

Officials from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia recently held the annual PNG-Australia Annual Climate Change Dialogue in Port Moresby to advance priority actions under the PNG-Australia bilateral partnership. The dialogue was also a first commitment under the PNG-Australia-Climate Change Action Plan (PACCAP); a joint Ministerial Agreement between PNG and Australia signed in May 2018 for both countries to work together to address climate change in PNG and in the region. The one-day dialogue was led by Special Climate Envoy Mr. Ruel Yamuna and Climate Change Ambassador for Australia, Ms. Kristin Tilley, setting key priorities for both countries. Key priorities from the dialogue includes; Advancing PNG-Australia Climate Change Action Plan for the next five years, climate finance, carbon market participation, international climate partnerships and additional collaboration. Under climate finance, Australia in consultation with PNG stakeholders, will finalize the design of a Climate Finance Resource and Strategic Taskforce to assist PNG to strengthen its system to access climate finance, support development of financial proposals in line with the country’s climate action plans. Australia will also continue to support the development and implementation of projects in PNG’s renewable energy sector and strengthen PNG’s prospects for attracting finance for projects which contributes to PNG’s climate mitigation targets. Australia will also be assisting PNG to build expertise around the operation of carbon markets and requirements for high-integrity practices under Article 6.2 of the Paris (International Climate) Agreement. Furthermore, Australia will provide the technical support to support the IPCOS Working Committee in the delivery of systems and strengthening of institutional capacity to implement the IPCOS. The IPCOS is an initiative that aims to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Indo-Pacific region through a market-based approach. Climate Change and Development authority’s (CCDA) Acting Managing Director William Lakain expressed the dialogue as a key step forward in advancing priority actions on climate change between PNG and Australia. “I thank PNG’s Special Climate Envoy Mr. Ruel Yamuna and the Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change Ms. Kristin Tilley for leading the fruitful dialogue and also thank the officials from both countries for your participation.” Ms. Kristin Tilley also expressed that the partnership demonstrates the commitment to design a log-term program to strengthen PNG’s systems to help it access a greater share of international climate finance. The dialogue concluded with the signing of an outcome statement and the signing of the Joint Action Plan in the presence of representatives from development partners, non-governmental organizations, private sector organizations, academia, think tanks and the media.

Porgera Secondary School in Enga province has closed down again indefinitely as of last week due to the continuous tribal fights between the Nomali and Aiyela clans, which has greatly affected life in the Porgera Valley. Deputy Principal, Mr. Amos Amail said that with the issue at hand, there were opportunists taking advantage of the situation by vandalizing and stealing certain properties from the students and staff within the school. “We all fled the school because there was nothing much we could do.Now that the school has been shut down, most of our students and staff have had to live with relatives and friends due to their homes being ransacked by these opportunists, whilst a few of our students have flown out of the province to look for a better school.” The school has now arranged with other schools for the students to be transferred to those schools for studies, just for the time being until the situation ease down. “We the school have arranged with our sister schools, including Kopen and Wabag Secondary schools, for the students to attend and continue their classes there so that they won’t have to be laid back with classes.” It is compulsory that all grade ten and twelve students of Porgera Secondary must continue their classes as time is running out for them. “As for the grade nines and elevens, the school can only cater for a few of them to be transferred to other schools due to spacing.” Meanwhile, a plan will be put in place for a compulsory setting where the students can attend classes without disturbances come next year.

Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson crossed for his first career hat-trick as the big names combined to put a poor Knights side to the sword with a 43-12 win at CommBank Stadium last night. Both sides traded tries early before the Eels produced eight line breaks in the first half to set up a 30-6 lead against a Knights outfit that missed 65 tackles throughout the contest. Marquee men Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses crossed for tries before Gutherson fooled a clumsy Knights defensive line at dummy half twice to cross for a double. He had a treble by the 46th minute as the Eels let slip a few more opportunities throughout the evening. Knights coach Adam O'Brien opted to start Kalyn Ponga at five-eighth, a move that backfired with the representative star missing 10 tackles throughout the contest. A fifth try before half-time via Sean Russell set up a 24-point lead and the Knights never looked threatening in the second half to entertain a comeback despite a try to Dominic Young in the 63rd minute. Gutherson's third of the evening, finishing off another Moses linebreak, ensured the Eels secured a much-needed win leading into their Magic Round clash with the Titans. A late offload from J'maine Hopgood helped the Eels to their seventh of the evening through Junior Paulo under the posts. Source: NRL.Com

The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) with Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) had the first negotiation on addressing teachers’ pay increments, allowances and other issues concerning the wellbeing of the teachers in the country. Executives from PNGTA brought a working document to present it to TSC for comments which would later be presented to the Department of Personal Management (DPM) for action. PNGTA National Vice President Mr. Shenell Kou when doing his presentation said some of the issues captured in the document include, teachers housing allowances, teachers’ salary fixation, teachers training and other important issues. “The document that we have given you is a working document, once this meeting is over, we can take the suggestions from you, to take that into consideration and change whatever you want to change in this document, so that other meetings will be called for discussion forward.” “If a teacher is committed that means he is satisfied, if the teacher is secured, he knows that his position is properly done and he is paid at a proper salary level, then he knows that his job is secured.” Kou added that quality education means quality teachers. “In this negotiation we are saying whatever agreement we had in 2016 to 2017, we leave it as that, we do not want to increase any percentage. The percentage you have decided remains. However, we have calculated from 2020 -2025 based on the figures we have for 2016 and 2017 that is contained in the document. In addition, Kou stated that the base salary and the teaching service allowances are the same because the country is experiencing a down turn of the economy. “We need to work together and say we are not asking very much, we leave it as it is but once the economy picks up, we can negotiate.” Meanwhile, TSC Chairman, Mr. Samson Wangihomie, after receiving the document said that the TSC will have a look at the issues highlighted and comment. After commenting on the document, TSC and PNGTA will continue the discussions and negotiations until an agreement is reached. Wangihomie assured that TSC will work together with PNGTA to make sure teachers’ issues are being addressed properly. The meeting was held recently in Port Moresby at the Vulupindi Haus.

An Air Niugini employee has created history by being the first and only female staff operating the Main Deck Loader (MDL), an equipment responsible for loading and unloading larger containerized cargo from the main deck of wide body aircraft. Michelle Geekala from East Sepik and Gulf province, works with Air Niugini Cargo Department’s operations section and is the only specialized female operator of the MDL equipment. Her most recent task was unloading heavy mining equipment from the main deck of a Boeing 747-400 series freighter in Port Moresby. While passenger planes carry people with minimal luggage at the cargo hold, freighters specifically uplift cargo, their empty galleys are modified to fit various types of cargo. “The journey has not been easy, it comes with its own challenges but you have to believe in yourself, even when no one does, you have to be your own supporter and critique, challenge yourself to be better than you were yesterday”. She was previously engaged in and operated the Lower Deck Loader (LDL) for both the B747 and B737 freighters but the recent task was her first on the Main Deck Loader. The Main Deck Loader Equipment is higher and has larger weight capacity while the Lower Deck Loader is used to load and unload cargo from the lower lobe of wide body aircraft and also main deck of the narrow body aircraft. Meanwhile, Air Niugini’s Manager for Cargo Operations, Trevor Elly, said the airline’s cargo department has always maintained a healthy level of female presence in its business and in particular its operational areas both within Port Moresby and the domestic network. “We are proud of Michelle’s progress, breaking into an area where you find only men working there. She is currently the only female in the Port Moresby Operations unit who operates the MDL equipment and joins a legacy of other female Cargo Operations Staff including our current Cargo Business Development Manager, Ms. Donna Hevoho as well as General Manager Cargo, Ms. Paila Leka and many other women through Air Niugini’s 50-year history.” Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gary Seddon, re-emphasized that Air Niugini is an equal opportunity employer with many women working across the business, loading aircraft as well as flying them, from junior to very senior roles. “I am very proud of the efforts of the dedicated men and women that are collectively, taking our airline to new heights.”

TV personality Jerry Springer, known for a long-running talk show that featured raucous audiences, controversial topics and fist-fighting guests, died at age 79 on Thursday, his family said. Springer died peacefully after a brief illness at his home in suburban Chicago, his family said in a statement. "Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word," lifelong friend and family spokesman Jene Galvin said in the statement. Springer was born in London on 13 February 1944, and immigrated to New York City when he was four years old. In 1965, Springer graduated from Tulane University and then went to Northwestern University where he got a law degree, before serving in the United States Army Reserves. He moved to Ohio, where he served on the city council and then as the city's 56th mayor in 1977. Five years later, he ran for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor, but lost. Springer then worked as a news anchor at WLWT 5, an NBC Cincinnati affiliate. In 1991, he landed his own television programme, a syndicated talk show broadcast across the United States until 2018. The daytime programme, The Jerry Springer Show, was initially a politically oriented show but later featured everyday people discussing sensationalistic topics. Guests came to talk about family problems and expose adultery and other transgressions. Springer would supposedly try to mediate but the encounters often ended up in fist-fights, with guests being held back by security guards. The audience would regularly chant "Jerry! Jerry!" when tensions became heightened during the episodes. On his Twitter page, Springer described himself as a "talk show host, ringmaster of civilization's end." Springer called his programme "escapist entertainment", but others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down of television and a decline in social values. He often jokingly told people he met that his wish for them was: "May you never be on my show." His show was the subject of a British musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera, which was performed in London, Las Vegas and New York City between 2001 and 2019. In 2006, Springer enjoyed a long run on the popular Dancing With the Stars TV show. He also hosted several TV shows, including America's Got Talent and pageants such as the 2008 Miss Universe contest. - Reuters / BBC

Returning to the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) to complete his studies in 2020, Russell Magun finally graduated from the School of Business and Public Policy this week after leaving school whilst doing his second year of studies back in 2019. Magun shared moments in his journey of struggles and persistence before attaining his Bachelor’s degree and how he came about in successfully achieving his goals despite challenges. He said that he was excluded from school in 2019 because he was not performing well due to personal issues back at home that distracted him most of the time. “It was a month after I left that I had applied for the NAUFM walk in auditions at PNGFM Limited in which I got the job working as a radio personality for a couple of months.” Whilst working as a radio personality, Magun recalled that he decided to go back to school to complete his education where he had left off. “It was in 2020 that I resumed school and from there did my second year of studies again.” After laying off from school for a while and resuming studies, Magun stated that it was a bit difficult adjusting to school, especially when most of his peers had moved ahead of him and others already graduated. Being that, he expressed how stressful it was for him at times both at school and at home especially when he was being taken care of by his mother who was the breadwinner of the family. “With encounters I faced, I managed to find a job in 2021 at Club Regal where I worked and went to school at the same time and at present, am still working there.” Magun also added that he became a permanent employee with Club Regal in 2022.” Magun added that he also had to work to support his younger brother who is now doing his first year at the UPNG School of Law. Looking back, Magun shared moments in his life of things that challenged him and things that inspired him and everything he has gone through, motivated him to accept and move on to continue in his career pathway. “Despite the drama and hurdles I did face, I can say, it’s not too hard to overcome it as long as you don’t take things too personally but to stay committed and faithful in whatever you do and to always stay true to yourself.”

New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan has welcomed the support of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (KPHL) along with New Ireland through its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) concept, in providing alternate source of energy to the province. Sir J said green and renewable energy is the way of the future and will definitely help to solve the constant power issues faced in the Province. “New Ireland is a major tourism destination as well as a resource rich province and in the past 15 years has seen an increase in population due to the Provincial Government’s social impact policies, thus the demand for reliable power supply is even greater today.” Sir J acknowledged that KPHL has been engaging with his government to progress the undertaking which began back in 2021 through a signing of a MoU, and is looking forward to see the implementation of the green power project in the near future. “Everyone benefits when there is reliable power supply. Business houses, schools, hospitals, government offices, churches, the airport. The list is endless. With Green Energy it’s an added bonus because we won’t be leaving any carbon footprints behind.” Furthermore, KPHL plans to set up the pilot Solar Power project in Kavieng town. The project will target 5MW power generating facility inclusive of a direct connection to the existing PNG Power Limited (PPL) Transmission lines and grid that supports the township of Kavieng and potential customers that operate along the Boluminski Highway to Namatanai. Currently KPHL is undertaking an assessment on onsite power infrastructure with Kramer Ausenco Consortium undertaking engineering technical designs that allows the project to review the different options and make an informed decision to select the option that provides the best operability and maintenance plans for investment and potential returns.

All the hard work, efforts and sleepless nights have paid off for Fatima Ai’io when she finally received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) during the institution’s 68th graduation this week in Port Moresby. Ai’io graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in School of Business and Public Policy and was the top best performing female student in the School. Ai’io who comes from a mix parentage of Manus, Central and Western Province, has been under the care of a single parent for most of her life along with her five siblings. She shared with PNGHAUSBUNG the struggles her mother had to face whilst raising them. Despite having to face those struggles, Ai’io did everything she could as a child, sibling and student to make sure she juggled everything right. “Financial restraints was also a major challenge I had to endure due to the fact that I only had one parent taking care of my siblings and me. On top of that, I also had to juggle school work because the course itself was tough for me as I had to cope, do my own research.” Ai’io did her family proud especially her mother, when she received an award as one of the top performing students, something which she was so grateful for. “If it wasn’t for the support of my family and friends, I wouldn’t be where I am now and for that I am thankful, for they believed in me and that I could do it.” “My mother was my biggest inspiration to achieve my goals and excel in something I wouldn’t have ever imagined.” The 23 year old now shares her achievements with others and expressed her words to others to always turn to God as he is the source of all knowledge.