Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has thanked all his electoral officials across the country for doing a tremendous job and returning majority of the Election Writs in time of 11th Parliament to convene and conduct the first business of the day in electing a new government. He said about 109 Writs were returned after counting for Provincial and Open Electorate were completed in many parts of the country. Mr Sinai thanked all election officials in doing a tremendous job under difficult circumstance, particularly in the Highlands Region in making  sure counting was completed and winners declared. The commissioner urged electoral officials in those electorates that are still counting to speed up and complete counting before Monday 151th August and have the remaining Writs returned. "While I have returned majority of Writs last Friday to the Governor General, the remainder will follow as they are  received by the Commission. This is provided for under the legal frame work, and I will evoke Section 81(3) of the Electoral Law to extend the date for the date of the return of Writs for those specific provincial and open electorates," he said. Mr Sinai appealed to all leaders, political parties, candidates, and scrutineers and their fellow supporters to respect the electoral process and allow counting to progress until the remaining seats are declared. The Electoral Commissioner also clarified the position of the commission on the declaration he made for Markham and Kabwum under the Special Circumstances provision of the Organic Law. He said the decision to declare the leading candidates of the two electorates following the burning of ballot papers and destruction of counting centers and property was made after careful consideration. " The decision was not taken lightly. Wider consultation was required and I consult my lawyers and seek legal advice and sit with my senior management team, the provincial election manager and the respective Returning Officers for the effected electorates before we took a decision to accept the Writs for Markham and Kabwum." he said. The Commissioner said the destruction of  ballot papers and the counting  centers were pre planned to sabotage the electoral process by disgruntled candidates and their supporters particularly to disturb and deny the leading candidates from winning. "The Commissioner took the view that to conduct a supplementary or by election in these two electorates would mean the commission is surrendering its powers and authority to the criminal element to disturb counting processes in any time and with intention to call for a by election.  These incidents are first of its kind in PNG and decision we take now in election management body must serve as a deterrent so such is not repeated in the future."   Pic: Ruben Giusu

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) is committed to ensuring the closure of the mine is done in accordance with the approved mine closure plan when the mine ceases production. The plan which has been developed and updated since 1997 includes the decommissioning of mining infrastructure, the rehabilitation of operation sites, the ongoing monitoring of the affected environment the transfer of public infrastructure or services currently provided by OTML and the establishment of a fund to implement the plan. The Company stated this during a Mine Closure Consultation Meeting that was held in Port Moresby from August 03rd - 05th 2022 which was organised by the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and attended by landowners, government and OTML representatives. The meeting was held to discuss OTML’s closure plan which is being reviewed and will be submitted to the MRA before the end of this year. OTML is required under the Ok Tedi Act to review and submit an updated closure plan to the MRA every 3 years. One of the key challenges is the transfer of public infrastructure and services which include the Kiunga power, water & sewerage systems, the Tabubil Hospital, the Tabubil township, and the maintenance of the Tabubil/Kiunga highway to third parties before mine closure but is not that simple since the operations of these facilities and assets are heavily subsidised by OTML. Third parties have shown interest but have been reluctant to take on these assets since they are not viable without OTML’s subsidies. For example, each year the Company spends over K10 Million to subsidise power, water and sewerage services in Kiunga, a government township that has a population of over 20,000 people. OTML continues to have discussions with potential partners including the Fly River Provincial Government to develop a practical model that will sustain these services post closure and OTML’s plan is to handover these services to the new owners while OTML is still operating. It was also revealed at the meeting that the Company has set aside USD245 million for the sole purpose of implementing the closure plan when the Company ceases production. The amount is reviewed every 3 years as part of the closure planning process and additional contributions to the closure fund will be made if the estimated closure costs exceeds the current amount.

MP for Lae John Rosso was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for the eleventh parliament. DPM Rosso and three other ministers were sworn in on Wednesday afternoon at the Government House at Konedobu by Governor General His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae. Prime Minister James Marape also announced a caretaker cabinet comprising to run the nation's affairs while awaiting a full cabinet comprising members of the coalition. The caretaker are as follows; 1. James Marape Prime Minister, National Planning, Police, Defence and Correctional Services 2. John Rosso, Deputy Prime Minister, Lands & Physical Planning, Housing, Education, Health and Higher Education 3. Soroi Eoe, Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Industry, Justice & Attorney General , Bougainville Affairs, Petroleum and Tourism 4. Ian Ling Stuckey, Treasury, Finance and Rural Development, Labour and Industrial Relations, Immigration and Border Security 5. William Duma, State Owned Enterprises, Mining, Agriculture, Fisheries and Works & Implementation PC: Lae Open Electorate- John Rosso Dps MP

 The Commonwealth Games -Birmingham 2022 drew to a close yesterday Monday 8th August, 2022. Team PNG, led by Flag Bearer and Silver medallist Morea Baru, joined thousands of athletes and officials from across the Commonwealth as well as local Brummies, for a spectacular showcase put on by the Games Organising Committee. The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held Victoria, Austalia, in 2026. Source: Team PNG

A leading Solomon Islands opposition MP has called on Australia to offer funding to try and ensure the country can hold elections next year. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's government has said it wants to extend parliament until after it hosts the Pacific Games in November 2023, for which China has donated a stadium and other sporting venues that are being built by Chinese companies. Australia will be the second largest contributor to the games, after Pacific Minister Pat Conroy announced in Solomon Islands that Australia would contribute almost $17 million towards the landmark event. The United States and other Pacific nations have expressed concern over Solomon Islands' security ties with China, which they say have regional implications. China has also sought to strike a sweeping regional trade and security deal with Pacific islands, including governance exchanges. The Prime Minister's office said in July that Solomon Islands did not have the resources to host the Pacific Games and hold an election in 2023. National elections are held every four years, and parliament is due to be dissolved in May 2023. Vote on delay likely next month A bill submitted to parliament and endorsed by the speaker on Monday seeks to alter the constitution and suspend the dissolution of parliament until December 31, 2023, officials said. An election would need to be held within four months. A change to the constitution requires two-thirds of parliament to support it. It is likely to be voted on next month. Solomon Islands MP Peter Kenilorea Jr told the ABC Australia should offer to fund elections in 2023, to help deal with Mr Sogavare's concerns about having enough resources to have an election and host the Pacific Games. "I would like to see similar investments in our democracy and elections, including signals to the government in terms of quelling the argument being made there is no money for elections," he said. "This is something that I would also like to see our partners – particularly democracy loving countries – to step up and send those messages. "Australia has been supportive of Solomon Islands elections historically, but I think those messages and signals need to be made louder and be made known to us in the public as well … while sports are important, so are our democratic processes." Mr Kenilorea warned that deferring elections could provoke more civil unrest. "This is very much in the hearts and minds of Solomon Islanders and the opposition to it is overwhelming — it's perhaps universal — in terms of opposition to an extension," he said. "People just see it as an extension of a corrupt government, so this is something people can't swallow really … definitely there is a high risk of a flare up again of violence, based on these kinds of moves." The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said election funding was "a matter for the Solomon Islands government". But it stressed Australia provided significant support for the last Solomon Islands election in 2019, and continued to plough money into programs designed to sustain future elections. "In the lead up to and during Solomon Islands' 2019 election, the Australian Government provided support through the Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Electoral Commission, Australia Assists and the United Nations covering critical electoral processes and logistics," DFAT said in a statement. "We continue to partner with the Solomon Islands Electoral Office to support electoral reform and administration, voter awareness and women's participation in the political process." Opposition leader Matthew Wale has also criticised delaying elections, and wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that citizens should "air their views" through parliamentary processes. "There is concern in churches, business and communities," Douglas Marau, the opposition leader's press secretary, told Reuters. He added it was "nonsense" to amend the constitution for a two-week sporting event. "There have been consultations held and the negative response to the government's plan is very clear," he said. Source: ABC News

Now, Serena Williams has amassed over 15 million Instagram followers and even more fans over the years. She is a literal icon. She has won a whopping twenty-three Grand Slam singles titles and, as a result, she is now considered one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Serena has been ranked as the No. 1 in singles on 8 separate occasions during her career and in total, she has been No. 1 for 319 weeks, which ranks third in the Open Era among female players behind Graf and Martina Navratilova. Williams is understandably considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time and she’s one of the hardest players to beat.But she’s not just a tennis superstar she is also a powerful woman and won’t let anyone stand in her way when it comes to topics that matter to her. She advocates strongly for the equality of women – in particular, female athletes but it hasn’t been an easy ride to success. During her women’s finals match against Naomi Osaka (who went on to win the title), the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, gave Serena a violation for a supposed “code violation for coaching.” She held her own during the heated confrontation. She was simply standing up for herself. Pointing out that male tennis players get away with a lot more than what she was accused of and disciplined for. Serena has had to get past a lot of obstacles to get where she is now. Serena, as well as her sister Venus, have been scrutinized in the past for the way in which they wear their hair, as well as being cruelly trolled and discriminated against because of their race. Even though thousands have flooded to the Williams sisters’ defense, there’s no doubt that racism is still a huge problem. Despite her ever-growing fan base. There’s no doubting who her biggest fan is… And that is, of course, her daughter. Serena Married her husband Alexis Ohanian back in 2017 and just before their marriage, their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. was born but her birth came with some terrifying complications and she’s now opened up about her experience, and how nurses ignored her plea for help. She revealed in an interview with ELLE, that the hospital staff failed to listen to her concerns. “So much of what happened after that is still a blur,” Serena shared. “I may have passed out a few times. In my haze, I wondered if I should ask someone about my drip. In 2010, I learned I had blood clots in my lungs — clots that, had they not been caught in time, could have killed me.” Since her terrifying experience, she has always been cautious of getting another clot. “It wasn’t a one-off; I’m at high risk for blood clots. I asked a nurse, ‘When do I start my heparin drip? Shouldn’t I be on that now?’” But the nurse’s response was less than satisfactory: “The response was, ‘Well, we don’t really know if that’s what you need to be on right now.’ No one was really listening to what I was saying,” she added. After repeatedly asking her nurse over and over to be put on blood thinners and for a CT scan, she finally got a doctor to agree with her… “I fought hard, and I ended up getting the CAT scan,” Serena said. “I’m so grateful to her. Lo and behold, I had a blood clot in my lungs, and they needed to insert a filter into my veins to break up the clot before it reached my heart.” Being vocal about her experience has shone an important light on the treatment of marginalized groups during childbirth. Many social media users have thanked Serena for speaking out… Serena shared with ELLE that “black women are nearly three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than their white counterparts” here in the U.S. More needs to be done to prevent this shocking statistic. Now, Williams has confirmed she is hanging up her racket following the US Open. “I have never liked the word retirement,” she began. “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.” “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.” It’s the end of an era. Source: 22 Words

The Santos PNG Orchids selection process ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) will continue in Port Moresby this week, with 34 eligible players to face off in a trial match on Saturday 13 August at the Santos National Football Stadium to assist with final squad selections. Orchids coach Ben Jeffries will travel from Australia to Papua New Guinea this week to observe training sessions and the match, which are being delivered by PNG-based Orchids staff and Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL). Initially it was hoped that 10 Australia-based potential Orchids players would travel to PNG to participate in the trial match alongside their PNG-based counterparts, but this has been deferred in line with a recent decision by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) to delay the SP PNG Hunters’ season return to Port Moresby out of an abundance of caution due to national election processes. Instead, Jeffries will continue to consider the selection claims of overseas-based players while having the chance to watch an additional 10 PNG-based players in Saturday’s clash. “It’s unfortunate that our Australia-based cohort will be unable to travel for this match, but I have been fortunate to see many of them play live already whereas this will be the first opportunity for me to see some of our PNG-based cohort in action rather than just on video,” Jeffries said. “For the additional 10 PNG-based players who have been promoted to the extended squad to play in this match, it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to stake their claim for selection.” The 34 players that have been named in two teams, black and red, to contest Saturday’s match are as follows: Team Black 1. Joanne Lagona (Southern) 2. Maria Simon (Northern) 3. Belinda Gwasamun (Highlands) 4. Martha Karl (Northern) 5. Freda Waula (Southern) 6. Shirley Joe (Northern) 7. Elizabeth Kapa (Southern) 8. Talita Kunjil (Highlands) 9. Mellie Joe (Highlands) 10. Gloria Kaupa (Highlands) 11. Bethshiba Awoi (Southern) 12. Vero Waula (Southern) 13. Janet Michael (Southern) 14. Lisa Bina (Southern) 15. Erswin Kaiat (NGI) 16. Seroges Sabumei (Highlands) 17. Doreen William (Southern) Team Red 1. Lyiannah Allen (Highlands) 2. Lisa-Marie Alu (Highlands) 3. Martha Molowia (Southern) 4. Lancy Laki (Southern) 5. Lidia Luke (Northern) 6. Delilah Ahose (Highlands) 7. Lila Malabag (Southern) 8. Regila Wilfred (Highlands) 9. Roswita Kapo (Southern) 10. Michelle John (Northern) 11. Carol Humeu (Southern) 12. Benoti Kuman (Southern) 13. Leilah Kerowa (Southern) 14. Lorraine Tarao (NGI) 15. Shirley Luke (Southern) 16. Brenda Goro (Southern) 17. Janet Johns (Southern) The 17 players based in Australia and the UK who are still being considered for the final Santos PNG Orchids squad are (in alphabetical order): Angela Watego (Wynnum – QRLW), Anika Butler (Knights – NSW), Elsie Albert (Dragons – NRLW), Emily Veivers (Tigers – QRLW), Essay Banu (Wynnum – QRLW), Gemma Schnaubelt (Souths – QRLW), Jessica Carey (Tigers – QRLW), Jessikah Reeves (Souths – QRLW), Latoniya Norris (Wynnum – QRLW), Layna NonaBusch (Rabbitohs –Western Australia), Sareka Mooka (Gold Stars – QRLW), Sera Koroi (Souths – QRLW), Shae Yvonne de la Cruz (Souths – QRLW), Shellie Long (Tigers – QRLW), Tara Moxon (Leeds – UK Super League), Therese Aiton (Rabbitohs – NSW), Ua Ravu (Bulls – NSW Country). The final Santos PNG Orchids 23-player RLWC squad will be announced in late August.

Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) children have today had the opportunity to visit the exciting Hastings Deering compound to celebrate Book Week and launch a new reader entitled “When I Grow Up I want to be a Heavy Equipment Operator”. 6-year-old Tryphina Elai, who is featured in the book as a mini professional heavy equipment operator got to launch the reader, alongside his Hastings Deering role models, with Hastings Deering PNG & Solomon Islands Area Manager, Andrew Dare. Sonia Lakani, Hastings Deering Service Administrator, read the book to the children. The 20 children were able to inspect all sorts of mining and construction equipment and were so excited to get into an excavator simulator, which gives a real-life experience of what it feels like to operate one. After the tour and book launch the Hastings Deering team treated the children to a lunch with hotdogs and cake. Buk bilong Pikinini is grateful to Hastings Deering for their long-term support for the organisation and for providing the children with a fun and educational field trip, which will no doubt influence their future career choices. Hastings Deering PNG & Solomon Islands Area Manager, Andrew Dare: said “The opportunity for HDPNG to invest in the future of young Papua New Guinean’s is an absolute pleasure for us to be a part of. Days like today we hope are not only lifelong memories for the children, but our staff as well, as they also learn another important part of our business – which is giving back to community. We would like to thank all Management, Staff and Volunteers of BbP as well as all Corporate Supporters in any capacity that have contributed to grow this wonderful opportunity for the past 15 years. We look forward to playing a small part for many years to come. “ This Book Week will see the launch of 7 new books in the organisation’s own published series “When I Grow Up, I want to be a …” series. This includes a Pastry Chef with Airways Hotel, a Heavy Equipment Operator with Hastings Deering, - a Pharmacist and a Nurse with CPL, a Banker with BSP, an Architect with Pacific Palms Property and an Engineer with ExxonMobil PNG.” The 7 additional books have been produced by BbP together with the organisations’ partners and with the financial support from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The children have been beautifully captured by BbP and Photographer Roan Paul with editing carried out by BbP Founder/ Chairperson Anne-Sophie Hermann and Wild Dog books. These new 7 readers are in addition to the 6 launched in 2021, which included: a Pilot, a Teacher, a Store Manager, an CT Officer, a Farmer and a Paramedic.” Further titles in the series are currently in production. Buk bilong Pikinini is grateful for the generous financial support it has received from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, a Platinum Sponsor of the organisation, to produce this inspirational series of books. bThanks to the sponsorship, PNG children are able to read books which feature children just like themselves in leadership roles, learning about jobs that are needed locally and which are fun to read. The readers aim to teach the children what it takes to become the different professions and to inspire the children to think about their future careers and understand the importance of education.

The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Canberra Raiders Head Coach Ricky Stuart with a breach notice after comments directed towards Penrith Panthers Player Jaeman Salmon. The Breach Notice proposes a fine for Stuart of $25,000 and a suspension from all club activities with the Canberra Raiders for one full week commencing 4pm today (Tuesday, 9 August). The period of suspension prohibits Stuart from performing any duties as Head Coach of the Raiders, including attendance at team or individual training or coaching sessions or the Raiders’ facilities. Furthermore, he cannot provide instruction or direction to the team, individual players or Club Officials during the period of suspension including before, during or after any matches within this period. Stuart will be unable to return to coaching duties until 4pm on Tuesday, 16 August. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said there was no place in the game for public comments of that nature. “Leaders need to set the standard in the game. The comments are completely unacceptable from any individual let alone an official of such experience and standing.” Mr Abdo said. “This is a highly unusual case, and we have taken the significant step of proposing a suspension from his duties for one week. This will be a full suspension precluding Ricky from having any involvement with any club activity either in person or remotely. Furthermore, the fine must not be paid by the Club but by Ricky himself.” The NRL will now work with both clubs to ensure the wellbeing of the individuals concerned. Stuart will have five business days to respond to the breach notice. Source: NRL.com

The National Airports Corporation (NAC) have formally launched its LED Digital Screen at the Port Moresby International Airport’s Domestic Terminal. The LED Digital Screen was launched last week by NAC Managing Director & CEO Mr Rex Kiponge in front of senior management, staff and contractor, Creative Arts Limited. “The LED Digital Screen is one of many improvement initiatives of the new management to transform airports from ‘point of transit to point of destination’. It will be used to display airlines’ flight information, community and aviation security announcements, safety rules as well as commercial advertisings,” Kiponge explained. Mr Kiponge said, with the continuous changes in global technology and emerging marketing trends, NAC wants to ensure that it is keeping up with modern technology and trends to improve efficiency and productivity of business. He said, NAC is moving away from the traditional ways of doing business to areas that can generate revenue for NAC by maximizing available resources. Kiponge further added that the LED Digital Screen will optimize the passenger and user experience at the Jacksons Domestic Terminal. NAC also plans to install another LED Digital Screen outside the terminal and to roll-out the project to other airport terminals. During the launching, Creative Arts Limited thanked NAC management for the confidence entrusted to them to get this project completed on time.

Parents of children attending International Education Agency (IEA) schools in Port Moresby can now order and pay for their kids lunch online from the school canteen online platform via the BSP Online Payment Gateway (IPG) platform. The canteen, operated by the famous ‘The Food Station’, has merged with BSP to onboard the BSP IPG platform on their website known as ‘SkoolKai’. Currently managing almost all canteens in IEA Schools in NCD including Port Moresby International, Gordons International and Ela Murray International School, ‘ The Food Station’ supplies’ a menu appealing to everyday lunch orders for students and public. Food Station Managing Director, Scott Osborne said, “With the BSP IPG now available our very own online lunch ordering system, the SkoolKai website www.Skoolkai.com, it will allow parents to order and pay for their children’s lunch meals without any hassle of running to and fro school during lunch hours”. “We have only been operational for just over one week but word is spreading fast and we already had over 300 people register in the first three days. Parents commended the approach saying, it is more convenient”, added Osborne. To parents who wish to setup a Skoolkai account, simply visit www.SkoolKai.com, click “Register”, add their personal details, add new student details, and select school and class. Parents then proceed to select food items listed on menu, add to cart, and pay by selecting “BSP” using Visa or MasterCard. The Food Station Ltd started operations in 2011 at Lawes Road, Konedobu and now has close to over 500 clients in Port Moresby including the canteens around IEA schools. It prides itself in providing quality fast food and boasts a client base of over 500 businesses throughout Port Moresby. BSP ecommerce platform continues to allow business for ease of payments providing complete, seamless and secure online payment on their websites using any VISA Debit Cards or Mastercard payments. BSP encourages businesses to consider moving online and ensures there is support every step of the on-boarding processe

Papua New Guinea has in-country capacity for screening for monkeypox with confirmation off-shores says Deputy Controller for the National Pandemic Response for the Corona Virus (Covid-19), Dr Daoni Esorom. PNG has received reagents through World Health Organization (WHO) support for in-country confirmatory testing with trial expected next week. This is provide confirmatory capacity in country whilst Victorian Infectious Disease Refence Laboratory (VIDRL) will continue to provide confirmatory quality support moving forward, Dr Esorom said. He said Papua New Guinea is at risk of monkeypox since we have opened international flights and people need to be vigilant and practice the Public Health Safety measures. Dr Esorom cautioned that the WHO had declared the spread of the monkeypox as the "public health emergency of international concern" on Thursday 23 July. 2022 and the public needs to be self cautious of their health. Meanwhile, preliminary investigations are going on for two suspected cases in Port Moresby. national Capital District of Friday. He also urged people to be vigilant and practice public health safety measures to avoid contracting infectious diseases like moneypox and Covid-19 as well.  He stated that we are still in the pandemic and all safety health practices must be followed to protect your health. Monkeypox is caused by monkeypox virus, is usually a self limited disease with the symptoms lasting for 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases can occur. In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3-6%. Monkeypox is spread to humans through close contact with an infected person or with material contaminated with the virus. It is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplrts and contaminated materials such as bedding. The monkeypox symptoms can include a fever, headache, running nose, muscles aches, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rash with blisters. People can reduce risk by limiting contact with people who have suspected or confirmed pf monkeypox and also regularly sanitize their hands. .