Papua New Guinea’s Beach Soccer team created its own History in taking part in their first ever international beach soccer match. The Team also scored one of the fastest goals in international Beach Soccer history in an incredible start to the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup in Honiara. Having never played an international match, the Papua New Guinea players who hail from Fisherman Island off the coast of Port Moresby were expected to struggle against more experienced opponents. But from the kick-off, Demasol Manama blasted the ball into the net with the goal coming after just one and a half seconds. The Boys shocked Fiji two minutes later with Ellygia Benard making it 2-0 before a shell-shocked Fiji found themselves three down a minute later when Goiravana Kala converted a freekick. Fiji pulled a goal back through Adriu Nabose in the 6th minute before Papua New Guinea were at it again with another explosive free kick from Kala rifling past Sanaila Waqanicakau in the Fijian goal in the 9th minute. Papua New Guinea ‘keeper Kopi Samuel made a mistake for Fiji’s second goal in the final minute of the first period as Jerry Sam’s side got back into the game. In the second period, scoring slowed, but it was Papua New Guinea who struck first with Benard nabbing his second. France Catarogo then fired over the bar from the penalty spot for Fiji before another defensive mistake saw Steven Dean close the gap to two goals in the 20th minute. Raven Samuel restored his side’s three goal advantage a minute later before Fiji closed the gap to two again, from a well struck free kick a minute before the end of the period. As the rain continued to pour down, the clocked ticked down. Papua New Guinea extended their lead again through Joe Vere with six minutes remaining. But Fiji applied the pressure and struck twice in quick succession to close the gap to one. With the Fijians pushing for an equaliser, Papua New Guinea were given a golden chance to kill off any resistance and duly did, with Ellygia Benard completing his hat-trick to add an eighth taking them to 8-6 at fulltime. PNG now looks forward to the next challenge against Solomon Islands tomorrow.

Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson etched her name in the history books with a stunning six-try haul in her team's 84-0 triumph over the PNG Orchids at Suncorp Stadium. The previous record for most tries in a Test by a Jillaroo was five by Sam Bremner at the 2013 World Cup. On the other wing Jakiya Whitfeld helped herself to five tries as the Jillaroos warmed up for a heavyweight showdown with the Kiwi Ferns in week two. The Jillaroos opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Robinson broke the line and found Tamika Upton in support for a 6-0 lead on the back of Tarryn Aiken's conversion. A clever grubber by No.7 Delailah Ahose earned the Orchids a line dropout but a mistake by the halfback in the ensuing set saw the opportunity go begging. When Jessikah Reeves came up with an error for the Orchids it was powerhouse Jillaroos winger Robinson who made her pay after finishing off slick lead-up by Aiken, Upton and Isabelle Kelly. Three minutes later Robinson made it a double as the Jillaroos' left edge again clicked into gear before right winger Whitfeld got in on the action in the 25th minute after the Orchids had lost Roswita Kapo to the sin bin. Another blow for the Orchids in the 28th minute when La-Toniya Norris-Addo was forced off with a knee injury and the Jillaroos again went left to hand Robinson a hat-trick after a superb cut-out pass by Aiken. The Jillaroos then produced a long-range try from the halfway line with Jess Sergis delivering the final pass for Whitfeld to race away for her second try. Aiken converted for a 32-0 lead. On the stroke of half-time Whitfeld completed her hat-trick courtesy of a well-timed pass from Tiana Penitani and the Jillaroos went to the break at 36-0. Two minutes into the second half Robinson made it four before Aiken chipped over the top for Upton to regather and score for the most spectacular try of the night. Come the 44th minute and Penitani crossed for her first try as a Jillaroo before Kelly took off from a scrum 10 metres out from her own line and sprinted 90 metres to make it 56-0. The tryscoring battle between the wingers continued when Whitfeld crossed for her fourth try in the 51st minute before Robinson answered straight back two minutes later with her fifth try. Remarkably Whitfeld then took a long ball from Penitani and powered over for her fifth of the match in the 56th minute before Robinson grabbed her slice of history with her sixth try of the match. With 90 seconds to play Sergis backed up to score after a long run by Yasmin Clydsdale before Kelly crossed in the dying seconds to make it 84-0, bettering the 82-0 scoreline over the Orchids at the 2022 World Cup. The Orchids will now need to beat the Kiwi Ferns in week three of the tournament if they are to avoid the relegation play-off.

To further solidify their collaboration, The Voice Inc. (TVI) and the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their partnership. TVI’s engagements within the university over the last four years are a testament to its commitment to the institution and the young people it serves. Between 2021 and 2024, the organization engaged students for industrial training and conducted CleanGen Leadership Training programs. It hosted campus events in collaboration with students and the community, fostering student engagement and creating safe spaces for conversations around issues such as Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Additionally, it supported innovative student projects that impacted communities and sponsored scholars 5 students with full scholarships with the first scholar successfully completing his studies in UNRE this year. The new MOU captures a commitment to supporting innovative student research projects nationwide through CleanGen Hubs for students' special projects and industrial training course requirements. As part of the MOU signing, a Home Biogas Kit was donated to the university to kick-start these special projects. TVI’s Clean Generation program supports efforts to address climate change, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable livelihoods. The Home Biogas Kit is part of TVI’s commitment to assist final year students with their special projects and research papers. The kit will serve as a research tool for the university’s academic and farm projects. Present at the MOU signing was UNRE Vice Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue and Dr Livingstone Tavul the Pro-Vice Chancellor Planning and Development. TVI representatives included Executive Director Ms Maliwai Sasingian, Senior Programs Manager Mrs Barbara T. Elias and Small Grants Coordinator Mr Slyney Tau. Speaking on behalf of TVI, Maliwai Sasingian thanked UNRE for allowing the organization to carry out its programs within the university and expressed excitement on the work ahead through the MOU. TVI also extends its gratitude to MASHAV Aid from Israel and Pacific Grow whose support to Mr. Slyney Tau enabled the donation of the Home Biogas Kit to UNRE. TVI is present in all five state run universities throughout Papua New Guinea, offering various leadership development programs and support to students who are part of the organizations CleanGen Movement.

As the count down begins for a thrilling first match, Australia and Papua New Guinea will face off at Suncorp Stadium at 5:05pm this afternoon to kick off this year's Pacific Championships tournament, with the Orchids facing a tough challenge against the top ranked team. The gulf in experience cannot be denied, with the majority of the Orchids side having been selected from national Santos Cup competition which is in its inaugural year, with only skipper Elise Albert an NRLW regular. However, despite the 50-0 scoreline in last Sunday's Prime Minister's XIII match, the Orchids put in a strong showing in the second half to keep the Australian side to one try after trailing 44-0 at half-time. Australia will be out to show their credentials after posting a loss in their last Pacific Championships game last year and have plenty of talent of show, but won't be taking the Orchids lightly and know they will be in for a physical encounter. After sitting out the PM's XIII match to be kept fresh for the Pac Champs, PNG legend Elsie Albert will captain her country against Australia. Cowboys duo Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka bring plenty of class to the forward pack while experienced centre, Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and was named joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL’s Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships. Hooker Ua Ravu represented the Orchids at the World Cup in 2022 and has racked up four Tests for the Orchids. Jessikah Reeves and Sera Koroi both have NRLW experience with the Cowboys. Australia’s Ali Brigginshaw and Kezie Apps will lead a Jillaroos side boasting three debutantes in starting hooker Quincy Dodd and her back-up Olivia Higgins, as well as bench forward Sarah Togatuki. Nine members of the side that lost last year's Pac Champs final to New Zealand are back on deck, including fullback Tamika Upton and chief playmaker Tarryn Aiken, who shifts from five-eighth to halfback. Lauren Brown was listed among the reserves after suffering a hamstring injury playing for the PM's XIII but dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Jessika Elliston while Jess Sergis is 18th player. PNG TEAM LIST Interchange: 1 Mala Mark 14- Roswita Kapo 2- Freda Waula 15- Jessikah Reeves 3- Belinda Gwasamun 16- Talitha Kunjil 4- La-Toniya Norris-Addo 17- Leila Kerowa 5- Lyiannah Allen 6- Sera Koroi Reserves: 7- Delailah Ahose 18- Lilah Malabag 8- Essay Banu 19- Meli Joe 9- Ua Ravu 20- Yolanda Taute 10- Elsie Albert 21- Freda Anthony 11- Sareka Mooka 12- Emily Veivers 13- Gloria Kaupa

Deborah Alois has been welcomed by CPL Group as the Manager for CPL Foundation, the Group's Philanthropic arm. With an impressive background across environmental management, sustainable development, climate advocacy, youth empowerment, health communication, and anti-corruption work in Papua New Guinea, Deborah’s expertise perfectly aligns with CPL Foundation’s mission to uplift women and girls through education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Her responsibilities began on July 29th of this year and involve creating and executing strategic plans to further the foundation's mission. Her key responsibilities encompass program management, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that initiatives are delivered effectively and sustainably. "I look forward to leading the Foundation in delivering impactful development programs that prioritize people—both in the communities we serve and by the teams executing the programs.” Deborah holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Geography and a Diploma in Project Management. She is passionate about transitioning the foundation towards sustainable, long-term development programs that empower women and girls. She also aims to pursue a master’s in development studies and/or a master’s in business administration.

The Bati and Kumuls, two proud and fervent rugby league nations, will face battle in a titanic match in Suva to begin their Pacific Bowl campaign tomorrow. With promotion and relegation added to the mix in 2024 there is more than just national pride at stake - the winner of the Pacific Bowl playing off against the third-placed Pacific Cup nation for a place in the 2025 Pacific Cup pool. That makes a first-up win even more crucial in front of a heaving crowd at Suva's HFC Bank Stadium, with free-flowing football sure to be the order of the day. The Bati and Kumuls met twice during last year's Pacific Championships with the results shared, but both of those games were in Port Moresby, now the Bati get to play a Test on home soil for the first time since 2000 and Tui Kamikamica will have his men primed for the occasion. Expect a torrid forward battle as Kamikamica and Ben Nakubuwai look to lay the foundations for Bulldogs superstar Viliame Kikau to run riot out wide, while the Kumuls' NRL pairing of Jacob Alick and Jack de Belin will fight for every metre in the middle. Rhyse Martin skippers a Kumuls side that includes Jack de Belin at lock, Lachlan Lam at halfback and Nene Macdonald at fullback. With star hooker Edwin Ipape sidelined by injury, cult figure Judah Rimbu takes over in the No.9 on the back of a classy display for the PM's XIII. Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt plays his 12th Test match and will form a dangerous combination with Lam, who has 10 Tests to his name. Titans forward Jacob Alick will show the way up front after representing the Kumuls at the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Pac Champs. Meanwhile, Fiji Bati’s Storm big man Tui Kamikamica will captain a vastly experienced Bati outfit that includes former skipper Kevin Naiqama, who lines up for his 25th Test match, as well as blockbusting winger Maika Sivo in his 11th Test for Fiji and Viliame Kikau in his 17th Test. Panthers premiership winner Sunia Turuva is the fullback while Dolphins playmaker Kurt Donoghoe wears the No.7. Emerging NRL forwards Caleb Navale (Sea Eagles) and Kitione Kautoga (Bulldogs) are back in the pack after featuring in last year's Pacific Championships.

The music world is grieving the loss of Liam Payne. The former One Direction member died Oct. 16 at age 31 after he fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, local authorities confirmed to Telemundo. He was 31. Payne was born on Aug. 29, 1993, in West Midlands, England, to Karen Payne and Geoff Payne. The youngest of three—his older sisters are Nicola Payne and Ruth Gibbons—he grew up participating in sports, particularly cross country running and boxing. He rose to prominence in 2010 on The X Factor after being grouped with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction. After placing third on season seven of the competition series, the group signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s company Syco Records and the following year they topped charts round the world with the release of their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” in September 2011. Their first album as a group, Up All Night, was released that November. And a November release and subsequent tour became a yearly occurrence for the quintet for several years, with the group launching Take Me Home in 2012, followed by Midnight Memories in 2013 and Four in November 2014. However, five years after forming, One Direction had a massive change as Zayn announced his departure in March 2015, citing a desire to pursue life as a “normal 22-year-old.” The group continued on as a quartet, with the rest of the band stepping in to take on his parts. "Liam stepped up to do the high notes,” Harry told Entertainment Weekly in 2015. “He kicks them in the bollocks every show. He doesn't hold back." One Direction ultimately went on what they described as a temporary hiatus in 2016, with the band members each going on to pursue solo projects. Payne released one solo album LP1 in December 2019. At the height of his time in One Direction, Payne dated dancer Danielle Peazer for two years before reconnecting with his childhood friend Sophia Smith, with whom he was in a relationship from 2013 to 2015. In 2016, Payne began dating singer Cheryl Cole, with whom he welcomed son Bear in March 2017 before their breakup in 2018. One year after his breakup from the former X Factor judge, Payne began dating model Maya Henry, to whom he was engaged twice—first in August 2020, which ended in June 2021, and again in late 2021 before breaking up in May 2022. Around this same time, Payne opened up about his struggle with substance abuse and suicidal ideation, describing himself while in One Direction as an “angry person.” “It was really, really, really severe. It was a problem,” the singer said during a June 2021 episode of the Diary of A CEO podcast, per Billboard, two years before entering treatment for alcohol abuse. “It was only until I saw myself after that I was like, ‘Right, I need to fix myself.' I just didn’t like myself very much, and then I made a change.” Payne found love with influencer Kate Cassidy in 2022, after she confessed to manifesting their relationship when she was just 10 years old. Hours before his death, Payne shared a photo to his Snapchat of the pair smiling in a mirror selfie while wearing their swimsuits. Source: https://www.eonline.com

Coach Tahnee Norris has named a 21-player squad for the Pacific Championships, which begin this Friday night with powerhouse forward Elise Albert, to headline the Santos PNG Orchids squad. The competition will take place across the next two months, with the Orchids playing matches in Brisbane, Port Moresby and Sydney in a busy schedule against leading teams including Australia and New Zealand. The PNG Prime Minister’s XIII side faced off against a strong Australian Prime Minister’s XIII selection at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday 13th October as part of their preparation for the campaign ahead. The players put in a commendable effort against an experienced Australian side who were all selected from the NRLW competition, with some having played State of Origin and with the Jillaroos. Albert is joined in the Orchids side by other players with NRLW experience including Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka who spent season 2024 with the North Queensland Cowboys and Ua Rava, who is signed to the Canberra Raiders. Experienced centre Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and this year was named the joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL’s Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships. The players have assembled in camp in Brisbane to prepare for their Pacific Championships campaign which will kick off at Suncorp Stadium against the Australian Jillaroos on Friday, October 18th. PNG Orchids Pacific Championships squad: Belinda Gwasamun – Wentworthville Magpies Delailah Ahose – Goroka Lahanis Elsie Albert – Parramatta Eels Emily Veivers – Norths Devils Essay Banu – Norths Queensland Cowboys Freda Anthony – Central Dabaris Freda Waula – Mt Hagen Eagles Gloria Kaupa – Wentworthville Magpies Jessikah Reeves – Western Clydesdales La-Toniya Norris-Addo – Darwin Brothers Leila Kerowa – Central Dabaris Lilah Malabag – Port Moresby Vipers Lyiannah Allen – Mt Hagen Eagles Mala Mark – Central Dabaris Meli Joe – Mt Hagen Eagles Roswita Kapo – Wentworthville Magpies Sareka Mooka – North Queensland Cowboys Sera Koroi – Goodna

Kina Bank’s Goroka Branch staff recently raised funds to assist a local music artist, Moho’Nilla with materials to complete a Bel Mama Haus (BMH) for expectant mothers in the rural Upper Bena area of Eastern Highlands Province. The BMH is a waiting house where expectant mothers can rest before their delivery date. This facility is an initiative of the musician who witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by pregnant women in the area. With support from organisations like Kina Bank, the waiting haus located at the Sigere Health Centre is being equipped with materials to give these women a comfortable place to stay. Kina Bank Branch Manager for Goroka, Jo-Anna Simet said, “We recognised the needs of these mothers and decided to support Moho’Nilla by donating pillows, mattresses, bed linen, and nails to assist with the completion of the waiting house. “These mothers travel long distances to access medical facilities and face numerous challenges on their journey. Tragically, some mothers and their unborn babies do not survive the journey. We are pleased that our support means these mothers have a place to rest in the days leading up to their delivery dates and ensure access to immediate medical assistance is available when they need it,” she said. The donation was handed over to Moho’Nilla and her team, with Kina Bank’s Goroka branch staff witnessing the event. Kina Bank is delighted to support initiatives that benefit the communities they serve.

Prime Minister James Marape today conveyed his best wishes to Grade 12 students across Papua New Guinea who will be sitting for their final examinations from October 14 to October 18, 2024. This year, a total of 32,863 Grade 12 students from 225 Secondary Schools and six National Schools of Excellence will undertake these crucial exams, which mark a significant milestone in their educational journeys. Prime Minister Marape commended the students for their hard work and dedication, encouraging them to remain focused and give their best effort as they conclude their secondary education. “I extend my best wishes to all Grade 12 students as they prepare to sit for their final exams. This is a pivotal moment, and I urge each of you to approach your exams with confidence, knowing that you have worked hard to reach this point,” said Prime Minister Marape. He also expressed gratitude to the teachers, parents, and guardians who have supported these students throughout the year, highlighting the importance of their guidance and encouragement. “Your achievements in these exams are a testament not only to your own efforts but also to the unwavering support of your teachers, parents, and guardians. They have walked this path with you, and I thank them for their commitment to your success,” he added. PM Marape reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to education as a cornerstone of Papua New Guinea’s development and stressed the importance of fostering an environment where young people can thrive academically and personally.

The PNG Kumuls are ready to take on rivals, the Vodafone Fiji Bati, in the opening match of the Pacific Rugby League Bowl Championship this Saturday. According to Fiji Village, Kumuls captain Kyle Laybutt says they have learned from their weaknesses in Sunday's game where Australia beat the Kumuls 42-20. Laybutt says they need to work on those mistakes to build their confidence. He added that they have had a core group of players for a few years now and will refine their game plan as they move forward. Laybutt also mentioned that playing under a new coach and structure will boost their performance this week. On August 30th, it was announced that the tournament would include promotion, and relegation matches between the third-placed Pacific Cup team and the first-placed Pacific Bowl team in both the men's and women's tournaments. This marks a change in format from the 2023 Pacific Championships. The 2024 men's tournament will again feature two divisions, the Pacific Cup and the Pacific Bowl. The Cup will include top-ranked nations Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga, while the Bowl will see Fiji Bati, Papua New Guinea, and the Cook Islands competing. The Bati will host the Kumuls at 8.10pm (6pm PMG time) on Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Source: Fiji Village

Ok Tedi Limited (OTML) recently rolled out its long-awaited HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Screening and Treatment Program in the Western province, aimed at the prevention of cervical cancer. Commencing just recently on October 8th, the HPV Screening Program delivered essential healthcare services to employees of OTML, business partners, government departments, and communities across the Mine, Tabubil, Bige, and Kiunga operations. The program, possibly the first in Western Province, will be administered by the Tabubil Hospital every Tuesday with an expected turnaround time for results within 48 hours of the screening. Pap smear testing will also be conducted. This vital initiative was made possible through the support of the Ok Tedi Women’s Network (OWN) and OTML's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kedi Ilimbit. OTML Manager Health Services, Raymond Singamis said, “This program is a major milestone and will play a critical role in protecting women’s health by enabling the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. I wish to thank OWN and Mr. Ilimbit for facilitating the procurement of the HPV screening kits.” Mr. Singamis added, “Apart from the screening process, OTML has added a bonus activity for those women who test positive for high-risk HPV types by providing treatment.” The HPV Screening procedure takes less than five minutes, requires no hospitalization or anaesthesia, and is conducted using a thermo-coagulator probe into the cervix for about 20 seconds. If the test results return positive for high-risk HPV types, that doesn’t mean a patient has cervical cancer, rather it indicates the presence of the virus that causes cervical cancer which can be easily treated with the Thermo Ablation method at the Tabubil Hospital. Additionally, if a cervical lesion (cervical sore) is detected during screening, then the screening process is abandoned and the patient is referred to the gynaecology team for further assessment and treatment. OTML has a corporate social responsibility to the people of Western Province and Papua New Guinea to provide lifesaving health interventions for women and our girls. As a development partner, OTML is committed to improving the health services for our workforce and surrounding community.