A man who recently completed a 17 year jail term for killing a man was assaulted for his crime at Konedobu today. Police intervened quickly and arrested a young man in his twenties for assaulting the ex-convict. The former prisoner was walking up Lawes Road when his assailant struck but police intervened immediately and arrested his attacker. The ex-convict sustained minor injuries to his head when he was saved by members of Sector Patrol Fox 100. The young man told police, that his father was stabbed to death at Konedobu. The policemen told the suspect that it was wrong for him to attack the ex-convict, who was jailed for his crime. The suspect was taken to Badili Police Station and is expected to be charged for assault.

Family members of Brazilian soccer superstar Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, gathered by his hospital bed on Christmas Eve as he faces health challenges. The 82-year-old former forward was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021. Earlier this week, the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo said in a statement the colon cancer had advanced and Pelé was in "elevated care" around kidney and heart "dysfunctions." His daughter Kely Nascimento posted an image on Instagram Saturday showing family members sleeping by his side in the hospital. "We are still here in the fight and with faith. Another night together," she captioned the image. His son Edson Cholbi Nascimento, a coach and former player known as Edinho, also posted an image on Saturday from the hospital, showing the father and son holding hands. "Father... my strength is yours," he captioned the post. [caption id="attachment_33110" align="alignnone" width="949"] Supporters of Brazil pose for a photo with a banner of Pele prior to the match between Brazil and Cameroon at the FIFA World Cup, on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lusail, Qatar.[/caption] Pelé, widely considered one of the best soccer players in history, holds the Guinness World Record for Most Career Goals, scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 between Sept. 7, 1956 and Oct. 1, 1977, and the only football player to have won three World Cups. Pelé announced his official retirement from soccer in 1974, however he decided to continue playing and joined the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos before retiring in 1977. FIFA granted a joint award to Pelé and Argentina's Diego Maradona in December 2000, naming them the Player of the Century. The International Olympic Committee named him the Athlete of the Century in 1999. After retiring from soccer, he was appointed to be a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994, becoming the first athlete to receive that distinction. He was appointed a U.N. ambassador for ecology and the environment in 1992. Source: ABC News

Beijing is bankrolling a hospital for Papua New Guinea's Defence Force (PNGDF) in a move some analysts fear could eventually lead to a much deeper Chinese military presence in the Pacific nation. The project was publicly revealed by PNG's Chief of Defence last week during his end-of-year parade speech attended by dignitaries including China's new military attaché. "I am grateful to announce Chinese commitment to fund the constructions of the PNGDF Military Hospital at Taurama Barracks," Major General Mark Goina said at the event on December 16. "Work has commenced for our Defence Minister to sign the protocols for the use of the funds and scoping/design works of the Hospital in 2023," the PNGDF Commander added. According to General Goina, the Chinese-funded initiative would come "at a cost of 31 million [Papua New Guinean] Kina" or roughly just over $13 million. Taurama Barracks are located in PNG's capital Port Moresby and accommodated the Australian-led Pacific Islands Battalion during World War II. [caption id="attachment_33097" align="alignnone" width="872"] Mark Goina revealed the project at an end-of-year parade speech attended by dignitaries.(Supplied: Australian Department of Defence)[/caption] In 2007, Papua New Guinea signed a deal with Beijing for China to provide half a million US dollars for the maintenance and renovation of the existing medical facility at Taurama Barracks. During his speech, the PNG commander thanked the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for its "continued support with training and willingness to support us in areas that need capacity building". "We have reached the end of the first year of our Defence Force five-year plan, the 2022 to 2026 Intent," General Goina said. 'A military hospital one day, a military base the next' General Goina began his speech by acknowledging Australia as "our longest, and closest defence partner", declaring: "The long and enduring relationship of military partnership and dare I say it, mateship, between Papua New Guinea and Australia, is the most important to us." Australia's Defence Department declined to say when it became aware of the Chinese-funded project, telling the ABC "decisions made by the government of Papua New Guinea and PNGDF are a matter for Papua New Guinea". "Australia and Papua New Guinea have a close defence and security partnership focusing on areas of mutual priority and interest," a Defence spokesperson added. Australia and the United States are working to counter China's rising influence across the Pacific after being spooked by a security deal China struck with Solomon Islands in April. Just last week Australia helped to open a new 100-person accommodation block at PNG's Igam Barracks in Lae, at an event attended by High Commissioner Jon Philp as well as General Goina. Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute believes Australia should be wary of what else China has planned in PNG. "What you're likely to see in the Solomons could happen also in PNG – a military hospital one day, a military base the next – I think that's the thing we have to be aware of," Dr Davis told the ABC. "It's fairly clear that the PNG military are relying on China to a greater degree for capacity building and training purposes and ultimately where that leads is an increasing presence for the PLA in PNG and I think that's what we need to be cautious of." During a visit to Papua New Guinea in October, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia wanted to strike an "ambitious" security treaty with its northern neighbour as quickly as possible. Source: ABC News

Stephan Bonnar, the Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer who popularized the sport in the finale fight of the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, died Thursday, the mixed martial arts promoter announced Saturday. Bonnar died from “presumed heart complications while at work,” the UFC said in a news release. He was 45. “Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” UFC President Dana White said in the release. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him, related to him and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.” Bonnar’s three-round light heavyweight final bout against Forrest Griffin in Las Vegas in 2005 saved the fledgling UFC, paving the way to the sport’s popularity today. The fight is in the company’s Hall of Fame fight wing, which recognizes “the greatest, most memorable and historically important UFC bouts.” Griffin won the epic match and was awarded a UFC contract. But the promotion also gave Bonnar a contract, too. “I knew it was a good fight during the fight,” Bonnar later said, according to the release. “It hit me when everyone started stomping their feet and it felt like the whole place was shaking. And that was in the second round. I was like ‘oooh, this must be good.’” “Everything changed. I didn’t think I’d have a UFC career,” he went on. “It was just a little hobby I was doing, so it changed everything. Almost overnight, I became like a celebrity. Everywhere I went, someone would recognize me, even in obscure places.” Known as “The American Psycho,” Bonnar fought Hall of Famers such as Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, Anderson Silva, and Tito Ortiz during his seven-year light heavyweight career. The Hammond, Indiana, native finished with a 17-9 UFC record, defeating fighters such as Krzysztof Soszynski, Igor Pokrajac, and James Irvin. Source: CNN News

As Australia look to secure their first Test series win over South Africa on home soil since 2005-06, cricket fans flocked to the MCG to honour the legacy of late bowling legend Shane Warne. Victoria Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulous joined Cricket Australia chairperson Lachlan Henderson at the ground to encourage fans to wear Warnie's iconic floppy hat and zinc as Day 1 of the second Test gets underway. [caption id="attachment_33101" align="alignnone" width="906"] Shane Warne's statue outside the MCG.(Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)[/caption] The "King of Spin" had made the Boxing Day Test his own, notably claiming a hat-trick during the 1994 Ashes and taking his 700th wicket at the MCG 12 years later. Before this Test match, the Australian and South African teams paid their respects wearing Warne's signature floppy hats, ahead of the national anthem, while Warne's own items were featured on a plinth as text flowed around the stadium's electronic boards. "Shane is an icon to cricket fans globally for the greatness of his cricketing achievements, his charisma and his infectious enthusiasm for the game," Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said. "His place as a legend of Australian and world sport is assured. Whilst we continue to mourn his passing, it is fitting that we honour Shane at his beloved Boxing Day Test at the MCG. "Shane became recognisable, not only through his genius and mastery of the art of leg spin, but also [for] his floppy hat and zinc. So we encourage fans to remember Shane [the same way]." [caption id="attachment_33102" align="alignnone" width="878"] Shane Warne's iconic hats and red ball were displayed on the field during the anthems.(Getty Images: CA/Daniel Pockett)[/caption] Warne's Test cap number, 350, was also painted on grass square of the wicket, while a graphic of the Victorian great will be displayed on the MCG's big screen at 3:50pm followed by a special highlights package. On Monday morning, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) announced that the Men's Test Player of the Year award will be renamed the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year at the annual Cricket Awards on January 30. Cricket fans took to social media to post their own tributes, including hand-made signs, iconic shirts and DIY floppy hats as cricket remembers the legacy of one of its greatest ever figures. Source: ABC News

The National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea - NFA is supporting Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) with a funding of K10 million to establish a kidney center after both parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the five (5) leading diseases that contribute to the admissions and deaths of patients at PMGH and building this kidney center will ensure all kidney services including dialysis and kidney transplant is provided for the people of Papua New Guinea and also Pacific Island nations. Managing director Mr. Justin Ilakini said the National Fisheries Authority is honoured to be contributing to the welfare of the people of Papua New Guinea through this project. Mr. Ilakini said the NFA has been supporting hospitals and health centres over the years including a recent donation of K60, 000.00 to the PNG Kidney Foundation, but he believed that they could do more for the health sector. Mr. Ilakini said after receiving a proposal from PMGH chief executive officer Dr. Paki Molumi for assistance to establish the kidney center project, he decided to take the proposal to the NFA Board for deliberation. “I eventually took it to the NFA Board on their last Fisheries Board meeting for 2022 and they unanimously approved it,” said Mr. Ilakini. “For NFA, through the Minister (for Fisheries and Marine Resources), we’d like to see that our assistance through the signing of this MOA will eventually translate to one day seeing our very own people getting that kidney transplant in-country.” Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Jelta Wong, formerly the Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS himself, said that this is the first time that the country would advance its kidney services. “The Kidney Foundation has been around for a long time but we’ve never advanced to a stage where we can actually start treating people with kidney disease and dialysis, all this, all in one", said Minister Wong. "It’s a very expensive exercise. Today, for us it’s historical and I thank the Board and Management of NFA for having this vision to make sure that the health services that we provide in our country is adequately funded,” stressed Minister Wong. Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS Hon. Dr. Lino Tom said more and more people are dying from lifestyle diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart and kidney diseases, so this funding is a timely intervention to establish a centre that can provide a holistic kidney service. “Unfortunately, the people who are more at risk from lifestyle diseases are the elites of this country. The people who are contributing meaningfully to this country are the ones that are succumbing to lifestyle diseases simply because of lifestyle changes,” said Minister Tom. “When this project is complete, we would have addressed lifestyle diseases not totally but at least the major ones that we will need to address.” Meanwhile, PMGH CEO Dr. Molumi said he hopes to achieve many of the expected outcomes once the program kicks off. “We should be able to reduce the number of Chronic Kidney Disease patients diagnosed each year. We should be able to offer affordable kidney dialysis service and kidney transplant service,” said Dr. Molumi. Dr. Molumi said investing in health is not only a social contribution but an economic one to drive medical tourism in the country. “We should be able to attract our Pacific neighbors to seek treatment here so that we can grow our economy…when we drive medical tourism, and that’s a direction we want to go,” said Dr. Molumi. Dr Molumi highlighted that this is a big investment in the health sector and he urged both Ministers to make sure that this Kidney program is sustained and that both Ministers including Port Moresby General hospital can deliver the objectives and the outcome of the MOU that was signed.

Josh Reynolds isn’t sure whether he’ll break into Canterbury’s top squad and feature in the NRL in 2023, but for the time being he’s feeling like a Bulldog again after his return to Belmore. Once a fan-favourite in blue and white, Reynolds is going about his business in a quiet, yet effective manner after returning to Australia following two seasons in the Super League. The Bulldogs have three spots left in their top 30 roster and while there are no guarantees, the 33-year-old is hopeful to return to where it all started in the NRL next season. The original departure A crowd pleaser, an entertainer and a passionate clubman who would always get under the skin of rivals. Reynolds was a Bulldog through and through with his departure at the end of 2017 sending shockwaves through the NRL. Reynolds was flocked by fans and carried off the Belmore turf in his final game at the venue after he confirmed earlier in the season he’d signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Wests Tigers. It was a move largely motivated by money - the joint venture offering up the type of coin that any player would be silly to knock back - and Reynolds was given a blessing to take up the deal. Canterbury didn't make the finals that year, and they haven't since either with Reynolds watching on from afar. [caption id="attachment_33084" align="alignnone" width="998"] Josh Reynolds' original departure from the Bulldogs in 2017 was an emotional time for the club.[/caption] "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t watching them from afar when I left," Reynolds told NRL.com. "I still had mates here that I’d played with. Players like Jacko (Josh Jackson) and Ray [Faitala-Mariner]. "Those guys, you’ve got to take your hat off them to stick around in those tough times. "You don’t want to see anyone go through a rough patch – not just them personally but the club itself. "My time at the Tigers wasn’t how I wanted it to pan out or how I envisioned it would all go down when I left. "I almost came back to the Bulldogs after that contract but ended up over in the UK." Why the Super League Reynolds had a year left on his contract with Hull FC but with an option in his favour he called it quits mutually with the club to return to Australia in June. While his time in the UK didn't work out entirely as planned, Reynolds came back in a much better mind frame than when he originally left. His departure from the NRL in 2020 came after 12 months of turmoil that included a domestic violence case - in which he was later cleared - in an event that was played out so publicly. Two years on and Reynolds now has a new fiancé and has put his time at the Wests Tigers behind him. "It’s quite true that when your off-field life is in check then your on-field life tends to go well too," he said. "Life’s good. It’s the happiest I’ve ever been off the field with my new fiancé, and just being back home with my mates. "It’s so much easier when you haven’t got the outside pressures weighing you down. "That’s one thing I do speak up to with the boys, to make sure the off-field life is in check because it does flow into training and on the field. "You can’t let it affect the way you train and play." The body factor At 33, Reynolds will be one of the oldest players in the NRL next year if he goes on to land a contract. His body was a hot topic at the Wests Tigers with the former NSW five-eighth playing just 22 games in three seasons. He was dogged by a few more injuries in the Super League before he sought a release. "I’m feeling a bit older in my brain but my body, it’s a bit tougher to recover," he said when asked about his physical shape. "I’ve got to do everything right, and that’s not just coming off the field and throwing the boots in the locker room. "It’s about the ice baths, stretching. I’ll be brutally honest, I didn’t do it enough when I was younger. It had a bit of an effect on the body when I did get older. "But now, I don’t rush home, I hang around and I talk to the coaches with Bobcat (Andrew Ryan), Steve Turner, Ogre (Mark O'Meley) and Mase (Willie Mason) – guys I used to play with or look up to. "For the first time I’m taking pre-season as I do. It’s not about waking up every day thinking how hard it’s going to be or what my scores are going to be in fitness drills. "It’s more about getting in there and enjoying it because you don’t know what’s going to happen." The Bulldogs homecoming Reynolds got on the phone to Phil Gould a few months ago when he returned to Australia. He also spoke to retiring captain Josh Jackson. Both were eager to see him return to the club in some capacity. "I said to 'Gus' I’d love to be a part of what they’re building here, whatever that looked like," Reynolds said. "It is a young squad. I had a chat to 'Jacko' about it and thought it wasn’t a bad idea that I try and give it a crack. "I had a lot of older guys say to me you’re retired for a long time and that stuck with me a bit. When the wheels did get rolling I was very excited. "I still don’t know what’s going to happen or what’s going to come of it but at the same time it’s just nice to be home to a club that I love and that’s heading in the right direction. "If there’s one thing I do know it’s what it takes to be a Bulldog. We’ve got a loyal fanbase and all they want is effort. That’s what Cam [Ciraldo] wants too. "He’s made sure we all know that the hard workers and talkers will get in his team." The reality As it stands, Reynolds is on a three-month train and trial contract with no guarantees of a full-time deal at the end of January. "I want to play, that’s my priority," he said. "But I also walk into the sheds and there’s 18-year-old kids training with us and I know how daunting that can be, to walk into a first grade team. "It’s my 13th year in the NRL and any sort of tips I can give to those boys I’m happy to do that and if that's the role that's needed I'll be OK with that. "Hopefully I can have a little impact on the group in this pre-season and we'll see what happens from there." Source: NRL.com

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has ordered all local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop their female employees from coming to work, according to a letter by the Ministry of Economy sent to all licensed NGOs. Non-compliance will result in revoking the licenses of said NGOs, the ministry said. The ministry in the letter – whose validity its spokesman Abdul Rahman Habib confirmed to CNN – cites as reasons for the decision the non-observation of Islamic dress rules and other laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate. “Lately there have been serious complaints regarding not observing the Islamic hijab and other Islamic Emirate’s laws and regulations,” the letter said, adding that as a result “guidance is given to suspend work of all female employees of National and international non-governmental organizations.” Earlier this week, the Taliban government suspended university education for all female students in Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education confirmed the university suspension to CNN on Tuesday. A letter published by the education ministry said the decision was made in a cabinet meeting and the order would go into effect immediately. In a televised news conference on Thursday, the Taliban’s higher education minister said they had banned women from universities for not observing Islamic dress rules and other “Islamic values,” citing female students traveling without a male guardian. The move sparked outrage among women in Afghanistan. It marks yet another step in the Taliban’s brutal crackdown on the freedoms of Afghan women, following the hardline Islamist group’s takeover of the country in August 2021. Though the Taliban has repeatedly claimed it would protect the rights of girls and women, it has in fact done the opposite, stripping away the hard-won freedoms they have fought tirelessly for over the past two decades. Some of its most striking restrictions have been around education, with girls barred from returning to secondary schools in March. The move devastated many students and their families, who described to CNN their dashed dreams of becoming doctors, teachers or engineers. Source: CNN

Work on setting up the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is moving steadily ahead as appointments were made this week  for the three top positions – Commissioner and two deputy Commissioners. Although no names are being announced at this point until letters of formalization have been exchanged, Prime Minister  James Marape called it “a historic decision” as he oversaw the appointments at the ICAC Appointments Committee meeting he convened this morning in his capacity as Chairman. The meeting saw him receive the report containing the recommendations from the Independent Interview Panel, headed by Chairman Peter Aitsi. He said: “It is a historic decision today. We have made the appointments for the Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. We are now in the process of issuing the letter of appointments and finally completing the process. “This is a good Christmas gift to the people of Papua New Guinea since the late Siaguru talked about setting up ICAC in the late 1980s, and seven prime ministers before me have passed through with no ICAC delivery. “But under my time, the ICAC Bill was taken to Parliament and passed, and I want to thank the leaders who stood with me on the 30 November 2020 to pass this law which went through the process in 2021, and now it is progressing to the full appointment of the three commissioners. “It has taken us seven months for the process to be completed. We needed to do it above politics in a fair, open and transparent manner. “An independent recruitment agency was appointed, well over 229 applications received, both locally and internationally, and processed through an independent appointments committee headed by Transparency International chairman Peter Aitsi and assisted by Department of Personnel Management Secretary. “Six names have come to the Appointments Committee and three were picked. “Let me also indicate that this was also the first time that a process of appointment had to use a computerized psychometric test on the ability of the candidates to deliver on the expected outcomes to fight corruption. “In my commendation to the Appointments Committee, I said this law is my generation of leaders' best gift to the country. “I am working to build roads, classrooms, and all those others but setting up this law, in my view, is the best thing I could have done for the country. We need to fight corruption and prosecute those who commit corruption in our country. “So finally, before Christmas 2022, we have made the appointment for the three commissioners – one Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners. “Next year, we will fully fund ICAC and have it up and running in full,” said the Prime Minister. The Appointments Committee comprises the following office holders: • The Prime Minister • The Leader of the Opposition • The Chief Justice • The Chair of the Public Services Commission and • The Chair of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches To ensure a credible and arms-length process in the recruitment of ICAC commissioners, the Appointments Committee decided to invite a panel of five (5) highly qualified and reputable people to form the Independent Interview Panel and to engage an external recruitment agency CC Pacific Ltd via a competitive tender process to manage, coordinate and conduct the recruitment of ICAC commissioner. The recruitment notice was widely advertised in Papua New Guinea’s major daily newspapers as required in the OLICAC Act and also published in newspapers in Australia and New Zealand. These advertisements were further supported by posts on online recruitment platforms as well as direct approaches to anti-corruption agencies and similar types of law enforcement agencies. A total of 229 applications were received – 104 from PNG and 124 from overseas candidates to fill the positions of Commissioner and the two Deputy Commissioner roles. The recruitment firm undertook the initial screening to arrive at a long list and this list was further assessed by the Independent Interview Panel to settle on a short list to progress to the interview stage. At all times, the Independent Interview Panel members conducted themselves in a highly professional manner, demonstrating individuality of thought and being very mindful of the importance of their task. The Independent Interview Panel consisted of the following people: • Mr. Peter John Aitsi MBE – Chair • Ms. Taies Sansan – Vice Chair • Dame Meg Taylor DBE – Member • His Honour Justice Les Gavara-Nanu OBE CSM – Member • Mr. Frawley Terrence DPS, QPM – Member “The panel is confident the process undertaken has been rigorous and comprehensive, culminating today with the handing over of the final report and recommendations to the Appointments Committee. We commend the report to the Ap

King Charles is set to include a tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in his first Christmas message as monarch. An image of Charles delivering his speech, which is due to be broadcast on Christmas Day at 15:00 GMT, shows the King in St George's Chapel, Windsor. In her final Christmas message, the late Queen spoke of "passing the baton" to the next generation. And her son's first Christmas Day message will remember her legacy. This will be the first televised annual royal Christmas Day broadcast not to be presented by the late Queen, who appeared in the first TV message in 1957. The photo of the King shows him recording this year's message in the chapel where a committal service was held during the Queen's funeral in September. Both his mother and father, Prince Philip, are buried in the George VI Memorial Chapel within St George's Chapel. The picture, released by Buckingham Palace, shows King Charles standing in front of a Christmas tree with plastic-free, recyclable decorations and arrangements of holly and ivy in the background. This year sees the King and Camilla the Queen Consort return to the tradition of spending Christmas in Sandringham, Norfolk, after concerns about Covid and Queen Elizabeth's health kept the Royal Family in Windsor last year. The Prince and Princess of Wales are among the senior royals expected to be with King Charles for Christmas. In her 2021 Christmas message, the Queen gave a highly personal tribute to her "beloved" Prince Philip, who died in April of that year. Her broadcast was the most watched programme on Christmas Day in 2021, drawing almost nine million viewers. The King's Christmas Day broadcast continues a tradition going back 90 years. The first royal Christmas broadcast was a live radio speech in 1932, delivered from Sandringham by George V, with the script written by the author Rudyard Kipling. In 1957, Elizabeth II delivered the first televised message, saying that it was a technological landmark that "television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day". The message became part of many families' Christmas celebrations and the first televised broadcast in 1957 set a familiar pattern. The national anthem was followed by the monarch speaking directly to the camera, with a speech that included Christmas greetings, a religious lesson, support for the Commonwealth, a round-up of the royal year and a moral message for the times. In 1957 it meant a warning about values in public life, criticising a culture of "self-interest". The timing of the Christmas broadcast was originally set for 15.00 GMT as best for reaching the most countries in different time zones around the world. Source: BBC

A Los Angeles jury on Friday found rapper and singer Tory Lanez guilty of three charges related to the July 2020 shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the Hollywood Hills, the Los Angeles County District Attorney told CNN. Lanez had pleaded not guilty to assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, according to prosecutors. The jury convicted him on all three counts. Megan accused Lanez of shooting her in the foot after she exited a vehicle they had been riding in following an argument. In her testimony during the trial, Megan said things were tense in the car between her, Lanez, and her former friend and assistant, Kelsey Harris, Billboard Magazine reports. The artist testified Lanez wanted her to come clean with Harris about the fact that the two of them had been intimate. But Billboard reports Megan was uncomfortable doing so because she knew Harris had a crush on the Canadian singer and rapper. Megan said she had exited the car when Lanez shot her. “I started walking away and I hear Tory yell, ‘Dance, b***h,” she tearfully testified, according to Billboard. “I froze. I just felt shock. I felt hurt. I looked down at my feet and I see all of this blood.” Megan “showed incredible courage and vulnerability” during her testimony “despite repeated and grotesque attacks,” LA County DA George Gascón said in a statement to CNN following the verdict. “You faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face and you have been an inspiration to others across LA County and the nation,” he said, in reference to Megan. “Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed. This trial, for the second time this month, highlighted the numerous ways that our society must do better for women,” Gascón added, referring to Harvey Weinstein being found guilty of three out of seven charges on Monday. He also thanked the jurors for “their time and thoughtful deliberation.” Lanez did not take the stand in his defense during the nine-day trial. The jury, comprised of five men and seven women, began deliberating Thursday and a verdict was reached on Friday afternoon. Lanez was taken out of the courtroom by bailiffs in handcuffs after the verdict was read, according to CNN affiliate KCBS. He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison and possible deportation back to his native Canada. Source: CNN

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) announced the commencement of a comprehensive tax audit into two major mining companies operating in Papua New Guinea. Commissioner General Sam Koim made the announcement on Friday (23/12/22). Mr. Koim said, “We have been profiling these two companies (names withheld for confidentiality reasons) for over a year. The letters formally notifying them of the audit were signed and served. We understand that mining is a capital-intensive operation and requires significant investment. Be that as it may, our mineral resources are finite and non-renewable, and we will run out one day. The Government needs to extract a substantial proportion of the value of the resources extracted for the benefit of its citizens, present and the future.” This involves the design and implementation of an appropriate contractual and fiscal system. The one we have is a concessionary fiscal regime where, amongst others, mining companies pay taxes if they make a profit. The regime creates higher incentives for operators to inflate their costs. The Commissioner General said, “That is the reason why the Marape Government is driving the “Take back PNG” agenda to get more from our natural resources’ endowment. Whilst the Government is negotiating better deals for our people in the new mines, IRC has a responsibility to ensure that the existing mines are paying their fair share of taxes. IRC’s role in giving effect to the “Take Back PNG” agenda is to make sure that every taxpayer, and in this particular case the mining companies, pay their fair share of taxes under the existing law.” PNG has a self-assessment tax regime where the taxpayer assesses its own liability, declare that on oath to the tax office and pays on time. That is the tax regime that predominantly exists all over the world where most of these multi-national corporations operate. If the tax office considers that the taxpayer has made false declarations or substantially reduced the liability without justification, the tax office audits that taxpayer with a view to amending the assessment. Mr. Koim assured the taxpayers, “we are not introducing a new law but simply enforcing the existing laws. Entities in the extractive sector had not been scrutinised by the tax office, assuming that they were always doing the right thing. The patterns of abuse are worrying hence we are taking these compliance audits. Abusive transfer pricing and tax treatment of stripping costs, are amongst the areas we are looking into.” He added, “Whilst the mineral prices continue to soar and the production has increased substantially, the Corporate Income Taxes continue to be miniscule. Some even don’t declare of pay any CIT at all for a number of years. Through these audits, we intend to establish whether the taxes they’ve declared and paid are the right amounts. We have completed audit on one mining company, and we are now commencing the two. We are profiling two others. We are also profiling a few oil and gas companies for potential audit.”