A fire has damaged the enigmatic statues on Easter Island, with some of the charring said to be irreparable. An unknown number of the stone-carved statues have been affected by the blaze, Chile's cultural heritage undersecretary said. Easter Island has nearly 1,000 of the megaliths, known as moai. They have oversized heads and generally stand about 4m (13ft) high. They were carved by a Polynesian tribe more than 500 years ago. The fire, which broke out on Monday, affected nearly 60 hectares (148 acres), cultural heritage official Carolina Perez Dattari tweeted. It is reported to have been started deliberately, and is centred around Easter Island's Rano Raraku volcano - which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Easter Island lies 3,500km (2,174 miles) off the coast of Chile. It relies on tourism and reopened just three months ago following its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. The site has now been closed again while a conservation team examines the extent of the damage. The island's Mayor, Pedro Edmunds, told local media: "The damage caused by the fire can't be undone." The are some 1,000 giant stone statues and carvings on Easter Island, the largest of which weigh 74 tonnes and stand 10m tall. The figures were carved by the indigenous Rapa Nui people sometime between the years of 1400 and 1650, and positioned to form a ring around the island, facing inland. They were figures of spiritual devotion for the Rapa Nui, embodying the spirit of a prominent ancestor. Each one was considered to be the person's living incarnation.     Source: BBC

The Santos PNG Orchids will depart for England on Wednesday 12 October to prepare for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC), which kicks off on Monday 1 November. PNG-based players and staff will depart Port Moresby on Monday 10 October to join their Australia based counterparts in Brisbane, and the full squad will travel together to the UK. The Orchids will conduct their pre-tournament training camp in Leeds, where they will be based for the duration of the event, and will play a warm-up match against English Women’s Grand Finalists York City Knights on Thursday 20 October. The Orchids have been drawn in group A of the tournament and their pool matches will be against Canada on 1 November in Leeds, Brazil on 5 November in Hull, and England on 9 November in Leeds. Santos PNG Orchids coach Ben Jeffries said the recent Prime Minister’s XIII defeat against Australia (64-6) in late September, the Orchids’ first fixture since November 2019, provided some valuable indicators to shape the team’s preparations for RLWC. “The learnings we took out of PM’s XIII were that we need to focus on both attack and defence, and the defensive components will intensify once we get to the UK,” Jeffries said. “Over the past few weeks all players have been training back in their respective regions both individually and in groups, with a focus on fitness levels, to ensure we give ourselves the best opportunity to perform on the world stage. “Our pre-tournament camp in England will allow us to acclimatise, bond, play a trial game and work hard on the aspects we need to focus on to ensure we’re ready for the tournament. Once it kicks off, the games come thick and fast with very little time in between, so preparation is key. Most of all we want the players to enjoy it and gain some life experiences in the UK. “The trial match against York will be a good indicator of how we’ve progressed since PM’s XIII and how well we have taken on board the finer details that are vital to performing on an international stage. It will also give a real indication to the coaching staff of which players have worked hard in their individual training over the past couple of weeks, away from the team environment. Finally, individual performances against York will be crucial for team selections in our first two matches against Canada and Brazil.” Since announcing the 23-player RLWC squad in August, the Orchids have been forced to make two changes and call up two players from the shadow squad. In September, Sareka Mooka was ruled out for eligibility reasons and was replaced by Emily Veivers. This weekend, 19-year-old halfback Elizabeth Kapa was ruled out for medical reasons and has been replaced by Ua Ravu. “Medically we couldn’t be guaranteed that Elizabeth could perform at her best for the next five to six weeks, unfortunately,” confirmed Jeffries. “Through this whole process our priority has been Elizabeth’s health, especially with her being so young. We give her our best wishes in recovery and have no doubt that with the rest and medical attention needed, Elizabeth will back better than ever and believe that she has a bright future ahead of her if she keeps applying herself within the rugby league pathway. I see Elizabeth being a long-term Santos PNG Orchid for many years to come. “Additionally, I would like to highlight the important work done by our team managers Urith Toa and Cassie Davis, along with our wellbeing manager Dr Jo Lukins, in supporting Elizabeth through these unfortunate circumstances so close to our departure. “However, with Elizabeth’s disappointment comes Ua Ravu’s recall to the Orchids squad, and she is very excited to be on the plane this coming Wednesday. Having represented the Orchids in 2019, Ua will bring significant experience and will no doubt have an influence amongst her peers on and off the field. Ua is able to play several positions and we know versatility will be a key component within the squad, as this is such a compact tournament with our pool games so close together”. The top two Women’s RLWC teams from group A (featuring Brazil, Canada, England and PNG) will progress to the semi-finals on 14 November, alongside the top two teams from group B (which features Australia, Cook Islands, France and New Zealand). The women’s and men’s RLWC finals will be staged as a double-header at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday 19 November. PNGRFL CEO Mr Stanley Hondina said: “On behalf of the PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka and his board, we are happy with the in-depth preparation work done thus far ahead of this tournament and we are looking forward to the Santos PNG Orchids doing well at RLWC. “We wish them safe travels and assure them that the whole nation will be behind them and cheering, even at 3am PNG time. Go well and be good ambassadors of the sport and of our nation.” Santos PNG Orchids chairlady Ms Okaro Yogi said: “I would like to wish the Santos PNG Orchids the very best as they prepare to take their place amongst other nations at the Rugby League World Cup in England. “It has been an absolute privilege to work closely with this courageous group of women who are united by their love for rugby league and their country. “I am indeed proud of how far they have come in their journey to the World Cup with the support of all our valuable sponsors and partners including Santos, Digicel, National Gaming Control Board, Bank South Pacific, PacificAus Sports, City Pharmacy Limited and Theodist. I also recognise the amazing support staff who have gone above and beyond to prepare our national women’s rugby league team.”

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) confirms that it received an additional K30 million from the State on Friday, 7 October 2022, towards the settlement of its rental arrears owed to the Members of Nambawan Super. This brings the total amount paid by the State to K82 million. Representatives from the Departments of Finance and Treasury have signed a Letter of Agreement committing to paying the outstanding balance of K90 million in a series of monthly payments starting in November. Nambawan Super Chairman, Mr Reg Monagi said, “We are pleased to have received the second payment of K30 million and we thank the Departments of Finance and Treasury, who after extensive discussions and negotiations, have committed to an agreement for the settlement of these arrears.” “Acting in good faith after the States positive actions, on Friday night, we lifted the lockout of the Revenue Haus (Internal Revenue Commission), Vulupindi Haus (Department of Finance) and Eda Tano Haus (Department of Lands & Physical Planning) and Treasury Haus (Department of Treasury).” “We hope that as we have acted in good faith, the State will continue to honour its commitment to our Members by settling the remaining outstanding rental arrears.” “Nambawan Super appreciates that the State has recognised how important the payment of these arrears are to ensuring that our over 214,000 Members’ retirement outcomes are protected.” “The unpaid rentals that accumulated over three years, have already impacted the returns for Members causing fewer funds available to reinvest and grow.” “Any further delays to the scheduled payments will have a further detrimental impact on the returns of Nambawan Super Members.” “NSL remains committed to working closely with the State to ensure the payment of all outstanding arrears are made as agreed in the payment schedule,and will not hesitate to lock out the State again if it is unable to do so”, Mr Monagi concluded.

Ten people have died after a huge explosion at a petrol station in the Republic of Ireland. Four men, three women, a teenage boy and girl and a younger girl were killed, said gardaí (Irish police). The blast happened at the Applegreen service station in the County Donegal village of Creeslough on Friday. It destroyed the building and a section of an apartment block, with police saying the evidence gathered so far suggested it was a tragic accident. Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin described the explosion as an "enormous trauma". "The entire nation is shocked at what has happened," he said during a visit to the scene on Saturday evening. Seven people who were hurt are in a stable condition in hospital in nearby Letterkenny. Another person is critically ill in the burns unit of a hospital in Dublin. Early on Saturday evening An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) said a search and rescue operation had ended with no more causalities found. Live: Vigil held for victims of petrol station blast Tight-knit community numbed and shattered Emergency service crews from Northern Ireland had been sent across the border to help their Irish counterparts deal with the aftermath of the blast. The taoiseach described the rescue mission as a demonstration of "solidarity and community values". 'Tsunami of grief' Creeslough is a small village in the north-west of Ireland, about 15 miles (24km) from Letterkenny and 30 miles (48km) from the border with Northern Ireland. It has a population of about 400 people. Mass was held in the village church on Saturday morning, during which Father John Joe Duffy told the congregation their community had been hit by "a tsunami of grief". Catholic Bishop Alan McGuckian described Friday as the "darkest day in Donegal". "I have witnessed at first hand the immediate reaction of the local community to the tragedy who, in their bravery, took risks at the site to help others even to the detriment of their own safety," he said. At a service of remembrance on Saturday night he lit a candle for each of the victims of the explosion. UK Prime Minister Liz Truss sent her sympathy to the Donegal community "as they come together in their moment of grief", while Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer praised people who had "bravely [rushed] to the scene to help". A tragedy on this scale is really something this tight-knit rural community could never have imagined. There is such a sense of disbelief in Creeslough. All that is left of the shop and the flats above is a crumpled mess of rubble. The emergency services worked through the night. At times they asked for complete silence around them while they listened for signs of anyone trapped. The cause of the explosion is still not known, but police are working on the theory it was perhaps a gas explosion. Locals say it happened at a time when the shop would have been busy because local schools had just finished for the day. Dr Paul Stewart, who has been a GP in Creeslough for 23 years, said the explosion reminded him of what he had witnessed growing up in Belfast during the Northern Ireland Troubles. "Three floors in the centre of the building just collapsed on those poor people who were maybe in buying a paper or getting a packet of crisps," he said. "For me the work is beginning - it's mainly psychological help that people need now... it takes time and patience." Pearse Doherty, a Sinn Féin politician who represents the area, said the village "will be forever changed". "There are many people in this community that will see wakes and funerals... and that trauma is going to last a long time," he said. Liam McElhinney, chairman of the Naomh Micheál Gaelic Athletic Association club in Creeslough, said it would "take a long time to get over" what had happened. "Some of the people that have died are known personally by myself and it's very hard to watch," he said. "It could have been any of us... it's a massive thing to happen in our community."   Source: BBC

Effective management, eradication, and prevention of invasive species in the Pacific Islands region require a robust, coordinated, and collaborative regional approach. This was the resounding message and commitment made by over 100 representatives from across the Pacific region at the inaugural Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC) that took place from October 3-5 in Palau. The conference was hosted by the Government of Palau, the East-West Center, The Pacific Community (SPC), the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy, the US Office of Insular Affairs, and the US Forest Service. Biosecurity experts, development partners, regional organizations, agricultural and natural resource managers, researchers, government, and national ministers came together to identify and discuss how to address the critical threat of invasive species. “This first PESC has reminded us that invasive species impact every aspect of Pacific Island life and security. While we have many of the tools we need for their prevention, control, and eradication, we also recognize that no country can do it alone. This has given us the opportunity to align regional strategies and build off our successes to tackle the problem of invasive species in a comprehensive way across our whole Blue Pacific Continent,” said Dr. Laura Brewington, Research Fellow at the East-West Center. Strategic action plans developed by expert working groups on coconut rhinoceros beetles, invasive ants, and biological control approaches were presented and discussed during the three-day conference. Participants endorsed the action plans and committed to further coordination to address these key priorities. “The Pacific is made up of small island fragile ecosystems and is home to some of the richest biodiversity in the world, which is now being threatened by invasive species. Now more than ever, addressing invasive species should be at the forefront of our priorities and this meeting was a positive step forward to jointly ensure there is a strong regional coordinated approach to these critical threats,” said Gibson Susumu, The Pacific Community (SPC) Programme Leader for Sustainable Agriculture. “It’s important to recognize the vulnerabilities of our region and how invasive species exacerbate existing issues,” Mr. Susumu continued, “For example, the Pacific is at the frontline of the climate crisis, and invasive species only further undermine the resilience of our ecosystems. SPC is already working closely with our members and will continue this commitment to address these key concerns. This conference has provided a great opportunity to explore and strengthen partnerships to collaborate further.” Participants shared stories from across the region about the multi-faceted and devastating impact of invasive species on the Pacific. The loss of endemic and vital plants and trees, such as the coconut tree, has deep cultural significance to the people of the Pacific Islands, whose identities and livelihoods are often tied closely to their land and seas. From their experiences, participants were also able to share strategies for successfully controlling and eradicating invasive species. Conference participants represented more than 16 Pacific countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, and development partners from Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. Recordings of the plenary sessions will be available for public viewing after the conference. 

Billionaire Elon Musk has said he aims to complete his purchase of Twitter by the end of the month, but the company "will not take yes for an answer". In a court filing, he said the social media platform had raised concerns about the "theoretical possibility of a future failure to obtain debt financing" to pay for the deal. Twitter said it did not trust that the offer would come through. Twitter sued Mr Musk in July after he tried to back out of buying the firm. The judge overseeing the case gave the two sides until 28 October to work out a deal, agreeing to put legal proceedings on hold at the request of Mr Musk. Mr Musk said litigation was no longer necessary, after he said in a surprise move this week that he was prepared to go forward with the original takeover plan, pending receipt of the financing and an end to the legal battle. "There is no need for an expedited trial to order defendants to do what they are already doing," Mr Musk's attorneys wrote in a filing. "Yet, Twitter will not take yes for an answer. Astonishingly they have insisted on proceeding with this litigation, recklessly putting the deal at risk and gambling with their stockholders interests." In its own filing for Delaware Chancery Court on Thursday, Twitter said it was opposed to suspending litigation, calling such a move "an invitation to further mischief and delay." It said it did not trust Mr Musk's promises, noting that one bank helping to finance the deal had testified this week that it had not received any notice from Mr Musk about plans to move forward. "Defendants can and should close next week," the company wrote. "Until defendants commit to close as required, Twitter is entitled to its day in court." Mr Musk announced a plan to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share in April. But he backed away from the deal just a few weeks later saying he was concerned that spam accounts on the platform were higher than Twitter had claimed. Twitter ultimately sued to force Mr Musk to complete the deal. In its lawsuit, Twitter argued Mr Musk was worried about the price he had agreed to pay, after a sharp downturn in the value of tech shares, including Tesla, the electric car company he leads and is the base of much of his wealth. Mr Musk was due to be questioned this week as part of the preparation for the trial, which was scheduled to begin 17 October. The trial is now postponed to 28 October to allow a deal to close, according to a court filing. Shares in Twitter ended the day down more than 3%, amid investor doubts the deal will go through. Source: BBC

England saw the highest excess mortality figure from heatwaves this year since records began in 2004, health officials said on Friday, after a hot summer that saw temperatures rise to all-time highs. England recorded 2,803 excess deaths among those aged 65 and over during summer heat waves this year, possibly due to complications arising from extreme heat, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a statement. The figures exclude deaths from Covid-19. That number rose to 3,271 when including the nation of Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland were not included in the statistics. “These estimates show clearly that high temperatures can lead to premature death for those who are vulnerable,” UKHSA Chief Scientific Officer Isabel Oliver said. “Prolonged periods of hot weather are a particular risk for elderly people, those with heart and lung conditions or people who are unable to keep themselves cool such as people with learning disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease.” The figures highlight just how dangerous heat can be, particularly in places like the UK, which is largely ill-equipped for long heat waves. Experts often call heat a “silent killer” because it can be just as deadly as other extreme weather events, like hurricanes, or even moreso, yet awareness of its threat level can be low. Britain recorded its highest ever temperature, of just above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in eastern England on July 19. The heat wave, which contributed to fires across large grass areas, destroyed property and pressured transport infrastructure, was made at least 10 times more likely because of climate change, scientists said. Around 1,000 excess deaths were recorded among those over 65 between July 17-20, the UKHSA said, while the Aug. 8-17 period recorded an estimated 1,458 excess deaths. Statisticians use “excess deaths” — a term that became more commonplace during the coronavirus pandemic to describe the number of fatalities in excess of normally observed mortality numbers for a particular time of year. Despite peaks in mortality during heat waves, the majority of days in the winter usually show a higher number of deaths than in the summer, ONS Head of Mortality Analysis Sarah Caul said. Source: BBC

The Ukrainian military has recaptured 2,400 square kilometers of territory in Kherson region in the south of the country “since the beginning of the full-scale war,” a senior Ukrainian official said Friday. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office said six settlements had been liberated in the Kherson district as well as 61 in the Beryslav district. Tymoshenko said the evacuation of civilians continued amid massive destruction to critical infrastructure in towns like Arkhanhelske, Vysokopillia and Osokorivka, all of which saw weeks of heavy fighting and indirect fire. Demining is in progress, he added. Ukrainian forces have been making steady progress in Kherson since beginning an offensive at the end of last month, and their successes have sparked rare criticism of Moscow’s war effort among pro-Russian figures. On Thursday, Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-appointed deputy leader of occupied Kherson, blamed “gaps” on the battlefield in the Kherson region on “incompetent commanders.” “Indeed, many say that the Minister of Defense [Sergei Shoigu], who allowed this situation to happen, could, as an officer, shoot himself. But, you know, the word officer is an unfamiliar word for many,” Stremousov said in a video posted on Telegram. Stremousov’s comments come as Kyiv is successfully pushing ahead in its campaign to retake parts of southern and eastern Ukraine that Russia captured in the initial weeks of the war. Pro-Russian propagandists and military analysts have blamed the string of losses on what they see as mistakes by the Russian military, but few Russian-installed officials on Ukrainian soil have so publicly skewered Moscow’s flailing war effort. Members of Russia’s parliament and regional officials have begun to level similar criticisms at the country’s military, alleging that insufficient troops were deployed to hold the parts of eastern and southern Ukraine that Moscow’s forces captured in the initial weeks of the conflict. Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, the head of Russia’s State Duma defense committee, said Thursday officials need to “stop lying” about developments on the ground. “People know. Our people are not stupid,” Kartapolov said in an interview with a Russian journalist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised his forces’ counteroffensive in his evening address on Tuesday. “The Ukrainian army is making a rather fast and powerful advance in the south of our country in the course of the ongoing defensive operation,” Zelensky said in his evening address. “Our warriors do not stop. And it is only a matter of time when we will expel the occupier from all our land.” Source: CNN

Haiti's government national military assistance as it grapples with interlocked health, energy and security crises, according to a statement from Jean-Junior Joseph, advisor to Haiti’s Prime Minister. “After serious reflections, facing a dire humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where hospitals are not having enough energy to function, cholera is back inside the shanties, it was decided in the Council of Ministers last night, October 7th to request military assistance from the international community to deal with such unbelievable humanitarian crisis,” reads the statement sent to CNN on Thursday. It was not clear which countries the government requested military assistance from. The request came after Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for international help during a televised speech to the nation on Wednesday night. “I am calling the international community to help us, to support us in every necessary way to avoid the situation worsening. We need to be able to distribute water, and medicine as cholera is making a comeback,” said Henry. “We need to reopen businesses and clear the roads for doctors and nurses to be able to do work. We asking for their help to be able to distribute the fuel and for school to reopen,” he added. Dozens more cases of cholera have been diagnosed in Haiti, adding new urgency to warnings of the Caribbean nation’s descent into chaos amid political and economic crises. The deadly infection has already killed eight people, according to Haiti’s health ministry, and 68 new cases have been identified in the first week of October according to the medical humanitarian group, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The burgeoning new public health emergency could hardly come at a worse time. Anti-government protests – now in their seventh week – have paralyzed the country, with schools, businesses, and public transportation across the country mostly shuttered. Since August 22, Haitians have been demonstrating against chronic gang violence, poverty, food insecurity, inflation, and fuel shortages. Their fury was further fueled last month when Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced that he would cut fuel subsidies in order to fund the government – a move that would double prices at the pump. Haiti’s powerful gangs have exacerbated the fuel crisis by blocking the country’s main port in the capital city Port-au-Prince. Thousands of Haitian people continue to protest in various cities across the country, calling on the government to step down. Source: CNN

Defence Force Bowling Club has received more support as the host of the annual Takuru 4s Tournament at Murray Barracks Bowling Green in Port Moresby that started today. City Pharmacy Limited Foundation this morning (06/10/22) presented one-thousand-two hundred-kina worth of K50 gift vouchers for individual consolation prizes and cartons of bottled water for the bowlers during the two-day event. President of Defence Force Bowling Club, Lieutenant Colonel Robby Tanfa expressed his gratitude for the timely support from CPL Foundation. “I thank you for responding to our request for sponsorship, Lt Col Tanfa said. CPL is a company with outlets in almost all parts of the country and if our visiting bowlers find themselves lucky to receive some of these gift cards as consolation prize, they certainly will not be disadvantaged.” This is the first time CPL Foundation has come onboard to support the annual Takuru Men’s 4s. The tournament is slated for the 8-9 October. Clubs from Lae, Bulolo, Mt Hagen, Goroka and Madang are taking part in the two-day event with the Metro Bowling Club and the host, Defence Force Bowling Club from Saturday to Sunday.

With schools nationwide now into the last term of the 2022 academic year, schools in Rabaul District continue with adjusted timetables workable and flexible for both teachers and students during the prolonged drought weather, East New Britain province is currently facing. District Education Coordinator Markus Tipepe when giving a report on the third quarter academic year said although the province had a bit of rainfall recently, schools in Rabaul district are still facing water shortage with many facing challenges to continue operations. He said the past 4 months and current ongoing dry season forced most of the schools to go into adjusted programs where all play schools finish classes at 10 am, elementary schools at 12pm and all primary and secondary schools at 2pm, on a daily basis. “This month will see the Grades 8, 10 and 12 sitting for their National Examinations. Grade 10s will sit for their exams next week, followed by Grade 12 and Grade 8 and schools have informed parents to allow their children to attend weekend remedial classes in preparation for the examanations,” the DEC said. “This dry spell has negatively impacted on students’ attendance, punctuality, food, water and additional burden on searching for water,” he said. Mr Tipepe said water cartage took place in the last 3 to 4 weeks assisting schools with water. He thanked the Rabaul Disaster Coordinator Joshua Wowo and his team for successfully carting water and upgrading existing water supplies to benefit most wards and schools. “We are now in the fourth term and I encourage schools to utilize whatever resources they have to see the year through,” he said. Meantime he also highlighted that applications for students submitted to benefit from the Rabaul District Tertiary Tuition Free Subsidy this year will be paid off once issues with district funds and Ombudsman Commission are eventually sorted out.

The 35-year-old Paris St-Germain forward has played at four World Cups with Argentina, scoring six goals and making five assists in 19 appearances. He earned a runners-up medal in 2014, and after captaining his country to the Copa America title in 2021, the World Cup is the sole major trophy missing from Messi's illustrious collection. "It's my last World Cup, surely," he said. Speaking to ESPN, Messi added: "I'm counting down the days to the World Cup. There is anxiety and nerves at the same time. Wanting it to be now, what is going to happen, and ultimately, how is it going to go?" Messi made his international debut in 2005 and has gone on to make a total of 164 appearances for Argentina, scoring 90 goals. In reaching his fifth World Cup, he will surpass the previous record for an Argentina player he jointly held with Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano. Argentina are ranked third in the Fifa world rankings, and face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C at the World Cup, which starts on 20 November. "In a World Cup, anything can happen. All the matches are very tough. The favourites don't always end up winning," Messi said. "I don't know if we're the favourites, but Argentina is always a candidate because of its history. Now even more so because of the moment we're in, but we are not the favourites. I think there are other teams that are above us." Source: BBC News