Author: Joshua ARLO

The Mt. Hagen Eagles women’s team is gearing up for their second match in the Santos Cup 2024, with high hopes of securing back-to-back victories. Head Coach Bobby Koke in an interview in Mt. Hagen today, Friday August 9th, expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, following their dominant 26-4 win over the Rabaul Gurias in the opening round last weekend. “We started our training on the 15th of July, and the hard work paid off in our first game against the Gurias.” This weekend, the Eagles will face off against the Central Dabaris in Port Moresby. Koke acknowledged the challenge…

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Papua New Guinea has launched a new digital Sponsor Portal that makes work permit and visa applications convenient and easy. The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority explains that the platform allows employers to submit applications online, improving processing times and customer service. At the launch on Thursday, August 8th at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, the Acting Chief Migration Officer Wellington Navasivu said this will enhance oversight and convenience for businesses as the new system merges work permits and working resident visas into a single digital application. The Sponsor Portal is a web-based interface that allows private sector…

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New Porgera Limited (NPL) announced in a statement on Thursday, August 8th, a substantial sponsorship for the Enga Mioks Rugby League Club and the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) Ipatas Cup, totaling K384,467.51. The announcement, made recently in Wabag, highlights NPL’s commitment to supporting local sports and fostering community unity. The Enga Mioks, defending champions of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Rugby League Competition, are aiming to lift the trophy once more this season under the principal sponsorship of Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited. Ms. Karo Maha-Lelai, Country Manager of NPL, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the partnership. “As part of our…

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A special magistrate court is sitting to begin processing the 189 male suspects allegedly involved in the burning down and property damage in Maprik town, in East Sepik Province following Tuesday’s incident. It is expected that around 600 individuals will be arrested and charged over the next few weeks, according to an update from East Sepik Governor Allan Bird in a statement. He said additional police was arriving on Wednesday in Wewak, and the Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Christopher Tamari has been requested to pay attention to this incident, including all outstanding police matters around the province like the mass…

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Shadow Minister for Civil Aviation and Transport, and Member for Bulolo, Sam Basil Jr., has expressed serious concerns over the management of the National Airports Corporation (NAC). In a statement on Wednesday, August 7th, he highlighted the ongoing controversies and prolonged court cases that are affecting the organization and its stakeholders. “The NAC plays a critical role in our aviation industry and transport sector.” “The position of Managing Director/CEO is key to its success,” Basil stated. He noted recent issues with the recruitment process for this vital role, emphasizing that these problems require immediate attention. According to Basil, the recruitment…

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Prime Minister James Marape has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday, August 5th, to dismiss a vote-of-no-confidence case filed by the Opposition. The Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika along with three other judges, upheld Attorney-General Pila Niningi’s objection to the competency of the case. The majority decision of five-man panel of judges, concluded that this court could not intervene in the Parliament’s proceedings of May based on the pleadings of the Opposition’s case. “I welcome the Supreme Court decision. Laws of our country cannot be hijacked or coerced or influenced in any forum, including National Parliament,” expressed Marape. He…

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Over 180 people involved in burning and damaging properties in Maprik, East Sepik Province have been arrested on Tuesday August 6th, due to quick response from police within the province. Commander of Border Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Perou N’Dranou confirmed that former acting ESP PPC Senior Inspector James Bugen and police officers from, Wewak, Yangoru, Wosera and Maprik are currently on the ground in Maprik monitoring the situation. He said the situation was under control after the arrest of the suspects. “I am yet to confirm the number of properties damaged and whose properties were destroyed,” ACP N’Dranou said.…

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The Independent Commission Against Corruption or ICAC says it has reported a suspected corrupt conduct to the Prime Minister James Marape in his role as the Chairperson for the ICAC Appointments Committee on July 31st. In a statement, ICAC members said they were required by the Organic Law to made the report. The statement further reveals that the suspected corrupt conduct allegedly occurred across several months and involves a Senior Office Holder of the ICAC. The Commission said it relates to actions surrounding the passage of certain clauses within the Regulations of the ICAC, which have been in effect since…

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Opposition Leader, Douglas Tumoreisa has issued a direct challenge to Prime Minister James Marape following a Supreme Court decision regarding a motion of no confidence (VONC). “My message to the Prime Minister is this: If you are not afraid of a VONC like you say you are, then don’t meddle in the affairs of the PBC, let it be placed on the notice paper, and beat us fair and square with your numbers.” He emphasized that the country’s current situation requires urgent action and change, implying that the government’s continued rule is detrimental to the people. He issued the challenge…

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The Supreme Court in Waigani has upheld two of the seven grounds of the Attorney-General’s objection to competency application on the merits of the Opposition’s Vote of No Confidence (VONC) court matter, effectively dismissing the Opposition’s attempt to have parliament recalled immediately to deal with a VONC motion to elect a new Prime Minister. The Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, along with three judges on the five-men Supreme Court bench, ruled in favour of the Attorney-General, Pila Ninigi’s competency application which was argued last week. The four judges conceded that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to intervene on Parliamentary…

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