Author: Jordan VELA

Prime Minister (PM) James Marape has commended the graduating class of Sonoma Adventist College in East New Britain Province for their hard work and urged them to embrace Christian values as a foundation for a successful and fulfilling life. Speaking passionately at the graduation ceremony, PM Marape reinforced the importance of self-reliance and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. “Life is not a full stop; it is a comma,” he said. “Victory over oneself is the first step toward overcoming the challenges that will come your way. These values, grounded in faith and self-discipline, are the key to a…

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During the announcement of the second Miss Bird of Paradise contestant sponsorship yesterday, PNG DataCO Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Komboi, expressed his pride and support for their young engineer graduate Yasmine Tabogani, who will represent the company for the first time in the prestigious 2024 Miss Bird of Paradise Pageant (MBoP). This marks the first time DataCo has participated in the pageant, making it a significant milestone for the organization as it steps into a new platform to promote gender equality, community empowerment, and inclusivity. In his speech, Mr. Komboi highlighted DataCo’s core values of gender equality and…

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Yasmine Tabogani, a graduate engineer at PNG DataCo Limited, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her company for sponsoring her participation in the 2024 Miss Bird of Paradise Pageant as Miss DataCo. Speaking at the event, Yasmine thanked her company’s leadership, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Komboi and the general managers, for their unwavering support. “I want to thank my bosses, especially CEO Chief Paul Komboi, and the general managers at DataCo,” Yasmine said, her voice filled with appreciation. “To have them take time from their busy schedules to join me tonight means so much to me. Their belief in…

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The PNG NRL Bid Academy is getting ready for an even improved program in 2025. After a successful progress, resulting the Junior Kumuls outstanding performance in October when took on Australia Schoolboys and sharing the honours. The Academy achieved amazing things in 2024, such as: Helping 720 boys and girls get coaching through an 18-week program. This made it one of the biggest rugby training programs in the NRL. Bringing top-level coaches to six regions across PNG to train players. Using a special system to compare PNG players’ skills and fitness to Australian players. Holding the first NRL Bid Academy…

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A new song celebrating cultural heritage and unity, Pasin Tumbuna (translated as Traditional Ways), has been launched, marking a powerful collaboration between Bougainvillean artists and First Nations Australian musicians Jake and Tjupurru Fabila. Inspired by the 2023 National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week theme, For Our Elders, the song honours the wisdom of elders and the importance of preserving traditions to shape identity. During the launch, Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Ishmael Toroama, emphasized the significance of safeguarding Bougainville’s culture and traditions. “Preserving our heritage is crucial in reflecting the unique identity of our people,” said President Toroama.…

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Fifteen childcare workers from Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon travel to Australia as part of a pilot program designed to address staff shortages in the early childhood education and care sector. This new initiative is part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and was announced during the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting in Brisbane. The workers will be based in Katherine and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, regions that have struggled to find enough local childcare educators. Their arrival early next year will mark a significant milestone, as this is the first time the PALM scheme…

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PNGFM Limited, home of the three most popular radio stations NAU FM, YUMI FM, and LEGEND FM, celebrated 30 years of broadcasting. Established on November 14th, 1994, PNGFM has become a cornerstone of entertainment, news and information in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the 30th Anniversary celebration last night was to thank everyone who helped make PNGFM a success, including clients, former staff members, supporters and the listeners right throughout the country. Founded by Mr. William Parkinson, who also established Communication Fiji Limited (CFL) the parent company, PNGFM grew from strength to strength from humble beginnings to the leading broadcaster it…

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Police in New Ireland Province are asking all drivers to follow traffic rules on the roads, especially along the busy Boluminski Highway following the complaints from the public and other drivers suggest that some drivers are not respecting others on the road. This lack of consideration has led to accidents, highlighting the need for safer and more responsible driving. New Ireland Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Inspector Albert Beli says as a result of this, Highway Patrol officers and other police units will be closely monitoring the roads, focusing on ensuring that all drivers respect one another during this busy…

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The 2024 Bougainville Voice X-Plosion (BVX) was an exciting music event, featuring six talented young artists from across Bougainville. This event, which started in 2021, has become a great way to showcase new talent in the region. Since 2022, the BVX has brought together musicians from Australia, like Tjupurru and Jake Fabila, to work with young Bougainvillean artists. Together, they created songs that mix traditional and modern music. These songs, “Wan Solwara” (One Ocean) and “Pasin Tumbuna” (Traditional Ways), have helped introduce Bougainvillean music to the Pacific region. This year, the event was even more special with famous Bougainvillean musician…

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Watching The Waterboyz, I could not help but feel a deep connection to the street vendors of Port Moresby. The film tells the story of two young men: one trying to make an honest living, while the other turns to crime to survive. Their struggles reflect the daily challenges faced by many street vendors here, who, despite their best efforts, often find themselves caught between survival and crime. In Port Moresby, life is difficult for many, and yes, the cost of living continues to rise, making essentials like basic food like rice, tin fish, sugar, flour, and fuel harder to…

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