19 year old Brisbane based Papua New Guinea Muay Thai fighter Joshua Lester won his fifth fight against opponent David Borg from the Methodical Muay Thai Gym at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane over the weekend. “The fight was a really technical fight because my opponent was taller and knew how to use his range and reach”, said Joshua. “My way of overcoming that was to use movement and angles and go over the top of him with combinations”, added Joshua. Mr Lester added that he is happy to have a good trainer and training partners who get to push…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
PRIME Minister James Marape has slammed the PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) for failing to study COVID-19 in relation to Papua New Guinean immunology ever since the pandemic outbreak in 2020. The Prime Minister was speaking at the recent meeting of the National Control Centre on Thursday (22.07.21) when he told leading health practitioners that he was greatly “discouraged” by the inaction, lax attitude and lack of innovation shown by the country’s leading medical research facility. “PNGIMR, I am yet to see a good complete submission from you that says I want to do research!,” said the Prime Minister.…
New Zealand has agreed to repatriate Suhayra Aden and her two young children, who crossed from Syria into Turkey in February. The trio were detained after illegally trying to enter Turkey from the Syrian border, with the Turkish Ministry identifying her as a terrorist belonging to Islamic State. They have been in immigration detention in Turkey since. In March, former justice minister Andrew Little said he expected – should Aden and her family be brought to New Zealand – that she would be not be detained, but instead, “free subject to conditions” based on the 2019 Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Act. However, that law…
The Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) has announced that it will expand its ranger team through a major training program supported through the Papua New Guinea – Australia Partnership. The KTA Ranger Capacity Development Project will train 14 new rangers, who will join the six existing rangers to manage and maintain the Kokoda Track, protect the region’s rich biodiversity, and preserve its important cultural and military heritage. KTA Acting Chief Executive Officer Julius Wargirai said that by increasing the number of KTA rangers, organisational restructure and improving their quality of training, the management of the Kokoda Track will be strengthened. “Having…
Digicel Foundation launched their Annual Community Grants Program valued at PGK1 million on the 22nd of July, 2021, with the aim to create a world where no one gets left behind. The Community Grants program which was launched in 2019 aims to support local organizations with community grants of up to K50, 000 to deliver projects that provide local solutions to local problems in line with the Foundation’s development outcomes. The focus areas are in the fields of health, education, social inclusion, sustainable livelihood and community safety. CEO for Digicel PNG Foundation, Serena Sasingian, said that she was impressed with…
Weightlifter Morea Baru finished tenth overall in the Men’s 61kg category after lifting a total of 265kg at the Tokyo International Forum venue. Competing in Group B amongst four other Weightlifters, Baru began the Snatch round lifting 113kgs in his first attempt. He attempted 118kgs in his second attempt unsuccessfully and later redeemed himself in his third attempt to record 118kgs for his Snatch. He began positively in the Clean & Jerk round lifting 147kgs however; he was unable to continue in his second and third attempts, as he was unsuccessful in lifting 153kgs to settle with 147kgs. That confirmed…
It’s not just a legend from a mythical place nor a fictional scene from a Hollywood blockbuster movie. With just the shake of special rattle seeds from the bush, strking of the deep blue sea with a stick and blowing of a cone shell a shark is called up to the surface of the water and caught as if it were in some kind of obedience trance. Even the weather is controlled through a ritual to ensure the sea is smooth and calm . Yes this actually happens in real life without any help of modern weapons or technology. This…
A whole year later than scheduled, Team PNG proudly walked out into the Opening ceremony, at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium last night (Friday 23 July). Flag bearers Dika Toua and Morea Baru led the team into a stadium empty of spectators but full of athletes and the ceremony dancers. The order of the walk out was unusual with countries marching in, according to the Japanese alphabet, which saw Papua New Guinea sandwiched between Bahamas and Bermuda. Chef de Mission, Tamzin Wardley said the atmosphere was certainly unusual with no cheers as each country was announced but the show went on.…
SP PNG Hunters unleashed some of the best football of their season before a rush of Mackay Cutters tries led to an upset result in the Intrust Super Cup clash at Bycroft Oval. The Cutters won 40-30, scoring four tries in 19 minutes in the second half to claw back a deficit before a strong Hunters home crowd. The Hunters had picked up from where they left off in last weekend’s stunning win over the Northern Pride in Atherton as winger Junior Rau marked his 50th game in style with three tries by the fourth minute of the second half.…
Dika Toua made Olympic history, as the first female weightlifter to compete at five Olympic Games as she finished 10th out of fourteen (14) athletes. Toua is not new to making history at the Olympics as back at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games she became the very first female to participate in Olympic weightlifting for females. Toua competed in the 49kg event, at the Tokyo International Forum, on Saturday morning in the first day of competition at the Games. Toua, at 37, was the oldest athlete in the field and had to change weight category due to the new Olympic…