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PNG in the News
Male Babies Killed to Stop Tribal Fighting -- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460166,00.html
Save the Children recognises World AIDS Day -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9ec757
One man was shot dead, and a vehicle was used to try and run down four people, including a pregnant woman, in Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea. -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43412 -- and -- http://www.nnnforum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=142969
An earthquake with magnitude 5.0 occurred near Lae, PNG at 01:52:21.56 UTC on Dec 3, 2008 -- http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/catalogs/cap/us2008adaf
PNG Blogs
Singsing at Vudal -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2008/12/singsing-at-vudal.html
Difficult Departure -- http://pngadventure.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/146/
Robert's photos from Goroka town -- http://www.trupela.com/2008/12/02/photos-from-goroka-town/
Congratulations Imelda! -- http://anvanderheide.blogspot.com/2008/12/congratulations-imelda.html
Sepik River -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7e60a8
Living as we do on a boat moored in the Madang harbor, we have an unusual array of neighbours. Our neighbourhood consists of a wide variety of boats, some seaworthy and some less so. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f3f614
PNG Transport by Jules -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7e5346
Misc Links
http://www.wildpng.com/ -- Wild PNG Web Site
http://www.wikipng.com -- PNG Wiki
http://giaman.com/pg/?3b563e -- Vanimo Village Reef
News Items
Vale Jeremy Cook
It is with extreme sadness that I must report that Jeremy Cook, an aircraft engineer that spent time with Talair at Goroka and Air Niugini in Moresby many years ago was killed when an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 went down off the coast of France. Jeremy was working for the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand at the time. In his role at CAA he processed the entry of aircraft into the New Zealand civil aviation system, assessing applications for the issue or change to aircraft airworthiness certificates.
Let us also remember his fellow New Zealanders - Captain Brian Horrell, Noel Marsh, Murray White, Michael Gyles and the two pilots from Germany who were also on board. A spokesman for XL Airways which had leased the plane off Air New Zealand said the company would not release the names of the two German crewmen out of respect for the victims and their families.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6742f4
Vale Bob Cole
Ross Eastgate reports that former RPNGC Commissioner Bob Cole died last week on the Gold Coast. His service was last Saturday at Allambie Gardens at Nerang. A pre-war kiap, he was commissioned in the Australian Army during World War II, for which service he was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry. The noted PNG historian, Jim Sinclair, is apparently his nephew. Bob Cole's military record of service is here: -- http://giaman.com/pg/?5ef4de
Stolen War Memorials
It has been reported that War memorials in PNG are being stolen and sold as scrap metal. Thieves have stolen numerous memorial plaques from around Wau and historic sites in the surrounding area of Morobe province. Family graves have also been targeted. The Australian High Commissioner in PNG Chris Moraitis said the thefts were cause for concern. "These memorials are very meaningful to the people of our two countries as they mark past events of extraordinary significance to both Australia and PNG," he said.
2009 Budget
The National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten has admitted that the recently released 2009 Budget may have to be revised downwards next year due to the fall in commodity and mineral prices and exchange rate fluctuations. The price of oil and copper, two of PNG's big revenue earners, fell by over 50% this year, while gold also fell, wiping out hopes of surplus income.
The K6.7 billion 2009 Budget was recently passed by an absolute majority of 74-0 votes in parliament.
New Stamps
Post PNG has released nine new stamps to commemorate World AIDS Day although I could not find any information at -- http://www.postpng.com.pg/philatelic.htm -- The stamps evolved from this year's World AIDS Day painting competition that Post PNG ran in partnership with the PNG Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (BAHA) and the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS).
University of Vudal
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Vudal, Professor Philip Siaguru, has launched a scathing attack on bureaucratic red-tape at the recent university graduation. He said the Chinese government had spent K23 million to build seven dormitories and 20 houses, however, they have not been occupied because the PNG Government had not reciprocated by releasing K1.2 million for beds and wardrobes for the dormitories despite the Planning Minister, Paul Tiensten, promising and delivering a mock cheque for that amount earlier in the year.
125 students graduated from the University.
Moresby Power
Residents of Port Moresby will have to suffer power outages for up to three weeks while PNG Power carry out maintenance work on the Rouna number 2 power station. The shutdown of the power station has removed a total of 30mW of available power generation capacity from the system serving the National Capital District and surrounding areas. The work is part of the overall rehabilitation project which will eventually see an increase in generation from Rouna 2 with the commissioning of two new 8mW and 6mW hydro turbines early next year.
Nonga Death
A student at the Vunabosco-Agro Technical Secondary School in East New Britain province was bashed to death by a group of men who were allegedly under the influence of homebrew and marijuana. The student was doing an electrical course at the school.
Seasonal Workers' Scheme
It is hope that all the red tape for the PNG seasonal workers' scheme to Australia will be completed by April 2009 paving the way for the first group of fruit pickers to be engaged in October.
Wara Bilong Life Project
New Zealand students have been learning about life in the Eastern Highlands through an educational project called Wara Bilong Life.
They looked at how children their age lived in the highlands, what the schools were like and then focussed on water and sanitation issues. They learned that many of the schools did not have sufficient water or sanitation facilities.
Using this information the students designed and made a prototype of a method of washing hands that required very little water, produced from recycled materials. Many designed Education materials that accompanied their water-dispensing model.
These fantastic ideas can be seen at -- http://www.megabright.co.nz/wara/solutions.html
The students would be interested to hear back from people in PNG about their models. Please contact -- monika@megabright.co.nz
Western Province Smugglers
Smugglers in Western province have fitted car engines to speed boats in an attempt to outsmart and out run custom officers. The smugglers are conducting illegal activities along the borders of Australia, PNG and Indonesia.
Buka Hospital
The Brisbane-Bougainville Community Group (BBCG) in Australia has donated medical equipment valued at almost K5000 to the Buka General Hospital. The equipment included rapid thermometers, digital infrared thermometers, a blood glucose meter, sphygmomanometer, blood pressure monitor and test strips.
House Adjourned
After passing the 2009 budget Parliament has adjourned for the Christmas period and will resume again in March next year. Leader of Government Business Paul Tiensten adjourned Parliament to Tuesday, March 3.
Solar Kits
Solar lighting kits have been made available to teachers in rural areas throughout the country through a loan scheme provided by the Teachers Savings and Loan Society (TSLS), the World Bank and PNG Sustainable Energy Limited. The project is currently being trialled in Western, East Sepik, Western Highlands, Milne Bay, New Ireland and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The lack of an electrical supply is a major problem for teachers in remote locations.
REDD
As reported in the Post Courier. PNG and its coalition of 53 forest nations supporting the initiative to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) are pushing for the inclusion of a REDD mechanism in the post 2012 global climate regime.
see full story -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20081203/news05.htm
FM Radio
Adventist World Radio has contributed half of the funds required for establishing an FM station at the Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby. Although the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has been on the air on multiple occasions from the radio stations throughout the country, this new 1 kW FM station is the first Adventist owned radio station in this country. The university campus is located at Boroko, almost on the edge of Port Moresby.
Pacific School Games
PNG's athletes have won three gold and two bronze medals after day three of competition at the Pacific School Games held in Canberra, Australia.
PNG Swimming
Ryan Pini, PNG's most successful swimmer and athlete, will be the coach of the PNG team at the Pacific School Games in Canberra, Australia. Pini was a late replacement a month ago when a friend of his couldn't make it, but the 27-year-old was happy to fill in. No doubt Pini will be closely watching his niece Nicola taking part in the competition.
Western Highlands Teachers
Teachers from the Western Highlands have threatened that if their files are not retrieved and kept safe they will not take up their job postings next year. A manual filing system containing the records of teachers was destroyed in the recent fire at the provincial headquarters. All teachers across all levels are affected by the lost files and want to know if electronic copies are kept anywhere.
Bialla Bank Robbery
Two criminal attempting to rob the Bank South Branch at Bialla in West New Britain have been shot dead by the police. A third criminal was seriously injured in the shootout. The robbery was similar to the recent robbery in Kerema. It has been alleged that the injured man is William Kapis's right hand man. According to police, the criminals wore uniforms of a well known security services company and were fully armed with high-powered firearms and bush knives.
see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/120208/nation1.php
The Waigani District Court has warned that it will discharge five suspects allegedly involved in the K800,000 Kerema Bank South Pacific (BSP) robbery if police fail to complete their files. The suspects are facing various charges in connection with the robbery of K830,498.45 last May 17 in the Gulf province.
Capacity Building
Six Provincial and District Treasuries are geared up to implement plans and training programs for 2009 in their respective areas under phase 2 of the Provincial Capacity Building Program.
see full story on the National Broadcasting Corporation web site -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1b69ab
Attorney General Death Threat
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Allan Marat's life has been threatened purportedly by ex-soldiers from the Mamose and Highlands regions of the country. They have also threatened the State Solicitor.
Police Commissioner Gari Baki, although yet to see the letter, said a threat on a State Minister is very serious and he will direct ACP Crimes Raphael Huafolo to investigate the matter. He also said the Minister will have police bodyguards.
PMV Accident
A public motor vehicle (PMV) recently overturned near Murray Barracks in Port Moresby after it collided with a police vehicle. A passenger has claimed that the PMV driver was speeding and failed to give way to the oncoming police vehicle. The driver and the fare collector fled the scene soon after the accident.
Coming Events
Bilum Wear -- will be hosting a PNG Traditional and Cultural Show at the Gateway Hotel Poolside today (6th of December 2008) from 3pm - 10pm -- For more information please contact the events coordinator - Sharon Sijam on 7199 4668 or email -- Sharon.sijam@oxpalm.com.pg
Royal Papua Yacht Club Christmas Picnic - 7th December at Fishermans Island.
Anti Corruption Day - 9th December 2008
Inaugural Madang Golf Classic February 2009 sponsored by Airlines of PNG.
Symposium on Sea Turtles - to be held in Brisbane, Australia between the 17th and 19th of February 2009.
Oceania Snooker and Billiards titles in Port Moresby from the 20th to the 29th of March, 2009
34th Games Fishing Association PNG National Game Fishing Titles - Madang - from the 3rd of April to 13th of April 2009.
PNG Kickboxing Association has postponed its world title fight -- 25th April 2009
Arafura Games - 9 to 17th of May 2009 -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/
The International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia Pacific (EAP) Under 19 Cricket Trophy tournament will be held from the 1st to the 7th of June 2009
5th National Tourism Conference -- June 2009 (date to be confirmed) - to be held at Madang Resort Hotel.
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 1st to the 5th of September 2009
National Elections - June 2012
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
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