It wasn’t too long ago that Kotoni Staggs was a fresh-faced new kid on the block at Red Hill, but now the 23-year-old hopes to be a leader for the next crop of talent coming through. Staggs still in his early years as an NRL player but as he prepares for his four season in the top grade, he plans on being a mentor as such for the even younger guys at the club. “I didn’t always see myself as a leader but as I’ve gotten older — and the people around me have helped me to get to where I am — I’m willing to help anyone,” Staggs told Broncos.com.au. “The young fellas coming through too, I’ve been here for about four years now and there’s new players coming in. Sometimes you can be uncomfortable in positions so it’s just (about) getting to trust somebody. “I’m there (for them) and I’ve let them know not to hesitate to come and ask for help or if you need to talk to somebody, come talk to me. I’m pretty easy going, that’s how I get around the boys, I love joking. “That’s a thing at the club that I wanted to do, being a leader.” Staggs will have plenty of help guiding the young kids at the club when new recruits Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell arrive. 31-year-old Reynolds has played over 230 NRL games, won a premiership and represented New South Wales. Meanwhile, Capewell joins the Broncos fresh off a premiership with the Panthers and brings over 90 games of experience as well as an incumbent member of the Queensland team. “(Those) two blokes were just in the grand final... just bringing the experience to the team, it’s something we’re looking for,” Staggs said about the star recruits. “We’re a young group so to bring older and experienced players into the group, it will help.” Staggs has had a cruel run of injuries over the last two years. He suffered an ACL injury last year and then four games into his return this season he suffered a season-ending MCL injury on the same knee. But the good news is that he is fully recovered from the latest knee injury and is ready to go for pre-season. “The injury has been going well. I’ve still been coming in during the off-season just trying to get my knee right for Round 1, but I’m on track to be injury-free for pre-season so everything’s going good,” he said. Source: Fox Sports

The Papua New Guinea Special Envoy and Minister for Environment Conservation & Climate Change, Hon. Wera Mori, MP, says PNG is adamant on ceasing all logging, on a large scale, completely by 2030. He said the collective decision by COP26 to stop deforestation entirely by 2030, is an agenda PNG has always advocated for under the leadership of Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, MP. “It is now a formal Government policy to ban round-logging by 2025 and ban logging entirely by 2030. “We didn’t know that this would be the position taken up by COP26, here in Glasgow. However, this is a blessing in disguise for Papua New Guinea. Over the years these COP summits have become exaggerated, where every year we collaborate and come up with ideologies to mitigate climate change; yet nothing practical is being done, in addressing global climate issues,” Minister Mori said. He said COP26 must change. It must not be a forum for talking and conceptualizing. It must move forward and walk the talk. “Papua New Guinea has decided to take action, simply because, our landmass covers one per cent of the global landmass, and is host to seven per cent of global biodiversity, in terms of marine and territorial landmass. “For us, it has been quite a challenge, simply because, despite the fact that we host 30 per cent of the remaining primary rainforest, we have become the lungs of this planet, drawing in carbon dioxide, emitted by industrialized countries. “That has been spelt out in our National Determined Contribution, which we submitted on 18th December 2020, having been one of the first few countries in the world to do so,” Minister Mori said. He said PNG now has all relevant enabling legislations to basically walk along that path. “The biggest question now is, monetization of our efforts – how do we get compensated? “We just simply can’t ban logging in PNG, as it is a $1 billion industry, where the industrialized world expects us to continue to be the carbon filters of the earth, when they are only good for talking but not being responsible for our climate predicaments,” Minister Mori said. He said Papua New Guinea is a member of the global community so when we decide to do that, we know what the costs are, having done our part. “We would like to see the industrialized world or the first world who are responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases, come up with financial and economic development assistance packages. “So, if the UN or the industrialized countries wanted us to terminate logging in our country entirely, they would have to make up for the revenue we raise from that particularly industry, annually,” Minister Mori said. He said for other members of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN), I will also advocate on their behalf. They too must be compensated. [caption id="attachment_16534" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Minister Wera Mori in a pull aside meet with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson,[/caption] “It is completely unfair that we are the victims of the climate problems we have not caused,” Minister Mori said. He also had brief pull aside meetings with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at the margins of the COP26 Leaders’ Summit, in Scotland.  

Police and the PNG Defence Force personnel in Hela are conducting awareness to ensure the general public adhere to the “Niupela Pasin” protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19 cases. Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Teddy Agwi said his officers and the Defence Force personnel have started awareness within the Tari township and have gone as far as Komo, Magarima, Kopiago, and Koroba informing the general public to wear facemasks and maintain social distance whilst in public places. “We are conducting awareness especially at the market places and main shopping centres where a lot of people congregate to ensure strict compliance of the “niupela pasin” protocols,” Mr Agwi said, adding that in that way they can at least contain the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the province and the neighbouring provinces as well. Mr Agwi said they set up roadblocks at the designated areas to ensure everyone wore facemasks and checked their temperatures. He said persons without facemasks are sent home whilst those with masks are allowed to go into tow. The hospital staff in the province have also set up tents and ensure those people with high temperature are referred directly to the hospital for testing. “We have 40 MS07 members from Tari and 33 Defence Force personnel who were brought into Tari for deployment in Hides to assist our local police officers and reservists in implementing the measures,” Mr Agwi said. The PPC however said they have not received any financial support from the provincial government for this operation but with the help of a small NGO group based in Hela. They are using loudhailers supplied by the NGO. A local company owned by Chinese businesses based in Tari have also assisted the awareness program with drums placed at the junctions and designated areas. Others have also assisted with 20 temperature guns. Mr Agwi believes raising awareness and educating the public is one of the best strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep the people safe.

SP PNG Hunters have announced the appointment of Digicel Cup premiership winning coach Stanley Tepend as assistant coach for the 2022 Intrust Super Cup season. Tepend will be an assistant to Hunters coach Matt Church, bringing his experience from nine seasons in charge of the Lae Snax Tigers including four premierships and six minor premierships. SP PNG Hunters chairman Mr Stan Joyce CSM said he was delighted that Tepend would join the Hunters. “This is a very pleasing appointment because it adds even more experience and insights to the Hunters coaching staff,” Mr Joyce said. “This is a significant announcement because we are as committed to developing our coaching talent as we are committed to developing our on-field talent. Stanley Tepend will help us in those goals.” In September, Tepend guided the Tigers to a 16-10 win over Waghi Tumbe in the Digicel Cup grand final played in front of a capacity crowd at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. That capped a stellar period for Tepend as coach of the Tigers, stretching from his inaugural season in 2013 through to premierships in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021. During that time Tepend was also an assistant coach of the PNG Kumuls and coached a Prime Minister’s XIII team against Australia. Tepend will join Church and Paul Aiton on the Hunters coaching staff.

A high-level Government Delegation is in the biggest city of Scotland for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) Leaders’ Summit. The delegation led by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Wera Mori, has arrived in Glasgow and are preparing for the main event. Following Prime Minister Hon. James Marape's decision not to attend COP26, Minister Mori, now assumes full responsibility as Prime Minister's Special Envoy to lead the PNG delegation throughout the Glasgow Summit. Instruments of Full Powers were signed off by Foreign Minister Hon. Soroi Eor, delegating these responsibilities to Minister Mori. Minister Mori is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Australian PM Scott Morrison and CEO's of reputable global climate institutions. Of particular importance would be his meeting with Mr Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund to discuss a simplified draw-down process of the K100Million annual pledge for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Minister Mori has been directed by PM Marape to delegate the accompanying Parliamentarian's including Vice Mininster (Treasury), Hon. Peter Isoaimo, to meaningfully participate by attending scheduled meetings or accompany the Principal, as it would be a great international experience and exposure for them on global issues such as climate change and what PNG and Pacific Island Forum Member Countries must do to achieve ambitious grenhouse gas reduction targets as is required by the Paris Rule Book to save Planet earth. The COP26 Leaders Summit is seen as the last best hope to tackle climate change. Leaders from the all over the world are arriving or have already arrived in Glasgow for this important climate summit.

Despite never winning beyond 2,400m going into the race, Verry Elleegant has secured the biggest win of her career with Melbourne Cup glory at Flemington. Verry Elleegant beat history in being the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup when jumping from barrier 18. Since barriers were introduced in 1924, no horse had won when starting in 18. Verry Elleegant had drawn barrier 19 but had to shift in one when Future Score was scratched on the morning of the race. Champion Sydney jockey James McDonald was overcome with emotion after winning the $8 million epic. "I love her to bits. She's been so good to me. I can safely say she's a champion now," McDonald said of the horse. "She was relaxed the whole way. "I don't know, I never thought I would ever win one, you know. I always dreamed of winning one, but, it's so hard to win." [caption id="attachment_16515" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Image courtesy: ABC news[/caption] Hot favourite Incentivise led in the straight, but was passed by the Chris Waller-trained horse, ridden by James McDonald, which won the $4.4 million first prize, with Spanish Mission in third. The win was Verry Elleegant's 10th Group One win, including last year's Caulfield Cup. The mare had come third in last week's Cox Plate. Incentivise had been going for his 10th straight race win, and started the race as the shortest-priced favourite since Phar Lap in 1930. An emotional McDonald, who won his first Melbourne Cup, praised his mount for her ability. "I love her to bits. She's been so good to me. They can safely say she's a champion now," he told Channel 10 after the race. "She was relaxed the whole way. When I looked at the 600, I still just, just … I was blowing kisses to her the whole way. I don't know. I just can't believe what's just happened." [caption id="attachment_16516" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Image courtesy: theage.com[/caption] The win was also the first Cup win for Waller, who has won a string of major races around Australia. Talk before the race was whether Incentivise would stay the 3,200-metre distance. Persan led early, and Incentivise found its way over to second spot, a couple off the fence, with Knights Order and Tralee Rose. Grand Promenade and Spanish Mission were a little further back within striking distance. Twilight Payment, who led all the way in a fast-run race in 2020, was unable to hold a spot at the front and went back in the field. Verry Elleegant settled midfield and was able to find a comfortable spot. With 800m to run, the lead pair remained the same, with Persan leading Incentivise, but the favourite started to make its move heading into the straight. Floating Artist, Verry Elleegant and Spanish Mission were all moving forward. By the 400m, Incentivise led from Floating Artist, but Verry Elleegant then burst to the front and by the 150m mark she went well clear. McDonald brought her home by four lengths, with Incentivise second, Spanish Mission — who only was cleared to run in the Cup on Saturday after several vet inspections for a leg infection — in third place and Floating Artist in fourth. Twilight Payment finished 11th. Source: ABC News  

The Women’s Council in Kavieng, New Ireland Province, has condemned the gruesome killing of a young woman by her husband in town last Thursday 21st October 2021 and urged the Government to immediately enforce the Vagrancy Act and introduce nightly curfew in the province. Council President Ruthy Watlen said the attack with a golf club on the 24-year-old woman from Mussau by her 25-year-old husband from the Momase region was “shocking” and a tragic case of a helpless woman being killed in broad daylight in the presence of bystanders and watching public at a bus stop with no one stopping the perpetrator from the malicious act. “This is not the peaceful New Ireland I know of. The community is supposed to be protecting our women and girls. Husbands are supposed to be the keepers of their families. What happened last week demonstrates a sick society. We must not become complacent, we must not allow such acts to become normalized in our communities,” said Watlen. Walten strongly urged the Government to enforce the Vagrancy Law and repatriate settlers without jobs squatting on state and customary lands. She said she understands that the attractive living environments and rapid developments taking shape in the province brought about by the good policies of the Government is a pull factor for migrants from other provinces. She said if these people aren’t contributing anything to the province or just squatting around in illegal settlements then they must leave New Ireland and return to their respective Provinces. “Yumi olgeta gat wan, wan ples bilong yumi. Ples graun bilong yumi stap. Ino olsem ol narapela kantri where ol i lus lain olgeta. Sapos yu nogat wok long New Ireland, go bek long Provins blo yu na wok long giraun bilong yu. Pasin respect mas stap.” As the team leader for Gender Based Violence Issues in the Province, Watlen also said those people who were around her, when the incident happened are also equally responsible for her death by the mere fact that they did nothing to stop the perpetrator at the time of the murder. Photo courtesy: Robert Eklund

Port Moresby Nature Park had the privilege of assisting some of its wonderful friends from La Salle Technical College yesterday who visited the Park as part of their project to showcase Papua New Guinea online during the 12th Asia Pacific Lasallian Youth Congress Introduction. Each participating country was given specific focus areas to showcase within 10 minutes via a Zoom conference and sure enough, on top of the list for favourite tourist sites was Port Moresby Nature Park. To express the Park’s gratitude and support for the Lasallian team, the youth volunteers and their teacher Mr. Murray Misha were given a full tour of the Park with each team member receiving a Free Entry Pass from our Education Team. Thank you La Salle Technical College for supporting the Park in showcasing Papua New Guinea's rich biodiversity to the rest of the World. [caption id="attachment_16506" align="aligncenter" width="737"] Lasallian volunteers with their teacher Mr Murray Misha (right front) happily displaying their Free Entry Passes received from Port Moresby Nature Park’s Education team yesterday.[/caption]

The race that stops the nation will grind Toowoomba to a standstill this afternoon as the region holds its breath for "our horse" Incentivise. The gelding bred in southern Queensland is going into the race a short-priced favourite (as low as $2.80 overnight), making him one of the most fancied horses in the Melbourne Cup since Phar Lap. It comes after Incentivise took home the time-honoured Caulfield Cup — and a cool $3 million for his owners — just over two weeks ago. [caption id="attachment_16498" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image courtesy: ABC news[/caption] Despite the enormity of today's occasion, there's no pressure according to the horse's breeder, original trainer and managing owner, Steve Tregea. "These days don't come along very often; we're just happy to win races in Toowoomba and Brisbane on Saturdays, that's what we're normally about," he said. "No matter what happens [on Tuesday], it'll be a fairytale story because he won the main target that he had for this year which was the Caulfield Cup. "This is something unexpected and we're quite happy to accept it." Not all smooth sailing Incentivise goes into the Cup on the back of nine straight wins, a streak that began with his maiden victory at the Sunshine Coast in April. But the five-year-old's career hasn't always been glorious wins and big pay cheques; a lack of race experience and some bad luck meant his first three starts were ones to forget. "He was alright, he always showed ability and always showed that he was going to want ground or distance in these races," Tregea said. The last time Incentivise tasted defeat was ironically in Toowoomba earlier this year when he was beaten by 16 lengths in a $20,000 maiden handicap. Anthony Collins was calling the race that night but said there was something special about him. [caption id="attachment_16501" align="alignnone" width="710"] Image courtesy: Nine's Wide World of Sports[/caption] "I actually said that night, 'Forget it ever went round, he'll win a race'," he said. "Little did I know that he'd go on to win a Caulfield Cup and be the focus of the $7.7 million Melbourne Cup. "We knew that we had a really good horse back then in front of us, but the surreal part is from a maiden handicap in Toowoomba back in March to this race [on Tuesday] ... that's what's very, very surreal. "To be somewhat associated with a champion, this sort of stuff only happens to broadcasters like myself once in a career." Source: ABC news

Acts of thievery and corruption at the National Housing Corporation (NHC) must stop and will stop, Managing Director, Mr. Henry Mokono has warned. Cleansing, prosecution and restoration of public confidence in the NHC as a national treasure has begun in National Capital and will apply nationwide. Mr. Mokono whose contract of employment was confirmed by Government at the Government House last Wednesday – October 27, 2021 for another four years issued the warning when addressing 48 tenants mostly public servants and their families at the NHC hostel at Hohola (Section 16 Lots 13-16), National Capital District this morning. “All illegal sales and whatever that happened previously under suspicious circumstance will be nullified. “There will be no more such deals under my watch. We will start the clean up here in Port Moresby and the same will apply across the country. [caption id="attachment_16488" align="aligncenter" width="611"] NHC Managing Director, Mr. Henry Mokono addressing tenants at the NHC Hohola hostels today.[/caption] “All these acts of thievery and corruption will stop …,” Mr. Mokono told a jubilant crowd of men, women and children who reside in this Government property (in Hohola) which property recently has been subject to rivalry and disputes between “private hands” including reports of a Chinese purchase of the property for K500,000. “There is no sale of this land or property whatsoever. Whatever (purported) sale that happened previously is now cancelled by me in entirety. I will talk to the Lands Secretary and the Registrar of Titles to withdraw and nullify everything that is to do with this (Hohola NHC) property and land. This land belongs to the National Housing Corporation and is State property”, Mokono said. In the formative days, NHC was at its pinnacle servings its true purpose among others: - (a) to improve housing conditions; and (b) to provide adequate and suitable housing for letting to eligible persons; and (c) to sell houses to eligible persons; and (d) to make advances to eligible persons and approved applicants to enable them to become the owners of their own homes; and (e) to develop physically residential land by way of providing adequate services for human settlements; and; (f) to provide adequate and suitable housing by way of sale or lease to approved applicants. Sadly, over last two decades, thievery, greed, corruption, and all that ramify the art of devil has crept in and gripped on, asphyxiating NHC to its knees. [caption id="attachment_16489" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Women tenants of Hohola NHC hostel.[/caption] Mokono is now at the helm to see NHC out of the pit of hell. He is tough on this: - all NHC properties and land sold to private interests from 2017 to current would also go under scrutiny to verify if these State properties were legally sold. If found to be fraudulent, all land titles will be revoked and attained by the State through the NHC as its agency. - there will be no short cuts in the processing of titles - the NHC staff both former and current who are implicated on these fraudulent deals will be criminal charged and prosecuted, with the involvement of the National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Unit of the Police Department.

Parramatta winger Maika Sivo is reportedly considering a shock defection to French rugby union. News Corp reports the 28-year-old is being offered the chance to quit the NRL after next season for a pay day in Europe. Another Fijian-born Eels winger, Semi Radradra, moved to Toulon rugby union after the 2017 NRL season. Sivo is contracted for another two years but the 2023 season marks an option in his favour and he could leave for the 15-man game. Sivo is set to earn $400,000 at the Eels next year and would attract a more lucrative offer in France. The rumour mill already has a replacement lined up at Parramatta should Sivo depart, with Canberra’s Bailey Simonsson named. Meanwhile, Eels forward Marata Niukore is ready to leave for the Warriors and the deal is almost done. The Auckland-born Niukore reportedly wants a return home to New Zealand when his Eels deal expires after next season.

United States Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, visited Port Moresby and HMPNGS Tarangau in Manus Province as part of a larger effort to reinforce the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. While here, Del Toro met with representatives of the government of Papua New Guinea to include the Prime Minister to discuss ways our countries can establish a free and open Indo-Pacific region together. In Papua New Guinea, Del Toro made a special visit to the Naval Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees, who are constructing new facilities in support of the revitalization of the PNGDF maritime base at Lombrum. The Seabees are in Manus province temporarily, working together with Papua New Guineans and the Commonwealth of Australia to enhance the capabilities of PNG forces. The government of Papua New Guinea invited the U.S. military construction teams to Manus to support the renovation of the PNGDF maritime base, the HMPNGS Tarangau. Construction personnel are building a regional maritime training center, a dental clinic, and a small boat team facility. These upgrades strengthen the defensive capabilities of the PNGDF’s forces operating there. After touring the HMPNGS Tarangau, Secretary Del Toro said, “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Defense Force again. The Seabees have been here before, and we are happy to be back. Papua New Guinea extended their hand in friendship to us 75 years ago, and we are building on that foundation to address shared challenges. Together, America and Papua New Guinea are partnering to ensure a more secure Indo-Pacific region.” The U.S. construction projects build on the extensive work that has already been done at Lombrum Navy Base by the Commonwealth of Australia, including architectural designs and foundational development, and purchase of maritime