Title: Impasse (2008) Director: Bram Schouw Genre(s): Short Duration: 8mins Cast: Sieger Sloot, Mutaleni Nadimi A neo-Nazi skinhead becomes intrigued by an African woman he encounters on a train ride, but his white supremacist beliefs leave him conflicted. This film is about close-mindedness and how the wrong belief system can prevent you from establishing meaningful connections with other people. In Impasse, the skinhead experiences a brief moment of cognitive dissonance as he tries to come to terms with the fact that he may be attracted to a non-white person – a person he was taught to hate. During the train ride, it appears as though he wants to speak to the woman but instead, he holds back and refrains from speaking until she gets off at the next stop. Although the film does not contain dialogue, the acting, non-verbal cues and symbolism tell the story perfectly. For instance, in the beginning, when the man is waiting for the train, he stands in between a pair of closed eyes painted on the wall behind him, which can symbolise ignorance; living a life unable to see the beauty of people from a difference race or culture. Impasse, as the title says, refers to a situation in which no progress is possible usually due to a disagreement, and sure enough the relationship does not develop due to conflicting beliefs. This film contains valuable lessons about unlearning the wrong teaching and I highly recommend for people to watch.

Students in the Early Childhood Education program at Buk Bilong Pikinini (BbP) joined athletes in celebrating Universal Children's Day just recently with focus on exercise and nutrition for good cognitive development. In order to emphasize the value of children's rights, their well-being, and the necessity of elevating their voices for a better future, this year's theme was "Nurturing Futures through Nutrition and Fitness." Launched in September of this year, the BbP Nutrition Education Program aims to help parents and kids become "nutritionally literate" and recognize the value of eating a balanced diet for learning and overall health. Exercise is a vital component of a child's health and learning capacity, because it fosters both cognitive and physical development, exercise is essential for the brain development of young children. The brain is extremely malleable in the early years, making it especially responsive to experiences and stimuli; therefore, frequent exercise promotes the development of brain connections necessary for memory, learning, and general cognitive function. Children who walk more have higher blood flow to the brain, which helps carry nutrients and oxygen that are essential for a healthy brain development. BBP also welcomed Trukai Industries Ltd. brand ambassadors Florence Daple and William Darius Moaina from East Street Fitness to lead a fitness challenge session for the kids enrolled at the Vabukori Library Learning Center. Darius highlighted how fitness and nutrition go hand in hand in shaping happy and healthy children, reinforcing the theme of the day. At BbP’s UPNG Library Learning Centre athletes Lera Kose (Karate), Rayleen Bauelua (PNG Women’s Soccer team), Kele Lessy (PNG Mens Touch Football team) and Mickey Tamarua (PNG Olympic Committee programs coordinator) spoke to the children about the types of food they eat to power their athletic efforts for maximum performance. They also had fun with the children going through a very professional obstacle course for lots of fun drill exercises and games. BbP is grateful to Ryan Pini for assisting with the organization of this. In order to have lots of energy available for their sessions BbP and Deloitte volunteers Ethelynne Bundu, Roselyn Owen, Stephanie Potoi, Gau Arua, Alice Makati, Adrian Neroggai, and Nellie Makamet had prepared healthy rainbow of fruit snacks and water for the active children. Parents participated in an engaging Nutrition Information session with BbP’s Nutrition Education Officer, Leo Khim, learning how to plan simple, practical ways to provide nutritious meals to fuel their learning in the classroom and sports activities. Through a collaboration with Trukai Industries, a picture book and a nutrition exercise and guidebook were also released in 2024. In the academic year 2025, the program will be fully implemented across all of BbP's LLCs. Buk bilong Pikinini’s published Nutrition Education text books are available for purchase from Theodist and directly from Buk bilong Pikinini’s office and webshop: https://bukbilongpikinini.charity/

Boreboa Primary School students have been urged to concentrate on learning the fundamentals in order to build a solid foundation for future success. Powes Parkop, the Governor of the National Capital District (NCD), made this statement on Friday 22nd November, when he gave the keynote presentation at the school's Grade 8 graduation ceremony. Governor Parkop underlined the significance of instilling positive attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors at a young age. "Success is not difficult. It begins with the fundamentals: discipline, respect, and a desire to learn. "You will clear the path for a better future when you concentrate on these straightforward yet effective principles." In his speech, he congratulated the 344 graduating kids on their accomplishments and wished them well in making the most of their eight years of elementary school. “I am proud of each one of you for reaching this milestone. Use what you’ve learned here as a stepping stone to even greater accomplishments in your education and life.” Governor Parkop also reminded the students that respecting their teachers, valuing their education, and presenting themselves well are key habits that will help them excel not only in school, but in life as well. “I commend you all for being so well-dressed today.” “It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the small things done consistently that lead to big success.” He emphasized how Papua New Guinea's educational system is changing, pointing out that as options for education have grown, so has competition. He exhorted the pupils to maintain their concentration and put forth great effort in order to meet the high expectations of their education. With more than 3,000 pupils, Boreboa Primary is one of the biggest schools in the nation's capital, and although its buildings are more than 30 years old, Governor Parkop promised to help with infrastructure upgrades in the upcoming year, assuring the school community of his support. “In addition to supporting the construction of an IT lab and teacher housing, NCDC will collaborate with the school to build a new six-in-one classroom according to a standard layout.” “We are committed to creating a better learning environment so that our children can receive the quality education they deserve.” He ended his speech with an encouraging note for the graduates. “Education is the key to unlocking your potential. Dream big, work hard, and never stop believing in yourself.” “The future is in your hands.”

With the goal of preventing violence and increasing awareness, South Pacific Brewery is pleased to announce its involvement in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign. The campaign's dates this year are November 25–December 10. This involvement is a component of SP Brewery's corporate social responsibility programs, which aim to address societal challenges in the nation. The brewery and the National Gender-Based Violence Secretariat (NGVBS) of the Department of Community Development & Religion (DFCDR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October to work together and combat gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea. To demonstrate support in the fight against gender-based violence, SP Brewery raised a symbolic flag with the SP Brewery Corporate insignia on a purple field as a significant step forward under this Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the flag was raised at the SP Brewery offices in Port Moresby, Lae, and Goroka.

With nations marking World Children’s Day on November 20th, many organizations in the country also joined in the celebrations, including UNICEF who spoke on Violence Against Children (VAC). Speaking on the topic was acting country representative for UNICEF, Vikas Singh. “It is no surprise that violence affects children, causing fear and unhappiness and UNICEF is working with governments and companies around the globe to find solutions.” In line with this year’s Children’s Day theme: “Listen to the Future”, Singh emphasized UNICEF’s interest to listen to the children’s experiences. “Let's take time to listen to what you (children) have to say: your dreams, your ideas, your voices – we are here to listen.” He addressed the adults saying that taking time to listen to children gives you motivation to change the world. “Children’s Day is special because it reminds everyone that children’s rights matter.” Deputy Director of the National Offices of Child & Family Services, Jerry Wap stated that child protection was everybody’s business. “Let us all answer the global call to end violence against children.”

To further PNG's digital transformation, the U.S. Government is collaborating with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The PNG Department of ICT (DICT) and USAID will collaborate to offer broad support for Papua New Guinea's digital transformation, including enhanced connections for marginalized communities, private sector collaborations, and digital government services. U.S. Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock stressed on the United States desire to partner with PNG in improving ICT. "The United States is committed to partnering with the government, people, and private sector of PNG to advance your vision for digital transformation and to support PNG's regional leadership in ICT." Additionally, the Ambassador praised DICT's commitment to delivering ICT to underprivileged areas. The partnership between USAID and DICT will include assistance for improving project management and business process mapping, re-engineering digital services through collaboration with the private sector, and using inclusive stakeholder engagement - including with women, youth, and persons with disabilities - to improve digital government services. USAID will also work with government and community partners in PNG to co-create future initiatives based on the evolving needs of PNG’s government, businesses, and people. The partnership was formalized on November 19th through the signing of a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and USAID’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership for the Pacific (DCCP-Pacific) project. DCCP-Pacific is a five-year effort to increase digital access and connectivity and improve efficient delivery and use of digital services throughout the entire Pacific Island region.

Title: Skin & Bone (2023) Director & Writer: Eli Powers Genre(s): Horror, Short Duration: 16mins 55sec Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Thomas Sadoski Christian (Thomas Sadoski), a drifter begins experiencing terrifying visions after he starts working on a secluded farm. On the surface it seems as this film is about a woman getting revenge on men by turning them into animals; however, a closer inspection reveals that it is a response from trauma experienced as a child. In the film we see, the farm’s owner, Serene (Amanda Seyfried), singing about a woman who was sexually assaulted by a group of men, and as she’s dying, she puts a curse on her assaulters. In the next verse, the daughter tries praying to God to save her mother’s life. But with no success she also vows a curse upon the men who took her mother’s life. Skin & Bone hints at a possibility that the woman in the song could be Serene’s mother who was assaulted, and that Serene witnessed it happening but couldn’t do anything as she was only a child. As a result of being traumatized, she resorts to luring and turning men into animals. A poetic depiction on the animalistic behaviour of evil men, in this case, her mother’s assaulters. But while she may appear justified in her actions, the question of who the antagonist in the story is really comes to light because Christian is not responsible for the death of Serene’s mother. However, he suffers the same fate as the other men (turned animals) who had been on the farm previously. The film does not use classic horror techniques such as a jump scare but gives an unsettling vibe almost like a psychological thriller. If you're looking to break away from the traditional horror movies, I would recommend you give this movie a watch.

The 2024 4th National Mock Youth Parliament started yesterday, with 60 young people out of 1, 000 applicants chosen to participate in this event. Through this mock parliament session, participants will have the opportunity to learn and understand the processes, responsibilities and functions of parliament. Speaking at the event, Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Basil Kambuliagen, petitioned the youngsters to actively participate in the sessions. “How much you gain from this invaluable experience will be the result of how committed you are to this program.” “The skills you will learn are essential, should you assume roles in the parliament or other leadership positions.” “I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, to ask a lot of questions and learn as much as you can.” He thanked the young people present for their interest and passion in leadership. “Leadership is a journey that requires commitment, integrity, and a desire to serve the community in the near future.” He added that the National Parliament is keen to partner with UNFPA to mentor aspiring leaders and look forward to building a future for a generation of leaders with both intellect and integrity. Meanwhile, UNDP Chief Technical Advisor on Anti-Corruption, Dr. Alma Sedler, spoke on the core values of being a leader. Dr. Sedler called upon the youths to answer the question: 'What Makes a Leader, an Ethical leader?' A question which they responded with answers of having qualities of honesty, integrity and a heart for the people. "An ethical leader is one who is able to weigh the effects of their choices on others and base them on ethics and principals."

Digicel PNG’s new Christmas Smartphone Promotion will see customers enjoy an exclusive discount on a range of low, medium and high-end Smartphones in all Digicel and Fone Haus Stores across PNG. Customers will also enjoy free data and talk every month for up to nine months with their new Smartphones. Digicel PNG Chief Executive Officer, Tarik Boudiaf talked about the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones over the holidays. “Christmas is one of the most important times of the year and we want to ensure our customers remain connected with their loved ones during the festive season, with quality handsets and free data and talk bundles.” “With this smartphone offer, our customers now have the option to upgrade to quality smartphones or upgrade their smartphones at a cost that is suitable to their budget.” “We are also offering an exclusive 10% discount off every smartphone to every customer who pays for their smartphone using their CellMoni wallets.” “I encourage every customer to activate their CellMoni wallets using *888# so they too can take advantage of the 10% discount.” “With every smartphone purchased, the customer will also be eligible to get a free data and talk bundle each month for either 3, 6 or 9 months, depending on the price of the smartphone purchased.” “Whether customers are looking for the perfect gift or something special for themselves, there’s something for everyone.” “They can visit our Digicel Stores across the country to take advantage of this great value offer.” “We wish all our customers and their families a very Merry Christmas and safe celebrations.” Customers who spend at least K30 in the last 30 days and purchase a smartphone up to K499 will be eligible for 4GB of data and 30 minutes of talk time for three months. Customers who purchase smartphones between K500 and K1,499 will receive 8GB of data and 60 minutes of talk for six months if they spend at least K75 in the previous 30 days. Customers who spend at least K100 in the previous 30 days will receive 12GB of data and 120 minutes of talk for nine months. Customers can visit Digicel or Fone Haus stores nationwide now to take advantage of these offers. The Christmas Smartphone promotion will end on December 31st, 2024. For more information on our Christmas Promotion, please visit www.digicelpng.com or call 123.

The ongoing collaboration between PNG schools and India's Parul University has been praised by Prime Minister James Marape for facilitating a prosperous scholarship program for a select group of recent Grade 12 graduates from PNG. In a meeting with Parul University representatives earlier at Melanesia Haus, Prime Minister Marape expressed his satisfaction with the scholarship program's current state, citing information from local resource people and presentations from the Parul University team. Last month, 120 students from Hela Province schools departed for Parul University in India in a historic event. The majority of the successful students were selected from Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Flexible, Open, and Distance Education (FODE) centers. Following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent state visit to PNG, the PNG and Indian governments formed an education partnership agreement that made this feasible. Recognizing the collaboration, PM Marape urged more PNG students to enroll at Parul University in the future. “The number of Grade 12 students graduating every year in PNG is far greater than the quota or space available for them in tertiary institutions in PNG, resulting in a lot of them missing out.” “Since my government took office in 2019, our aim has been to create different pathways and avenues so that no child gets left behind in the education space of PNG.” “If there is no space for them in PNG, we can go overseas through partnership arrangements.” “In order to give some of our best students in the nation the chance to experience both the international working environment in a variety of professional fields and prestigious universities abroad, we developed the scientific, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.” “We have sent groups of students to China, India, and the United States.” “Furthermore, we are creating avenues for PNG students to pursue higher education abroad through our bilateral ties with our friendly partners, such as India.” “I truly acknowledge Parul University for this partnership that has been fruitful with our students progressing well.” We look forward to expanding on this going forward.” Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology Kinoka Feo was also present at the event. He thanked Dr. Devanshu Patel, the president of Parul University, and his team, and they talked about the different study programs that Parul University offers and that PNG students can pursue in relation to the country's development needs. Given that the provinces are located in key resource project areas, the scholarship agreement with Parul University will now be expanded. Meantime, Southern Highlands Province is considering supporting and joining the program. Southern Highlands Governor William Powi and Hela Governor Philip Undialu both attended the meeting. Prime Minister Marape also encouraged Parul University to partner with PNG universities such as Western Pacific University in Southern Highlands Province to deliver certain programs under the partnership, thus enabling people-to-people and knowledge-sharing between PNG and India to enhance greater cooperation between the two nations.

Title: Gladiator II (2024) Director: Ridley Scott Genre(s): Action, Adventure Rating: MA Duration: 2hrs 28mins Stars: Paul Mescal ∙ Denzel Washington ∙ Pedro Pascal ∙ Connie Nielsen “A gripping tale of how corruption can lead to societal collapse.” After his home is conquered by tyrannical emperors of Rome, Lucius (Paul Mescal) must fight as a gladiator in the Colosseum to survive. Although Gladiator II centers on Lucius getting revenge on his enemies, the film also carries heavy themes on colonization, corruption and its side effects. It demonstrates the palpable truth of how depravity within an empire can cause systemic and societal collapse leading to the possible end of even a powerful civilization. Denzel Washington’s character Macrinus, one of the villains in the story, is crafted in a way that makes it difficult to determine your stance – whether it be with the Romans or with the rebels. A captive from an African country who was sold into servitude with nothing and later rose to power, eventually ending the corrupt emperors’ tyranny, makes you want to root for him. However, he himself is not immune to corruption as demonstrated in the film. Macrinus’ deceitful methods of getting himself an influential position makes him no better than the depraved leaders running the empire. Additionally, Macrinus’ is a representation of the aftermath of colonization. When he finally gets ultimate control over the city’s affairs, he now has to deal with the chaos that ensues as a result of the former leaders’ corrupt rule as well as his own depravity – a striking image of the present-day situation of country’s who were once under colonial rule. No words need to be spoken about the movie’s rating, as the depiction of war, violence and brutality definitely earns its rating for matured audiences only. Audiences who did not watch the first instalment of Gladiator, may find it difficult to connect the story, otherwise director Ridley Scott has not fallen short of delivering a spectacular sequel to the beloved film.

The issue of gender equality and women's empowerment was discussed by Prime Minister (PM) James Marape on Wednesday, November 13th at the final day of the Women's Summit and Expo. He emphasized the significance of men's role in protecting and empowering women, starting in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, as the solution to the gender equality problem. Drawing on his own experiences of avoiding domestic violence in similar situations, he utilized the platform to urge males in PNG to abstain from violence against women and domestic abuse. The Prime Minister was addressing the closing of the National Capital District Commission on Women and Girls' Empowerment's "NCD Women's Summit and Expo," a three-day summit and expo that started on Monday, November 11, 2024, and finished on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Stakeholders from the public and business sectors, as well as the diplomatic community, convened for a three-day summit in the nation's capital to examine challenges that require government assistance. On behalf of the males, Prime Minister Marape then took the time to apologize to the nation's female residents for not doing more to protect and empower women and girls. He claimed that although women make up half of the population and contribute to the nation's progress, they are hindered by the male population's lack of support. In PNG, where matrilineal customs are prevalent and women are cultivated as leaders and hold title positions in land ownership, he emphasized the traditional responsibilities that women have played in society. Although they did not own land and were unable to speak directly at clan and tribe meetings, Prime Minister Marape also emphasized that women still held a position of authority in the patrilineal areas. "We have lost our way along the way, and we need to change that now as the 50 years of self-determination arrive." The Prime Minister emphasized that the safeguard and empowerment of women must start at home. "I call on all the men and boys whose families have grandmothers, mothers, sisters, nieces, and daughters to step up in their roles as the champions of women empowerment in their families." He continued by saying that the national government's efforts will only make the work of the international community obsolete with the help of the families, which form the foundation of society. He urged all boys and men in PNG to take the initiative and support the cause of women's empowerment in their households. The Prime Minister also promised the women of PNG that his government would continue to fund safety and women's empowerment initiatives in the nation, which they had initiated during the 2020 pandemic, and pledged to mobilize support from the National Parliament to address the recommendations made during the summit. In his appeal for harsher punishments for those who commit gender-based violence, Prime Minister Marape urged women to report such crimes to the police, let the rule of law take its course, and refuse to have their cases dropped when the offenders offer a compensation settlement.