A 79th minute Will Warbrick try has kept Melbourne's 2023 premiership dreams alive after overcoming a gallant Roosters side 18-13 at AAMI Park on Friday. The Roosters led 13-12 with less than two minutes to play but the Storm stole the final moments when a Cameron Munster crossfield kick ended in the hands of a leaping Warbrick, bringing 19,000 fans to their feet in Melbourne. The semi-final victory booked the Storm a spot in their eighth preliminary final in their past nine seasons as the Melbourne powerhouse prepare for a 2020 grand final rematch against the reigning premier Panthers at Accor Stadium on Friday night. Replacing Jahrome Hughes (calf), utility Tyran Wishart demanded a spot in Craig Bellamy's squad to face the Panthers after scoring an early try and having a hand in several more in just his second game starting in the halves this season. Wearing No. 21 on his back, Melbourne's fill-in halfback Wishart proved his playmaking capabilities early with a show-and-go from close range opening the scoring for the home side. Wishart was involved again after being on the receiving end of a Victor Radley high tackle in the 17th minute, handing Nick Meaney a chance to redeem an earlier wide conversion and extend Melbourne's lead 6-0. On the back of a Brandon Smith error, Melbourne marched downfield again and an Eliesa Katoa offload created an overlap for Melbourne's right edge, putting the ball on a platter for centre Marion Seve. The home side turned away multiple Roosters attacking raids before former fan-favourite Smith burrowed his way over from dummy half, reducing the deficit 10-6 before the break. The Storm faithful were on their feet early in the second half with big men Christian Welch and Tom Eisenhuth breaking tackles and charging downfield but Melbourne failed to capitalise on the early field possession. After spearheading his side's attack all game, Radley was haunted by a Wishart high ball and gifted Melbourne the first points of the second half with Meaney slotting a penalty shot to make it 12-6 with 21 minutes to play. Roosters rookie Sandon Smith made his presence felt instantly, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute, breaking through Melbourne's defence and marching the ball downfield before sending a long ball for Lindsay Collins to level the score. With the scoreboard locked and less than eight minutes to play, Roosters returning halfback Sam Walker stepped up to nail his second field goal in as many weeks. But it was Melbourne with the last say when Munster produced a perfectly weighted kick crossfield, finding a leaping Warbrick who outmuscled Corey Allan to score in the right corner and keep the Storm's season alive. Source: NRL.com

Taylor Swift made the whole place shimmer at the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night, when she won the award for video of the year for the second time in a row. Swift was on hand to accept her moon-man trophy for her “Anti-Hero” music video at the event in New Jersey, appearing at the show during a break in her “Eras” tour schedule. Last year, Swift won the same award for her “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)” music video. The “Bejeweled” singer won at least three more awards Tuesday night, including song of the year, best pop and best direction for “Anti-Hero.” She was also nominated for artist of the year, best cinematography, best visual effects and best editing, which were not presented during the live broadcast. “I am so, so happy because this is validating my favorite part of what I get to do,” Swift said while accepting her trophy for song of the year. Tuesday’s wins come as Swift continues what’s arguably her most successful era yet, which started in 2022 when she released her 10th studio album “Midnights.” In October, shortly after the release of “Midnights,” the entertainer claimed all top ten spots of the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the same time, according to the music charting site. Swift is the first artist to ever accomplish the feat in Billboard’s 64-year history, and she’s continued to break various streaming records since then. The star has had a storied history with the MTV VMAs. Most notably, Kanye West interrupted her in 2009 when she was onstage to accept the best female video award for her song “You Belong with Me.” In 2015, during her “1989” era, Swift brought her “Bad Blood” music video squad – Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Hailee Steinfeld and Cara Delevingne, among others – along with her to the show. She also made an ultimately short-lived amends with West when she presented him with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award that year. And in 2022, she announced that she’d be releasing “Midnights” while accepting the award for best longform video. Source: CNN News

The Australian Rugby League Commission and the Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP have announced the Australian Men’s and Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII squads to take on PNG PM’s XIII teams at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, on Saturday, September 23. The Men’s Prime Minister’s XIII will include eight representatives from the 2022 World Cup winning Kangaroos squad, for the first Prime Minister’s XIII encounter in PNG since 2018. The Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII has been selected with a view to giving some of the best up and coming players in the NRLW an opportunity alongside a number of established representative players including Kennedy Cherrington, Botille Vette-Welsh and Tallisha Harden. “Being Prime Minister is a great honour. I enjoy every part of the job, but a fun part is getting to pick the PM’s XIII sides,” Prime Minister Albanese said. “These contests represent far more than just a couple of games of footy. Papua New Guinea and Australia are the closest of neighbours and we are the best of friends. We are working together to build a more prosperous, stable and peaceful region. Rugby League is an opportunity to celebrate our friendship and strengthen our partnership. [caption id="attachment_45226" align="aligncenter" width="1224"] Match Highlights: Australian PM's XIII v PNG PM's XIII[/caption] “I am really looking forward to Cam and Tallisha leading out their teams in Port Moresby, and know the contest will be great for the game, a thrill for all the players selected and another important step forward for our region.” ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM congratulated all players on their selection in a special team. “These players have performed exceptionally well throughout the season and have earned the chance to wear the green and gold for Australia,” Mr V’landys said. “I congratulate the players selected for both teams as to represent your country is the ultimate achievement. It’s also an inspiration for fans in Australia and of course the fans in PNG, where rugby league means so much." Australian Men’s PM’s XIII Coach Mal Meninga said the match would provide a selection guide ahead of the first ever Pacific Championships, across October and November. “This squad is a blend of experience from the World Cup last year, additional State of Origin players from this year, as well as younger players who we would like to see at this level,” Meninga said. “There was fairly unanimous agreement across the selections and I can’t wait to see this group test themselves in the green and gold.” [caption id="attachment_45227" align="aligncenter" width="1224"] Match Highlights: Australian PM's XIII v PNG PM's XIII[/caption] Australian Women’s PM’s XIII Coach Brad Donald said the PM’s XIII would provide opportunities for the players to both further their representative aspirations as well as experience something quite unique. “It’s a really well-balanced team featuring some of our First Nations Gems players, emerging talent in the NRLW competition and a handful of Jillaroos representatives who will be the key leaders,” Donald said. The PM’s XIII concept is aimed at using rugby league to drive social awareness messages. This year’s event will also see the introduction of the Australian school boys and girls taking on our Junior Kumuls and Orchids respectively, with support from the Australian Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the NRL. Australian men's Prime Minister's XIII squad Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) Daly Cherry-Evans, vice capt. (Sea Eagles) Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) Tom Dearden (Cowboys) Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans) Emre Guler (Raiders) Ben Hunt (Dragons) Nicho Hynes (Sharks) Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans) Zac Lomax (Dragons) Cameron McInnes (Sharks) Cameron Murray, capt. (Rabbitohs) Reece Robson (Cowboys) Tyrell Sloan (Dragons) Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) Murray Taulagi (Cowboys) Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles) Cody Walker (Rabbitohs) Hudson Young (Raiders) Australian women's Prime Minister's XIII squad Teagan Berry (Dragons) Kennedy Cherrington, vice capt. (Eels) Rueben Cherrington (Eels) Abbi Church (Eels) Keisha-Leigh Coolwell (Broncos) Quincy Dodd (Sharks) Kayla Fleming (First Nations Gems) Tallisha Harden, capt. (Cowboys) Kimberley Hunt (Eels) Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys) Jasmin Morrissey (First Nations Gems) Rachael Pearson (Eels) Christian Pio (Wests Tigers) China Polata (Cowboys) Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Cowboys) Taneka Todhunter (Eels) Cassey Tohi-Hiku (Eels) Botille Vette-Welsh (Wests Tigers) Jakiya Whitfeld (Wests Tigers) Janelle Williams (Raiders) Source: NRL.com  

APEC Haus came alive on Sunday as the Mountain Dew x Wan Squad PNG National Dance Championships 2023 took place. An event that was only made possible after months of intensive workshops conducted by PNG’s dance sensation Wan Squad. At the end of the competition, Easthood Dance Crew won the Open Division, taking home the coveted K10, 000 first place prize as well as the prestigious title of Mountain Dew x Wan Squad PNG National Dance Champions 2023. In the previous year they lost to YBC by just one point, however YBC still secured second place as they walked away with K3000. Meanwhile Wantry DC took home the third prize of K2000. The Junior Division was equally impressive with Youngsters taking first place, showing off their incredible talent and dedication. Competition was fierce as the Irapian team and JNR Vikings took second and third place respectively. Mini Tribe, Underdogs, G Unit and Check Mate also showed off their outstanding skills and teamwork. The competition was judged by experienced and dedicated members of Wan Squad, who were faced with the difficult task of choosing the winner. Their expertise and fairness made this a true showcase of talent and skill. Many in the audience were left wondering what amazing choreography and sets the groups will have in store in 2024 after the performances left them in awe.

Athletics PNG has selected a final team of 24 male and 11 female athletes for the Pacific Games in Honiara including some new athletes who performed well at the recent PNG Air National Championships in Port Moresby. Since Sprint Queen Toea Wisil has taken this year off for personal reasons. This year PNG’s hope for the women’s sprints rests on the shoulders of Leonie Beu, while PNG also expects gold medals from other track and field event athletes: Adrine Monagi (hurdles and relays), Rellie Kaputin (jumps), Sharon Toako (throws), Scholastica Herman and Mary Tenge (middle distance). As for the mens, PNG has a strong track team this year with new competitors who will be joining Leroy Kamau, Daniel Baul, Benjamin Aliel and Emmanuel Wanga. Adolf kauba will focus on challenging Alex Beddoes of Cook Islands, in the 800m and will be joined by Lot Samare and Robert Stringer. PNG will have a strong team in the mens distance events with reigning Pacific Games champion in the 3000m steeplechase Simbai Kaspar being joined by Mini Games medallists Siune Kagl, Aquila Turalom , Dilu Goiye and Israel Takap. Meanwhile the mens 100 and 200m will be wide open this year following the retirement of Fiji’s Banuve Tabacaucoro. Lot Samare joined Pais Wisil and Adolf Kauba on the squad, which included five participants in the NSI development program. Both Sialis Passinghan (400-meter hurdles) and Kenny Peter (javelin), who placed second on the PNG All-Time Best List behind Lakona Gerega (National record holder), hurled personal bests in the Nationals. Karo Iga, a multi-event athlete, and Eldan Toti will represent PNG in the men's jumps. Australia, New Zealand, Samoa—which has recently developed many excellent sprinters and defeated PNG in the 4*100m relay both in Saipan 2022 and at the most recent Pacific Games in Apia—and Solomon Islands—which has a strong history in the long-distance competitions—are PNG's main rivals. President Tony Green said that the team was smaller than the expected 40+ mainly due to the difficulty finding and retaining female athletes all round, but especially for longer distance events. “This is a Pacific wide problem, but we have to maintain standards,” “The athletes on our quality squad have been chosen based on their capacity to contribute to the medal count, which is of course the main selection criterion.” On the team's chances of winning medals, Green responded that they are in good shape and have done a good job of preparing, but a final camp with good coaching assistance and some lead-up competition is necessary to get the athletes ready to perform at their best. Athletics PNG anticipates maintaining its top-ranked status as a Pacific Island nation during the competition.

The Pacific’s biggest music competition, Pacific Break (2023) is set to launch in Port Moresby on September 21st. This is a competition which offers unsigned artists living in the Pacific and Timor-Leste a career-changing opportunity with the winner flown to Australia’s largest international music festival WOMADelaide in March 2024. The event lasts six-weeks and featured artists will have their music and videos featured on ABC Radio Australia, ABC Australia programs, and on ABC Pacific digital and social media accounts throughout the six-week campaign. This year’s winner will be decided by a panel of judges made up of PNG-born Australian artist Ngaiire, Dj Hau Latukefu, Sose Fuamoli, and Rick Howe. Entries will open on September 21st and close on November 2 with the winner announced on ABC Radio Australia morning show Nesia Daily on Thursday November 9th.

The Central Music Association (CMA) has got a new executive team following the results of its recent elections held on Thursday, September 7th, at the Scouts Headquarters in Konedobu. The elections were opened by CMA members, who had nominated their executive candidates during the Central Music Association 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) one week prior. The newly elected executive team included: •     Allen Kedea – President of CMA •     Dokona Manoka – Vice President •     Danny George – Treasurer •     Ferlyn Oembari – Vice Treasurer •     John Naime – Secretary •     Tau Tola – Vice Secretary Newly elected President, Mr. Allen Kedea (AKay47), expressed his optimism towards the future of CMA. "We are delighted that Central Province is taking the lead in the music scene in Papua New Guinea by becoming the first province to register with the National Cultural Commission (NCC), a government department under the Ministry of Tourism Arts & Culture responsible for our artists' welfare." “We eagerly anticipate collaborating with artists from the Motu-Koita and Central Province regions as we plan our inaugural Central Music Festival." The election event was supported by prominent senior artists from Central Province including Hitsy Golou, Dokona Manoka, Betty Toea, Dika Dai, and John Toea. CMA is committed to advancing the interests of its members and the broader music community in Central Province, and the newly elected executive team is determined to build upon the organization's achievements to date.

 Snapchat says it’s working to make its app even safer for teen users. Parent company Snap said Thursday that it is rolling out a suite of new features and policies aimed at better protecting 13- to 17-year-old users, including restrictions on friend suggestions and a new system for removing age-inappropriate content. The company also launched a series of YouTube videos for parents about the features and an updated website laying out its teen safety and parental control policies. The new features come amid increasing pressure on social media platforms by lawmakers, educators and parents to protect young users from inappropriate content, unwanted adult attention, illicit drug sales and other issues. A Snap executive testified alongside leaders from TikTok and YouTube in a fall 2021 Senate committee hearing about youth safety on social media, promising new tools to help parents keep their teens safe. And since then, Snapchat — like other platforms — has rolled out a variety of new teen safety and parental supervision tools. Thursday’s announcement follows the launch last year of Snapchat’s Family Center, which offers parents more insight into who their teenagers are communicating with on the messaging app. The app’s other existing teen safety measures include prohibiting young users from having public profiles and having teens’ Snap Map location-sharing tool turned off by default. As part of Thursday’s feature rollout, Snapchat will now require 13-to-17-year-old users to have a greater number of mutual friends in common with another account before that account will show up in Search results or as a friend suggestion, in an effort to avoid teens adding users on the app who they don’t know in real life. The app will also send a pop-up warming to teens if they are about to add an account that doesn’t share any mutual Snapchat friends or phone book contacts. “When a teen becomes friends with someone on Snapchat, we want to be confident it is someone they know in real life — such as a friend, family member, or other trusted person,” the company said in a blog post. Snapchat will also impose a new strike system for accounts promoting content inappropriate for teens in its Stories and Spotlight sections, where users can share content publicly on the app. If inappropriate content is reported or detected by the company, it will immediately remove the content and issue a strike against the poster’s account. If a user accrues “too many strikes over a defined period of time, their account will be disabled,” the platform says, although it does not lay out how many strikes would lead to a suspension. Teen users will also start to see in-app content aimed at educating them on online risks such as catfishing and financial sextortion — when someone persuades a victim to share nude photos and then blackmails them for money — and letting them know what to do if they see it, including providing hotlines to contact for help. The PSA-style content will be featured on Snapchat’s Stories platform and in response to certain search terms or keywords. Source: CNN News

As the country prepares to celebrate its 48th year of independence, the Department of Personal Management (DPM) has advised all Departmental Heads, Provincial Administrators, Head of funded Public Authorities and all Public Servants that Friday 15th of September 2023 has been declared a Public Holiday as confirmed in the National Gazette No. 775 of 2022 and Circular Instruction No. 18 of 2022 on Public Holidays for 2023. Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan has urged all government institutions to decorate their office buildings in national colors (red, black, and gold) from September 1st, 2023, leading up to Independence Day. The Amazing Port Moresby 48th Independence celebration, sponsored by the Government through the Department of Personal Management, will host various celebrations and performances in the city leading up to bigger celebrations of the country’s 50th Golden Jubilee, 2025. “This year’s celebrations are already part of how we will prepare for the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations hence the upbeat preparations to get public servants as government workers to take the lead in participating in the celebrations”. The Flag Raising Ceremony will take place at the Independence Hill, starting at 5am, with the 48th Independence Anniversary keynote address given by Prime Minister James Marape.

Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG Inc. (MPIP PNG) officially handed over its custodianship of the prestigious platform to ‘Miss Bird of Paradise.’ Since its establishment, the MPIP PNG contributed positively to the lives of over 400 young women in areas of Health, Education and Agriculture throughout the country, given business scholarships through partners IBS and successfully claimed for PNG the Miss Pacific Islands Crown. The outgoing MPIP team, consisting of Chairperson Molly O’Rourke, Deputy Genevieve Igara-Falevai along with Official Chaperone Lewa LK James, acknowledged long-time sponsors, former contestants and Queens and their teams, government, corporate and business partners, designers, models and industry stakeholders, suppliers and contractors, ticket buyers and the families and friends of MPIP PNG since 2016 who have supported over the past 8 years and made the achievements possible. They also acknowledged former custodians and chairpersons, patrons and former committee members who have contributed to the cause and history of the Miss Papua New Guinea Pageant and Quest. O’Rouke congratulated the new ‘Miss Bird of Paradise’ team, led by Chairperson Anna Bais and supported by Deputy Chair Ruby Kerepa, Treasurer and Chaperone Michelle Hauofa, Administration and Logistics Alice Tau Pokanis, Secretary Anna Veratau and Media and communications Gorethy Kenneth, deeming them as an exceptional group of women with a heart for mentoring and service. O’Rouke wishes them success in their new vision for the platform.

Steve Harwell, the founding lead singer of the rock group Smash Mouth, died Monday, according to his manager. He was 56. No cause of death was shared, but Harwell had been receiving hospice care over the weekend. He died at his home in Boise, Idaho, with family and friends by his side, according Robert Hayes, the manager of Smash Mouth. “Steve Harwell was a true American Original. A larger than life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle,” Hayes said in a statement to CNN. “Steve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom. And the fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable. His only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones.” Harwell was a founding member in 1994 and longtime lead singer of Smash Mouth, best known for its chart-topping singles “All Star” and “I’m a Believer.” During Harwell’s career, the band was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for “All Star,” a song which later achieved cult status after its appearance on the sound track of the 2001 animated film “Shrek.” “It’s weird, people ask me, ‘Do you get bored of playing these songs?’ I’m like, ‘Why would I get bored of playing them? This is what puts bread and butter on my table,’” Harwell told Vice of the group’s best known hits in a 2014 interview. “You know, there’s always somebody in the crowd who hasn’t heard it. Or hasn’t seen it live. When I go out onstage, I look at it that way. Once that classic song starts, people just go bananas. Has ‘Free Bird’ ever got old?” Harwell himself went to great lengths to boost the band’s early fame – personally taking their “Astro Lounge” to radio stations across the country to get it played across the airwaves. “We never do anything traditional,” Harwell said in 1999. “We never go through the front door. It’s always the back door, or an open window or something, to get our stuff played.” While Smash Mouth reached peak success the late nineties, the group continued performing together and their fans stayed with them. “We’ve never sounded better,” Harwell said of touring in more recent years. “The shows have been great. Crowd response is fantastic. There’s just a great camaraderie in the band now. We’re all getting older, and I take more pride in it than I did years ago.” Since Harwell left the band in 2021 over health issues, the group has continued to perform with new lead vocalist Zach Goode. “Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out,” Hayes concluded his statement. “Good night Heevo Veev. Rest in peace knowing you aimed for the stars, and magically hit your target.” Source: CNN News

Just weeks after winning The Band of the Year Award at the International Singer-Songwriter Association annual ceremony in Atlanta Georgia, Papua New Guinean reggae singer and songwriter Anslom has scored two more American music awards. The band won the Best of America Award in reggae with the song Love Me Again and also bagged the InterContinental Music Award’s (ICMA) annual prestigious ICon Award – the highest honour award in the ICMA’s global music community. ICMA congratulated Anslom on his achievement. “This prestigious accolade (ICon Award) is reserved for one exceptional artist selected from the pool of official winners from every continent. It takes into consideration criteria beyond music such as star power, professionalism, stage presence, global outlook and career potential.” The InterContinental Music Awards honors the most successful artists from every continent across all genres of music. The judging panel included Hollywood music executives and industry professionals who work with talented well-known artists globally. The wins also come with a full music scholarship and a one-on-one mentoring program.