Police in Enga will bring all suspects in recent sorcery related violence and murders to justice say Enga Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent George Kakas. Mr Kakas said police investigators have worked tirelessly in the two recent sorcery related violence which has resulted in five deaths and are ready to make arrests. “We know the ring leaders and those involved and are working tirelessly to apprehend them. We have ample manpower with a company of 120 soldiers from the 1RPIR in Enga assisting and we will search until we locate and arrest the perpetrators. “They can run but they cannot hide. We will catch up with them sooner or later so I am appealing to all neighboring tribes within and around the scene of the two sorcery related violence and killings to cooperate with police and not aid and abet the suspects evade police arrest. “This is an evil which will affect each of us if not addressed now so everyone must help to end this,” Mr Kakas said. PPC Kakas added that Police Commissioner David Manning has recognized that sorcery related violence is having a negative and dangerous effect on the country and has pledged the Constabulary’s commitment in ending all forms of family sexual violence and sorcery accusation related violence. “To ensure that the Constabulary takes action swiftly on sorcery related violence the Commissioner is holding individual policemen and women responsible should they fail to swiftly deal with FSV and SARV,” Mr Kakas said. The PPC said that sorcery related violence and killings is a new law and order problem that is taking a stranglehold on almost all communities in Enga province. Mr Kakas said, “In fact, it is a new phenomenon which was not practiced 10 to 15 years ago. It was introduced through marriage to other provinces and through Engans living in other provinces for long periods of time and becoming immersed in other cultures and influences and bringing it home to their communities. Now it has spread like wildfire through the length and breadth of the Enga province. “From 2014 to 2018 in my first stint as PPC Enga, I saw this upsurge in sorcery accusations as a real law and order problem and set up a unit called the "Sorcery Accusations Related Violence Unit" (SARV). “I was very passionate about addressing this scourge and law and order problem because of nonsensical accusations made against innocent people, especially old women and weaklings who could not fend for or defend themselves in the society. “The people who are being tortured are almost always vulnerable women, children and men, especially the sick and disabled. The victims were not people of strong influence, usually single women, widowers and those who had no one to stand up for them. “SARV against women is often particularly brutal and sexualised, with the violent acts specifically targeting the victim’s womanhood, in the case of females. “I set up the task force unit to basically attend to any and all false accusations, torture and killings related to sorcery. Its primary mission at that stage was to respond to any sorcery cases to save the victim and relocate them somewhere safe and then to arrest perpetrators. “The unit functioned well with the little resources we had. Our biggest help was the connection to the Churches and NGOs such as the Catholic and Lutheran Churches and the PNG Tribal Foundation. These NGOs were really helpful especially when it came to health care and relocation of the victims to safe houses. However, the unit disbanded right after I took up a new post in late 2018. “Recently in June 2022, as soon as I was reappointed PPC Enga, the two recent sorcery related incidents occurred under my watch. The first one was the case involving the death of trucking icon, Jacob Luke. When he passed on, nine women were blamed for performing "sanguma" and were rounded up and tortured. “Four died and five were rescued personally by me and taken to hospital and later to church-run safe houses for safety. “The second incident was at Wapenamanda two weeks ago where a woman was tortured after she was accused by her dying son of having performed sorcery on her. She was rescued by Wapenamanda Police and Church volunteers, but later succumbed to her injuries. “In both these cases, the entire community seems to condone these acts. Village leaders such as magistrates, councilors and even pastors are completely silent on the issue and not cooperating with police to report these crimes or name suspects. Even the victims themselves and close relatives of the victims are too afraid to report or name suspects fearing a backlash from the community. “This has prompted me to revive the provincial SARV unit to address these issues relating to sorcery or "sanguma" beliefs. “We as a law enforcing body have a lot of challenges within the province but this will not discourage me or my men, as we will do everything in our power to bring these perpetrators to face the full force of the law. As Police Commissioner Manning has rightly stated, we can stop sorcery related violence if we hold perpetrators accountable under the law through effective investigations and prosecutions. “I have now set up this task force on the 12th of September 2022. I have appointed Senior Inspector Richard Koki as the commander of this unit to address all sorcery related violence cases. I am appealing to all churches, NGOs and stakeholders to partner with us through this unit to address and stop sorcery related violence. “For those who are afraid to come to the police station or want to be discreet because of the stigma and community backlash, please contact Mr Koki on 73751999 or the PPC on 71173573 and we will be more than happy to assist. “This is a new dimension in our crime fight to eradicate this evil scourge from eating away at the fabrics of our society and must be addressed collectively and at all levels. It is a spiritual, cultural as well as a law and order issue, and proactive action such as widespread awareness will be untaken by my command going forward. “I have instructed my officers of the SARV unit to start doing awareness on the law as part of our crime fight strategy. “On that token, I will call for the initiative taken in the recent Sorcery National Action plan (SNAP) instigated by the Government to mitigate and address sorcery issues at district, provincial and national levels to be brought forward and given some level of prominence at the national setting. “In conclusion, this is everyone’s fight. We must all act collectively now to address this evil that is now being practised by many communities throughout the country but predominantly in the Highlands. Failure to act will allow this evil act to be accepted as normal.”

Papua New Guinea Rugby League is pleased to confirm the Prime Minister's XIII squad for the upcoming friendly match against our Australian counterpart. Twenty players have been invited to take part in the week leading into the PM's XIII in Brisbane, with camp commencing on Wednesday, September 21. Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Chief Executive Officer Mr Stanley Hondina, on behalf of the PNGRFL Board, congratulated the team and commended coach Stanley and his support staff for the great work done. “We have every confidence in the team and know they will do us proud on Sunday,” Mr Hondina said “ We also extend our appreciation to the NRL and DFAT for hosting this event, especially after what has been a tough three years with not much international football. This game is bigger than just football, it’s about our shared heroes and history, bilateral relationships and most importantly the people-to-people connection we have that is even stronger with this sport.” “Our domestic partners in PNGLNG, Digicel, KPHL, NGCB and BSP, without your support this wouldn’t be possible and PNGRFL is greatly indebted by that,” Mr Hondina stressed. With players whose clubs are deep into finals footy unavailable for selection, the opportunity for incoming squad members to put their best foot forward at the camp to enhance their bid for selection in the World Cup becomes very real. In light of that, Papua New Guinea will retain eight of the seventeen that made the field in their convincing Pacific Test victory against Fiji Bati earlier in the year at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney. When Coach Stanley Tepend was asked if there was any more pressure or a higher expectation of these players he responded. "These eight did their job against Fiji and that's why they have been given another opportunity at this level. Playing Australia in this match will be no different. Every player selected was the best we could pick considering all the clashing finals on same weekend and injuries to key players recently were factors out of our control during this selection process. However, we hope to carry on from what we built in the Pacific Test and give our boys a competitive hit-out before the World Cup Squad is announced,” said Stanley. Papua New Guinea can lean on a solid defensive structure, showcased against Fiji with a close-knit group of players from the Queensland Cup. Including Central Queensland Capras trio Zev John, Nixon Putt and Mckenzie Yei, who are fresh off a high-intensity final series in the Hostplus Cup. Coach Stan has also injected new blood from the Digicel Cup into the squad, with in-form player Leon Undupia (Mendi Muruks). Undupia has been a standout player in the Digicel Cup and with his team now out of finals contention he becomes available for selection. With other players considered from both Agmark Gurias and Hela Wigman made unavailable with finals. "I will be looking at the new players coming into this game, with each of them a genuine chance at making it into the World Cup squad. We have spots available, and this is their opportunity to prove that no matter what we face or what situation we are put in, we rise together,” said Stanley. We will be coming up against a good Australian team and playing at the best Rugby League stadium. So, it's important for this group of boys to not let the occasion get to them but play the way we want to." The 2022 Papua New Guinea Men’s Prime Minister’s XIII is as in alphabetical order as follows: Keven APPO [PNG Hunters] Edene GEBBIE [Townsville Blackhawks] Zev JOHN [Central Qld Capras] Epel KAPINIAS [Wynnum Manly Seagulls] Francis KISH [PNG Hunters] Kyle LAYBUTT [Townsville Blackhawks] Sylvester NAMO [PNG Hunters] Jimmy NGUTLIK [Western Suburbs Magpies] Brandon NIMA [PNG Hunters] Wartovo PUARA [PNG Hunters] Nixon PUTT [Central Qld Capras Judah RIMBU [PNG Hunters] Dan RUSSELL [Brisbane Tigers] Rodrick TAI [PNG Hunters] Sherwin TANABI [PNG Hunters] Cruise TEN [Souths Logan] Wesser TENZA [PNG Hunters] Leon UNDUPIA [Mendi Muruks] Emmanuel WAINE [PNG Hunters] Mckenzie YEI [Central Qld Capras] Coach: Stanley Tepend

Another killing in the Porgera Valley immediately after the country’s independence celebrations has once again sparked anger and outrage amongst locals and fear in residents with calls again for both provincial and national governments to intervene immediately. A village court magistrate from the Lukal area who had been actively involved in facilitating peace efforts for the ongoing tribal disputes was killed on 17 September while he was out in the garden gathering food with his wife and a female in-law. Unconfirmed reports are that the two women have been taken hostage and are yet to be located. [caption id="attachment_26889" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Security personnel and Lukal community looks on as Mr Yambi (left) addresses the people after the killing of his brother, late Mr Wake.[/caption] Nine days earlier, the now deceased Lopan Wake had led the Paiam community in a staged protest calling on the government to declare a State of Emergency (SOE) after a man from the same Lukal village was killed.'   Frustrated family members, relatives and the Paiam community expressed their frustrations by blocking the highway and staged a haus cry for the deceased on the open road. They urged the government and relevant authorities to intervene and put an end to the spill over of killings of innocent people in the valley. Immediate family and relatives of the late Magistrate Wake say they want the law and government to deal with the matter. Family spokesperson Kelly Yambi said there have been many spill-over conflicts in Porgera that there is confusion as to establishing what tribal groups are responsible for the Lukal killings. “I am not sure who is really responsible for the initial tribal conflicts but all I know is that the spillover of the conflict is affecting my people and we are falling victims… We signed a covenant with God and we do not want to take revenge. We have buried two men already and now I will bury my brother”, Mr Yambi said. Mr Yambi, also a landowner from the Lease for Mining Purpose (LMP) also raised concern that the operation of the Porgera mine will be affected if such brutal killings continue in Porgera region. In addition, a local leader and committee member of the Porgera Crisis Management group Sam Angai called on the Enga provincial government to fulfil its commitment as a beneficiary of the Porgera mine. “I want to appeal to our good governor Sir Peter Ipatas; you had been disputing for the 5% share of the Porgera mine but what is so hard about you declaring at least a special operation like a curfew for few months in the valley to cool down the situation? You can only spill the guts for a cut of the Porgera mine’s share as if you are the landowner of the Porgera mine, but people are now dying while waiting for the mine to reopen”, Mr Angai expressed. [caption id="attachment_26891" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Family members surrounding the lifeless body of late Mr Wake while grieving at the haus cry that was staged on the open road.[/caption] Porgera Police Station Commander (PSC) Jack Kimala expressed during the security forum in Porgera earlier this month that the local police did not have the capacity nor the resources to deal with the current tribal conflicts that have infiltrated into the Paiaim township and neighbouring communities. He said the initial report filed through to the police hierarchy following the September 9 law and order protest in Paiam is still pending an approval.

Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico‘s southwest coast on Sunday as it unleashed landslides, knocked the power grid out and ripped up asphalt from roads and flung the pieces around. Forecasters said the storm would cause massive flooding and threatened to dump “historic” levels of rain, with up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) possible in eastern and southern Puerto Rico. “The damages that we are seeing are catastrophic,” said Gov. Pedro Pierluisi. “I urge people to stay in their homes,” said William Miranda Torres, mayor of the northern town of Caguas, where at least one large landslide was reported, with water rushing down a big slab of broken asphalt and into a gully. The storm also washed away a bridge in the central mountain town of Utuado that police say was installed by the National Guard after Hurricane Maria hit in 2017. Fiona was centered 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of Mayaguez with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. It was moving to the northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Fiona struck on the anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, which hit Puerto Rico 33 years ago as a Category 3 storm. The storm’s clouds covered the entire island and tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 140 miles (220 kilometers) from Fiona’s center. U.S. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in the U.S. territory as the eye of the storm approached the island’s southwest corner. Luma, the company that operates power transmission and distribution, said bad weather, including winds of 80 mph, had disrupted transmission lines, leading to “a blackout on all the island.” “Current weather conditions are extremely dangerous and are hindering out capacity to evaluate the complete situation,” it said, adding that it could take several days to fully restore power. Health centers were running on generators – and some of those had failed. Health Secretary Carlos Mellado said crews were working to repair generators as soon as possible at the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fiona hit just two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, a devastating Category 4 storm that struck on Sept. 20, 2017, destroying the island’s power grid and causing nearly 3,000 deaths. More than 3,000 homes still have only a blue tarp as a roof, and infrastructure remains weak. “I think all of us Puerto Ricans who lived through Maria have that post-traumatic stress of, `What is going to happen, how long is it going to last and what needs might we face?”’ said Danny Hernandez, who works in the capital of San Juan but planned to weather the storm with his parents and family in the western town of Mayaguez. He said the atmosphere was gloomy at the supermarket as he and others stocked up before the storm hit. “After Maria, we all experienced scarcity to some extent,” he said. The storm was forecast to pummel cities and towns along Puerto Rico’s southern coast that have not yet fully recovered from a string of strong earthquakes starting in late 2019. Officials reported several road closures across the island as trees and small landslides blocked access. More than 780 people with some 80 pets had sought shelter across the island by Saturday night, the majority of them in the southern coast. Puerto Rico’s power grid was razed by Hurricane Maria and remains frail, with reconstruction starting only recently. Outages are a daily occurrence. In the southwest town of El Combate, hotel co-owner Tomas Rivera said he was prepared but worried about the “enormous” amount of rain he expected. He noted that a nearby wildlife refuge was eerily quiet. Rivera said his employees brought bedridden family members to the hotel, where he has stocked up on diesel, gasoline, food, water and ice, given how slowly the government responded after Hurricane Maria. “What we’ve done is prepared ourselves to depend as little as possible on the central government,” he said. It’s a sentiment shared by 70-year-old Ana Cordova, who arrived Saturday at a shelter in the north coastal town of Loiza after buying loads of food and water. “I don’t trust them,” she said, referring to the government. “I lost trust after what happened after Hurricane Maria.” Puerto Rico’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, activated the National Guard as the Atlantic hurricane season’s sixth named storm approached. “What worries me most is the rain,” said forecaster Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Fiona was predicted to drop 12 to 16 inches (30 to 41 centimeters) of rain over eastern and southern Puerto Rico, with as much as 25 inches (64 centimeters) in isolated spots. Morales noted that Hurricane Maria in 2017 had unleashed 40 inches (102 centimeters). Pierluisi announced Sunday that public schools and government agencies would remain closed on Monday. Fiona was forecast to swipe the Dominican Republic on Monday and then northern Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands with the threat of heavy rain. It could threaten the far southern end of the Bahamas on Tuesday. A hurricane warning was posted for the Dominican Republic’s eastern coast from Cabo Caucedo to Cabo Frances Viejo. Fiona previously battered the eastern Caribbean, killing one man in the French territory of Guadeloupe when floods washed his home away, officials said. The storm also damaged roads, uprooted trees and destroyed at least one bridge. St. Kitts and Nevis also reported flooding and downed trees, but announced its international airport would reopen on Sunday afternoon. Dozens of customers were still without power or water, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. In the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Madeline was forecast to cause heavy rains and flooding across parts of southwestern Mexico. The storm was centered about 155 miles (245 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes Sunday morning, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph). Source: Global News

Interest rate hikes by central banks around the world could trigger a global recession in 2023, the World Bank has said. Central banks have raised rates "with a degree of synchronicity not seen over the past five decades" to tackle soaring prices, it said. Raising rates makes borrowing more expensive to try to bring down the pace of price rises. But it also makes loans more costly, which can slow economic growth. The warning from the World Bank comes ahead of monetary policy meetings by the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England, which are expected to increase key interest rates next week. US mortgage rates hit 14-year high as inflation soars World Bank boss warns of global recession threat On Thursday (16/09/22), the World Bank said the global economy was in its steepest slowdown following a post-recession recovery since 1970. It said a study found that "the world's three largest economies - the US, China and the euro area - have been slowing sharply". "Under the circumstances, even a moderate hit to the global economy over the next year could tip it into recession," it said. Signs of economic difficulties are already emerging. On Thursday, delivery giant FedEx warned investors that a sharp and unexpected slowdown in activity, especially in Asia and Europe, would cause revenue to be hundreds of millions of dollars short of forecasts. The firm said it planned to close dozens of offices and reduce service in response to the drop in demand. The news sparked a widespread sell-off of FedEx shares, sending them down more than 20%. Shares in other delivery firms, including Amazon, Deutsche Post and Royal Mail, also fell. In the face of recession risk, the World Bank called on central banks to coordinate their actions and "communicate policy decisions clearly" to "reduce the degree of tightening needed". Inflation, which is the rate at which prices rise, hit a 40-year-high in the US and UK in recent months. This was driven by higher demand as pandemic restrictions eased, and as the war in Ukraine boosted energy, fuel and food prices. In response, central bank policymakers have raised interest rates to cool demand from households and businesses. However, big rate increases increase the risk of recession as it can cause an economy to slow.   Source: BBC

Samarai-Murua MP and Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard called on his people of Sidudu and surrounding areas of Sariba island to harness the spirit of unity as the nation observes 47 years of independence. He made these remarks while attending the Sidudu Primary School 50th anniversary celebration on Sariba Island which coincided with the country’s independence celebrations on Independence Day on Friday. Hon. Henry echoed the memories of the lowering of the flag in 1975 while attending Cameron High School and how as students they paraded in the rain while in that initial independence ceremony. Adding that the spirit of independence had descended upon them as a people as they witnessed the birth of a new nation. He said it was a one-off experience that would never be witnessed again as the Australian flag was lowered and the PNG flag was hoisted for the first time as it marked a very significant moment in the birth of a country. “Today I stand here, I still feel that spirit in me. “Not only that I wear the colours of PNG, but the spirit that I witnessed that day, it was so emotional and moving because I witnessed my birth as a nation. I still feel the spirit of Independence,” he said. He compared the birthing of a nation to that of a woman giving birth to a child, that after a painful experience, a joyful moment will come upon you. Leonard challenged the students and those gathered during the 50th anniversary of the Sariba/Sidudu Primary School in his district to take education seriously. He said education and acquiring knowledge and skills would ensure they had a place in the global community. Stressing that it was the responsibility of all those involved including parents, students and teachers to make this happen. Leonard congratulated the people of Sidudu/Sariba on the 50th anniversary of the primary school and thanked his people for re-electing him into Parliament. He also thanked the Marape/Rosso government for showing confidence in his leadership in reappointing him as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.

Buckingham Palace has released the Orders of Service for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral and committal service. The funeral service will be steeped in royal tradition and "pay tribute to The Queen's remarkable reign and lifetime of service as Head of State, Nation and Commonwealth." The state funeral will conducted by the Dean of Westminster at Westminster Abbey, starting at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET), with the Archbishop of Canterbury giving the Sermon and Commendation. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, will read the first Lesson, while the UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who the Queen appointed just two days before her death, will read the Second Lesson. To represent each year of the Queen's life, the abbey's Tenor Bell will be tolled once a minute for 96 minutes before the service. The Queen's great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte will form part of the royal family procession behind the Queen's coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey. As the coffin is moved inside, the Choir of Westminster Abbey in the Nave will sing the Sentences -- lines of scripture set to music which have been used at every state funeral since the early part of the 18th century, the palace said. During the service, a specially commissioned choral piece inspired by the Queen's "unwavering Christian faith" will be performed by the choir. "Like as the hart" is a setting of Psalm 42 by the Master of the King's Music, Judith Weir, which will be sung unaccompanied. Other music selected for the state funeral include the hymn "The Lord's my shepherd," which was also sung at the then-Princess Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, and the anthem "O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is," which was composed for the Queen's coronation in 1953 by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The nation will observe a two-minute silence towards the end of the hour-long service after which the Sovereign's Piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will play the traditional lament, "Sleep, dearie, sleep" -- a fitting farewell to Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Following the funeral, the Queen's coffin will travel in procession through central London to Wellington Arch, where it will be placed in the state hearse and depart for Windsor, where a committal service will take place at St. George's Chapel at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET). The second service of the day will be a more intimate occasion, conducted by the Dean of Windsor, who will deliver the Bidding. Prayers will be said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk, where the family worship when they are in residence at Balmoral, and the Chaplain of the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park. The royal family will gather along with a congregation made up of members of the Royal Household, past and present, as well as personal staff who have worked on the private estates. Some of the musical selections for the committal service were composed by William Henry Harris, a former organist of St. George's between 1933 and 1961. It is thought that the young princess was taught to play piano by Harris, according to the palace. The service will also feature several nods to the the Queen's family, with the choir singing "The Russian Contakion of the Departed," which was also sung during Prince Philip's funeral at St. George's last April. Meanwhile, the Dean will read Revelation 21, verses 1-7, which were read at the funerals of the Queen's grandparents King George V and Queen Mary in 1936 and 1953. They were also read at the Queen's father's funeral in 1952. As the committal service draws to a close, the Queen's coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault, set beneath St. Georges, as the Dean reads Psalm 103, which concludes with the words, "Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul." The Garter King of Arms will then proclaim the Queen's styles and titles before her piper plays for her one last time. Source: CNN 

Lebanon is suffering from a worsening economic crisis since 2019, plunging three-quarters of its population below poverty. Bank heists in Lebanon have become a growing trend – but these armed “robbers” storming into banks are not stealing anyone else’s money. They are just demanding access to their own savings. And instead of being prosecuted, the perpetrators have largely been allowed to remain free and have become folk heroes. The incidents have become increasingly common as Lebanon’s economic crisis continues. The local currency, the Lebanese pound, has depreciated by more than 90 percent against the United States dollar on the black market, while the government’s restrictions on how much money people can withdraw from their own bank accounts have also exacerbated the situation. So what is behind these bank heists? Lebanon has been reeling from a worsening economic meltdown since 2019, plunging 80 percent of its population – about three million people – below the poverty line, according to the United Nations. Poverty and unemployment have soared, and savings-account values have evaporated, along with the country’s middle class. Since 2019, Lebanese banks gradually imposed draconian controls on deposits, effectively locking millions of customers out of their foreign currency savings. “Every time you want to withdraw money, it would be at a rate much lower than the market value,” said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr. “For example, if you want to withdraw $700, they gave you $200. So that’s a de facto haircut.” A haircut in economic terms means a reduction applied to the value of an asset. In this case, it refers to the banks’ absurdly unfavourable exchange rate in Lebanese pound when people try to withdraw cash. How many ‘bank robberies’ have there been so far? The first-known case of someone forcibly getting their funds back was reported in January when a man held dozens of people hostage in eastern Lebanon after he was told he could not withdraw his foreign currency savings. Local media reported that the customer was eventually given some of his savings and surrendered to security forces. In August, an armed man also held employees and customers hostage at a Beirut bank after he was told he could not withdraw $200,000 from his account for his sick father’s treatment. The man was cheered on by a crowd outside the bank. On Wednesday, another armed man entered a branch of BankMed in Lebanon’s mountain city of Aley and attempted to retrieve his savings. On the same day, a woman called Sali Hafiz entered a BLOM Bank branch in Beirut with what she later said was a toy gun, along with other activists, in order to retrieve money from her own account to fund hospital treatment for her cancer-stricken sister. She poured gasoline inside the branch and threatened to set it on fire if she did not receive her savings. She managed to get $13,000 from her deposits, out of a total of $20,000. Are these lone-wolf acts or part of an organized movement? Hafiz and the man who held up the bank in Aley are part of a group called Depositors’ Outcry. Its founder, Alaa Khorchid, said that desperate times have left people with no choice but to “take matters into their own hands”. “These people worked for decades, but not for the rulers to build palaces while they can’t afford a bottle of medicine,” he said. “There is no government, no economic recovery plan, and little reserves left.” How bad is Lebanon’s economic crisis? The government estimates that losses in the lethargic financial sector since the onset of the currency crisis fall somewhere between $68bn and $69bn. The World Bank has warned that the economic calamity could rank as one of the three most severe the world has seen since the mid-19th century. What can be done to alleviate the crisis? The international community has repeatedly urged Lebanon to reform its economy, notably by ending wasteful spending and corruption and restructuring its ineffective energy sector. They have also called for a forensic audit of the central bank. Amin Salam, Lebanon’s minister of Economy and Trade, told Al Jazeera: “Lebanon is in need of a bailout and the International Monetary Fund wants reforms done before that happens.” However, successive governments have failed to deliver a credible economic reform plan that is a prerequisite for unlocking billions of dollars in desperately needed financial aid. Source: Aljazeera

After a two- year hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions, the famous Rabaul Frangipani Festival was successfully revived during the Independence weekend. Thousands of people in East New Britain province braved the sun’s heat to join the excitement and spirit of celebration during the Frangipani Festival in Rabaul town on Friday (Sept 16) and Saturday (Sept 17). The two-day event marked the country’s 47th Independence anniversary, ENB’s 28th anniversary of the twin volcanic eruptions and the 85th anniversary of the 1937 eruptions in which 200 people died. The festival began last Friday with the McGrade Family Cup Two Stone Kanu (canoe) Race around the Beehives. This was followed by the Frangipani Hamamas Pageant organised by schools in Rabaul district. On Saturday 17 September, a Tolai Kinavai was held at the Rabaul Foreshore followed by an art competition. After that, the streets of Rabaul town came alive with colour and pomp as the float parade by business houses, government offices and schools passed through the town Susie McGrade, a member of the organising committee, said this year’s theme “Rabaul Reboot” saw wonderful displays of flair and creativity. She said Agmark Cocoa and Rabaul Volcano Observatory came out as tie winners in the “most outstanding” category, Rabaul Town Clinic won the “best community float” award, Barlows Industries for “best corporate” award, Origin Energy for “best entertaining” award and Baining float for “best cultural” award. “Rabaul town went without the festival in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic measures but the crowd turnout in the past two days brought the community together. We have rebooted and we are back,” she said. Ms McGrade commended the support from mostly business houses who made it possible to host the two day event. She also acknowledged the ENB Governor Michael Marum, Rabaul MP Graham Piniau and Gazelle MP and Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong.

Another Russian energy boss has died in mysterious circumstances after "falling overboard" from a boat, according to local media reports. Ivan Pechorin's body was found washed up around 100 miles from Vladivostok in Russia's far east, on Monday (12/09/22) after a two-day search, local outlet VL.ru reported. Pechorin fell off his moving boat on September 10 as it sailed near Russky Island, the outlet reported. He was the Aviation Director for Russia's Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV), which described his death as an "irreparable loss." The KRDV is President Vladimir Putin's project for developing the rich energy and mining resources of Russia's farthest eastern region, which has become a crucial objective under the weight of international sanctions. According to the Mirror's Russia correspondent, he was personally selected by Putin for his role, and was described by Newsweek as Putin's "key man" in the region. Days earlier, Pechorin spoke on a panel about transportation at an economic forum where Putin gave a keynote speech. Born in 1983, Pechorin is the second KRDV executive to die unexpectedly this year, adding to an ever-expanding roster of Russian businessman and oligarch deaths. In February, the same firm announced the death of its general director, Igor Nosov. The 43-year-old died of a stroke, Newsweek reported. On September 1, state media reported the death of Ravik Maganov, chair of the board of directors of top Russian oil company Lukoil, saying he fell from a hospital window. Lukoil had taken the unusual step of criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine six months earlier. At least eight other oligarchs with connections to the energy industry have also died in mysterious circumstances in 2022. They include Sergey Protosenya, who was found dead in Spain along with his wife and daughter in a suspected murder-suicide in April and Vladislav Avayev, also suspected of a murder-suicide just two days before in Moscow. In May, former oil executive Alexander Subbotin died at the house of a shaman in the Moscow region, which was reported in state media as the result of a likely heart attack. According to Newsweek, he was seeking a hangover cure. Then in July, shipping CEO Yuri Baranov was found dead of a gunshot wound in his St Petersburg swimming pool.   Source: Business Insider

Chinese scientists say they have developed a robotic fish that can remove microplastic particles from water environments. Researchers working on the project say the robots could help to clean up plastic pollution in oceans around the world. The robotic swimmers are about 1.3 centimeters long. They are made of a soft chemical compound. The robots are designed to absorb microplastics while moving through the water. The project was launched by a team at Sichuan University in southwestern China. The researchers said the robots have already performed well in shallow water and they plan to carry out more tests in deeper waters. The scientists reported their findings in a new study in Nano Letters. The publication comes from the American Chemical Society, a nonprofit organization supported by the U.S. Congress. The robotic fish were built to target microplastic particles, which are smaller than five millimeters. Studies have confirmed that microplastic pollution has been discovered in many natural environments. The material comes from the breakdown of manufactured plastic products and industrial waste. The team said the robots can be controlled by light. Turning “a near-infrared light laser” on and off causes the fish’s tail to move back and forth, the American Chemical Society said. The robotic fish can swim up to 2.76 body lengths per second. The researchers said this is faster than most similar soft robots. Wang Yuyan was a member of Sichuan University’s research team. She told Reuters news agency that the small, lightweight robot is currently being used to collect microplastics for research purposes. But Wang added that the team plans to expand that use so the robot fish can remove larger amounts of microplastic waste from deep ocean areas. The fish can take in different kinds of microplastics and even repair itself when damaged, the researchers said. And if a robot fish is accidentally eaten by a real fish, it could safely digest the material, the team added. Wang said similar robots could be developed to be placed inside the human body to remove unwanted materials or disease.     Source: VOA News

A draft proposal in New Zealand aims to address methane emissions linked to global warming, one cow and sheep burp at a time. If the plan is adopted, the nation would become the first to charge farmers for the methane emissions emanating from their livestock. "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere, and an effective emissions pricing system for agriculture will play a key part in how we achieve that," New Zealand's Climate Change Minister James Shaw explained to BBC News. New Zealand’s resolution+ is set against a backdrop of escalating global concern over methane emission and growing criticism over the country’s past inaction to address the agricultural sector’s hand in global warming. Cow Burp Science Explained While the docile animals don't seem like a global threat, they're prolific when it comes to their methane emissions. Cows and sheep belong to a class of mammals known as ruminants because they have stomachs that are separated into compartments, the largest of which is the rumen. The rumen chamber is populated by a community of microbes that help break down fibrous plant cellulose the animals are unable to digest. This process, known as enteric fermentation, releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere every time one the beasts burps – which is pretty often. Globally, bovine burps are responsible for roughly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Every one of the world’s 1.4 billion cows burps up to 500 liters of methane daily. In Australia, farm animals are responsible for up to half of the country’s methane emissions. Climate scientists are interested in containing carbon dioxide and methane, the two most common greenhouse gases. Methane is 80 times more potent at global warming than carbon dioxide, with atmospheric methane proliferating faster than ever, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration claims. An Animal Gas Tax New Zealand's proposal would begin taxing livestock belches in 2025 while also providing incentives to reduce emissions by feeding farm animals a special diet and planting trees to offset their pollution. The tax revenue it raises would be plowed back into research and farm support services. Other strategies to clear the air include face masks for cows that trap and turn methane into water and carbon dioxide, a method that reduces emissions by more than 50% according to Zelp, the company that invented the contraption. Some farmers are already experimenting with feed made from seaweed. And scientists are tinkering with cow genetics to increase their digestive efficiency. The proposal could potentially be the biggest regulatory disruption to farming since the removal of agricultural subsidies in the 1980s, Susan Kilsby, an agricultural economist at ANZ Bank, told Reuters. A final decision on the plan is expected by the end of the year, she said.   Source: WEBMD HEALTH NEWS