The Broncos have taken bragging rights in the inaugural battle of Brisbane with an 18-12 win over the Dolphins in a pulsating clash at Suncorp Stadium. In front of a mammoth crowd of 51,047 on Friday night it was Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs who sealed the win with a 100-metre try in the 79th minute as the Dolphins threatened to steal victory. Both sides could hold their head high after a high-quality contest that had it all from bone-rattling defence to long-range tries and courageous efforts to defy injury. It was the Broncos who took the first shot on the right edge when Reece Walsh found Selwyn Cobbo but a superb cover tackle by Tesi Niu defused the situation for the Dolphins. The Broncos then reloaded again down the right edge but skipper Adam Reynolds' pass to Cobbo was too high and the ball went into touch. Two forward passes out of dummy half by young Dolphins hooker Mason Teague handed Brisbane a chance and they capitalised through left winger Jesse Arthars after sweet lead-up work by Kurt Capewell, Walsh and Herbie Farnworth. The Dolphins then lost bench hooker Kodi Nikorima with a head gash in the 27th minute after a heavy collision with teammate Tom Gilbert. With six minutes to play in the half the Dolphins created space on the left but Walsh came across to shut it down with a strong tackle on Niu, who was clearly hampered by a leg injury. Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam then came up with a brilliant cover tackle of his own to deny Jamayne Isaako in the opposite corner. The Dolphins had the final shot at points when Connolly Lemuelu powered into the back field and found Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who went close only to be denied by more Broncos scramble. Ten minutes after the break the Broncos had a second when Walsh delivered a magnificent cut-out pass to put Cobbo over in the corner and Kevin Walters' men led 8-0. Midway through the second half the Dolphins struck back when Jarrod Wallace took a pass from Ray Stone and powered over from close range to make it 8-6. Dolphins halfback Sean O'Sullivan was forced off with an injury with 19 minutes to play but veteran playmaker Anthony Milford stood up with a perfectly weighted grubber for Tabuai-Fidow to chase through and score. With 10 minutes to play Reynolds produced a show-and-go to bust the Dolphins and send Capewell on a 40-metre charge to the line to tie it up at 12-12. The skipper converted from touch to put Brisbane ahead 14-12. A mistake by Walsh gave the Dolphins a late shot at victory but Staggs collected a Milford grubber on his own tryline and outpaced the chasers to put the finishing touches on Brisbane's fourth straight win. Source: NRL.com

Not even the most optimistic Dolphins fans could have envisaged their team would be unbeaten as they headed into their historic first meeting against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The promoter's dream pits master mentor Wayne Bennett against Kevin Walters, the man he shared five premierships with as coach and player at the Broncos between 1992 and 2000. Former Broncos Jamayne Isaako, Tesi Niu, Brenko Lee and Kodi Nikorima will be out to get one over on their old club as the Dolphins look to continue their fairytale start to their debut season. The battle in the middle between Jesse Bromwich and Payne Haas promises to be a beauty with the Broncos enforcer already churning out 210m per game in 2023 and the former Storm man leading by example with 29 tackles and 115m per match at the Dolphins. In front of a heaving Friday night crowd at the home of Queensland rugby league this promises to be a memorable clash between two sides looking more than capable of playing finals in 2023. If Bennett's men can get past their crosstown rivals they can set their sights on a clash against another one of their coach's former teams in St George Illawarra and a very real shot of starting their debut season with five wins on the trot. Source: NRL.Com

Even the most passionate, rusted on Parramatta fans in bay 113 sat there and applauded. Mitchell Moses may have been the hero on Thursday night but Nathan Cleary’s 45-metre field goal stunner to send the game into golden point will go down as one of the clutch efforts of the year. Parramatta thought they were doing the right thing by using their captain’s challenge on Junior Paulo’s high tackle to give themselves a quick breather and slow the play down. In doing so though it also allowed Cleary time too – against all odds – to set up from a tap restart, shun the Eels defenders applying kick pressure and sink a two-pointer to send CommBank Stadium into a sea of silence momentarily. Eels skipper Clint Gutherson, a former NSW teammate, could only watch Cleary's clutch play sail over from under the sticks. “My bottom lip dropped a second watching it the whole way,” Gutherson said post-match. “When he hits it like that you can’t do much. We had kick pressure on him but he’s just a great footy player, clutch moment and he’s done it all his career. “[We’re] lucky it went our way tonight ... great game of footy.” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has seen his son do nearly everything in the game but slotting that effort under pressure was a new level of owning the moment. “It was pretty cool, it’s a shame because he missed one against the Broncos and he got it tonight but we still didn’t get the win,” Cleary said. “We’re just not quite getting those close games which all add up. It’s early days, we’re playing well and it was a good game tonight. “I was impressed by both teams. I liked how we fought back from eight points down twice.” Meanwhile, opposite half Moses looks set to put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Eels in the coming days according to reports on Friday afternoon. Eels coach Brad Arthur commended the way Moses had handled himself in the past week with the external noise around his future stealing the headlines. “He responded the best way possible, especially on the back of Nathan icing that 45-metre field goal – I don’t know where that come from,” Arthur said. “If we got beat tonight there wasn’t much more we could’ve done footy-wise to try and win it. “The effort from both teams was through the roof. Both teams scrambled hard, it was just end to end and as I said, hardly any errors, 10 lost plays in the game. “That’s massive, so both teams should be proud of themselves and we were fortunate to get the win.” Source: NRL.Com

COVID-19 vaccinations are consistently being carried out for the people of Alotau at the Alotau Urban Clinic. This was noted during a recent visit to Milne Bay Province by the COVID-19 Ministerial Vaccine Taskforce. Alotau consistently vaccinates patients daily assuring its responsibility to protect its people from COVID-19 even though there are still big improvements that need to be made in terms of awareness on increasing COVID-19 Vaccination rates in the province. Since January 2023, the Alotau Urban Clinic has vaccinated 124 adults which is a big number considering the high level of vaccine hesitancy that currently exists within the province. Milne Bay is a province that clearly shows responsibility in terms of managing COVID-19 within the province and sets a good example for other provinces that have become complacent with COVID-19 preventive measures. Sister-in-Charge of Alotau Urban Clinic, Sr Jane Raurela said that it was great seeing more than 2 people voluntarily visiting the clinic to get vaccinated for COVID-19. “We are vaccinating every day and it’s thanks to our good staff and the community who help us with positive advocacy messages that encourages people around town and surrounding communities to take up the COVID-19 vaccination.” “We (health care workers) are all vaccinated here at Alotau Urban Clinic and that’s key to advocating to the communities to be vaccinated, because we are vaccinated ourselves.” Meanwhile, Milne Bay Director for Public Health, Dr Jacob Morewaya stated that it was a must for Milne Bay health authorities and the people to take COVID-19 seriously as being a new infectious disease. “We are all only learning about this disease and since preventive measures had been issued by the National Control Centre for COVID-19 (NCC), we have not stopped since as a province, in ensuring our people are protected from this disease.” “While we don’t apply mandatory wearing of masks anymore as per directions from NCC, we still continue our routine temperature checks at our airport and seaports. This helps us monitor any instances and signs of COVID-19 from visitors entering Milne Bay by air or sea.” As a maritime province, high on tourist visitation, it is highly recommended that such public health safety practices continue and that this encourages other provinces in similar settings to follow suit.

Friday 24th of March is marked as World TB Day and it commemorates the day when the bacteria "Mycobacterium Tuberculosis" was discovered. Tuberculosis is a serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs is spread when someone that has TB coughs or sneezes and doesn’t cover their mouth, the bacteria goes in the air. There are 2 types of TB; Pulmonary and Non-Pulmonary. Pulmonary TB is TB of the lungs while Non-Pulmonary TB is TB of other parts of the body. People with active tuberculosis, the bacteria multiplies in the body, causing noticeable symptoms and the bacteria can spread from one person to another. People with Latent tuberculosis do not have any symptoms and cannot spread TB bacteria as the bacteria is inactive. Dr Ann Clark from Businesses4Health: TB said that if Tuberculosis is found early then it is 100% curable. “Children are more vulnerable to getting Tuberculosis because they are at the stage where their immune system is not as strong as adults.” “People living with HIV, older people, people who have not had BCG as a child have weaker defences against Tuberculosis.” “We also know that smoking, chewing buai and poor health because they don’t eat properly, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes make people more vulnerable to TB.” Dr Ann added that if you have unexplained weight loss, coughing for over a week and having night sweats, get tested at the health centre and treated for TB quickly. She said that medication for TB is important and people must complete their dose in order to be cured of TB. She also said that if you don’t complete your medication or go back on treatment after awhile then you might end up having drug resistant TB which is harder to treat. According to Businesses4Health in 2021, it was estimated that there were 42, 000 cases of Tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea and more than 5, 200 people died from TB. Meanwhile, at the PNGFM Limited Office, The TB warden, Mr George Kavil gave a presentation to staff on the basics of how TB is spread and the different types of TB and how to avoid spreading TB in the Workplace. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FOR-WEB.mp3"][/audio]

A new Queensland derby will play out on Friday night when the Dolphins host the Brisbane Broncos, and rugby league fans could not have asked for a more perfect build up to the match. Both teams are undefeated after their opening three rounds and sit in first and second place on the ladder – something no-one would have predicted before the season kicked off. The Dolphins have so far defied the doubters who thought they would struggle to win a game this year, while the Broncos have started the season with a new lease on life, lighting up the field thanks to their exciting young talent. The stage is definitely set for a big match at the Cauldron, with both teams calling Suncorp Stadium home. [caption id="attachment_37874" align="alignnone" width="788"] Cross-town rivalry a first for Bromwich[/caption] On Friday night, fans will be welcomed to "Phinland" as it is a home game for the Dolphins, relegating the Broncos the ‘away’ sheds at the venue, something that has not really happened since the South Queensland Crushers days of 1995-1997. The Broncos in turn have announced the side will run out in their new 'City Jersey' for the match, as part of the club's 'Heart of Brisbane' campaign, which was pointedly launched earlier this year. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett – who was at the helm of the Broncos during the Crushers era – spoke about the ‘natural’ rivalry that would build between the two sides and is already at a healthy level even before the teams meet. “That’ll be just natural, it will be driven by the fans,” Bennett said during the pre-season. “It’ll be two Brisbane clubs together, will be a bit like Manchester City and Manchester United and some of those competitions around the world that have that type of situation. I hope it is [like that] — I want it to be that way as there’s great interest. “When the Crushers were here, we had 40-odd thousand people turn up when the Crushers played and they hadn’t even won a game at one stage... it’s good, it’s healthy.” It will also be the first cross-town rivalry experience for a number of Dolphins players, including former Melbourne Storm duo Jesse Bromwich and Kenny Bromwich, who have never previously experienced an NRL derby match. In-form forward Felise Kaufusi, another former Storm player, will be forced to wait for his opportunity, having had his suspension upheld by the NRL Judiciary. “I am just soaking in the hype … two teams in one city, I’ve never been a part of something like that, but it’s something that I am looking forward to,” Kenny Bromwich said. “You can feel the buzz around the place all over town that it’s going to be a big game and it’s something that we are excited for.” While there has been a big build up to what has been dubbed the Battle for Brisbane, there is also a lot of respect between the two teams – just as there is with any of the Queensland derbies. [caption id="attachment_37875" align="alignnone" width="832"] Petero Civoniceva playing in Queensland's Cup competition for the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2013[/caption] The North Queensland Cowboys host the Gold Coast Titans this round as well on Saturday afternoon, and when either of these two teams face the Broncos, it is a case of ‘little brother’ against ‘big brother’. However, for many Brisbane-based rugby league fans, the match-up between the Broncos and the Dolphins is less about hate-filled rivalry, and more about embracing the excitement of seeing another team play in their city. Petero Civoniceva, a former Redcliffe Dolphins junior who went on to win premierships with the Broncos, said he was thrilled to see another Brisbane team enter the competition. “It's wonderful to see and as a guy that grew up at Redcliffe and still lives out there; to see the Dolphins in the in the NRL, it's really exciting,” Civoniceva said. “I will say, I'm a proud Brisbane Broncos ambassador, so I’ll have mixed feelings (on game day), no doubt. “But still, it’s going to be a wonderful occasion and I think to have two local teams going head-to-head, it's going to be a fantastic spectacle. “(The Dolphins will be well supported), that fan base has been built up over the 70-odd years that the Dolphins have been in the Brisbane Rugby League and so there's a long and proud history there, for a lot of local people. “I think for rugby league lovers, to see a new team, a new entity, coming into this year's competition, there's a lot of excitement. “No doubt there's going to be a lot of support for them; whether they are the number one team – I am hearing stories of the Dolphins being the second team for a lot of people – it's exciting to see and can't wait to see how go this year.” The Dolphins host Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night and the two teams will meet again in Round 18 at the Gabba. Source: NRL.Com  

The Taekwondo National Championships will take place at the Taurama Aquatic Centre from the 1st to the 2nd of April. PNG Taekwondo President, Mr. John Cholai said 8 males and 8 females will be selected from the National Championships to represent Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Games this year in the Solomon Islands. There will be a winner from each of the weight divisions for both male and female divisions, that’s why they are looking at 8 males and 8 females. “We conducted the qualifiers for the New Guinea Islands, the Highlands and Momase Regions were done last year. For Southern Region, the qualifiers were done this year.” Cholai said they expect to have over 100 participants for the National Championships, but it really depends on funding for those that will be coming in from other provinces to participate. He added that they look forward to the championships this year and choosing the best of the best to represent the country for the Pacific Games.

Pop superstar Bad Bunny is being sued for $40m (£33m) by his ex-girlfriend, who says he used a recording of her in two songs without permission. Carliz De La Cruz Hernández says she recorded the catchphrase "Bad Bunny baby" on her phone in 2015, before he became famous and before they split up. The line has appeared on the Puerto Rican singer and rapper's 2017 single Pa Ti and the 2022 song Dos Mil 16. Bad Bunny was the most-streamed artist on Spotify for the past three years. He has not publicly responded to Ms De La Cruz's legal action, which was filed in Puerto Rico earlier this month. It said the pair got together in 2011 and both worked in a supermarket as Bad Bunny - real name Benito Martínez Ocasio - also made music. She recorded several versions of herself saying the "Bad Bunny baby" line using the voice notes app at a friend's home in the bathroom - because it was the quietest room - and sent them to Martínez. He used them in a string of early tracks on Soundcloud, then released it on Pa Ti, which has had more than 355 million views YouTube platform and 235 million plays on Spotify. 'Overwhelmed and anxious' Ms De La Cruz's lawyers claim that, days before Bad Bunny's latest album Un Verano Sin Ti came out last year, his representatives offered to buy the rights to the line from her for $2,000 (£1,600). She refused, and the album was released with her line on it. Un Verano Sin Ti went on to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards, and the track Dos Mil 16 has had 60 million YouTube views and 280 million Spotify plays. Ms De La Cruz says her recording has also been used in concerts, and argues that its use amounts to "gross negligence, bad faith and, worse still, an attack on her privacy, morals and dignity". Since the latest album came out, thousands of Bad Bunny fans have commented on Ms De La Cruz's social media accounts as well as talking to her about it when they see her in person, she said. "This has caused, and currently causes, De La Cruz to feel worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious," the legal document said. "The situation for De La Cruz became unmanageable, to the point that she needed to contact multiple psychologists for help as soon as possible." The couple split up in 2016 before briefly getting back together the following year. Ms De La Cruz is also suing Bad Bunny's record label Rimas Entertainment and manager Noah Assad.   Source: BBC

Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi and Storm playmaker Jahrome Hughes will seek to have Dangerous Contact charges downgraded at the judiciary in a bid to be available in Round 4. Kaufusi was charged with Grade Two Dangerous Contact for a tackle on Newcastle’s Jackson Hastings that resulted in the Tonga international being sin-binned in Friday night's 36-20 win over the Knights. The Dolphins are seeking to have the grading lowered to allow Kaufusi to play against the Broncos on Friday night. A downgrade would leave Kaufusi with a fine, while if the challenge is unsuccessful, his suspension will rise from three to four weeks as it is his third offence. Hughes faced a one-match ban with an early guilty plea to a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact on opposite number Tanah Boyd but he will seek a downgrade in a bid to face Wests Tigers in Round 4. If Hughes is unsuccessful he will miss two matches. Roosters star Joseph Manu will miss his side's Round 5 clash with the Eels after pleading guilty to a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge. [caption id="attachment_37781" align="alignnone" width="1223"] Hughes charged with dangerous contac[/caption] Manu was charged for the tackle on Rabbitohs centre Isaiah Tass which led to him being sin-binned in the final stages of Friday night's win and with the Roosters having a bye in Round 4, he will miss the Eels clash. Roosters prop Fletcher Baker (high contact) will contest a fine at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night while South Sydney's Michael Chee Kam and Cody Walker (contrary contact) are among 15 players who have accepted fines. Raiders hooker Tom Starling was charged for a 22nd minute tackle on Sharks five-eighth Matt Moylan in Sunday night's win and has taken the early guilty plea. Storm centre Justin Olam was also been cited for his high shot on Boyd in the 18th minute of Saturday's match on the Gold Coast, which was deemed a fair tackle during the match, and is fined $750. Titans pair David Fifita (Dangerous Contact) and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Shoulder Charge) accepted fines stemming from the same clash. In the Cowboys-Warriors match that followed, three players have accepted fines. Cowboys forward Jeremiah Nanai has accepted a $3000 fine for contact on Te Maire Martin given it his third and subsequent offence. Martin was also cited for a tripping charge two minutes later with his fine attracting $750. Warriors forward Marata Niukore was charged for a hip drop tackle on Reece Robson in the seventh minute and was fined $1000. Knights debutant Dylan Lucas has accepted a $1500 fine for a Grade 1 Crusher Tackle on Dolphins centre Euan Aitken. In Thursday night's shootout with Manly, Eels trio Mitchell Moses, Maika Sivo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have all taken the early guilty plea. Manly also had two players charged after the 34-30 victory with Taniela Paseka (Careless High Tackle) and Josh Aloiai (Crusher Tackle) accepting fines. Source: NRL.Com

Vaping and the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has become a "new pandemic", a head teacher has warned. Tony McCabe, who leads St Joseph's RC High School in Bolton, said staff had seen a rise in young people "acquiring vapes from the black market". He said his pupils were "no different" from children across the UK and the risks of vaping should be publicised. The government said it had introduced regulations to protect children and "prevent them from vaping". The latest data showed that reported usage of e-cigarettes has risen to 9% among 11 to 15-year-olds in England. Notably, vaping among 15-year-old girls has jumped from 10% in 2018 to 21% in 2021. NHS advice states that the devices, which allow users to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke, can help adults quit smoking habits, but the vapour can still contain small amounts of chemicals, including nicotine. Long-term effects remain unknown, although vapes are considered less harmful than smoking cigarettes. While it is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, a number of students from the Bolton school said usage was now so common, it was hard to find someone who does not vape. Grace, aged 15, said it was "a regular thing to see". "Chances are you will bump into someone at the shop vaping," she said. Her classmate Benedict, 16, said a year ago, it was still "shocking" to see someone vaping, "but it's very common now and peculiar not to vape". Anna, 16, said most of those she knew who vaped did not see a problem with it because "they're not ill, they've not got cancer, so they're not actually scared yet". She added that when someone was told off by a teacher for vaping, "it's even more fun to do, because that makes it more like a game". Mr McCabe said the school was "finding increasing numbers of young people acquiring vapes from the black market". However, he said the problem was not unique to his school, as "children in this area are no different than children all over the country". "There is a problem nationally," he said. "It's a new pandemic that will grow unless we make enough noise… to make sure that young people are not at the centre of that market." Doctors have said that children are being targeted by e-cigarette firms, with bright packaging, exotic flavours and enticing names. Trading Standards co-ordinator Kate Pike said her colleagues had found retailers selling vapes to under-18s "on many occasions". "Unfortunately, there are a lot of products coming into the country at the moment which do not comply with the regulations," she said. "That's not to say they are in any way dangerous… but they're illegal and they shouldn't be sold." Mr McCabe said the pressures to fit in were "far greater than they have ever been before" and parents should not "assume that their child would know better". He said the issue of pupils visiting the toilets more often to vape had led him to install sensors in the bathrooms to detect devices. He added that vape adverts on the back of school buses were not helpful and parents, along with MPs and authorities, must educate children about the risks. In a statement, a Department of Health and Social Care representative said the government had been "clear that children should not use vapes and have introduced regulations to prevent them from vaping". "The law protects children from vapes through restricting sales to over 18s only, limiting nicotine content, refill bottle and tank sizes, labelling requirements, and through advertising restrictions," they said. "Adverts for vapes and their components are prohibited from featuring anything likely to be of particular appeal to people under the age of 18, such as characters or celebrities they would be familiar with." They added that the department was concerned about the rise in vaping use by children and was exploring a range of measures to address this.   Source: BBC

With its balmy beaches, laid back lifestyles and holiday vibe, the tropical paradise of Bali has much to offer any world weary traveler – let alone those fleeing a war zone. So perhaps it should be no surprise that since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Indonesia’s most famous holiday island has once again become a magnet for thousands of Russians and Ukrainians seeking to escape the horrors of war. Some 58,000 Russians visited this Southeast Asian idyll in 2022 following its post-Covid reopening, and a further 22,500 arrived in January 2023 alone, according to the Indonesian government, making them the second biggest group of visitors after Australians. Adding to their number are the more than 7,000 Ukrainians who arrived in 2022, and some 2,500 in the first month of this year. But for those fleeing the violence – or the draft – there’s trouble in paradise. Balinese authorities this week called for the end to Indonesia’s visa-on-arrival policy for citizens of Russia and Ukraine, citing a spate of alleged incidents involving misbehavior and various examples of visitors overstaying their visas and working illegally as hairdressers, unauthorized tour guides and taxi drivers. The move has been met with dismay by many Ukrainians on the island, who say that most of the incidents involve Russians and that they are being unfairly tarred with the same brush. “Whenever we get reports about a foreigner behaving badly, it’s almost always Russian,” a local police officer in the town of Kuta told CNN, declining to be identified due to sensitivities surrounding the issue. “Foreigners come to Bali but they behave like they are above the law. This has always been the case and it has to finally stop,” he said. Badly behaved tourists can be a touchy subject in Bali, where foreigners of various nationalities regularly make headlines for drunk and inappropriate behavior, public nudity and disrespecting sacred sites. But the Balinese authorities appear ready to make an example of Russians and Ukrainians amid rising public debate over perceptions of their conduct. “Why these two countries? Because they are at war so they flock here,” Bali governor Wayan Koster told a news conference this week. The influx of Russians and Ukrainians into Bali comes despite Ukraine having banned all men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Russia has no official blanket ban, but has mobilized 300,000 reservists to join the fighting, prompting many young men to flee abroad rather than be drafted. CNN reached out to the Russian embassy in Indonesia and Ukrainian consulate in Bali. Russian embassy officials did not immediately respond; Ukraine’s Honorary Consulate in Bali said Ukrainians in the country were mostly females there for family unification reasons rather than tourism and that they did “not want to violate the rules and regulations.” ‘We all get along’ While Bali was a favorite with Russian tourists even before the war, its attractions have become only more appealing in the wake of Putin’s grinding invasion and subsequent mobilization. And it is far from the only refuge in Southeast Asia. The island of Phuket in southern Thailand, often lauded as among the world’s best beach destinations, has seen a sudden influx of Russian arrivals – many of whom have invested in property to ensure they can enjoy long-term stays. “Life in Russia is very different now,” a former investment banker from St. Petersburg who bought an apartment near Phuket’s Old Town district told CNN. He declined to disclose his identity for fear of retaliation from Russian authorities. “No one wants to stay and live in the middle of war,” he said. “It is stressful thinking about the possibility of returning to Russia and being punished… (so) it makes sense to invest in a place which costs less than Moscow and is safer.” In Bali, part of the attraction has been down to Indonesia’s policy that allows nationals of more than 80 countries – including, at least for now, Russia and Ukraine – to apply for visas upon arrival. The visa is valid for 30 days but can be extended once to a total of 60 days. That might be plenty of time for those planning lengthy vacations, but those seeking a more prolonged stay are not allowed to work. Indonesian authorities said several Russian tourists had been deported in recent months for overstaying their visas, among them a 28-year-old from Moscow who was arrested and deported after he was found to be working as a photographer. Others who arrived hoping to find work have since returned home, risking Moscow’s wrath if they are suspected of fleeing the draft. Among the wave of Russians to have traveled to Bali was Sergei Ovseikin, a street artist who created an anti-war mural in the middle of a rice paddy field – a “mural” that reflected his stance on military conscription and the war. “Like many others forced to leave our native country, I came to Bali as a tourist,” Ovseikin said. “Russia remains in a difficult political situation. I am against wars, no matter where they take place,” he said. “A lot of people who disagreed with the war flew to Bali – Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and others,” he added. “We all get along well with each other… and understand that ordinary people did not start this war.” ‘It’s beautiful … no Russian soldiers’ News of the possible change to the visa rules has rattled some of the Ukrainians on the island, many of whom left their homeland when war broke out and have been living on savings ever since, leaving and reentering every 60 days to avoid flouting the rules. “Bali is a good place,” said one Ukrainian named Dmytro. “It is beautiful, the weather is great and it’s a safe place for Ukrainians – there may be big groups of Russians, but there are no Russian soldiers.” Ukrainians on the island were a tightly knit community that largely kept away from Russians and had been surprised by the possible move, he added. “Ukrainians respect Balinese law and culture. We do a lot for our local communities and don’t represent any risk for people in Bali,” Dmytro said. “Many back in Ukraine have questions about Bali and would also love to come.” “It’s very sad that Ukrainians are being put in the same (category) as Russians. Russians are the second largest tourist group in Bali and if you read the news, you’ll see how often it is Russians breaking local laws and disrespecting Balinese culture and traditions,” he added. “So why do Ukrainians have to suffer when it isn’t us causing problems in Bali?” Ukraine’s Honorary Consulate in Bali said in a statement to CNN that there were around 8,500 Ukrainian citizens on the island as of February 2023, holding various temporary and permanent visa permits. “Ukrainians do not come for holiday to Bali at this current moment as our country is being invaded. The Ukrainians coming to Bali now are for family unification (reasons) and are mostly female,” said spokesperson Nyoman Astama. “We reaffirm that Ukrainians in Bali do not want to violate the rules and regulations,” Astama added. “It is imperative to enforce the law and implement the consequences for any breach of the law as voiced now by the people in Bali.” Still, for now at least, anyone from either country still hoping for a visa on arrival can take some comfort in the fact that the central government is yet to decide on whether to grant the request by the Balinese authorities. “We will discuss it in detail with other stakeholders,” Indonesian Minister of Tourism Sandiaga Uno told local reporters on Monday. Source: CNN

Violet Frank's two grandchildren serve as reminders of her missing daughter-in-law. It is feared her name will be added to those of more than 300 who died when Cyclone Freddy struck Malawi at the beginning of the week. The youngsters had gone to stay with Violet just days before and escaped the fate of their mother, who fell victim to the unforgiving power of a landslide. "She was with my son in their matrimonial home in Chilobwe. He stepped outside their home when he heard neighbours screaming and things falling with a loud bang outside their house," Violet said. "Luckily, he survived. He was taken to hospital by well-wishers. But we do not know where his wife is." When we met Violet, she was staring at what was left of her son's home. A huge boulder sat in the middle of the two-bedroom house, the memories there smashed to pieces. A few metres away, rescue teams were retrieving a body from the rubble and mud. It was not Violet's daughter-in-law. She asked one of the officials to help look for her loved one, but she did not get an answer. "When you tell [the rescue teams] where to look for people, they do not go there. They are only retrieving bodies in the places that are not as badly affected. "But what about our people? When will they go to look for them?" Chilobwe was one of the areas worst affected by the landslides that hit Malawi's commercial hub, Blantyre. The advice that most residents received from the authorities before the cyclone struck was to stay indoors, but that was not much help. It is not clear how many houses were destroyed in Chilobwe, but we saw huge piles of boulders and trees that had flattened people's houses. Other homes were washed away by torrents of water or buried under mudslides. Areas that had been green and bustling with small businesses were in a sombre mood. There was still activity - but of a different kind, with the community helping to look for the missing. Those whose houses are still standing carry hoes and shovels to comb through the debris looking for bodies. When we met Richard Galeta, 34, he was dressed in a white protective suit, worn by people who have volunteered to help bury victims. Richard buried his wife and child on Wednesday. "I was working hard for them. Now that they are gone, I don't know what to do," he said. "The last thing that I told my wife is that I am going to give her money this week to go and visit her parents. But now I must be the one to go and visit them and share the bad news." He is now living in a temporary camp set up at a local primary school. Richard said life there was not easy. He accused those running it of not looking after the victims properly, saying that getting enough food was a major challenge. "A lot of organisations have brought us food. But it is just rotting in one of the classrooms that have been turned in storage facilities," he added. [caption id="attachment_37717" align="aligncenter" width="789"] Mud and boulders have destroyed thousands of houses as the floodwaters swept through Malawi[/caption] Malinga Namuku, who is in charge of the camp for the Malawi Red Cross, said they were feeding people, but it was sometimes "hard for volunteers to keep track of who has been fed and who hasn't". "But we are trying our best." There were a lot of children at the shelter running around and playing with makeshift balloons created out of surgical gloves. Looking at them it did not feel like it was a disaster zone. This is something some experts say will probably register in their minds later. Dr Charles Mwansambo, Malawi's Principal Health Secretary, said the mental health of the survivors was a critical issue that the authorities will need to attend to over the next few weeks. The camp houses about 5,000 people and many others were arriving in the hope of finding a dry place to stay. [caption id="attachment_37718" align="aligncenter" width="785"] Richard Galeta lost his wife and child in the mudslides[/caption] Most of the people living in the camp have nowhere else to go and are in distress, as they are unable to trace their loved ones. This weather is making it difficult for search-and-rescue teams to find people. On some days teams would stop halfway through the activity either because it had rained, or there was too much fog. Those helping with the search include the police service, the military and international organisations. The police are also using dogs to locate bodies. As of Friday, more than 300 deaths had been confirmed in Malawi, with more in neighbouring Mozambique, and more than 80,000 people had been forced to leave their homes. The death toll is likely to rise over the next few weeks as the weather clears and makes it easier for rescuers to continue their grim work. At least 200 people are still missing - among them Violet's daughter-in-law. She just hopes her body will be found so that she can be given a fitting burial. Source: BBC