Former Australian rugby and NFL player Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of raping a woman in 2018. According to CNN affiliate 7News, a jury returned a unanimous verdict in the New South Wales District Court on Tuesday afternoon. CNN has reached out to Hayne’s lawyers. It is the third time Hayne has faced a jury for the incident. In his first appearance, a retrial was ordered after it ended in a hung trial. He was then tried a second time and, in March 2021, Hayne was found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The court found that he had traveled to the woman’s house on September 30, 2018, and while his taxi waited outside, Hayne assaulted the woman while she told him “no” and “stop.” According to the court’s findings, Hayne’s “actions were forceful and rough.” The victim was said to have “felt overwhelmed by the physical disparity and the speed with which the offender assaulted her.” As a result of Hayne’s actions, the victim suffered injuries and bleeding in her groin area, according to the court. [caption id="attachment_38471" align="alignnone" width="788"] Hayne outside Castle Hill Police station in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2018.[/caption] At the time, he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, with a minimum time served of three years and eight months before being eligible for parole. After Hayne had spent nine months in prison, an appeals court overturned his convictions and ordered a third trial. But on Tuesday, after seven days of deliberations, Hayne was again found guilty of rape. He will be sentenced at a later date, according to 7News. Hayne has indicated that he would appeal the decision. Outside court, Hayne maintained his innocence “100 percent.” “I never lied to the police. I never deleted evidence. I never hid witnesses,” he said, per 7News. Hayne is one of the National Rugby League’s most famous players, having won numerous awards for his success on the field. He also had a brief spell in the NFL in the US, playing as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. Source: CNN News

A young mother and her son showed up today at PNGFM's Legend FM studio to claim her gift hamper which she won through Legend FM Easter Feast with Coca cola. Ms Faith William was the week 3 winner for the Legend FM Easter Feast with Coca Cola which was running for three weeks. She was all teary when she saw the contents of the hamper she had won especially the protein content and said it was an answered prayer. Faith explained her emotional reaction was because her father in-law was finishing his 40 days fasting this Easter Sunday and the family were down financially to afford protein for him after his fasting. “My Father in-law is a faithful Catholic and he is on a 40 day fasting from protein,” she said. “We wanted to cook something nice for him but my husband said due to other commitments he had, he was not going to buy protein for Papa this Sunday.” Just after her husband said that and took off for work, Faith got a call from Legend FM 101.1 that she is one of the lucky winners for the Easter Feast Hamper. “I was excited and told my mother in-law that if the hamper contains meat, then it will be for Papa for this Sunday when he breaks his 40 days fasting,” said Faith. Just as she and her 2 year old son were leaving the house, her little boy ran to his grandfather, hugged him and said, “Mipla go kisim meat blong you (We are going to pick up your protein). Faith said it was a great feeling to see that there were enough and variety of protein in the hamper, and this is an answered prayer. “Despite not going to church faithfully, I said a little prayer for this blessing and it did come true during Easter,” said Faith. “But this is because Papa was faithfully fasting and praying, and this is Papa’s blessing to share with us this Easter.” Faith wants to encourage all that, if we need something, we must believe and if there is fasting and praying involve, God will bless everyone in his own time and way. All we need is to just believe and claim whatever you need in Jesus Name.

Easter is a time for giving and with it commitment in sharing Christ’s love in Papua New Guinea in the good and bad times, Samaritan Aviation continues to show its commitment in this time of despair when everyone in East Sepik is affected by the 7.3 magnitude earth quake. Country Director Samaritan Aviation Mr Chris Cooke stated that Samaritan Aviation is been busy flying in patients injured from their houses collapsing on top of them. Whilst working closely with the Sepik Provincial Disaster Relief Officer flying out patients who have sustained injuries from affected areas because of the earthquake, they are still doing additional emergency life flights along the Sepik plains and the remote areas. “We are assisting the Sepik Provincial Disaster Relief Officers by performing aerial and ground surveys of the affected areas,” said Mr Cooke Country Director. “We are privileged to serve the people of East Sepik and our hearts are with them in this time of disaster.” From delivering essential medical supplies to getting patients to the hospital, a typical day on a Samaritan Aviation medical mission is filled with moments of hope and healing. "We're proud to be a part of such impactful work." Picture courtesy: SAMARITAN AVIATION                                                                               #samaritanaviation   

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) has given financial grants to Madang Forest Resource Owners Association Inc (MFROA) to help empower women and improve village-level natural resource management practices in Madang Province. MFROA’s Projects Manager, Mr Taksey Dobon, officially signed the grant agreement on behalf of the association at the Madang Resort in the presence of representatives from USAID-LGP, MFROA board members, forest-owning community representatives, youth and female representatives, staff, and volunteers recently. Mr Dobon said that the project is important as they are trying to create a better alternative to large scale logging operations. “The project will empower rural women and youths into forest biodiversity conservation and income generation through honeybee farming and other agricultural land use systems.” MFROA will use the grant from March 2023 to May 2024, to collaborate with the communities of Ambaruk, Upinint, Astangu, Itarangu and Iraruk in Madang’s Middle Ramu District. This is to provide training in conducting biodiversity surveys, gender awareness and female empowerment approaches, agricultural techniques, market access skills, project management, institutional capacity building, and sustainable eco-friendly livelihoods. “This work will help contribute to reducing environmental threats to biodiversity by mobilising communities to improve natural resource management and participate in conservation-related livelihoods like honeybee cultivation.” said Junne Cosmas, Grants Manager for USAID-LGP. More than 2,500 people in these communities are expected to benefit from the program, with women and youth the primary beneficiaries.  

It is not a common sight for a man from Hela or Highlands culture to be a midwife and deliver babies because it is seen as a woman’s job says 23 years old Gilbert Gei from Hela Province, who is the only male recipient of one of the 10 scholarships provided by the United Nations Population Fund Country Office to the University of Goroka’s Midwifery School. Mr Gei said he had seen firsthand the importance of a midwife and the role they play in saving a mother and a baby’s life. Mr. Gilbert Gei completed his nursing studies at Goroka Nursing College, Eastern Highlands Province in 2020 and returned to his home province, Hela, to work in one of the most remote district hospitals. “I worked in the Labour Ward at Magarima District Hospital,” shared Mr Gei. "In a month, we would have 18-25 births and about 7-10 of these deliveries would have complications.” “As a nurse without a midwifery specialisation, I performed vacuum delivery four times and one bridge delivery." “All I was able to perform successfully was from watching our in-house midwife.” Mr Gei added that just by watching and learning was not enough, and he made the decision to become a midwife because there is a gap at the district hospital that he felt he could fill. “The lone midwife we had at our district hospital, unfortunately, passed away and there was a huge void that she left." “I was doing a midwife's job with no technical knowledge and proper skills for what I was doing. I knew in my heart that I had to become a midwife because there were so many mothers and babies dependent on me.” Mr. Gei was accepted into the midwifery course at the University of Goroka as a self-sponsored student, which meant he had to pay his K37, 000 tuition fees, for his 18-months training straight from his own pocket. “I enrolled myself with only K5, 000, knowing very well that my future in this training was uncertain and I even prepared myself to withdraw knowing my financial limitations.” “But now I am extremely grateful to UNFPA for this important scholarship." “It could not have come at a better time. I cried for joy when Sr. Clerah, the Midwifery Coordinator, advised me of this scholarship and that was 1 of 10 students receiving it.” “There is so much I can do as a midwife and I look forward to successfully completing my studies so I can go back and help my mothers in Komo-Magarima.” UNFPA provided 10 financial scholarships to midwifery students from the University Of Goroka School Of Midwifery in its ambitious goal to reduce and eliminate maternal deaths in Papua New Guinea. According to UNFPA’s State of the World Midwifery report, PNG needs a minimum of 5000 qualified midwives, but it is sad to know that currently the country has less than 800. Meanwhile UNFPA Country Representative Marielle Sander has urged for investment in the midwifery workforce for the country to change the statistics on maternal mortality.

Fish farming in recent years has gained momentum and is booming in the Upper Highlands. That's the word from Mr Jacob Towa, owner of Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery Farm in the Western Highlands Province. Mr Towa told PNG HAUSBUNG that he started his journey in farming back in 2002 and by 2019 he went into breeding male tilapia. Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery farm is one of the biggest Tilapia fish breeding farm in the Upper Highlands, where eggs are removed from the tilapia fish, washed and placed in jars for up to 8 or 12weeks when these fish eggs hatch. “When the eggs hatch, I feed and look after the hatchlings for up to 21 days when they become fingerlings and that is when I sell them to fish farmers." “It’s quit a skillful and delicate job where these hatchlings have to be fed 5 meals a day, and I feed them with Sex Reversal Tilapia Feeds (SRT) so the hatchlings can develop into male tilapia fish only.” Mr Towa said almost 30 fish farmers benefit from his project. “I supply fingerlings to Southern Highlands Fish farmers, Enga, Jiwaka, here in Western Highlands and the latest was Wewak where I supplied 20,000 fingerlings." "Each fingerling is 50t, but if one fish farmer comes with K1000 for fingerlings then a K500 worth of fingerling is given for free." Mr Towa said he believes in helping local fish farmers. “I know that when I give 50% extra of how much they bought then this customer will still come back to me.” Mr Towa further added that there is a demand for fish consumption in the Highlands Region and soon more people will be eating fresh water fish instead of tinned fish. "Supermarkets in Mt Hagen often buy fresh water fish for K12.00 or K12.50 per kilo, but farmers are encouraged to sell at main markets, Asian shops and schools where each fish is sold according to their sizes, with prices ranging from K3- K5." Towa also added that a fish feed now has gone up to K50 and its quit hard on the fish farmers given the economy crisis the country is facing at this time, however with an intervention by National Fisheries Authority in providing feeds for them is timely. “National Fisheries Authority has just given us 5 containers of fish feeds which is now in Mt Hagen and this will greatly help ease the financial burden faced by the fish farmers.” He also highlighted that fish farming was a bit slow when it was first introduced by the National Fisheries Authority because fish ponds have male and female fish together where they keep on producing more and tend to grow slow and small in size, thus making farmers lose interest in fish farming. However with the introduction of breeding and the process of hatchling to fingerlings, this has greatly improved fish farming, where breeding is done in breeding farms where only male fingerlings are sold to fish farmers. “Male fish tend to grow more faster and bigger than the female fish, thus bringing in more income for the fish farmers,” said Mr Towa. Towa proudly mentioned that his Towa Tilapia Fish Breeding and Hatchery farm is one of the only 6 breeding farms in the country that is still in existence despite National Fisheries Authority’s attempt in introducing these breeding techniques to all 22 provinces. “I am happy to help any fish farmers who need my technical advice, if you know where to locate me then come to me, otherwise you can message me via my face book account “Towa Fish Breeding” and I will come and help you grow yours fish farm and give you the necessary advice you need”.

Former Prime Minister (PM) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and East New Britain (ENB) province politician, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, passed away yesterday afternoon, Friday 31st March, around 4pm in his Province.   The Office of the Prime Minister is expected to put out a statement soon.   Meanwhile, St Johns Ambulance service confirmed this news after attending to him.   The late Sir Rabbie served as Foreign Affairs & Immigration Minister in the Government of Papua New Guinea from August 2002 to July 2006 and Minister for Treasury from July 2006 to August 2007. He served briefly as Leader of the Opposition in 1988 before becoming PM between 1988 -1992 and Speaker of the National Parliament between 1994 -1997.  He earlier served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1982-84 and has held several other senior ministries including Primary Industry, and Petroleum and Energy since his first election to Parliament as Member for Kokopo (East New Britain) in 1982. 

Women and girls affected by violence in Porgera, Enga Province have received essential hygiene supplies with support from UNFPA, Care International, and the Australian Government. The dignity kits consist of menstrual hygiene supplies, soap, a towel, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. This is to ensure all women and girls can practice proper hygiene. Each kit also has a solar light, and this solar light is to help the recipients use toilets or showers at night. In instances were solar is off, a whistle is also given and this is a small security measure when visiting bathrooms alone or while walking alone at night a whistle can be blown to call for help. “Periods do not stop during conflict or a natural disaster,” said UNFPA Country Representative Marielle Sander. “UNFPA works to ensure women and girls can maintain good hygiene and to be able to continue their daily lives comfortably.” “We are grateful to our network of partners throughout the country who are able to ensure we can deliver these kits to those most in need,” said Sander. The dignity kits were distributed to affected communities with assistance from Care International and they were made available from UNFPA Regional Pre-positioning Initiative, supported by the Australian Government.

Women in the Western province who are engaged in rice project, will benefit greatly from a Papua New Guinea (PNG)- Australia Partnership Incentive Fund grant of K38million given to the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) for the rice livelihood project. This rice projects is for supporting women’s groups and families to trial rice production for consumption and commercial purpose, was rolled out recently in Western Province. PNG-Australia Partnership also supports inclusiveness in community project and amongst the 2, 000 participants from Kavinaga in the Middle Fly District, is a woman living with disability, Diana Sendea, actively participating in her community’s rice project. Diana’s leg was amputated when she was a child, but she has never let her disability stop her from going about her daily life. “I am really happy with the project here and I feel empowered to help and give back what little I can to my community through this project,” Diana said. “Rice planting is new here and I am very happy with the knowledge shared on cultivating the different varieties of rice. It is good to see some families going into small scale rice planting as well, with the knowledge they have,” she said. Diana also mentioned that the project has also helped with cash flow, especially for the women who are now able to cater for themselves and their family’s needs. Diana assists with weeding in the lowlands, cleans around project area and helps sharpen tools. The Australian High Commission also highlighted that the project aims to scale up production and venture into processing and marketing at a larger scale. Through the project, communities are given trainings on improved food production techniques and family business management, received support for building sustainable agribusinesses, and they were also provided farming tools. Twenty project participants including 10 women, were trained on the rice farming cycle to ensure long term sustainability of project activities. Through the project, Incentive Fund has opened spaces for equal participation and engagement of people with disability like Diana in all activities, so that they can benefit from improved livelihood and economic opportunities as well. This applies across all project activities and infrastructure lifecycle, thus this includes ensuring construction projects and training courses are accessible and inclusive for people with disability. This is the same in all Incentive Fund Phase IV projects under the PNG-Australia Partnership, whereby people with disability are identified as priority participants in all projects and all partner organizations are encouraged to create spaces and include them fully in all activities and benefits, in a meaningful and sustainable way.

United States President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has approved and announced the United States (US) Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in partner countries including Papua New Guinea (PNG). The announcement and approval was given for country-specific plans for four countries and one region for implementation of the ten-year U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. The partners are: Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, and the region of Coastal West Africa, which consists of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo. The strategy outlines a U.S. whole-of-government effort designed to foster and achieve better long-term outcomes through integrated diplomacy, development cooperation, and defense-sector engagement. It seeks to address challenges associated with conflict and instability in more effective ways than past stabilization efforts. The Strategy’s development followed in-depth quantitative and qualitative analyses, and robust consultations with local populations and host country governments, peacekeeping and development organizations, and the U.S. Congress. The PNG country plan focuses on the prevention of conflict, including sustainable and equitable economic growth; more professionalized security forces; and building community capacity to more effectively prevent, mitigate, and respond to violence and conflict. Assistant Secretary Anne A. Witkowsky, who oversees the U.S Strategy globally in an interview with PNG Hausbung, stated that US will continue to collaborate with the PNG government, civil societies and local leaders to implement this initiative and adapt the changing circumstances. The Assistant Secretary highlighted three main objectives of the US strategy; The first objective is Building Communities Capacity to Prevent, Indicate or Respond to violence. This includes empowering women and girls and other marginalized groups to participate in all rounds of peace building. “This will also focus on building community resilience to dispute events such as climate change and promoting media freedom with those seeking accountability and justice,” said Witkowsky. The second objective is to Support Equitable and Sustainable economic growth in the next 10 years. “US hopes to promote and improve business environment with more transparent and responsible enterprises, one in which women and youth can have access to financial institutions and markets and skills to effectively use them,” Witkowsky added. In the Third Objective, Witkowsky highlighted that it is about supporting the Justice System and the Security Forces. “Within the Police and Defence force, we hope to see improved institutionalization, human rights principles and more women integrated into the force and also accountability for those involved in violent crimes and corruption.” She said that in this way security forces can continue to build trust among communities and US wants to be part of PNG’s growth as a leader in region. Assistant Secretary Witkowsky further detailed that US will roll out this strategy in two pilot provinces, these two provinces are Morobe and Hela. These provinces will be the places to start the theory of change and if successful, the US will potentially replicate the context in other provinces, and the US President has allocated a funding of US$10million (over K36 million) for the US Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. “PNG has an important role among the Pacific Island countries as a leader in regional economy, one with the history of democratic elections and presence in regional and international organizations; therefore, the United States will continue to collaborate with partners in the Papua New Guinean government, civil society, local leaders, and the private sector to implement the ten-year country plan.”  

Founder and Executive Director of the permitted –approved school, Kopkop College Ms. Maria Kopkop was recognised for her work in providing opportunities for more women to be educated in the country, when her school KopKop College joined in the National Women’s Day celebrations on Friday, 24th March, 2023 under the theme; Educate a Woman, Educate a Nation. Ms. Kopkop started her a little kindergarten school back in 1989 called Bambi International school and has since expanded the kindergarten school into a primary school and recently upgraded the school to secondary level of education with campuses located both in Port Moresby and in the New Ireland Province. KopKop’s Director of Support Services Ms. Mary Udu acknowledges Ms Maria Kopkop’s contribution to education and thanked her for her passion and continues support towards education and health for women in the country. Ms KopKop, simply known as Bubu Maria by all the students and staff, worked as a trained and registered nurse in infant welfare and midwifery in the rural parts of New Ireland and West Sepik province before starting up Bambi International , now Kopkop College. “Bubu Maria taught us that women are a stronghold of a family, a community, a country and bearers of human kind,” said Ms Udu. Ms Udu further highlighted achievements of Ms Kopkop’s life stating that Ms Kopkop expanded her skills by taking up a Masters in Women’s Studies at the James Cook Universaity in Townsville and then followed by Education Leadership Program with the Divine Word University in Madang. “The skills have helped her to do what she loves doing and that is serving you today,"Ms Udu shared with the students of Kopkop College. In all her work Bubu Maria has emphasised to the leaders of this nation that there is a great concern in health, education and opportunities for women to be treated as equal partners in our nation. "As Bubu Maria has taught us, we must continue to speak for our womenfolk, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and aunties,’’ Ms Udu emphasised. “Bubu Maria built this institution not just as a school but the family of Kopkop College of which Bubu Maria’s motto reminds us all to ‘Listen to Learn and Learn to Listen." Meanwhile, Secondary school principal, Mrs. Roddy Abaddy said it makes her proud to be part of Kopkop College. "As a woman I'm proud to be part of this team because of Bubu Maria, the founder who believed and still believes that education is power for women."

A meeting between Air Niugini and Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) executives was held this Monday the 27th March, with the focus to create a mutual beneficial partnership for tourism growth across Papua New Guinea. During the meeting, Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon and PNGTPA CEO, Eric Mossman Uvovo shared Ideas, discussed challenges and opportunities that may rise if they work in partnership, and how this partnership can encourage a more collaborative approach toward tourism development in the country. Mr. Seddon recognised PNGTPA’s efforts to restart tourism after years of uncertainty and restrictions and stated that Air Niugini is about to undertake a major investment program in its fleets thus this will improve reliability and expand their network. “Next generation aircraft will improve reliability and expand our network, for the benefit of our country." Seddon added, "These aircraft will be larger and more efficient." With Air Niugini offering to support greater access through a competitive range of airfares, TPA is willing to establish an MOU with Air Niugini to commit to a series of tourism initiatives that would build on existing products across the country, said the PNGTPA CEO Mr Uvovo. “Tourism grows local economies with substantial jobs growth therefore TPA is excited about the prospect of partnership if it benefits tourism SMEs and PNG tourism businesses."