PM thanks flight crew and rescuers , caution against rumor and fake news

 Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has expressed his gratitude to the air crew of P2-PXE, and local Micronesians who came to the rescue of passengers, for their quick response in the evacuation

He made the comments after aircraft P2-PXE 'landed short’ yesterday in the Federated States of Micronesia, and warned people on social media to be vigilant
against rumors and fake news.

"Any aircraft crash in any part of the world is alarming, and ultimate concern above
property is the safety of human lives,” O'Neill said.

"I commend the crew of P2-PXE for their swift action to evacuate passengers.

"I especially thank the people of Micronesia who were very quick to move in with boats
to the aircraft and assist passengers as they evacuated.

“Micronesian safety and security services were also swiftly on the scene, and
passengers were quickly assessed and attend to at the hospital.

“We thank our Micronesian brothers and sisters for their response and care following this accident.

“The health of passengers is being monitored and arrangements for temporary accommodation is being arranged, and soon travel will be facilitated to their chosen ports."

O'Neill said the initial concern for the Government and the airline was the
safety and wellbeing of passengers, and people should be wary of misinformation.

“Now is not the time for speculation or rumor, let’s wait for the facts and further
information from the airline.

“Air accident investigators will be undertaking a thorough examination of the incident and the causes being identified.

“I call for people to be careful with what they re-post online.”

Air Niugini update on crash

Bulletin number 2 issued at 3:00pm, date: 28.09.2018

Air Niugini provides the following update regarding the short landing of its Boeing 737-800 series aircraft at Chuuk International airport, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) this morning.

P2-PXE was operating scheduled flight PX 073 between Pohnpei and Chuuk Airport in FSM when the incident occurred.

The incident occurred at 10:10am FSM local time. 

Air Niugini has been informed that the weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of incident.

The aircraft had 35 passengers and 12 crew members onboard, all of whom were able to safely evacuate the aircraft.

Air Niugini is now positioning assistance to Chuuk for our passengers and crew.

We are also in touch with the embassies, passenger representatives, stakeholders and families of the crew.

We thank everyone in Chuuk for the assistance provided today.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, crew and their families at this time.

Following are the media call centre numbers.

PNG Media Call Centre: (675) 327 3378/ 327 3221
International Media Call Centre: +1 407 205 1814 
Email: mcc2@kenyoninternational.com

UPDATE: 8 passengers aboard Air Niugini Flight 73 hospitalised

by Kevin Kerrigan and Gaynor Daleno | The Guam Daily Post, postguam.com
September 28, 2018

Forty-six people aboard Air Niugini Flight 73 miraculously survived after the flight fell short of the runway on Weno International Airport in Chuuk this morning and landed in lagoon waters.

"No serious injuries ... Everybody is alive!" Jimmy Emilio, the airport's manager, confirmed by phone to The Guam Daily Post.

When the plane went down, a lot of local boaters and the local rescue team immediately rushed to the crash site, Emilio said.

"Everybody is safely off the plane," he added.

He said the passengers and crew were transported to the local hospital and as far as he knows, no one was badly injured.

Dr. Siana Shapucy, the Chuuk State Hospital's acting medical director, said at 2 p.m. Guam time Friday that eight people were hospitalized. One was on a ventilator while some of the other patients had various fractures.

A video reposted by Eriko Rekis on his Facebook page shows many boaters immediately responding as the aircraft hit the lagoon water, and helping passengers get off the half-submerged plane and transporting them to safer ground.

The aircraft is a Boeing 737, Public Affairs Manager Ian Gregor for the FAA Pacific Division confirmed.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cuttter Washington, which happens to be in nearby waters, is heading to the crash site to help. 

Air Niugini Flight 73 travels between Chuuk and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. The flight was to take two hours and 40 minutes.

Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's leading airline, with more than 20 destinations nationally and 10 internationally.

A United Airlines flight from Guam that was scheduled to land at the same airport in Chuuk has been diverted to Pohnpei.

A team from Auckland, New Zealand en route to Weno to try and salvage the plane.

This is a developing story.

The changing face of Lae

By SAMPSON BONAI in Lae

Lae City, the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea,  is experiencing a building boom.

The new Bank of PNG Building being constructed along 3rd Street, opposite Lae Post Office,  is nearing completion and should be open for business before end of this year.

The new Bank of PNG Building being constructed along 3rd Street,  opposite Lae Post Office,  is nearing completion and should be open for business before the end of this year.~Pictures by SAMPSON BONAI

Papindo Supermarket has constructed a new look two-storey building along 7th Street to replace the old one that got burnt down in 1995.

The brand-New Papindo Shopping Centre along 7th Street.

Eye One Shopping Centre is a new two-storey building constructed at the site of the old Huon Theatre.

Eye One Shopping Centre is a new two-storey building at the site of the old Huon Theatre. It has become one of the busiest shopping venues in Lae.

It has become one of the busiest shopping venues in Lae. 

The old Wan Jin Wah shop at 7th Street is dwarfed by the towering Papindo Shopping Centre and the adjoining Victoria Supermarket.

The iconic Wan Jin Wah shop along 7th Street   is dwarfed by the towering Papindo Shopping Centre across the road.

Two new modern shopping complexes are being built at the Main Market area. 

Lae Plaza is situated along Aircorps Road near Bank South Pacific and Lae Shopping Centre is situated along Kisere Street behind Bowmans Hardware.

Lae Plaza offers the people of Morobe that heightened shopping experience right in the heart of Lae City. It has three stories of shops and self-contained units.

Rapid progress on high speed internet cable connecting PNG with the world

Australian High Commission

The Australian and Papua New Guinea Governments are progressing rapidly with the project to deliver the new high speed Coral Sea Cable that will connect Port Moresby through Sydney to the global economy.

On Sept 27  2018, marine survey vessel the RV Northern Endeavour visited Port Moresby to survey the area where the cable will connect to Papua New Guinea’s mainland.

Local media had the opportunity to go on-board the vessel to see the facilities, meet the crew and understand more about the process for delivering this key nation building infrastructure.

Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis was pleased to mark this important milestone.

He said, "Australia is delighted to partner with Papua New Guinea in delivering this key nation building project.

"This project has the potential to be truly transformative and I am excited to be able to celebrate this important step towards its completion."

The RV Northern Endeavour is at the start of a journey to map out the path the cable will take between Port Moresby, Honiara and Sydney.

Not only does this preliminary planning ensure that the installation of the cable is as efficient and cost-effective as possible, it also provides assurance that the impact of the cable on Papua New Guinea’s pristine marine environment is minimised.

The Coral Sea Cable will significantly improve Papua New Guinea’s internet connectivity, allowing businesses to access new markets, students to harness new learning opportunities and communities to reach out to other countries and people across the sea.

It is a very tangible symbol of Australia and Papua New Guinea’s enduring partnership as well as both nations’ strong commitment to growth and prosperity in the region.

Australian men's and women's Prime Minister's XIII annouced

The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister

In conjunction with the National Rugby League (NRL), I am pleased to announce the Prime Minister’s XIII squads which will take part in annual games against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on October 6.

 The PMs XIII concept is an annual fixture which was first established in 2005 to help PNG celebrate 30 years of independence.

This year, in recognition of the surge in female participation in rugby league, a PMs XIII squad for women has been named for the first time.

The squads will be led by experienced and exceptional rugby league coaches and captains.

World Cup winning Jillaroo and Indigenous All Stars captain Rebecca Young will captain the women’s squad which is coached by Brad Donald.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles skipper and Queensland Origin representative Daly Cherry-Evans will captain the men’s squad which is coached by Mal Meninga.

The squads will arrive in Port Moresby next Thursday and are being supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

While I would love to be there to cheer on both squads, I will be following the games very closely from home.

I’d also like to congratulate the players who have been selected to play for the PNG Kumuls and Orchids and wish all teams the very best.

Australian PM’s XIII Men’s Squad:

Corey Allan (Brisbane Broncos)

Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)

Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Jake Clifford (North Queensland Cowboys)

Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)

Tyson Frizell (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Ben Hunt (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Brian Kelly (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Zac Lomax (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Jordan McLean (North Queensland Cowboys)

Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers)

Matt Prior (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Jesse Ramien (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Reece Robson (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos)

Chad Townsend (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Enari Tuala (North Queensland Cowboys)

Aaron Woods (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Australian PM’s XIII Women’s Squad:

Keeley Davis (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Quincy Dodd (Sydney Roosters)

Sally Dwyer (Parkes Spacemen)

Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa'amausili (Cabramatta)

Najvada George (Werribee Bears – VIC)

Rikeya Horne (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Melanie Howard (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Asipau Mafi (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Talesha Quinn (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Michaela Peck (ADF)

Patricia Raikadroka (Mounties)

Rhiannon Revell-Blair (Brothers Ipswich)

Hannah Southwell (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Sarah Togatuki (Sydney Roosters)

Shakiah Tungai (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Juraea Turner (Ellenbrook Rabbitohs – WA)

Holli Wheeler (St. George Illawarra Dragons)

Eliza Wilson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Rebecca Young (CRL Newcastle

PNG Kumuls squad to play PM's XIII named

nrl.com | September 25, 2018

St George Illawarra winger Nene Macdonald, Cronulla hooker James Segeyaro and Canterbury back-rower Rhyse Martin head a strong contingent of NRL and Super League  players named in the Papua New Guinea squad to play the Australian Prime Minister's XIII in Port Moresby on October 6.

Macdonald, Segeyaro and Martin are among six NRL players in the 18-man squad, which also includes Catalans fullback David Mead and Widnes Vikings prop Wellington Albert.

Cronulla and PNG hooker James Segeyaro©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

Other NRL players are Melbourne winger Justin Olam, Sydney Roosters playmaker Lachlan Lam and North Queensland five-eighth Kyle Laybutt.

The remaining players are drawn from Queensland's Intrust Super Cup and include Easts Tigers hooker Tom Butterfield, Souths Logan Magpies centre Daniel Russell and eight members of the PNG Hunters team.

The squad, which is largely comprised of players from this year's Pacific Test and the 2017 World Cup teams, will assemble in Port Moresby this week, with Lam and Olam to arrive after completing commitments with their NRL clubs in Sunday's grand final.

The annual clash between the Kumuls and the Australian PM's XIII has been moved as PNG Hunters players were unavailable last year due to the Intrust Super Cup grand final.

PNG Kumuls squad:
Daniel Russell – South Logan Magpies (Intrust Super Cup)
David Mead – Catalans Dragons (Super League)
Edene Gabi – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Enock Maki – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
James Segeyaro – Cronulla Sharks (NRL)
Justin Olam – Melbourne Storm (NRL)
Kyle Laybutt – North Queensland Cowboys (NRL)
Lachlan Lam – Sydney Roosters
Moses Meninga – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Nene McDonald – St George Illawara (NRL)
Nixon Putt – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Rhadley Brawa – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Rhyse Martin – Canterbury Bulldogs (NRL)
Stanton Albert – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Tom Butterfield – Easts Tigers (Intrust Super Cup)
Watson Boas – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Wellington Albert – Widnes Vikings (Super League
Willie Minoga – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)