No U-turn
Digicel, Greencom licences assured: Minister Somare

Budget with a smile... Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch looking smug after bringing down the K1.3 billion Supplementary Budget in Parliament yesterday. The budget described as an ‘impact budget’ is targeted at the rural majority in the 89 districts of PNG including K4million each towards District Services Improvement Programme.

TOP STORIES:

K1.367billion ‘impact budget’ passed
- FINANCE and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch has handed down the Government’s record fourth Supplementary Budget totalling K1.367 billion that Parliament overwhelmingly passed 84-0 yesterday.

Report lauds RH’s vital role in forestry
- A NEW report from an Australian consulting company reveals that the forestry industry plays a vital role in efforts to eradicate rural poverty in PNG.

Parliament has no time to debate women’s plea
- WOMEN expressed disappointment yesterday when Parliament postponed the debate on the petition presented by Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu on violence against women.

BUSINESS:

Overhaul of telco policy ‘in order’
-UNLESS the current telecommunication policy of the Government is overhauled, Digicel, Green Communication and other potential telco service providers will be at the mercy of Government-owned Telikom PNG.

Coffee men sue CIC over move to dissect PNGCGF ops
-THE PNG Coffee Growers Federation (PNGCGF) has taken out a court injunction to stop the Coffee Industry Corp (CIC) from looking into its operation.

Australia’s privately-owned firms riding wave of strong economy
-The widening gap in business performance between the boom commodity states and the rest of the nation has been highlighted in a new survey.

EDITORIAL:

An end to terror
-THE petition was presented to Parliament yesterday.

SPORTS

Kumuls hopefuls line up
PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has named its two squads for its inaugural Telikom PNG Origin series for next Sunday.

Record tumbles… SP Games gold medallist Sapolai Yao (pictured) has done it again – this time in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday. The diminutive long distance runner from Chimbu province broke the seven-year PNG record in the Samsung Melbourne Marathon, and finished a credible 13th in a field of more than 4,000 runners. – File photo by JASON PINI

‘Aussie swimming experts needed in Oceania region’
- PAPUA NEW GUINEA Swimming Inc. (PNGSI) boss says coaching expertise from Australia is needed in the Oceania region.

Parental guidance needed
- PARENTAL guidance, encouragement and support are vital in the development of an athlete at a young age.

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