A landmark $600 million deal for a Papua New Guinea team to enter the National Rugby League comes with an escape clause allowing the Australian government to immediately terminate the agreement if PNG strikes a security or policing pact with China or other rival nations over the next decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape announced at a joint press conference in Sydney that a Port Moresby-based team will enter the NRL from 2028. The PNG team is likely to want Xavier Coates to be its inaugural marquee signing. Credit: Getty “Australia and PNG are the nearest of neighbours and we are the truest of friends,” Albanese said. “We are bound by a history of shared sacrifice and a common commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific. And we are united of course by a love of rugby league. That’s why I’m delighted to announce the Australian government is supporting a PNG team to join the NRL competition from 2028.” “Rugby league is PNG’s national sport and PNG deserves a national team. The new team will belong to the people of PNG and it will call Port Moresby home. It will have millions of people barracking for it from day one.” The leaders hailed the deal as a historic milestone for the PNG-Australia relationship that will bond the nations together and provide a major economic boost to the Pacific’s most populous nation as it seeks to lift much of its population out of poverty. There’s no questioning Papua New Guinea’s passion for rugby league. Credit: Getty “What this is about, isn’t just the elite level,” Albanese said. “This is about the grassroots level. It’s about economic development. It’s about the relationship between our peoples. It provides, as sport often does, an opportunity for people to succeed, not just in sport but in life. “That is why this partnership isn’t just about Papua New Guinea, it’s also about our relationship with the Pacific.” Australian taxpayers will provide $600 million over the next 10 years to help establish the team, with $120 million coming from existing Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding. The PNG government has committed to building compound-style accommodation for players and offering tax-free salary benefits to lure star players to its capital, Port Moresby. The Australian and PNG governments have signed a separate agreement on “shared strategic trust” that sits beside the franchise agreement between the NRL, Australia and PNG. The exact terms of the strategic trust agreement are confidential and will not be released to the public. “Today also confirms ... our bilateral security agreement, which was signed just over a year ago in Canberra,” Albanese said. “Since signing that agreement, we’ve made real progress with Australia providing tangible support to PNG’s internal security priorities ... I think that today is a day where people will look back in five years, 10 years, 20 years and see that this was a day where the relationship between our nations was cemented even further into a new level.” While there is no explicit clause granting Australia veto rights over security deals between PNG and other countries, government sources said the NRL agreement was “contingent” on PNG continuing to support the principle that security and policing arrangements are handled by Pacific nations including Australia. The sources, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said the agreement allows the Australian government to withdraw financial support for PNG’s NRL team without supplying a reason until 2035. The NRL would be required to terminate the PNG team’s franchise if the Australian government removes its support under the terms of the agreement. “This is about diplomacy, this is about making Australia safer, this is about securing our status as the security partner of choice in the Pacific,” a senior government source said. The government announced a new treaty earlier this week with Nauru that allows it to block China and other countries from striking any security or telecommunications deals with the tiny Pacific nation in exchange for $140 million in financial support from Australian taxpayers. PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told this masthead last week that the agreement has “nothing to do with China” but Australian government officials have insisted there was a security element to the agreement. A separate clause prohibits the NRL from asking the Australian government for more money within or after the 10-year funding period. The logo, colours and name of the PNG team are yet to be determined. One option is for the club to be called the PNG Hunters, the name given to the team that has been playing in the Queensland Cup competition since 2014. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG counterpart James Marape discussed PNG’s NRL bid while walking the Kokoda Track in April. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer “I want to indicate to everyone here in Australia and back home, we’re not just filling the numbers for Anthony [Albanese] and James [Marape] to feel good,” Marape said. “Far from it. We want to win the competition. Just like the Dolphins did in their first year of entry [in 2023], we will field a very strong team in the first game in 2028. “As South Sydney lives on 100 years on from its birth, this one will live on way after you [Albanese] and me are gone. Our people forever bound in not only a shared love for rugby league, but a shared love for each other.” It remains unclear whether PNG will be the NRL’s 18th or 19th team, given there is a desire to add another side as early as 2027. The NRL remains in negotiations for a Perth-based franchise, which are continuing directly with the WA government after a consortium bid was rejected. Sources said negotiations over the PNG team were up in the air until the May NRL “magic round” in May, when Pacific Minister Pat Conroy and Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys struck an in-principle agreement for a team to enter the competition. One of the likely signing targets for the franchise is Xavier Coates. The Melbourne, Queensland and Australian star was born in Port Moresby, has previously represented Fiji and, given he is only 23 years old, will likely be in his prime when the team enters the NRL. His younger brother, Phillip, is also a rising star who represented the PNG Junior Kumuls in their recent draw with the Australian Schoolboys team. As a sweetener to sign with PNG, players and staff will be granted tax-free status. That will allow a marquee signing on a $1.2 million deal to save up to $550,000 a year. The expansion of the NRL competition is expected to bring more money into the game and the existing clubs have argued for a share. They have been placated by the division of a $60 million license fee, which will come out of the $600 million Australian government payment. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .The Onion's bid for Alex Jones' Infowars hangs in the balance as judge orders new hearingAs the investigation into the incident at the bath center continues, authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the carbon monoxide exposure and to prevent similar incidents from happening again. In the meantime, it is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and to seek medical attention immediately if they experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
With quick thinking and a sense of responsibility, the locals sprang into action to address the situation. The safety of their livestock and the well-being of the village were at stake, prompting them to take immediate and effective emergency measures.
As we brace ourselves for the arrival of this new wave of cold air, it is important to remember the inherent beauty and significance of seasonal changes in nature. Just as summer gives way to autumn, and autumn to winter, this natural cycle of transformation reminds us of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the resilience of life in the face of ever-changing circumstances.The director's actions have sparked a larger conversation about the impact of online harassment and the importance of standing up against cyberbullying. Her support for Wu Liufang has brought attention to the issue of online abuse directed towards public figures and the need for greater accountability and respect in online interactions.Furthermore, the physicality and presence that Ford brings to the role of Indiana Jones are essential components of the character that are challenging to replicate in a video game. From his iconic fedora and leather jacket to his trademark whip and fearless determination, Harrison Ford's embodiment of Indiana Jones goes beyond mere appearance – it is a complete package that defines the character in a way that is hard to replicate digitally.
Throughout his NBA career, Yao Ming dazzled fans with his remarkable skills on the court, earning eight All-Star selections and becoming a fan favorite worldwide. His impact, however, extended far beyond the basketball court. As a global ambassador for the sport, Yao Ming helped bridge cultural divides and promote basketball's universal appeal.
Article content A federation of student associations at Université de Montréal is the latest organization to ink a deal with social economy enterprise UTILE to build off-campus non-profit student housing in Montreal. The Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) and UTILE announced on Thursday they have signed an agreement to build a project comprising affordable apartments for at least 150 students. “By investing in student housing, FAÉCUM is taking a step toward a future where access to housing will no longer be an obstacle to academic success,” federation secretary general Méganne Joyal said in a statement. “FAÉCUM hopes that today’s announcement will inspire other stakeholders to take action to ensure equitable access to housing for the entire student community.” The federation, which represents 85 student associations and about 40,000 students at Université de Montréal, has committed to investing up to $2 million toward the project, with the exact amount dependent on how many units are built for the Université de Montréal student population. UTILE, which stands for Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant, has so far completed 600 units of affordable student rental housing in Quebec. Its first project was the 90-unit Woodnote on Papineau Ave., which got off the ground with $1.85 million in seed money from the Concordia Student Union. New projects include a $63-million, 13-storey building that started construction in downtown Montreal in October. The latter, called Le Méridien, was launched with $1.5 million in seed money from the Students’ Society of McGill University. UTILE was launched more than a decade ago by a group of Université du Québec à Montréal students who wanted to develop an alternative for students to the traditional dorm room and high-rent and overcrowded apartments. UTILE president, CEO and co-founder Laurent Levesque said Thursday that the company is scouting property in the area around Université de Montréal’s MIL campus in Outremont to develop the new project. FAÉCUM’s investment will be injected into the Popular University Student Housing (PUSH) Fund, a non-profit rotating investment fund known as Fonds CLÉ in French that has provided the startup funds for other UTILE projects. UTILE leverages the seed money from student associations to seek other financing. “It is a great source of pride for us to launch a very first project north of the mountain for the student population of the Université de Montréal,” Levesque said in the statement about the partnership with FAÉCUM. The federation’s investment, he added, “will provide a living environment adapted to the needs of at least 150 students and will allow them to fully realize their potential.” lgyulai@postmedia.comCourtland Sutton's surge is helping rookie Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos make a playoff push
Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the ZETA Class ...sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman sells $1.97 million in stock
Why This Defensive AI Stock Will Be a Big WinnerNext U.S. ambassador Hoekstra 'easier to do business' with: former envoyIf you are in the market for some fresh Oregon Ducks football fan gear as the team heads off to the expanded College Football Playoff, or in case you need a quick holiday gift or presents for the Oregon football fans in your life, here’s where you can get Big Ten football championship gear and more fan items online with fast shipping. Here’s the official 2024 Oregon Ducks Big Ten Championship T-Shirt ($29.99) in black that players wore on the field following the win over Penn State. There’s also a version in long sleeve and a hooded sweatshirt style with the same graphic. It’s a bit more expensive, but if you prefer the classic Kelly Green color, there’s another Oregon Ducks 2024 Big Ten Champions Tee ($44.99) that reflects the undefeated record and displays the schedule with scores for every game so far this season. If you don’t want something branded with the Big Ten title game, you can get more Oregon Ducks football gear , including the latest College Football Playoff shirts, hats and more online from Fanatics. For example, The college football team-inspired Oregon Ducks Nike Zoom Pegasus 41 running shoes are. They are still in stock in popular sizes (Men’s size 7-10.5) and are currently on sale at around $100 (instead of the usual $150 price tag). These Kelly Green Ducks Pegasus 41 shoes that were released earlier this season combine elements from past Pegasus models with an all-green look, including the classic Oregon “O” on top of the toe box. Once again, these would make for a nice Christmas gift, especially if you are already buying one of the T-Shirts mentioned above.
Title: Messi's Comeback and Contract Renewal: Why Barcelona Can't Wait Any LongerTitle: Arsenal Eyeing Left Winger Reinforcement - What about the Attack? Gunners' Expected Goals in Open Play Rank Near Bottom