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Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Prime Minister Marape Reinforces PNG's Commitment At MSG
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, arrived Sunday in Suva, Fiji, to attend the 23rd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders' Summit. The summit, chaired by Fiji this year, brings together leaders from all Melanesian states and the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia) to address shared priorities such as climate action, trade, regional security, and decolonisation efforts. Prime Minister Marape is accompanied by the higher education minister, Feo Kinoka. His attendance underscores Papua New Guinea's commitment as a founding and senior member of the MSG, an organisation established in 1986 to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties among Melanesian nations. Vanuatu has handed over its role as chairperson to Fiji. This transition preceded the formal opening of the MSG Leaders Plenary meeting and a closed-door Leaders' Retreat. Prime Minister Marape is expected to deliver Papua New Guinea's country statement, reaffirming the nation's dedication to strengthening MSG cooperation while reinforcing broader regional partnerships through the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). "The Pacific region stands at a crossroads. We must take a proactive approach to safeguarding our sovereignty, protecting our resources, and ensuring that our voices are heard on the global stage. Our collective efforts must also voice strongly against human rights abuses in our region and for respect for all our people and members of our Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Melanesian Spearhead Group community, and others." He is also anticipated to advocate for reforms within regional organisations to ensure they remain responsive, inclusive, and capable of meeting current and future development and security challenges. A significant aspect of Prime Minister Marape's engagement in Fiji includes high-level political talanoa consultations with the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the PIF. These discussions are taking place on the sidelines of the MSG Leaders' Meeting and are part of a wider regional effort led by the PIF to enhance Pacific solidarity and strategic cooperation. The talanoa process will focus on critical issues such as regional security, climate change, fisheries resource management, political governance, national sovereignty, and the institutional reforms of both regional and sub-regional groupings in the Pacific. Prime Minister Marape has consistently called for a reformed and united Pacific architecture, and he is expected to advocate for stronger collaboration between MSG members and the wider Pacific community. He has emphasised the importance of regional ownership, institutional capacity-building, and ensuring that regional decision-making remains grounded in Pacific cultural values while embracing innovation, inclusion, and resilience. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is present at the MSG meeting as an observer, and there have been calls for West Papua to be included as a full member of the MSG. This ongoing discussion reflects a persistent aspiration for greater recognition and self-determination for West Papua within the Melanesian family. It is understood that Prime Minister Marape will also highlight his discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron on New Caledonia. These discussions typically centre on the decolonisation process in New Caledonia and the future of the FLNKS, which is a member of the MSG, reflecting a shared regional interest in the self-determination of the Kanak people.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Heather Graham, 55, wows in another busty ensemble after revealing the secret to her youthful looks
Heather Graham was a sight to behold at the Filming Italy festival in Santa Margherita di Pule, Italy on Saturday. The Boogie Nights star, 55, wore a figure-hugging white gown with a plunging neckline that showed off her cleavage. Her long blonde pair was parted slightly off center in long, loose waves. The Hangover actress' makeup featured smoky eyes and sun-kissed cheeks. Heather's skin glowed with youthful exuberance and she recently shared her tips for looking young in her mid-fifties. 'I think what matters most is how you feel inside. Decide that you're hot and enjoy your life,' Heather - who last stunned in a blue co-ord - told Retreat. 'What other people think of you is none of your business. If you feel good about yourself, no one can take that away from you. 'Pursue the things that fill you with joy, and surround yourself with loving people,' Heather said. Graham went on to reveal that she doesn't drink or do drugs and she feels that plays a big part in how she looks at 55. Graham continued, 'I get a lot of sleep. Eating healthy makes me feel good. I like cooking for myself and other people. And I love it when people cook for me. 'Basically, I like eating! Also, I do affirmations. I think they are very powerful. 'I work on strengthening my inner loving parent muscle, so I can be supportive and loving to myself. One of my affirmations is: "This is the best time of my life."' And Heather doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk. 'I feel like as I get older, I just care less about things that don't matter,' she told People in April. Heather's skin glowed with youthful exuberance and she recently shared her tips for looking young in her mid-fifties. Seen here June 21, 2025 'Everyone gets upset sometimes, but I think that I'm happier. I've done enough hard work on myself that I feel like I'm a happier person now.' Graham also explained how she gets and keeps her calm, cool, and zen attitude. 'I just enjoy the simple things in life — like sleeping, eating, my friends, things like that. I love meditating.' Her happy place is the ocean and she combines that and yoga to keep her slender frame in shape. 'I like going on yoga retreats because, to be honest, I love just being by the ocean,' she said. 'So, anytime I'm at the ocean, I just feel happier.' And when she's stressed out, she heads outside to absorb nature. 'I like to go out in nature, go to the beach, look at the ocean, go on a hike, go into the mountains, look at the trees," the Chosen Family told the outlet. Over the years, she's shared a few tricks to her age-defying looks, including her 'obsession' with yoga, a sugar-free diet and up to 12 hours of sleep a night. 'I'm obsessed with yoga,' she also told Refinery29 previously. 'For fun, I would go on a yoga retreat and do four hours of yoga a day. Then I do Pilates.' 'What other people think of you is none of your business. If you feel good about yourself, no one can take that away from you,' she said. Seen here June 21, 2025 During that interview, she also insisted that her restrictive diet just makes her 'feel a lot better.' 'I do eat sugar sometimes, but as a broad rule, I try to just eat no sugar basically,' she explained.
Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto to make first state visit to Singapore on June 16
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong meeting Mr Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, on Oct 20, 2024. PHOTO: MDDI Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto to make first state visit to Singapore on June 16 SINGAPORE – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will make his first state visit to Singapore on June 16. Mr Prabowo, who took office in October 2024, will receive a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House, said Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) on June 15. He will call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who will host a state banquet in his honour. Mr Prabowo will also meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for the annual Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat. The two leaders have met several times since they each took over as heads of government. For PM Wong, that was in May 2024. PM Wong visited Jakarta in end-October to attend Mr Prabowo's inauguration and joined other invited leaders to personally offer his congratulations. He also made an introductory visit to Jakarta at the start of November. The pair also met recently on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit in May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MFA said that as the highest-level platform between the two countries, the annual meeting – in its eighth iteration this year – is 'testament to the excellent bilateral relations and strong interpersonal ties between our leaders'. This will be the first Leaders' Retreat for both men in their current capacities. They had attended the Leaders' Retreat hosted by Indonesia in April 2024, when PM Wong was still deputy prime minister, and Mr Prabowo was president-elect. MFA said PM Wong and Mr Prabowo will review the 'strong and substantive cooperation' between Singapore and Indonesia and chart the way forward. 'Singapore and Indonesia share a longstanding friendship and collaborate closely in key areas such as defence, the green economy, and connectivity,' said the ministry. Recent milestones include three key agreements to strengthen cooperation in clean energy and sustainable development. The memorandums of understanding were inked on June 13 during a visit to Jakarta by Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology, and Dr Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia's Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources. Three landmark pacts between the two countries also officially came into force on March 21, 2024. The three agreements – which deal with airspace management, defence cooperation and extradition – come under an expanded framework between the two countries. MFA said Mr Prabowo will be accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono and Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. He will also be accompanied by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Goh Yan Han is political correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Edinburgh Reporter
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Beating Retreat at The Royal Scots Club
At The Royal Scots Club on Saturday evening HRH The Princess Royal attended the Beating Retreat to take the salute. The Lowland Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland alongside The Royal Scots Association Pipe Band performed along Abercromby Place. Members of the club had met HRH at a drinks reception earlier, after an unveiling of a new plaque to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth in Princes Street Gardens. Members of the public were encouraged to gather on the street to witness the annual event. Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Chelsea Pensioners at the Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam The Rt Hon Lord Provost Beating Retreat. © 2025 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Beating Retreat ceremony resumes at Punjab borders after 12-day suspension, public entry from May 21
CHANDIGARH: After twelve days, the Beating Retreat ceremony resumed at all three Joint Check Posts (JCPs) of the Punjab Frontier, Attari in Amritsar, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur, and Sadqi in Fazilka. The ceremony will be held exclusively for media personnel today, while the public will be allowed to attend starting from May 21. The decision to scale down the ceremony was taken last month. The Border Security Force (BSF) had halted the retreat ceremony at the Attari border on May 8 following Operation Sindoor, a military response to the tragic April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. However, the ceremony, resuming today, will be curtailed as BSF troops will not shake hands with Pakistan Rangers, and the gates will not be opened during the flag-lowering process, as declared earlier, said sources. During the suspension of the ceremony, the flag-lowering continued without public attendance. The absence of spectators had impacted the local economy, which is reliant on tourism.
