At our first Politics group at the beginning of the month, Liz Truss, the British Prime Minister had just released her new budget which caused some angst in the financial sector not only in Britain but also world-wide.     The Bank of England had to come to the party, per se, and take actions to settle the markets in England.    Putin was still warring with Ukraine, there were elections to be held in Italy and Brazil.    President Biden was trying to make ground in the mid-term elections in USA.    It was all happening.

At our next Politics group Liz Truss had resigned as Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak has been voted in as the new Prime Minister.    The results of the Italian general election showed the centre-right coalition led by Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, a radical-right political party with neo-fascist roots,  winning an absolute majority of seats in the Italian Parliament.   Meloni was appointed Prime Minister of Italy becoming the first woman to hold that position.   Brazil voters go to the elections this Sunday, so we wait for that result between Lula de Silva and Jair Bolsonaro who were neck and neck in the 1st round.

Vladamir Putin is showing off his nuclear weapons to the world, whilst Ukraine have been winning back a number of regions in Ukraine, however Putin has his goal of winning the war itself.    USA President Joe Biden is facing mid term elections in three weeks and is hoping that the Economy will improve and turn in his favour prior to the elections, though it could be a bit late now.
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Heather Wallace

Brian Viall invited Gita Korkimbo to attend the last Politics group to speak about her work in Papua New Guinea.  

Gita previously spoke to the group a couple of years ago whilst she was studying to become a Mechanical Engineer at University.     

Gita has now graduated and is working with a Gas Exploration company in the Highlands of PNG.   

Gita's discussion was very interesting, not only as she is one of three female Mechanical Engineers working with the company, they have to be escorted around the highlands region by the army and police in security vehicles for their safety.  
  
Gita also gave an insight to the recent political elections and its effect on the Island and its future.   Questions were also asked about China and its influence in PNG.

Discussion was also held regarding farming out of Public Service organisations to various private organisations and the impact it is having on users of these services, whether it was working to the benefit of these users or just a cost cutting exercise.

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Heather Wallace