FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: AUGUST 2026

In one of the most heartwarming stories we have seen in Paradise, we report on the battle to save baby Sawong Kevin Mitian – one half of Papua New Guinea’s conjoined twins born last October.

Sawong is living proof of resilience, compassion and the extraordinary power of determination shown by people in PNG and Australia who refused to give up on his life when many feared he was too fragile to save.

Surgery in Australia saved Sawong but his twin, Tom, died shortly after surgery.

After six months of specialist medical care in Australia, Sawong came home to PNG with his parents on an Air Niugini flight.

There were tears and smiles at Jacksons International Airport on his return and during the journey home a benefactor stepped forward and pledged to support Sawong’s education from primary school to the completion of university.

Compassion is also at the forefront of the Christian organisation Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which is celebrating 75 years of delivering humanitarian help in PNG.

We report on the many facets of MAF, from delivering lifesaving flights, to delivering emergency aid and responding to disasters such as floods.

Meanwhile, momentum is picking up for the PNG Chiefs, who are set to join Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028. In a 10-page report, we introduce the first of the team’s key signings, including the new coach, an assistant coach, an operations manager and the first star players.

The new coach, Willie Peters, reveals to Paradise why he took on the job. “This is bigger than football,” he says. “The opportunity to build a brand-new club for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific is something very special.”

In this issue, Paradise travels into the Sepik, reports on eight short getaways from Port Moresby, provides a guide to Singapore for corporate travellers, and speaks with Air Niugini’s new CEO, Alan Milne, in an in-depth and exclusive interview.

On the food front, we review Port Moresby’s Akura Dining and Lounge Bar, and we speak to celebrity chef Julz Henao about his miniseries that explores the food links between PNG and Australia.

In the business world, we report on the winners of the Innovation PNG 2026 Awards and look at the progress and plans of the massive Chinatown development that is rising prominently along the intersection of Boroko Drive and Hubert Murray Highway in Port Moresby.

A special ‘Trailblazers’ report celebrates the stories of some of the companies and individuals who have shaped PNG and the wider region, among them corporate entities such as BSP, TE PNG, PNG Forest Products, Westpac PNG and KPMG PNG.

You can read the current issue of Paradise here.

Robert Upe, Editor