Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence dominates the August–October issue of Paradise, a bumper issue of almost 200 pages that is the largest ever produced by Air Niugini. 
Our comprehensive coverage of the anniversary, which falls on September 16, includes a roundup of independence events, including street parades, fireworks, military demonstrations, airshows, an official flag-raising ceremony, and festivals around the country.
Paradise also pays tribute to 50 great people, remarkable events and storied institutions that have helped shape the nation over the past half century. No 1, of course, is Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare who is widely acknowledged as the ‘father of the nation’.
Among the others who have helped shape the nation are politicians, businesspeople, sportspeople and musicians.
In other anniversary stories, the Prime Minister James Marape provides a special message, we look at how nationhood came about, we trace the economic journey of the country, and two prominent Papua New Guineans reflect on independence.
A pictorial spread shows PNG’s coming of age with photos that include Sir Michael, Prince Charles (now King Charles III), PNG’s first Governor General Sir John Guise and former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
There’s also a province-by-province guide of PNG, which shows the shape of the nation as it stands 50 years down the track.
To coincide with milestone anniversary, Air Niugini is upgrading its fleet. We take a close look at the Airbus A220 that is among the airline’s brand-new acquisitions.
The plane’s arrival signifies a transformative step in the nation’s aviation history, introducing a new era of comfortable air travel.
Meanwhile, in our travel pages our writers journey to Milne Bay, Brisbane, Honiara and Manila.
In other stories, we meet a couple who are helping save PNG’s endangered tree kangaroos, a former patrol officer who has written a book of PNG war stories, and an American professor who is studying PNG drums and along the way has discovered some off-beat facts about singing dogs and bananas.
Our regular columns and departments include food and hotel reviews, books, wellness, wine, business and gadgets.
Happy reading.
Robert Upe, Editor