Australian PM reaffirms backing for PNG NRL side
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has doubled down on his support for ARLC chairman Peter V’landys’ National Rugby League (NRL) expansion bid, calling for a 20-team competition. V’landys is reportedly
Black Wednesday: PNG’s Tinder Box explodes
Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is recovering from looting and burning of businesses in its National Capital District (NCD) after members of the PNG Police Force went on strike last month. “Black
Opinion: The politics of riots in Melanesia
The riots that erupted in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, on January 10 have left a trail of destruction likely to have severe political ramifications. Such disturbances in Melanesia’s major cities are not
WHO watches for new covid variants
Three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more than 774 million confirmed cases and more than seven million reported deaths globally, according to recent statistics by the World Health
Dropouts declining, but education challenges remain
Analysis of 2021 data on student retention and attrition of students indicates that student dropouts are gradually decreasing in the region. Data collected by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Pacific women and online abuse
Fijian women are bearing the brunt of online abuse, says the country’s Online Safety Commission (OSC). The OSC says 61.44% of Fijian women experience this form of violence while men account for 38.56%. Facebook
Stop fuel supply notice to affect PNG Air flight
The stop fuel supply notice by Puma Energy has now posed an imposition to business and communities traveling on the PNG Air Network. PNG Air in a statement said that under the circumstances PNG Air has assessed that the
Bank boss paints positive picture of PNG prospects
Kina Bank plans to invest over K30 million (US$7.9 million) this year to expand and refine its services with a focus on improving Papua New Guinea customer service, says Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,
Country must never face repeat of civil unrest: PNG Business Council
Papua New Guinea Business Council President, Susil Nelson-Kongoi says there should not be a repeat of the 10 January civil unrest in Port Moresby and around the country. She told the Prime Minister’s back-to-business
PNG PM Marape addresses Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion with confidence
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has openly welcomed the Opposition’s motion for a vote-of-no-confidence against him. This announcement came after the Acting Speaker, Konie Iguan, briefed Parliament
Complaints mount at PNG ‘care centers’ for volcano displaced
Several thousand people remain in limbo three months after the eruption of Papua New Guinea’s Mt Ulawun, living at muddy camps euphemistically named “care centres” by authorities, and increasingly unhappy about
PNG PM Marape describes challenge as ‘frivolous’ and ‘opportunistic’
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has described planned attempts to challenge his government in a vote of no confidence motion as “frivolous and opportunistic”. The traditional 18-month grace period that
Joseph Lelang resigns as PNG Opposition Leader
Joseph Lelang has resigned as Papua New Guinea Leader of the Opposition and also as a member of the People’s National Congress party. This shocking announcement comes after Lelang received huge backlash from the
Three PNG MPs defect government amidst vote of no confidence agenda
Three members of Papua New Guinea parliament have defected from the government to join the opposition as moves aimed at throwing out the Pangu-led government. The vote of no confidence agenda is high on the table as
PNG PM Marape urges Australia to not ‘give up’ on his country in historic parliament address
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape has urged Australia to not “give up” on his country during an historic address to the federal parliament. On Thursday morning, Marape became the first Pacific
PM Albanese extends warm welcome and solidarity to PNG PM Marape in Australian Parliament
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Thursday extended a warm welcome to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at the Australian Parliament in Canberra – the first leader of another nation to address
Former PNG PM worried about laws to curb media, freedom of speech
The Papua New Guinea Government plans to introduce laws to curb free speech and freedom of the press, former prime minister Peter O’Neill says. In a statement, O’Neill said the same law would jail any journalist or
Allies ‘have to compete aggressively’ with China for Pacific security, U.S. warns
The U.S. has urged Papua New Guinea to turn down China’s offer of a security pact, increasing pressure on the prime minister of Australia’s nearest neighbour as he prepares to address parliament in Canberra this
PNG MP coy on security talks with China
Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko Tuesday avoided questions about a potential security and policing deal with China, and instead extolled security relationships between PNG and Australia.
Papua New Guinea in talks with China on security cooperation, foreign minister says
Papua New Guinea is in early talks with China on a potential security and policing deal, the country’s foreign minister Justin Tkachenko has said, weeks after deadly riots in the country’s capital. Amid jostling
PNG coalition intact, no split in government
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Pila Niningi has brushed claims of a “split” in the coalition government, saying it is intact with the ruling Pangu Pati’s 53 MPs united. “So much rumour
China-born businesswoman charged over meth flight built a web of influence in PNG
Mei Lin is a prominent member of Papua New Guinea’s business community, with ties to influential locals. She’s also allegedly a key player in an audacious drug trafficking plot. Key Findings Chinese-born
PNG Immigration under investigation
Papua New Guinea’s government has engaged prominent accounting firm KPMG to investigate the PNG Humanitarian Programme and its links to an alleged Chinese drug dealer. The investigation will also cover the PNG
