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PNG News Links
Port Moresby Soccer Association Pre-Season Competition -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c6d43f
PNG electoral commissioner won't use power to halve campaign -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e71b95
Naru Pleased with Lae's Dwellers' run -- http://giaman.com/pg/?80dc27
Australia uneasy over Chinese influence in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?511973
EMTV News -- http://giaman.com/pg/?920fa8
Trial on stolen noodles goes to Goroka -- http://giaman.com/pg/?521584
Kerema Coronation Secondary School Opens New Classroom -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a28ab3
Misc. Links
Kaulga's Travel Diary -- http://kaulga.blogspot.com.au/
Vocal Fusion Battle of Seasons 3 and 4 Underway -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b64e34
Things to do in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?706a56
PNG Official Tourism Website -- http://www.tpa.papuanewguinea.travel
PNG - Wikipedia -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea
Marvel at the Truly Awesome Sight (And Sound) Of a Volcanic Blast -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c00030
Book - Just Talk: Gossip, Meetings, and Power in a PNG Village -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0b053a
PNG Blogs -- http://www.pngblogs.com/
The UK Telegraph - articles about PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a6fe7c
Getting to Sunset Lodge, Lea Lea -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f45fc9
News Items
PNG Games
The 7th BSP PNG Games has been postponed again this time to the 18th of 18th said the Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko in a recent press conference. This was the final decision made after the PNG Games Committee meeting. The postponement was due to various reasons including the weather, contractors slow pace in preparation for the games infrastructure and also provincial members' snail pace in confirming their provincial teams. The Minister said he is disappointed but had to abide with the decision coming from the games committee. The games will now start on the 18th of November and end on the 2nd of December 2017.
EMTV -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9fbecb
Former Miss PNG Dies
Former Miss South Pacific PNG 2012-2013, Ruby Laufa, has passed away just a few days short of her 25th birthday. A suspect, from East New Britain province, is currently in custody, being questioned by Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers.
Loop PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2dabae
PNG mourn death of former beauty queen Ruby-Anne Laufa -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3e25af
Emergency Deaths Can Be Prevented -- http://giaman.com/pg/?237936
Fiji Allows PNG Imports
The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) has allowed imports of certain PNG products into Fiji but under certain conditions. According to a notice released by BAF, "BAF has reviewed the import requirements of Ox and Palm corned-beef, Trukai rice and Lae biscuits into Fiji. Personal import of these products from PNG is permitted into Fiji.
Pasifik News -- http://giaman.com/pg/?47c54c
NZ Foreign Minister Visits
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to PNG and the Solomon Islands for meetings with their political leaders about partnerships, economic development and maintaining political stability.
Scoop NZ -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d4b612
Milne Bay Policing
Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Joseph Morehari has blamed political interference for his suspension from the provinces top cop chair. PPC Morehari said this when briefing his various section heads on Tuesday February 7, at the Alotau Police Station Community Policing Hall.
Loop PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a070ec
Mt Hagen City Hygiene
The Chief Executive Officer of the newly-established Mt Hagen City Authority is rebutting media publicity blaming them for the City's untidiness, and increase in petty crimes. CEO Leo Noki said there is a court order in place which prevents the Authority from working, and keeping Mt. Hagen City clean and safe.
EMTV -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2384db
Dual Citizenship
Applications for Dual Citizenship will be ready by March this year. In a recent statement, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, said the arrangement will be ready once all administrative arrangements are finalised. He said the delay in the legislative amendments certified at the end of 2016 has been completed and will now enable administrative steps to move forward.
Loop PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d3b621
Manam Settlers Facing Problems
About 15,000 Manam Islanders who are living in care centres are faced with land problems, according to Manam Resettlement Project caretaker Paul Akuram. The islanders were evacuated from Manam when the volcano erupted in Dec 2004 and Feb 2005.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f50235
Wildlife Settlement Area
The Wildlife settlement area outside of Port Moresby have a collective voice through an association to receive basic government services. The Wildlife Border Association Inc., will be a platform for people to access government services like water supply systems, electricity access and education.
EMTV -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ec26c6
PNG Water Supply
World Bank has approved a credit of US$70 million (K223 million) to support PNG's water sector - improving access to clean and reliable water supply in the nine provincial towns and 10 rural districts. The bank's board of executive directors approved the credit to support the Government's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene policy.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?5c9662
Eda Ranu to replace pipes -- http://giaman.com/pg/?85e800
American Doctors in Madang
Two volunteer doctors from the United States are currently in the country, carrying out a rural medical outreach program at Gama LLG in Madang Province. Gama is one of the least developed areas of the Usino-Bundi District of Madang.
Loop PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f1ac9c
Sirinumu Dam
The water level at the Sirinumu Dam outside Port Moresby is rising because of recent rain, says Eda Ranu chief executive officer Henry Mokono. He said the water level had reached "50 per cent capacity".
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b2e0de
APEC
The Prime Minister of Singapore, H.E. Lee Hsien Loong, has confirmed that he will attend the APEC PNG 2018 Leaders' Summit in Port Moresby.
PNG Today -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2cbf12
Teacher Assaulted in Hagen
Classes at a school in the heart of Mt Hagen have been suspended for one week after a female teacher was allegedly raped. Over 1200 students were sent home from the Tarangau primary school as police investigate the incident.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7b2550
Hospital Failed Hamid Kehazaei
Staff at Port Moresby's Pacific International hospital appeared not to comprehend that Hamid Kehazaei was critically ill and dying, leaving him unattended even as the life-saving machines he was attached to were "alarming", an inquest into his death has heard.
The Guardian -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ad542c
See also - Emergency Deaths Can Be Prevented -- http://giaman.com/pg/?237936
Lorengau Breakout
Police have confirmed that nine people broke out of the police cells at the Lorengau court house in Manus on Saturday. Acting provincial police commander Senior Inspector David Yapu said the nine escaped between 10pm and midnight using a bolt-cutter to open the lock.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2add14
Asylum Seeker Update
Officials at an Australian immigration centre on Manus Island are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through.
Offering money to failed asylum seekers to return home is not illegal. However, the sums being offered by Australian officials have more than doubled since a year ago, and are far above the funds being offered elsewhere.
Reuters -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f92a16
PNG deports Manus asylum seekers -- http://giaman.com/pg/?dd5b0f
US Begins Vetting Asylum Seekers on Manus -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d587fe
Iranian Refugee Returned
Responding to news that Loghman Sawari, an Iranian refugee who fled PNG to escape the cruel and inhumane treatment of refugees, has been remanded in custody, Amnesty International said: "His case is extreme, and he simply cannot be left to languish in despair in PNG."
Amnesty International -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e86d48
Sawari awaits bail decision -- http://giaman.com/pg/?25bd1d
Doing Business in PNG
The National Research Institute (PNGNRI) director Dr Charles Yala says the cost of doing business in the country is high. Speaking at the recent opening of the refurbished Thomas Webster Research Building at PNGNRI, Yala said the costs of doing business were exorbitant and killing private sector development, especially the small to medium enterprise sector. This in turn kills job and income generating opportunities for the people of PNG.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?70eefe
How Dangerous is PNG?
PNG is often described as a dangerous country to visit. The Atlas & Boots website has come up with a list of the most dangerous countries to visit for 2016. Having lived in PNG unsurprisingly PNG comes in as being better (less dangerous) than the United States of America. USA is rated at 61 and PNG at 65. Not much difference. Australia is 149 and New Zealand is 160 out of the 163 countries ranked. The worst country, at number one, is Syria followed by South Sudan and Iraq.
Atlas and Boots -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e4d448
Lewas Finish Winless
PNG have finished winless at the Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Sri Lanka. The Lewas were dismissed for just 76 runs in their final pool match against South Africa.
Radio New Zealand -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3ed734
Women's World Cup Cricket Qualifier: Scotland beat PNG after Bangladesh loss -- http://giaman.com/pg/?022104
Oro Eye Treatment
Over seventy people in the remote areas of Northern (Oro) Province have had their sight restored. This was made possible through a joint partnership between the Youths With a Mission Medical ship, Pacific International Hospital and the New Britain Palm Oil Limited.
One PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f84cb9
Major Popondetta drug ring uncovered -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f5e8be
MP Mori Arrested
Wera Mori, has been arrested and charged with eight charges, including official corruption. The charges include two counts of official corruption, armed robbery, obstruction of police duties, deprivation of liberty, and perverting the course of justice.
Radio New Zealand -- http://giaman.com/pg/?833c25
Paga Hill Development
PNG Minister for Sports and member for Port Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko says he will be writing to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, for the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into details surrounding the Acquisition of the Paga Hill land, and the manner in which this process took place.
PNG Today -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a5eb18
Goroka Market Concerns
The once clean Goroka market will soon be closed as it is unhygienic and unhealthy for operation, health authorities say. "There has been no water for washing of hands, no proper place for rubbish disposal, pigs and dogs are roaming around the place and people are selling their produce on the ground everyday," Dr Max Manape, director for public health with the Eastern Highlands government, said.
The National -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0b8a33
Breakaway Soccer Clubs
The chairman of the recently-formed Football Federation PNG, John Kapi Natto, is pressing ahead with plans for a new national soccer league, with the backing of a dozen association presidents around the country.
ABC Australia -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1177ef
Old Notes Still Circulating
Bank of PNG Governor Loi Bakani has confirmed over K124 million [US$39 million] demonetised K100 [US$31] bank notes sold to a company in Germany in 2013 are being illegally circulated publicly. These are old K100 paper bank notes, now without any value, which may have allegedly been "hijacked" somewhere in Asia while on route to Europe for destruction and circulated widely, even sold by some people online.
Pacific Islands Report -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4440db
Major Surfing Event
PNG will host a World Surfing Tour event from the 18th through to the 25th of March. The Inaugural World Surf League Men's and Women's Longboard International Event will be hosted in Madang Province at Tupira mira Ulingan Bay in Bogia, Madang province. The event will see a total of 56 surfers, both male and female, from around the world converging on PNG, with an expected TV coverage of the event broadcast to 120 million viewers.
Pasifik News -- http://giaman.com/pg/?eebcb2
Coming Events
Note: please verify any date mentioned as dates change and events can sometimes get cancelled. Of course I may also put down a wrong date.
Petroleum and Energy Summit - The Stanley Hotel, Port Moresby -- http://www.pngsummit.com/ - 28th February - 2nd Mar 2017
Men's and Women's Longboard World Championship Tour Tupira Surf Resort, Madang province - 18th - 25th Mar 2017
Good Friday - 14 Apr 2017
Easter Sunday - 16 Apr 2017
Easter Monday - 17 Apr 2017
Queen's Birthday - 12 Jun 2017
National Remembrance Day - 23 Jul 2017
Independence Day - 16 Sep 2017
Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu 2017
PNG Games have been postponed to 18 Nov 2017
Christmas Day, Monday 25 Dec 2017
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26 Dec 2017
2018 - APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit to be held in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a3e64e
Port Moresby Craft Markets - Laguna Hotel - 1st Saturday of the month (9 am - 2 pm), PNG Arts - 2nd Saturday of the month (9 am - 2 pm), Holiday Inn - 3rd Saturday of the month (9 am - 2 pm), Ela Beach - 4th Saturday of the month (6 am to 12 pm)
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- http://www.pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
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