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PNG in the News
PNG landowners upset at Hidden Valley mine over spinoffs -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=47459
PNG acts on medicine racket -- http://australianetworknews.com/stories/200906/2611288.htm
Trouble-causing settlement removed - A settlement in Port Moresby was destroyed by police recently following the killing of three people in the aftermath of the second Australian State of Origin game -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090630/news07.htm
Six arrested in PNG over 'Origin' deaths -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2a957d
Errol Flynn was a Nazi spy, says author -- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25696869-5006788,00.html
PNG Polis i rausim setelemen long Port Moresby -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/news/stories/200906/s2610048.htm
Wendy Kopelya and the HIV AIDS program in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a8ba5d
Displaced Manam Islanders could be forced back home -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=47312
PNG Blogs
A sample of Blogs about PNG
Mike and Alison in PNG -- http://www.offexploring.com/mikeandalison
PNG Life -- http://pnglife.blogspot.com/
Jac & John's PNG -- http://www.offexploring.com/jrosenthal
Kange Nga Kona -- http://pngemmiyet.blogspot.com
Climbing Mt Hagen -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/07/01/climbing-mt-hagen/
PNG Andrew -- http://pngandrew.blogspot.com/
PNG Fords -- http://pngfords.blogspot.com/
PNG Travel and Info Blog -- http://visitnewguinea.blogspot.com
Smyths in PNG -- http://smythsinpng.wordpress.com/
Australian Associated Press PNG Blog -- http://aappng.blogspot.com/
Birds in Paradise -- http://birdsinparadise.wordpress.com/
Charlye in PNG -- http://charlyeinpng.blogspot.com
Madang - Ples Bilong Mi -- http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress
Malum Nalu's Blog -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/
Matt in PNG working for MAF -- http://mattinpng.com/
PNG Images
Rabaul Volcanoes on Flickr -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobswanson/3663606432/
http://www.veoh.com/search/videos/q/papua+new+guinea#watch%3Dv6316175JAJTNztx
The Caritas Girls Technical School in Port Moresby cultural day photos -- http://aappng.blogspot.com/2009/06/port-moresby-cultural-day.html
Streets of Mt Hagen Video -- http://video.asterpix.com/v/384907071/main-streets-of-mt-hagen-papua-new-guinea/
Image of Kimbe Bay, West New Britain -- http://www.panoramio.com/photo/9724713
Wewak photos -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/06/02/wewak-photos/
Transport in PNG -- http://tb3.org/transport-in-papua-new-guinea/
Random PNG Links
Origin build up in Madang -- http://babylonisburning.popishfrenzy.net/?p=55
PNG Explorer -- http://www.pngexplorers.com/
EguHaus - My House for the PNG property hunter -- http://www.eguhaus.com/
Wild PNG Web Site -- http://www.wildpng.com/
Vanimo Village Reef -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3b563e
Bill has spent many years flying around PNG for various airlines read his view at -- http://users.bigpond.net.au/billsview/png.htm
Milne Bay Cruises -- http://www.marlin1charters.com.au/
Tawali Resort -- http://www.tawali.com
Alotau International Hotel -- http://www.alotauinternationalhotel.com.pg/
News Items
PNG Rubber
Executives from a family earthmoving company in the Cloudy Bay area of Central province have travelled to Malaysia on a study tour to see what
they could do to revive the rubber industry in the Cape Rodney area. One of the options is to focus on downstream processing with the production of surgical gloves and condoms in the country. The current price of rubber on the world market stands at K1 per kilo.
Floods Hit Milne Bay
Over a thousand people have been affected with their houses, property and food gardens washed away in recent flash flooding due to heavy rain in Milne Bay province -- http://digg.com/environment/Floods_hit_Milne_Bay - see also -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090626/news02.htm -- and -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090701/news01.htm
Mendi Hospital
The only Head and Neck Surgery team in the highlands has visited Mendi General Hospital in the Southern Highlands province from their base in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province. Over 80 patients were seen and a reasonable number operated on.
See -- http://www.giaman.com/pg/?b7d287
New 7 Wonders
Have your vote for PNG in the Official New7Wonders of Nature nominations. Vote for the Madang Lagoon, The Great Barrier Reef and still have five votes left for other wonders of nature. Select the continent category and select Oceania to view a list.
http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote_on_nominees/
To guard against false voting they will send you a confirmation e-mail after you have registered. Any vote you make will not be counted until you have clicked on the link in the e-mail.
New US Ambassador?
US President Barack Obama has announced his intent to nominate Teddy B. Taylor to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu. If confirmed, Mr. Taylor would succeed Leslie V. Rowe, a career diplomat who was appointed US Ambassador to PNG in 2006. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?16210e
Killers Hunted by Police
A special task force is to be established to help police find the killers of a truck driver in Kerowagi in Chimbu. The driver was killed and several other employees of the trucking firm, IPI, were injured when they were attacked by tribes people in retaliation for the death of another of the company's workers in an unrelated vehicle accident last April.
Popondetta Riot
Following a rampage by oil palm growers in Oro Province over 20 people have been arrested by police in Popondetta, for looting and having in their possession stolen property.
see -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=47426
The Bank South Pacific in Popondetta was forced to close -- http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200907/2614200.htm
Chinese Military Ties
PNG has pledged to strengthen and expand its military ties with China. Xinhua, China's government news agency, has reported successful talks between PNG's Defence Force, Commander Peter Ilau, and China's Defence Minister Liang Guanglie and Chen Bingde, chief of staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
PNG forged bilateral ties with China in 1976, one year after PNG gained independence from Australian territorial administration.
Air Niugini Schedule
The National Airline has altered it schedule.
Air Niugini's direct flight to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia will now be combined with the Singapore service. The flight will now leave Port Moresby at 10 mins to 5 on Thursday afternoon and arrive in Singapore at 10 mins past 9pm before heading off to KL for an expected arrival at 10 mins past 11pm. The plane will then return non stop to Port Moresby arriving at 9am Friday.
Other international sectors - Brisbane, Cairns, Singapore, Manila, Honiara and Nadi has also seen changes in departure and arrival times. There have been changes to the domestic schedule as well.
A copy of the Air Niugini schedule can be found here -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg/pxmisc/SCHAL108.pdf
Carbon Chief Suspended
Theo Yasause, PNG's Office of Climate Change (OCC) director, has been suspended recently following reports that he issued unofficial carbon credits worth millions of Kina from 39 different forestry projects. He has denied any suggestion of wrongdoing, telling Australia's Canberra Times newspaper: "I have not sold or made any money out of this process. I have done no deals, nor sold any credits."
A nephew of Prime Minister Michael Somare is accused of pressuring remote villagers to sign away their land for carbon deals despite there being no carbon trade laws in place. A spokeswoman from Somare's office said there was no connection to the prime minister.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ad4ece
Boxing Tragedy
A boxer making his professional debut has recently died in Port Moresby General Hospital after sustaining head injuries during a six-round welterweight fight held during a PNG Pro Boxing Federation bout.
Full story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d72457
Kokoda Track Refurbishment
Australia will spend around K27,000 to refurbish part of the Kokoda Track and build two memorials to Australian servicemen killed in PNG. The funding will be used to restore and repaint the Memorial Archway, a nearby 25-pounder gun at Owers' Corner and the 39th infantry battalion memorial.
PNG's Worst City
Where is PNG's worst city? The National Capital of Port Moresby has long had a reputation as being one of the most unliveable cities for expatriates in the world or so it seems if you believe an annual survey conducted and published by The Economist. The last survey rated it as 137 out of 140 cities. However citizens of Lae claim criminals have better weapons and ammunition than the police and security companies. They even have better police uniforms than the police! Goroka along with other major towns has recently suffered days of rioting mainly targeted at Asian operated shops. Even far flung Porgera has been hit by troubles. No town is immune a little over a year ago the only bank in Kerema town was robbed. It was reported as an inside job organised by the entire senior staff together with local criminals. It might just be that every town can claim the prize of being the worst at one time or another.
See also - That's not a woman stoning the magistrate, that's his wife! -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/070309/nation4.php
Security Guard Shoots at Shoppers
A security company in Port Moresby has admitted it guards were involved in a nasty incident at a local shop. A guard from the Pacific Corporate Security company has fired shots at a family waiting in their vehicle outside a shop in Port Moresby. PNG's security industry is booming, with an increasing number of businesses and individuals hiring guards for numerous reasons.
Full Story -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090703/news06.htm
Unagi Oval
Deputy PM and also Lands and Physical Planning Minister says his decision on reclassifying the Unagi oval was based on a previous court ruling. Sir Puka Temu says he will not back down on his decision to reclassify the Unagi oval land at Gordon for commercial purposes. Dorothy Tekwie has organised a petition to save the oval. see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ee8c62 -- It has drawn wide support from all sectors of the community.
and also - City folks see red over Sir Puka's U-turn on Unagi oval and park -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/070309/nation12.php
see also - Many dubious deals -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/070309/nation2.php
Opposition says no to sale of Unagi oval -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090703/news08.htm
Telikom Satellite Network
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has announced it has been selected by Telikom PNG Ltd. to provide a broadband satellite communications network covering hundreds of sites. Telikom PNG has chosen Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II platforms for the project. Gilat has been providing Telikom PNG with VSAT-based networks for more than four years, meeting the country's need for robust communications solutions in outlying towns and remote villages, many of which are accessible only by helicopter. -- http://www.gilat.com
Defence Force Air Wing
The Defence Force Air Transport Wing has a new commanding officer. He is Lt Col John Imaka, who took over from Lt Col Chester Berobero.
Women MP's Bill
Another attempt is being be made to successfully table and pass the motion for the nomination of three women representatives to Parliament. The motion will be debated before votes will be taken during the July session of Parliament. The Opposition refused to support the motion when it was first introduced by the Prime Minister in March of this year.
Guns Committee Report
Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) has expressed support for the Minister for Internal Security Hon Sani Rambi for his plans to table in parliament the long shelved Guns Committee Report compiled in 2005.
Full report -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f50c18
Coming Events
Tolai Warwagira from 8th to 14th July and Mask Festival from 15th to 18th July at Kokopo East New Britain. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?337d94
Salvation Army musician tour. 26 young musicians from Sydney, Australia, will be in the country from the 10th to the 20th of July. They will visit schools and communities in Port Moresby, Goroka and Kainantu.
Trukai Olympic Fun Run - 12th of July.
PNG Remembrance Day - 23rd of July.
Western Highlands provincial show - 18th and 19th of August
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 30th of Aug to the 4th of September.
PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum 2009 Seminars 27th to the 30th of October 2009. -- http://skerah.com/Venuecentral/Premiumlink/pngcmp.php -- or -- http://www.pngchamberminpet.com.pg/conference.html -- a bit out of date.
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/ -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
6th to 8th of November - National Canoe and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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