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PNG in the News
Australian politician visits PNG detention site -- http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201107/3266176.htm
PNG open to new regional fishing treaty -- http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201107/3267247.htm
Snag over PNG medical assessment of PNG leader in Singapore hospital -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61756
Matching grant will help complete 15 Bible translation projects -- http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15957
PNG public service needs shake up -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201107/s3267256.htm
Radio and Kundu 2 TV services hit airwaves -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110713/news16.htm
New Airline -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110714/news01.htm
Misc Links
The Decline of the Pig-Nosed Turtle -- http://giaman.com/pg/?974b56
Rabaul - Rapid Earthquake Viewer -- http://giaman.com/pg/?88aa4d -- and -- http://rev.seis.sc.edu/stations/AU/RABL
Office of Higher Education -- http://www.ohe.gov.pg
The International School of Lae -- http://www.tisol.ac.pg
The Solwara 1 Project -- http://www.cares.nautilusminerals.com/Solwara1.aspx?npath=1,4,5
We are not guinea pigs! -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ea6253
Solomon Islands community in Madang celebrate Independence Day -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6abfe1
Birds of Paradise Lost in New Guinea? -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d1f1ca
PNG Business Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com
PNG Blogs
Photo collections of PNG made bilum products -- http://melanesianway7.blogspot.com
Tony Wu Blog - Motion and Form -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e196de
Goroka Destiny Family (from Perth) -- http://berlmringsall.blogspot.com
News Items
Hanging Sentence
The Kokopo National Court has sentenced five men to death by hanging for killing eight people at sea. Goroka resident judge Joseph Yagi sentenced four brothers to a total of 400 years in jail for the brutal killing of three people they had accused of sorcery.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21143
Help Wanted
Günter Thyzel, in Germany, is trying to catch up with Captain Karl Wagels. Does any reader have current contact details for Captain Karl?
Use the contact form if you can help -- http://pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
Police Band Rejuvenated
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Band has been rejuvenated. For the first time in its history the band saw 98 new police recruits pass out as qualified musicians. Seven of the 98 were women, a first for the band.
Oro Hospital News
The head of the Anglican Church of PNG and the CEO of Popondetta General Hospital announced a significant health care agreement by which Popondetta General Hospital will assume the initial management of St Margaret's Anglican Hospital, Oro Bay, Oro Province. The new hospital's major donors include the Anglican Board of Missions - Sydney, Asia Development Bank and the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e247b7
Mr Pip
Parts of the film adaptation of Mr Pip will be filmed in Bougainville. Lloyd Jones' novel is being translated to the big screen by Oscar-nominated Kiwi director Andrew Adamson, starring House and Blackadder actor Hugh Laurie. Jones visited the set in Bougainville recently and said, "The film's audience is in for a powerful experience. Bougainville looks great on film, and more importantly so do all the locals."
Short listed for the Booker Prize, Mr Pip tells the story of the last white man left in war-torn Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and inspires his pupils by reading his favourite novel, Great Expectations.
Kagi Village Medicine
A gesture of kindness from one man has turned into ongoing support for a small PNG village. Sen-Sgt George Buchhorn, from Broadmeadows in Melbourne, Australia, is walking the Kokoda Track to deliver a special backpack filled with medical supplies for Kagi village health nurse Jerry Dimuda.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?2671d2
Counterfeit Drugs
A small sampling study of anti-infective medicines in Papua New Guinea has found that 100 per cent of the drugs tested failed to meet quality control or authenticity testing.
read more -- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jps.22691/abstract
Goroka University
The Okiufa and Asaroyufa tribes, the traditional landowners of the land where the University of Goroka is located, have officially released the land to the university. Elders from each tribe communicated this in the traditional manner.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/20830
Vanimo Power
The town of Vanimo recently suffered from a blackout due to the failure of the second PNG Power generator at the Vanimo Power Station. The only other generator failed in May so PNG Power has been working frantically to return partial power to the town.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110712/news02.htm
Kokopo Death Probe
An independent investigation team has been set up to look into the involvement of four police officers in the death in Kokopo in East New Britain.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?62d8e5
Kundiawa General Hospital
Kundiawa town and the General Hospital in Chimbu province have had to suffer from a shortage of water for almost a month. The chief executive officer of the hospital has advised the people of Chimbu to seek medical assistance elsewhere as theatre operations had shut down due to the water supply problem. The shortage has been attributed to a protest over the delay in the release of K6 million, won in court by the Simbaiku Okondea clan, for the use of the water in town.
Engan Tribal Disputes
More people have lost their life in an ongoing tribal fight in the Laiagam district of Enga Province. Police say the death toll is now 13 but locals say the figure could be much higher. Most recently four young men were gunned down by their enemies as they heading towards their Mamale village with several others after a few drinks at a lodge inside Laiagam station.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110712/news11.htm
New Library Books
The National Library in Port Moresby has received 4,500 new children's fiction and non-fiction books from local supplier Bizprint. The library saved 70 per cent off the normal purchase price of the books. The library will distribute many of the books to schools throughout the country. The government normally funds books for libraries and schools in PNG with the assistance of overseas aid fund from a variety of organisations.
Pilot Graduation
Five Air Niugini cadet pilots - Pondrilei Posananu, Tamarari Nama, Mattie Merimba, Karol Kutan and Gomara Rawali - have been conferred with their Commercial Pilot Licenses in a ceremony at the Coffs Harbour Professional Pilot's Training School in New South Wales, Australia. The pilots have now returned to PNG and are being trained as first officers with the National Airline to gain the necessary endorsements to pilot Dash 8 aircraft.
Air Niugini currently has a total of 38 cadet pilots at various stages of training in the domestic fleet.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/20911
Missing Travellers Found
A group of 15 people missing at sea, while heading from Bialla in West New Britain to Namatanai in New Ireland province for a church gathering in a banana boat, have been found safe and well. The boat they were travelling in ran out of fuel and they had drifted until they made land fall on a remote island. The 11 men, two women and two crew on board were weak due to a lack of food and water.
Social Welfare System
Experts will meet next month to discuss the adoption of a social welfare system in PNG. The system will be aimed at easing the lives of marginalised and disadvantaged members of PNG society. The safety net will strengthen the current Melanesian way that many PNG families already have in existence due to various traditions. The meeting will be held in the National Capital District between the 1st and 5th of August to gauge views on the subject.
Telikom Reducers Citifon Rate
Telikom PNG's Citifon mobile call rates have been reduced. From the 11th of July, mobile calls to other networks have been dropped to PGK 0.39 per minute, regardless of the time of day. The Citifon service is available in all centres where Telikom has 3G wireless CDMA coverage. The primary sales point for Citifon is Lae and Port Moresby.
Baby Sale
A lady has claimed she bought a three-day old baby girl at the main market in Mt Hagen. The woman told the Post Courier that a young woman who was "in a rush" sold the infant to her.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110713/news09.htm
Underage Brothel
Enterprising underage boys and girls have been using a house in Lae to sell sex. Those involved in the sex trade included 17 girls between the age of 10-13 years and 17 boys between the ages of 12-16 years.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110708/news03.htm
Splinters Film
A PNG film will be shown on the opening night of the Ombak Bali Film Festival on the 20th of July. The Asian premier of the film titled 'SPLINTERS' tells the story of a remote PNG seaside community which is being splintered by the country's first-ever national surfing titles in which the village men and women compete.
-- http://ombakbali.com
-- http://www.splintersmovie.com -- and trailer -- http://www.splintersmovie.com/#url=trailer
Police Discipline
The deputy commissioner of police and chief of administration, Tom Kulunga, have revealed that ten staff have been dismissed in the first five months of this year, while another 12 were demoted and 13 fined. The Police Commissioner, Tony Wagambie, says as the rate of misconduct within the force has increased, he is pushing for tougher enforcement of the rules.
-- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61709
Panguna Mine
A workshop has been held in PNG for stakeholders of Bougainville's Panguna copper and gold mine. The workshop involved stakeholders from the Panguna area, political leaders, ex-combatants and representatives from the church, companies, landowners, women and the council of elders.
-- http://www.newdawnpng.com
Fiji PM visits Somare
The Fijian Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has paid a visit to Sir Michael Somare in hospital in Singapore.
-- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61606
PNG leader's health improving -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/01/3259131.htm
International Aussie Rules
PNG, the current champions, will be taking part in the 4th AFL International Cup held between the 12th and 27th of August. PNG has done well in all three previous Cups finishing runners up to Ireland in 2002, and then to New Zealand in 2005 before winning against New Zealand in 2008.
-- http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110710114000142
PNG Mozzies squad full of young guns -- http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110710213616599
International Cricket
PNG maintained their unbeaten run in the East Asia-Pacific Region Division One Twenty20, beating Vanuatu by a comfortable margin of 58 runs in the final in Port Moresby. The victory books PNG's spot in the Global Division One Twenty20 playoff in the UAE early next year, which will determine the two Associates or Affiliates to play in the 12-team World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
-- http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/522121.html
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.
Miss Melanesia Australia 2011 - The Irish Club, Brisbane, 16 July 2011
Birding in Paradise, 12th - 22nd July -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8b315c
Malagan Show, New Ireland, 22nd - 24th July
8th International Orchid Spectacular - 23rd and 24th of July
National Book Week - 1st to 5th of August
Crocodile Festival, Ambunti - 9th & 10th August
Mount Hagen Cultural Show - 13th & 14th August -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f0b247
Full Pacific Games - French president Nicolas Sarkozy is set to officially open the XIV Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia, on the 27th of August.
Kokoda Race Challenge - 27th of August
2011 Garamut Festival in Wewak - 2nd & 3rd of September
Goroka Show, 16th - 18th September - see -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110426/hpost02.htm -- and -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/viewservices/News.aspx?Pop=1&rqEventID=58
PNG Christian Music Festival, Port Moresby - 17th September
Morobe Show - 15th & 16th October
Canoe and Kundu Festival, Alotau: 4th - 6th November
Lae Game Fishing Club Billfish Tournament - 13th Nov
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
2012 PNG Games - Kokopo, East New Britain
Olympic boxing qualifying tournament - April 2012
2012-Milne Bay Critter & Adventure Expeditions with Bob Halstead & Graham Abbott
Milne Bay-Critters-Milne Bay: 17th April 2012 to 29th April 2012
Milne Bay-Critters-Milne Bay: 1st May 2012 to 13th May 2012
Alotau-Adventure Diving-Kimbe Bay: 15th May 2012 to 30th May 2012
-- http://diving4images.com/trips/milne-bay-critter-cruises
Pacific Mini Games - Wallis and Futuna 2013
2013 Pacific Netball Series (hosted by Fiji)
Full Pacific Games - PNG 2015 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?081f78
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
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