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PNG News Links
Killer Smoke Blows Through Pacific Islands -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f99474
Humanitarian Day celebrated -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54852
Dodging the bank robbers to tap growth in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?eac712
Port Moresby school ups fight against bullying -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78424
Kas: PNG Mining Act out of date -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b75afa
Money goes mobile in frontier market -- http://giaman.com/pg/?42fff1
Friction a sign of distrust between PNG and Bougainville -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d8c5ec
PNG MP arrested -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a22671
Filipino national flees after kidnap ordeal -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/55044
Police make huge drug haul -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/55041
Former Defence Minister killed in attack -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78558
Misc. Links
National Research Institute -- http://www.nri.org.pg
Power package for pumps on LNG contract awarded -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6a26ea
Turtles, PNG, culture, and biology -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8feebd
Digicel seeks to reach isolated areas -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54910
Teacher says bullying has far-reaching consequences -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78495
Vanimo Surf Lodge -- http://www.vanimosurflodge.com
Tok Pisin phrasebook - http://wikitravel.org/en/Tok_Pisin_phrasebook
Dive into beauty -- http://giaman.com/pg/?14c417
PNG Images
http://www.travel-images.com/png.html
http://pngbd.com/photos
http://www.bugbog.com/gallery/gallerypng/pngdoor.html
http://www.maplandia.com/papua-new-guinea/eastern-highlands/goroka
http://www.ski-epic.com/papua_new_guinea_1972/goroka/index.html
Vanimo -- http://giaman.com/pg/?beb7b1
PNG Blogs
Stunned New Irelanders 'do not own resources under Solwara 1 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fea967
PNG solution illegal, court will hear -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c2b514
PNG solution deepens Australian neo-colonialism -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8050de
Manam Volcano Sends Ash 15000 Feet into air -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cbaee9
PNG part of Qld? Nearly happened; would've been ugly -- http://giaman.com/pg/?80955c
Vice Mining Minister Arressted -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8c517b
News Items
Port Moresby Water
The National Capital could be facing a severe water shortage in coming months. Residents in are being urged to conserve water as the city's main water source, Sirinumu Dam, is critically low.
-- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78396
Lincoln University
Lincoln University in New Zealand has expanded its involvement in providing educational outcomes to the people of PNG by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sohe electorate of Oro (Northern) province. The MOU captures the priorities of the Sohe District Development Plan in building human resource capabilities, promoting and investing in primary sector enterprises, and creating business opportunities for the local community.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c6e031
Seabed Mining
The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is concerned about seabed mining. Managing Director of NFA Sylvester Pokajam said the government should not allow it to proceed as there are no legislations on it. Rather more awareness should be carried out to educate the people on the impacts of the project.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?d22856
Labour Ward Under Water
Nurses at the maternity ward of Madang's Modilon Hospital have had to stand in water recently to deliver babies following a downpour.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54805
MV Rabaul Queen Owner Arrested
Captain Peter Sharp, owner of the ill-fated MV Rabaul Queen, has been arrested and charged with the alleged manslaughter of 162 people and one count of sending an unseaworthy vessel out to sea.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130821/news01.htm
PNG polis i sasim MV Rabaul Queen bosman -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8fb259
Rabau Queen Owner out on Bail -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c9dcd1
Three more charged over sinking -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78543
Maritime Port Overhaul
PNG's plan to increase capacity at its maritime ports is set to focus on Port Moresby and Lae, where demand is highest as a result of the LNG construction boom. Demand has risen steadily at Lae, which acts as a gateway to the Highlands. The port, which is PNG's principal commercial hub for the off-lying island provinces, was responsible for 51% of all national container traffic from 2009 to 2012.
Talks are currently under way between PNGPCL and Australia's Curtain Bros (CB) on the possibility of relocating POM's port to the 71-ha man-made Motukea Island. With established facilities capable of accommodating oversized PNG-LNG equipment, Motukea Island is an attractive option. The site already acts as a hub for ship maintenance and construction facilities, as well as accommodating PNG's expanding Customs operations.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?754ab0
Importing Electricity
PNG is to import electricity from Indonesia. Vanimo will buy 2 megawatts of electricity from a power plant to be built with a capacity of 2x10 MW in the Indonesian Papua province. The two countries, PNG and Indonesia have signed a cooperation agreement on the purchase of power from the Jayapura branch of the state electricity company PLN.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?4acde9
PM Called on to Resign
Kundiawa Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang, a member of the opposition, has called on Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resign because of the "illegality" of the Manus asylum seekers' deal with Australia.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/55047
O'Neill: Manus not neglected in development -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/55045
Mt Hagen
The city of Mt Hagen recently came to a standstill with the echo of gunshots and teargas as sporadic student clashes erupted between Hagen Park and Mt Hagen Secondary Schools. Several clashes erupted in various corners of the city especially from St Paul's cathedral all the way to the Pope's oval.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54800
Kagamuga and Highway Closed
Kagamuga airport was closed, the Highlands Highway blocked and the main taps on the central reservoir supplying Mt Hagen with water were turned off by LLG candidates and their supporters yesterday. The closure of these vital government installations were executed by presidential candidates in the Hagen Rural LLG and their supporters in response to Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen's declaration last Thursday, failing 19 LLGs in the highlands.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130821/news08.htm
Roadblocks cleared -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54885
PNG police quell Mt Hagen tensions -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=78478
Huge Gas Find
Queensland, Australia mining magnate Clive Palmer says he has discovered one of the world's largest gas fields off PNG. The asset could be worth in excess of $US35 billion and is potentially one of the world's largest gas fields. Mr Palmer said his company spent more than $50 million to explore an area of more than 3000 square kilometres.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?d239a8
Hohola Independence Cup
Hohola Off Season League is set to kick off another season next month with a tournament during independence celebrations.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54895
Pacific Islands Triathlon Championship
Athletes from Pacific Islands nations have taken part in the third Pacific Islands Triathlon Championship held on Saturday in Port Moresby. The event was advertised as one of the biggest gatherings of the year for Oceania's triathletes.
The first Pacific Islands Triathlon was held near Nuku'alofa waterfront on the 5th of December 2011 when over 40 triathletes took part. -- http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=219841
Cyclist Christian Carling ready to defend title -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d0cd50
Logging
Research by James Cook University has shown that oil palm is often a screen for logging in PNG. The Institute of National Affairs (INA) executive director Paul Barker agreed when asked to comment on the report by the Post-Courier, saying developers used the SABL policy to "circumvent" the requirements of the Forestry Act, which would have ensured the sustainable management and harvesting of timber and landowner forest management agreements with the PNG Forest Authority.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130819/news01.htm
Travel Advice
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller advisory service advises the following Travel Advice for PNG has changed or been added since our last update.
Change Summary: It contains new information under Entry and exit (Australians seeking to visit PNG for purposes other than tourism or business, and all Australians arriving in PNG by vessel, must apply for a visa in advance of their arrival) and Where to get help (emergency travel documents cannot be issued by the Honorary Consulate in Lae. Contact details for the Honorary Consulate in Lae have also been updated). We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea.
-- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Papua_New_Guinea
Drug Resistant HIV
Janet Gare from the PNG Institute of Medical Research has said there is evidence of HIV Drug Resistance in Papua New Guinea. The findings was results of 210 consented people living with HIV (PLHIV), recruited from ART prescribing sexual health clinics in two towns of high HIV burden provinces in PNG: Mt Hagen and Goroka. The study is the basis of a PhD program for Janet Gare.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130820/news02.htm
Remote Solar Power
Rainbow Power Company (RPC) based in Nimbin, Australia, will partner with PNG energy supplier Western Power to provide consultancy, training services and solar equipment to areas along the Fly River in Western Province. Just under 34,000 people in 49 villages will receive power through the project.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?90bc1f
Fake Degree's
Citizens have been warned against buying fake degrees from non-existent institutions. The warning came from Higher Education and Research, Science and Technology Minister David Arore following a recent newspaper advertisement by an educational institution.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54785
Compulsory Education
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says Education will be compulsory for all school-aged children from next year. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54804
Breastfeeding
Only 30% of women in PNG are breastfeeding their babies in the first six months, according to health records.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?bfa9fe
PNG has been hailed as one of the first countries in the world to promote breastfeeding.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54861
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.
National Covenant Day -- 26th August 2013
Pacific Mini Games - Wallis and Futuna 2013
2013 Pacific Netball Series (hosted by Fiji)
Milne Bay Provincial Day -- 7th September 2013
3rd annual Bilum Festival, Goroka -- 11th and 12th of September
Goroka Show September 2013 -- http://epictomato.com/inspiration/the-goroka-show-papua-new-guinea
National Canoe & Kundu Festival -- Nov 2013
ICC tournament, Dubai -- Nov 2013
Christmas Day - 25th December 2013
Boxing Day - 26th December 2013
New Year's Day -- 1st January 2014
Full Pacific Games - PNG 4th July to 18th July 2015 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?081f78
5th Melanesian Festival of Arts - July 2014 -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130322/news05.htm
Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu 2017
2018 - APEC summit to be held in Port Moresby.
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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