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PNG News Links
PNG University students should undergo aptitude tests, stresses official -- http://giaman.com/pg/?770aee
PNG students' lawyer could face court over contempt -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d6880c
PNG Strengthen Relations with Canada to Fight Climate Change -- http://giaman.com/pg/?341a48
PM O'Neill assures Singapore of Papua New Guinea's support in the International Civil Aviation Organisation Assembly -- http://giaman.com/pg/?bdf3ea
Fewer than 20 asylum seekers voluntarily resettled -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4c3c40
New PNG rice policy concerns Australia -- http://giaman.com/pg/?55b0a3
Brave police officer rewarded with new mobile phone from Digicel -- http://giaman.com/pg/?abc5eb
Education is now a Right for PNG's Children - not a Privilege -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4756d3
Bougainville blames PNG for 'most serious dispute ever' -- http://giaman.com/pg/?09d81f
Misc. Links
Local talented artist looking seeking exposure -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c9107e
Divine Word University to announce winners of media award -- http://giaman.com/pg/?5e4c97
The claim that locking asylum seekers up in Nauru and PNG saves lives is bogus -- http://giaman.com/pg/?51a06c
Fallen revenue base a grim reality for PNG outlook -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f17235
Licence Counterfeiter Caught -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9f1abf
News Items
Visa on Arrival
Australian passport holders can now secure a 30-day, free tourist visa on arrival in PNG. The PNG Immigration office, Air Niugini executives and Foreign Affairs hierarchy and political leaders also confirmed that this was the best option PNG could take to for tourists so PNG could have many more people come to visit and experience the beauty of the country.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?f027c6
Students to Reconcile
The University of PNG's academic year was cancelled after more than six weeks of disruptions around the boycott of classes by students in protest against the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Reconciliation with management is a priority for UPNG students preparing for resumption of studies.
"Reconciliation in Melanesian custom means that we put aside all our differences whatsoever, the past is the past, it has already come and gone. We work to have a proper dialogue, and move towards something good that is a winning solution for all of us."
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?cda227
Government receives investigation report into University of Goroka student unrest -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6e6432
TB Outbreak
The scourge of tuberculosis in PNG is worse than previously thought and is having a particularly devastating effect on the children of PNG, who make up more than a quarter of all cases.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?0a191f
PNG has among the highest prevalence rates of tuberculosis in the world, according to the ChildFund report, with 529 cases per 100,000 population.
2nd LNG Project Not likely
Oil Search says development of a second standalone liquefied natural gas export terminal in PNG is unlikely, as Exxon Mobil and Total are expected to favour cooperation to expand the existing PNG LNG project.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ec72a2
LNG Targets Long-term Sales
ExxonMobil is looking to agree sales contracts for spot cargoes to soak up excess production from its liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea, a news report said.
PNG LNG has had high output levels since starting-up two years ago, and its reserve base is currently being re-certified, which could underpin multi-year contracts for future spot cargoes, Reuters reported.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?61ab3a
Election Fee Hike Disadvantageous
Fledgling political parties and independents outside the normal political establishment are likely to be disadvantaged by plans to hike the nomination fee for election candidates. The fee could be multiplied tenfold to 10,000 kina, according to PNG's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?8d9194
Air Niugini POM - CNS
The national airline will increase its flights between Port Moresby and Cairns to meet the market demand and seat capacity once Qantas pulls out services on this route at the end of October. Air Niugini and Qantas have agreed to a code share arrangement on this route, but is subject to regulatory approval.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?691922
Advance Cairns' anger after Qantas dumps Cairns-Port Moresby flights -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cfa869
Air Niugini Shanghai
Air Niugini has reached an air services agreement with China to begin tourism charter flights from Shanghai next year. The airline will also increase flight frequencies to Sydney and Manila.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?f872d8
Fokker 70 P2-ANT Named 'Alotau' -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8a5149
Hagen Show Must Return Home
The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tobias Kulang, has challenged Western Highlanders to bring the Mt. Hagen Show back to its traditional venue, Kagamuga Showground.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?4a8522
Hela Residents Upset
An observer in PNG's Hela province says residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of promised benefits from a multi-billion dollar gas project.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?02b42f
Sports
Port Moresby Hockey - Round 11 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?12bba0
NCD Volleyball -- http://giaman.com/pg/?21714a
Squash Season Underway -- http://giaman.com/pg/?230657
Women's Soccer Set to Host PNG U-20 National Team -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b91935
Lock Haven women get unique experience against PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7c077c
Cycling For Football -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b11749
Port Moresby Cricket Wraps Up -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b041bb
Momase Football On The Rise -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f268fb
The Bags That Build Homes
Among Equals is a collection of Bilum - hand-woven PNG bags "of deep cultural significance" made the traditional way by women in the mountainous region around Goroka.
In remote areas weaving and selling bags is one of the only ways to make a buck, but without a sustainable market, sales often depend on the whim of tourists - and there are precious few of those in places like Goroka.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e153b8
Paralympic Team
PNG's six-member Paralympic Team will depart Port Moresby on Thursday the 1st of September for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a7f7b8
Vessel Ransacked
A shipping vessel belonging to Rimbunan Hijau has been ransacked after running aground on a reef just metres off Fisherman's Island. Over K1 million worth of goods and machinery were either looted or stolen.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e7167a
PNG Man Solomon's Chief Magistrate
The new Solomon Islands Chief Magistrate is John Numapo from Simbu province, in the PNG Highlands. He has been working in several advisor and consultant roles, the last one was in Solomon Islands from 2013-2015 as judicial Administration Advisor under the Solomon Islands Justice programme (funded by DFAT of Australia).
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?80cf40
Standards Based Curriculum Launched
Teachers in Morobe Province will be expected to start implementing the Standards Based Curriculum after attending a training workshop. Standards based curriculum is aligned to international practices, taught and assessed by the teachers.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?43f6dc
Bougainville Mine Row Intensifies
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has escalated his feud with Bougainville's President, John Momis, insisting his cabinet's offer to hand over a key parcel of shares in Bougainville Copper to mine landowners is final.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?fafeaf
Manus Closure
Refugee advocates want detainees in offshore centres, such as Manus in PNG, resettled in Australia and West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says his state would accept some.
Under the agreement between the Australian Labor party, when in power, and PNG, asylum-seekers processed on Manus Island and found to be refugees are free to settle in PNG. They can be resettled in a third country, but not Australia.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?dc8db4
Official figures show there are still 854 asylum-seekers remaining in detention on Manus Island;
Medical Symposium
The annual Medical Symposium will be staged in Milne Bay. The 52nd Medical Symposium will be held under the theme 'The Global burden of disease; particularly as it applies to PNG'. The patron of the Annual Medical Symposium is Milne Bay Governor, Titus Philemon.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?00a79a
According to the organising committee the event will begin with specialist meetings that will gather experts such as paediatricians and obstetricians. Their meeting is from August 31 to September 1
The plenary session of the Medical Society of PNG is from September 4-7.
One Year Down in PNG
A year into his placement in PNG, Eoin O'Maoileoin discusses his volunteer journey so far - why it has been so rewarding and what he misses most about Ireland.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?16ab91
New Gerehu Hospital
The final draft of the new proposed Gerehu Hospital has been completed by the contractor. This new hospital will be part of National Capital District (NCD) Health Services and is intended to alleviate the current overcrowding in sub-health facilities in the city.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?288a4e
Smartraveller Update for PNG
The following Australian travel advice from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's has changed or been added for Papua New Guinea
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e60e60
Landowners Threaten Water Supply
Koiari landowners in Central province have threatened to shut down the water supply into Port Moresby, if the government fails to respond to their demands.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?4923a7
Government Responds to Koiari Landowners -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a70bc1
Health Data Queried
MP Sam Basil has challenged a report about health care as misleading because it fails to cover the entire country. Mr Basil said PNG doesn't have an effective way of collecting data and the glowing Millennium Development Goals report presented by the National Planning Minister does not reflect the true status of health in the country.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e9718f
Port Moresby Crime
An increase in crime in Port Moresby is now a concern for city police. National Capital District (NCD) Metropolitan Superintendent, Ben Turi, says the public must take extra precaution or they could become victims.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?cd03a2
PNG Air
Regional airline PNG Air is aiming to increase its domestic market share and resume international services following the completion of a transformation project. PNG Air is in the process of renewing its fleet with new ATR 72-600s, resulting in operational improvements and enabling it to compete more effectively against its larger rival Air Niugini.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?cce81e
National Airports Corporation
National Planning Minister, Charles Abel, has applauded the work carried out by the National Airports Corporation (NAC) that has seen major improvements on airport infrastructure around the country. Minister Abel says NAC has shown its commitment to the people of Papua New Guinea by changing the image of some airport facilities, beginning with the main entry port of Port Moresby.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?68797d
Fiji Denies Import Ban
Fiji's Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya says there is no ban on PNG imports into Fiji following threats by PNG's Trade Minister Richard Maru that they would ban Fijian products from their market because of unfair trade deals. Recently Maru lashed out at Fiji for not opening up its trade markets to a number of PNG food imports, saying Fiji had 14 days to respond or face bans on Fijian products.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?d1ba34
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.
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)
The ABU Pacific Media Partnership Conference 2016 - up to 27 August in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?473731
Pacific Youth Leaders (PYL) Basketball Camp 2 - 11 of September 2016 in Port Moresby
2016 8th FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup tournament 13 November - 3 December, Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?18525e
Christmas Day - 25 December 2016
Boxing Day - 26 December 2016
New Year's Day - 1st January 2017
Surfing Association PNG - World Surf League tour championship in January 2017
Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu 2017
2018 - APEC summit to be held in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a3e64e
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- http://www.pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
Interested in having your own Web Site? Worried about the cost? It may be cheaper than you think. Take a look at pricing at the PNG Web Hosting site. Sites with space for unlimited data storage and data transfer per month start from less than US$5.00 per month. -- DOT COM Domains from US$9.00 per year. All plans come with 24 hour a day / 7 day a week ticket / phone support
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