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PNG News Links
Virgin Australia seeks to block Qantas/Air Niugini pact -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e8e26e
Air Niugini, Qantas code-sharing not viable: Airline -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c96350
Develop Gerehu -- http://giaman.com/pg/?68481c
Survivor reality show scouts describe Kokopo as 'Perfect' -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cc93ba
PNG Immigration carries out surprise checks on foreign workers -- http://giaman.com/pg/?180836
Why Papua New Guinea turned to SMS to hack corruption -- http://giaman.com/pg/?119e25
New health facility to be built in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?532390
PNG Barramundi's look to end on winning note -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4d3ba4
Young Sinesine-Yongumugl man to attend flying school -- http://www.looppng.com/content/young-sinesine-yongumugl-man-attend-flying-school
Air Niugini increases flights to Manila, Sydney and Cairns -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d35524
Vocal Fusion Season 4 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?85834f
Misc. Links
NTN New Projects -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6fe78d
Vivax malaria antibodies detected in pregnant women -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d072d6
Art in PNG 1966-2016 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?31ed35
Sorcery killings in PNG linked to lack of development -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ba9796
Women's Rugby League World Cup -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0ba47c
News Items
US Visa
It has been rumoured that PNG passport holders will no longer require a visa to visit USA. The rumour says the US Department of State has made PNG the 39th country to have this privilege under the US Visa Waiver Program.
As of April 1, 2016, those who are able to travel to the United States via the Visa Waiver Program must have a valid electronic passport. This rule applies even to those who possess a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
No mention of PNG can be found at -- https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ -- at the time this newsletter was published.
Power Grid Deal
Pestech International from Malaysia has bagged a contract for the Port Moresby Power Grid Development Project. The industrial electric power contracting services provider said its wholly-owned unit, Pestech Sdn Bhd, has received a letter of acceptance from PNG Power Ltd in relation to the Port Moresby Power Grid Development Project.
-- http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1997165
FIFA Live Your Goals
Almost 200 girls turned up at the National Sports Institute in Goroka to take part in the FIFA 'Live Your Goals' Legacy Program.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?fd0e06
Kalolo Clinic Opens
The people of Kalolo, in the Kagua-Erave District of Southern Highlands province, now have access to a new health facility called the Yakisu Sub-Health Centre. The name "Yakisu" is a composite - it refers to the Yakira River and Suku Valley, the catchment area the facility serves.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ee3c47
Exam Paper Delivery Difficulties
While most schools managed to receive their Examination papers on time and without any issues, it was a struggle for the Education officers in Hela province who had to brace with the heavy downpour in the province to deliver the Exam papers.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?0cdaf2
Port Moresby Soccer Titles
Mungkas FC has taken the Port Moresby Soccer Association FA cup final, in both the Men's and Women's divisions. In the women's division, Mungkas defeated Guria by three goals to one, whilst in the Men's Grand Final, a single goal separated the two sides, as Mungkas Men's defeated Yamaros.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c7be8c
Huawei Marine to Help
Huawei Marine has announced that it will help PNG build a national broadband transmission network to meet the increasing demand for internet connectivity and help foster social and economic development across the country.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a38c9a
See also - PNG Data Co -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6661ad
Gulf Development
The final leg of the 57 kilometre section of the Highway from Malalaua to Epo in Kerema, Gulf Province has been fully sealed and completed for use last week.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?9ae046
Soldiers to Stand Trial
Six soldiers have been committed to stand trial for the murder of a teenager in Port Moresby last year. EMTV reports the Waigani District Court magistrate, John Kaumi, ruled there was sufficient evidence to commit the soldiers.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a31fb6
Indonesia - PNG Border Meeting
A border liaison meeting between Indonesia and PNG will be organized in Port Moresby, between the 7th and 8th of November, 2016.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?797d24
InterOil ExxonMobil Update
InterOil Corporation has announced that, after the close of business on the 7th of October 2016, the Supreme Court of Yukon approved the pending transaction ("the transaction") with Exxon Mobil Corporation including finding that the transaction is fair and reasonable. The decision of the Supreme Court of Yukon followed a contested hearing.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?7f5f49
InterOil Corporation is an independent oil and gas business with a sole focus on PNG.
Mobile Phone Crackdown
The two mobile phone operators in Papua New Guinea have been warned to register the details of their local subscribers. The Post Courier reports Digicel and Bmobile are required by law to also ask subscribers to show some form of identification before buying a SIM card.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?88c727
Trobriand Islands
P&O's Pacific Eden has paid a visit to Kiriwana Island, part of the Trobriand Islands group sailing from Trinity Wharf in Cairns, Australia visiting Alotau Wharf on the way.
The Pacific Eden, launched in 1993 by Holland America Line as Statendam, was rebranded by P & O in 2015 and has been extensively made-over for the local market.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ca3122
Police Inspector Charged
Senior inspector Samuel Jamagu, the director for the McGregor Barracks-based national security unit, has been charged with driving under influence of alcohol, driving without due care and attention and driving an expired licence.
SUN Movement
PNG has officially joined the SUN Movement with a joint letter of commitment from Secretary Pascoe Kase, of the National Department of Health and, Secretary Hakua Harry, of the Department for National Planning and Monitoring.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?d9ee92
Scaling Up Nutrition FAQ's -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d3217d
Yalumet Languishing
While the country's capital, Port Moresby, grows, evidenced by new four lane highways and tall concrete buildings, Yalumet, tucked away in the hinterlands of the of the Kabwum District of the Morobe province, has remained the same since the 1970s.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?7cb7dc
Wapenamanda Sees Change
The people of Wapenamanda are starting to see glimpses of promises made in the past. Rim-bink Pato, MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration is helping to implement changes mooted years previously by others.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?707ae8
Mt Wilhelm
Mt Wilhelm National Park is one of PNG's tourism destinations in the country. It is a sleeping economic giant, right in the heart of PNG that needs to be awakened. It nestles 4,509m above sea level and is the highest mountain in PNG.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?17b01a
Political Parties Financials
Less than a third of the political parties in PNG were paid more than US$391,000 this week for complying with relevant Organic laws.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?95901c
Wewak-Aitape Highway
The Wewak-Aitape Highway, also known as the Sepik Highway, is a 177.4 km stretch of road in the East Sepik Province that is mostly unsealed. Plans are underway for continued work on the Sepik Highway with K10 million awarded to previous contractor, Green Hill Investments Limited.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?58aa81
First PNG Cardinal
Pope Francis on Sunday, Oct. 9, promoted 17 Roman Catholic prelates from around the world to the high rank of cardinal, including 13 who are under 80 years old and thus eligible to succeed him one day.
Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby will become PNG's first cardinal and being under 80 years old means that he would be eligible for promotion to Pope.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a05ce9
PATA Gold Award
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) has won a prestigious award at the Pacific Asia Travel Association's (PATA) Gold Awards 2016.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?f6fb41
Contempt Charges Mooted
A lawyer representing detainees on Manus Island says he may file contempt of court proceedings against the PNG government after it announced a plan last week to close one facility on the island and keep another open.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?91d641
Contempt charge laid against PNG PM -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cfcf86
Housing Corp Investigated
Opposition Leader, Don Polye has welcomed the appointment of a committee to investigate the state owned National Housing Corporation. He says NHC has been a milking cow where cash hungry officers have made fortunes out of it, at the expense of tax payers.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?3832f4
Medical Supplies From USA
United States based non-governmental organisation, Niugini Foundation, and its partners will be shipping medical containers to PNG as Christmas gifts to hospitals and health centres.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?6aaaa5
Marape Threatened
PNG Finance Minister James Marape has received threats to shoot him. Despite receiving similar threats in the past these recent threats have a more sinister, darker tone and this has become a serious concern for the Finance Minister and his family with police already conducting investigations into the matter.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?296ae8
Paradise Gardens
Kibush Capital Corporation has announced that its subsidiary Aqua Mining has finalised an agreement to purchase all of the shares in Paradise Gardens Developments Ltd. and has now completed the purchase of Paradise Gardens in PNG.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?4de860
Neutral IXP Facility
The country's major internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed to establish a Neutral Internet Exchange Point (IXP) facility in Port Moresby, according to the ICT regulator, the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA).
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?eb2bee
Madang Players Stranded
Six of the 11-men Madang Under-18 team stranded after the completion of the national junior basketball championships two weeks ago, are still waiting for support to get back home.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?26362d
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)
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
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
Christmas Day, Monday 25 December 2017
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26 December 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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