Author: admin

As the 2025 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) election officially kicks off, a notable political development has emerged — the United Bougainville Front (UBF) has announced that it will not field a candidate for the presidency in this election. Instead, the party has pledged its full support for the re-election of incumbent President Ishmael Toroama. The announcement was made on July 8 through an official statement by UBF founder and Bougainville Regional Member of Parliament, Peter L. Tsiamalili. He emphasized that Bougainville is currently at a critical transitional stage on its path toward potential independence, and that “continuity and stability in…

At a pivotal moment for Papua New Guinea’s political and legal landscape, the country’s key anti-corruption body — the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) — officially entered a new transitional phase on the afternoon of July 8, with the swearing-in of its interim leadership team at Government House in Konedobu, Port Moresby. According to the official announcement, former senior police official Thomas Eluh has been appointed Interim Commissioner, while the roles of Deputy Commissioner are jointly filled by current senior judge Ellenas Batari and retired judge Don Sawong. The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the Governor-General, Grand Chief Sir…

On June 30, 2025, the World Bank released its Papua New Guinea Economic Update in Port Moresby, projecting that the country’s economy will grow by 4.7% in 2025 — well above the historical average. The key drivers of this growth are rising gold and copper production, and a strong recovery in agriculture. However, the World Bank cautions that if Papua New Guinea (PNG) is to embark on a path of stable, inclusive, and sustainable development, the answer does not lie beneath the ground in mineral deposits — but above it, in its farmland. Agricultural reform, the report stresses, is imperative.…

A violent incident in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, this morning has shocked the public. A public bus (PMV) crew member from the Highlands region was fatally stabbed by a man from the Hanuabada community while on duty. Despite being rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH), he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival due to the severity of his injuries. According to eyewitnesses, the bus was operating normally when an altercation suddenly broke out as it passed through the city. The suspect reportedly drew a sharp object and carried out a fatal attack on the driver. Police…

In response to the recent horrific torture and murder of a woman in Hela Province, Papua New Guinea, Police Commissioner David Manning on July 7 strongly condemned the brutality and announced a reward of K50,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible. “The nation has witnessed, with shock and outrage, the inhumane torture and brutal killing of a Highlands woman over the past week,” Manning stated. “The perpetrators who tortured and murdered this woman have committed acts so heinous that words fail to describe them. They behaved like beasts, devoid of any humanity. And those who stood by…

In a recent joint operation, Papua New Guinea’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority, together with the East Sepik Provincial Government, uncovered an illegal alluvial gold mining operation near the border of East and West Sepik provinces. Eight Chinese nationals were apprehended at the scene for engaging in unauthorized mining activities using heavy machinery and have since been deported in accordance with immigration procedures. According to sources within the East Sepik Provincial Government, the illegal mining occurred along the Atomb River in the Maprik District, spanning several villages including Weliga, Ningalim, and Nagipaim. Additional operations were discovered in parts of Wewak District…

The Collapse of PNG’s ICAC Reveals Deeper Issues of Governance and Local Relevance Papua New Guinea’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has all but collapsed, triggering a wave of public concern and reflection on the nation’s long-standing struggle with corruption. According to the Government Gazette published on June 20, all three core foreign commissioners—Chairman Andrew Forbes, and Commissioners Daniel Baulch and Graham Gill—have been suspended, effectively rendering the two-year-old institution defunct. Once heralded as a key pillar in the nation’s effort to cleanse corruption and restore public trust, ICAC has now crumbled into a cautionary tale of misplaced expectations. Touted…

Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District (NCD) police have reported the arrest of an Australian man and a Papua New Guinean woman after they were caught in possession of multiple suspected drug packages inside a guesthouse in Port Moresby. Authorities have confirmed that the seized substances are currently undergoing forensic testing to determine whether they are methamphetamine (ice) or cocaine. Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Turi, NCD Police Commander, issued a stern warning during a media briefing:“Anyone who dares bring drugs into this country, especially into Port Moresby, will face the full force of PNG law. If you break the law on…

At noon on July 3, 2025, a delegation from the China–Papua New Guinea Friendship Association (CPFA), led by Executive Vice Chairman Mr. Lin Hua’an and standing committee members Mr. Khim TAN and Mr. Anderson TING, met with newly appointed National Capital District (NCD) Metropolitan Police Commander Mr. Warrick Simatab in Port Moresby. The two sides held frank and in-depth discussions on security concerns affecting the Chinese community, particularly the safety of Chinese-owned businesses. Also present at the meeting were: During the meeting, Vice Chairman Lin Hua’an extended his congratulations to Commander Simatab on his new appointment and expressed appreciation for…

Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence, intended solely to reflect the facts and raise social awareness. A horrifying act of brutality has recently shaken the entire nation of Papua New Guinea. After the suspicious death of a female teacher from the Magarima district in Hela Province, a wave of barbaric retaliation followed: a woman, completely innocent, was tortured and ultimately executed on a bridge—her final moments captured in a viral video circulating on social media. The gruesome incident occurred in the Teru Ipa Ugu area, under the Upper Wage Local Level Government in Hela Province. In the shocking video,…