Tag: Papua New Guinea

Stern Warning to Papua New Guinea Kidnappers as One Hostage Released

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has issued a stern warning to kidnappers to release their remaining hostages after one was freed. Armed men took four people hostage, including a New Zealand national who has been a long-time Australian resident, and are demanding a ransom from the PNG and Australian governments. James Marape urged the gang to…


Australian Academic and Colleagues Taken Hostage in Papua New Guinea

An Australian professor and three colleagues are believed to have been taken hostage in a remote area of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The ABC is reporting on Monday that a group of armed men in the highlands region have taken the four researchers at gunpoint, and it is alleged that a ransom demand has been made…


Visa Changes for Australia-PNG Travel to Boost Ties and Partnerships

Australian businesses that seek to obtain multiple entry visas for Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon be able to make that a reality after Australian and PNG officials discussed ways to streamline immigration. This follows a visit to PNG in January by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who became the first foreign leader to address…


US to Sign Defence Agreement With Papua New Guinea

The United States and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are set to negotiate a defence cooperation agreement just after Australia and the southern Pacific nation agreed to a broad-reaching security agreement with neighbouring Australia. PNG will send a delegation to Honolulu in February for high-level discussions, but the agreement is expected to be completed by the…


Papua New Guinea Struck by Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake, at Least 5 Dead

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG) at 9:46 a.m. local time on Sept. 11, killing at least five people and damaging property. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), normal faulting occurred at a depth of approximately 90 kilometres (56 miles) beneath eastern PNG, near the northern edge of the…


Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake Strikes Papua New Guinea

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck the Eastern New Guinea region in Papua New Guinea on Sunday, reportedly damaging property and spreading panic among residents. There were no reports of casualties, and no official confirmation of any damage to property. The quake was at a depth of 80 km (49.7 miles) the European Mediterranean Seismological…


3 Dead After 7.6 Quake Hits Remote Part of Papua New Guinea

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—At least three people are dead after a powerful earthquake hit a remote part of Papua New Guinea Sunday morning, authorities say. Others were injured and infrastructure damaged in the magnitude 7.6 jolt that was felt across the Pacific country. The three people died in a landslide in the gold-mining town of Wau,…


Papua New Guinea Seeks Security Deal With Australia

Papua New Guinea (PNG) would like to establish a security treaty with Australia as security concerns led by China’s push into the South Pacific continue to grow. PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Aug. 29 that his country is seeking to negotiate a security treaty with Australia and potentially New Zealand….


Don’t Leverage Chinese Interference Fears Just to Sell Real Estate: Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said taxpayers cannot buy every plot of land in the Pacific that may be subject to Chinese interference while warning against encouraging real estate promoters to leverage geopolitical tensions in the region. The prime minister’s response comes after retired Australian businessman Ian Gowrie-Smith appeared on Nine Entertainment’s A Current…


Concerns Over Violence, Election Fraud in Papua New Guinea, as Observers Call for Urgent Review

Election observers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are calling for an urgent review of the 2022 election after reported incidents of violence and issues leading to a “high numbers of eligible voters” being disenfranchised. In an Interim Statement on July 25, the chairperson of the Commonwealth Observers Group, former President of Nauru Baron Waqa said…