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Papua New Guinea

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Papua New Guinea. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Port Moresby

Head of State

King Charles III

Head of Government

Prime Minister James Marape

Neighbours gather near the home of a 55-year-old mother of two in the Tsak Valley in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea after she was accused of sorcery and tortured. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

‘Glassman’ jailed: PNG hopes ruling can curb tribal sorcery violence

After a horrific machete killing, a landmark ruling in Papua New Guinea aims to curb deadly sorcery accusations driven by jealousy and greed.

31 Mar 2025 - 3:18PM

Pacific nations

Pacific nation’s Facebook blackout tied to content ‘control’ experiment

25 Mar 2025 - 12:47PM

Australia

Will Australia use PNG defence deal as a ‘watchtower’ to track Chinese navy?

28 Feb 2025 - 12:34PMvideocam

Australia

Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China

The agreement comes just days after Canberra signed a similar treaty with the small Pacific nation of Nauru.

12 Dec 2024 - 12:54PMvideocam

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) shakes hands with Papua New Guinea’s leader James Marape during a press conference in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Rebel region vows to become Pacific’s newest nation by 2027

Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, voted to secede from Papua New Guinea five years ago after a bloody decade-long war.

11 Dec 2024 - 2:33PM

Australia

As Chinese banks circle, Australia pushes ANZ to stay in Pacific island nations

For years, Western banks have been closing branches throughout the South Pacific. State-owned Bank of China has shown it’s eager to step in.

12 Nov 2024 - 10:34AM

Pope Francis

Video | Pope Francis tours one of the world's most remote areas

9 Sep 2024 - 5:31PM

Pope Francis exchanges gifts with children in remote area of Papua New Guinea

02:42

Pacific nations

Pope calls for PNG to ‘end’ tribal violence, urges fair share of its resources

In a keynote speech, the pope called for an end to tribal violence while insisting the people benefit from the country’s resource boom.

9 Sep 2024 - 4:57PMvideocam

Indonesia

Video | Pope praises Indonesians for choosing children over pets

5 Sep 2024 - 3:27PM

Asia

Video | Indonesian Catholics in tears as pope visits Jakarta

5 Sep 2024 - 11:44AM

Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia at start of 12-day Asia-Pacific tour

04:04

UAE

Pope heads to Southeast Asia in ambitious trip

Pope Francis’ visit aims to cement the Catholic Church’s position in the region and comes despite his growing health problems.

31 Aug 2024 - 12:43PMvideocam

Pope Francis will visit four countries in Southeast Asia starting next week. Photo: Reuters

Pacific nations

Australia pushes Pacific police force proposal to check China’s ambitions

Pacific leaders endorsed on Wednesday a plan creating a 200-officer police force to address security challenges and limit China’s reach.

28 Aug 2024 - 2:07PMvideocam

Australia

Opinion | Aukus is a setback for Australia’s hard-fought independence

Years after Curtin stood up to Churchill and Keating rejected the “US deputy” label, Australia seems to have lost its backbone.

22 Aug 2024 - 6:53AM

Architecture and design

How the other half travel: in their own flat aboard mega-yacht The World

Residents mostly spend a few months at a time aboard, visiting their pick of the more than 100 ports the ship visits in a year – and perhaps making plans to change the wallpaper ahead of their next visit

30 Jul 2024 - 3:22PM

Australia

Australia PM replaces immigration, national security ministers after scandals

PM Anthony Albanese has moved Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles into new portfolios.

28 Jul 2024 - 3:53PM

Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks to media during a press conference in Canberra. Photo: dpa

Japan

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

Among the areas of concern highlighted by Pacific island nations was Japan’s release of treated radioactive water.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:45PMvideocam

Australia

Australia urged to act as refugee health crisis intensifies in Papua New Guinea

A report by an asylum seeker support group found one-fifth of the remaining refugees are “so unwell their lives were at imminent risk”.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:52PMvideocam

Chinese history

Taiwan human skeletons suggest indigenous tribes chewed betel nuts 2,500 years ago

A pair of ancient bones found in Taiwan featured red stains on their teeth, which experts say is proof of betel nut consumption.

17 Jul 2024 - 2:00PM

Unearthed 2,500-year-old human skeletons found in Taiwan hint at ancient indigenous tribes’ betel nut chewing habits. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/cabcy.gov.tw

Italy

Pope Francis deplores state of democracy, warns against ‘populists’

Pontiff warns against ‘ideological temptations and populists’, urges people to move away from ‘polarisations that impoverish’.

7 Jul 2024 - 5:35PM

Pacific nations

China, Australia donate buildings, airstrips in Pacific influence race

China donated a presidential building complex in Vanuatu, while Australia and New Zealand inaugurated an airstrip in neighbouring Solomon Islands, amid competition for influence in the Pacific.

2 Jul 2024 - 6:22PM

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Can China reach Olympics in rugby? Handling expectation key in final qualifier

Women’s sevens team face ‘enormous pressure’ to deliver, but take a 21-match winning streak into Monaco qualifying tournament.

4 Jul 2024 - 4:40PM

After losing in their first Challenger Series match in January, China went 21 matches unbeaten. Photo: World Rugby

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Coach Groves rouses weary Hong Kong 7s team for final effort in Paris Games push

After a busy year, Hong Kong are among 12 teams at repechage tournament in Monaco this weekend trying to secure the remaining spot in Paris.

4 Jul 2024 - 4:45PM

Max Woodward will captain Hong Kong in Monaco after missing out on Challenger Series selection this year. Photo: Handout

International Cricket Council

Co-hosts US make history by qualifying for T20 cricket World Cup knockout stage

On their debut appearance, the Americans qualify for Super Eights ahead of Pakistan, in a boost for the sport before 2028 LA Olympics, when cricket will return to the Games.

15 Jun 2024 - 6:00PM

International Cricket Council

New Zealand need miracle to avoid T20 World Cup exit after loss to West Indies

Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 68 helped the hosts to a place in the next phase while the Kiwis will be out if Afghanistan defeat Papua New Guinea on Thursday.

13 Jun 2024 - 7:01PM

Artificial intelligence

‘Crystal ball on steroids’: Nepal trials AI tool to predict deadly landslides

Researchers say the AI tool ‘works like a crystal ball and fortune-teller except on steroids’ – and it’s already saving lives.

11 Jun 2024 - 5:30PMvideocam

Landslides are seen along the route of a newly constructed highway in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. Photo: Prakash Singh Thapa/Handout

International Cricket Council

Uganda’s dreams ‘come true’ at T20 World Cup as they prepare to face New Zealand

Indian Abhay Sharma was named head coach of the men’s national team less than a month ago while captain Brian Masaba was the skipper with the second-highest number of wins in T20 internationals.

28 May 2024 - 3:44PM

Uganda’s national cricketers are preparing to compete in the World Cup for the first time in their history. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Over 2,000 buried alive in massive landslide, Papua New Guinea tells UN

Monday’s update came as overnight rains in the South Pacific nation’s mountainous interior raised fears that tonnes of rubble involved in the landslide could become dangerously unstable.

27 May 2024 - 9:04PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Papua New Guinea landslide kills more than 670, no hope of survivors: UN

Local officials had initially put the death toll at 100 or more. Only five bodies and a leg of a sixth victim had been recovered so far.

26 May 2024 - 6:06PM

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