papua new guinea

Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia, was held alongside fellow members of his research team.

They were doing fieldwork in a remote part of PNG's highlands when they were taken by a criminal gang from Hela Province who demanded a ransom for their freedom.

Their release brings to an end days of negotiations, and a complex security operation involving PNG police and defence personnel, in consultation with the Australian and New Zealand governments.

It comes two days after another woman who had also been taken was set free.

Fiji Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed this following a bilateral meetings with PNG Prime Minister James Marape in Suva yesterday.

Rabuka said part of the reason why they had to close the high commission was economic considerations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also said now that they are recovering from that, Fiji is looking at immediately appointing a non-resident High Commissioner to begin negotiations which can only be done after they have a new budget cycle in the middle of the year.

He said this is a message to all Government MPs as he prepares to announce his full Cabinet on Tuesday (23 August) and as a week-long Parliament induction for new MPs starts Monday (22 August).

PM Marape stressed that an ordinary MP could transform PNG for the better if he or she put “200 per cent” effort into their job.

“We are now almost 47 years old as a nation and we will be 50 soon, yet, our country is in a diabolical state,” was his message to Government MPs.

“We all have to work very hard to fix it. 

One of the attackers held a gun to the head of one of the refugees while the other two were armed with bush knives.

The stolen items included mobile phones, laptops and speakers.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said no one was injured in the attack at the Koki Apartments, but the refugees had been further traumatised.

Marape returns to the top job after turbulent general elections marred by claims of election fraud, widespread violence, deaths, and major damage to infrastructure across the country.

Marape, whose Pangu Party has won at least 36 of 118 seats, is set to lead a coalition government made up of at least 17 different parties.

So far 105 seats have been confirmed and votes continued to be counted for 13 seats.

Leader, former Nauru president, Baron Waqa, says he is gravely concerned at the daily incidents of violence and tragic loss of life that is being reported.

The Commonwealth Observers say the highly centralised structure of the Electoral Commission has undermined the effective delivery of the election.

They say the 2022 rolls were missing a large number of names, which in some cases meant up to 50 percent of eligible voters were not on the rolls.

They were critical of the late and insufficient disbursement of funds, and that unpaid bills and

Voters will elect 118 members of parliament, including governors of the 22 provinces, from the 3,600-plus candidates nominated.

There are 6,000 polling teams in the 22 provinces.

There have also been reports that polling in the capital, Port Moresby has been delayed.

Papua New Guinea's caretaker Prime Minister James Marape appealed to the nation to pray for peace and calm ahead of polling.

Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the polling dates would differ according to the regions and provinces.

The Olympian captured the women’s 200 metres crown before helping Papua New Guinea win women’s 4x400m relay gold at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Wisil, who had already won the 100m and 4x100m relay titles, topped a Papua New Guinea one-two-three in the 200m, clocking 24.23 secs.

Leonie Beu came second in 24.44 with Isila Apkup third in 24.49.

Wisil then joined Beu and Apkup and Edna Boafob to win the women’s 4x400m crown in 3:52.76.

New Caledonia sealed silver in 4:05.71, with Australia completing the podium in 4:19.45.

Dika Toua claimed gold after finishing first ahead of her sister, Thelma who took the silver medal.

Solomon Islands claimed bronze after Rowena Eddie Donga finished third in the event.

PNG also claimed gold in the Men’s 61kg category after Morea Baru finished in first place ahead of Brown Ramohaka of the Solomon Islands who came in second place and Harold Aranda of Guam in third.

PNG currently leads the overall medal tally with 7 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.

The tournament will be launched in New Zealand on October 8.

The tour includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

The World Cup will be the ninth edition after its introduction in 1991.

The trophy will arrive on June 20 in Port Moresby where it will be displayed at the New Zealand High Commission.

The next day it will make its way to Sir Hubert Murray Stadium where it will be on display.

The trophy will then be flown to Rabaul for community activation on June 22.