papua new guinea

PNG to look at Covid-19 measures beyond State of Emergency

Prime Minister James Marape said the government had been advised by technical and health experts to extend the Covid-19 national emergency but it was considering other options.

Mr Marape said once the the emergency ended then a specific Act of Parliament would embrace how people lived, used transport, went to school, and conducted themselves in order to keep defences strong against the coronavirus.

He said Cabinet had directed the Health Department and State lawyers to come up with a specific Act.

Ten bodies recovered from PNG landslide which buried 12

The weekend landslide in Tendepo ward of Tambul-Nebilyer district came amid a bout of heavy rain

District administrator Phillip Talpa said an excavator was quickly sent to the area with help from police and the local community.

"They were able to dig out 10 bodies. Two are still believed to be buried under ground. The excavator is already on site, digging a few sites that they believe the bodies are hidden under."

Mr Talpa said that with ongoing rain, there was a high risk of more landslides occuring in the area's hilly surrounds in coming days.

PNG’s first imported COVID-19 case

In a press briefing at the APEC terminal at Jackson’s International Airport, Marape said the ‘person of interest’ was one of 19 arrivals who were identified, isolated and observed.

“Of all these 19 persons of interest, tests have been run on them simultaneously until the one that came out red. The person who is in red, we are still running further tests on him and if he comes out green then he will be allowed to step out of his current confinement.”

Covid-19: PNG shuts down sports stadiums

The PNG Sports Foundation announced the closures today after consultations with national sporting federations and the Department of Health.

The foundation's chief executive, Peter Tsiamalili Jr, said he knew how passionate Papua New Guineans were about sport and that the decision was not taken lightly.

But the risk of the coronavirus spreading through large congregations of people at sporting events was just too high, Mr Tsiamalili said.

PNG and Fiji meet in Oceania Cup Pacific Test today

For PNG to advance, they will need to beat the Bati by more than 20 points, but for Kumuls coach Michael Marum promotion is not their top priority.

"At the back of our minds that's what we want but we want to take out one game at a time," he said.

"It's going to be a tough one this weekend against Fiji. We have a strong side we put together for this game and the boys are looking forward to the match on Saturday."

Wisil and Schuster named Oceania’s best athletes

Held in Qatar, the awards recognise the achievements of the National Olympic Committees, athletes and distinguished members of the Olympic family.

Wisil, dubbed the Pacific sprint queen, is a former Olympian who completed a historic triple gold in the 2019 Pacific Games in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.

The 31-year-old said representing PNG was a privilege.

"There's a sense of overwhelming pride to be recognised as the best female athlete of the Pacific Games," Wisil said.

Australia welcomes Pacific security leaders

The conference, hosted by the Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece P Kershaw APM, and Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram APM, facilitated strategic-level dialogue and demonstrated capabilities relevant to security agencies across the region.

The themes for the event focused on transnational, organised and serious crime; border security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

PNG's Ulawun stirs again, adding to woes of displaced

Major eruptions of the volcano in August and June prompted mass evacuations from nearby villages, and displaced over ten thousand people.

The ABC reports a local community leader, Christopher Lagisa, saying the latest activity would exacerbate the hardships being experienced by the displaced.

He said food is their main concern as the 3 kilograms of rice per family per week provided by the government was not enough.

 

 

PNG, Solomon Islands still in contention for Oceania Rugby Cup

The Pukpuks only led by 5-3 at half-time, with replacement Emil Latumahina scoring the opening try minutes after coming onto the field to replace injured second five Tisa Kautu, but scored four more tries in the second spell, including in the final play of the match, to end up comfortable winners.

PNG captain Ahulo Ottio said they started slowly but eventually found their rhythm as the match wore on.

"We knew it was always going to be a grind with the bulk of the boys (in the Niue team) coming from New Zealand and Australia," he said.

OFC Youth Tournament set to kick-off in Port Vila

The U-18 tournament is being organised with UEFA through the UEFA Assist Programme, with the focus not on winning a title, but on the development aspects an international event can provide.

The aim is to positively impact the players, coaches and referees and enhance their performance on and off the field, to provide experience, inspire learning and to improve performance at an international level.