The Waigani Committal Court has ruled that there is sufficient evidence and a reasonable prima facie case to commit the former Moresby North East MP to the National Court to be tried.

Senior Magistrate, Cosmas Bidar, made the ruling this morning (Friday 18.01.19) after considering evidence before him.

​The Papua New Guinea Health Minister, Sir Puka Temu, has admitted there are problems with the country's drug supply system.For months there have been complaints of drug shortages at hospitals and clinics around PNG and Sir Puka has repeatedly denied there have been shortages.

OPPOSITION Leader Patrick Pruaitch has warned Kumul Petroleum management and board that doctoring of audited 2017 accounts is a criminal offence

Mr Pruaitch said yesterday the managing director of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited, Wapu Sonk, had responded with “misinformation and lies” to the Opposition’s disclosure of Kumul Petroleum’s online publication – and subsequent deletion – of the KPHL 2017 annual report.

“It was okay for Mr Sonk to help author a statement by Minister, Sam Basil, defending Kumul Petroleum’s position and denying that the National Government’s most lucrative State-owned enterprise had suffered a K481 million loss in 2016. 

Bougainville is planning to ask donors to help fund referendum preparations as it says the Papua New Guinea government has failed to meet its commitments.
The autonomous region is to hold a referendum on independence, with a tentative date set for June the 15th.

A crime spree linked to notorious prison escapee Tommy Baker has companies in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay province threatening to close.

Police suspect Baker and his gang of murder, piracy and a string of violent armed robberies at banks, businesses and resorts in the province over the last 18 months.

The Milne Bay governor's press secretary, Neville Togarewa, said the crime spree had prompted a meeting of the Provincial Law and Order Committee.

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The meeting on Friday will be attended by local MPs, including the deputy prime minister Charles Abel, as well as representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, churches and community groups.

All are concerned by the impact the crime spree is having on the local economy, Mr Togarewa said.

"Many companies in and around Alotau have expressed their deep concern about the safety of their businesses," he said.

​THE Government has declared the Bougainville referendum a major agenda for this year but with a warning that there may be interference from outside.

While not specifying the intrusion, the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said yesterday it would likely entail “misinformation” which he warned Bougainvilleans to be wary of.

Fifteen police officers have been jailed in Papua New Guinea's capital in the past four months for offences including brutality, aiding prison escapees, and domestic violence.

They are among 31 officers who were arrested and charged by Port Moresby's police since September.

Papua New Guinea's  two oldest and largest mines may face closure within the next ten years.
This shocking remark was made by the incoming PNG Managing director or Mineral Resources Authority Jerry Garry last Friday.
Mr Jerry was speaking on MRA’s visions and goals under his leadership when he stated that these two mines will be comfortably replaced by Wafi-Golpu and Frieda River Cu-Au deposits.
However he said that when these deposits, goes into production, in about five years from now, PNG will not have any mega mineral reserves remaining.
He said what is more challenging is the fact that almost , if not, all the major mineral potential deposits located on the surface or near-sub surface; have already been tested sufficiently without success.

A senior Papua New Guinea MP has downplayed suggestions he is a candidate to be the next prime minister.The parliamentary opposition is planning for a vote of no-confidence against prime minister Peter O'Neill early next month.

Local media has identified veteran MP and governor of Enga province, Sir Peter Ipatas, as a potential replacement.


​However Sir Peter said he was committed to supporting Mr O'Neill and his coalition government.

He said ahead of a vote there was usually a lot of lobbying and negotiating between MPs, but claimed he hadn't discussed becoming prime minister with anybody

Most undergraduate students at Papua New Guinea's biggest university face a 29 percent fee hike this year.

Some degree courses, such as medicine and nursing, will face bigger increases.

The University of PNG's public relations director, James Robins, says other expenses, such as accommodation, are unchanged.