 Port Moresby is taking steps toward becoming a major connector between Asia and the Pacific, following the launch of a new air route by China Southern Airlines. The route connects Guangzhou, Port Moresby, and Port Vila, with its maiden flight on 29 April 2025. The development has been welcomed by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.
Governor Parkop described the move as aligning with Port Moresby’s long-term vision of becoming a tourism hub and gateway for trade and investment. He credited the Marape-Rosso Government’s support and Prime Minister James Marape’s commitment to aviation liberalisation through the establishment of Fifth Freedom Rights with Vanuatu.  PNG Police Arrest Two Over Viral Assault of Mother and Child in Madang PNG Police in Madang have arrested two men in connection with the violent assault of a mother and her 13-year-old daughter at a supermarket last Saturday, following a wave of public outrage after a video of the incident went viral.
The suspects were apprehended at Laiwaden Oval earlier today. Police identified them as David Dinaiwa, 27, from Kagua-Erave, and Micah Tandaku, 20, from Ialibu-Pangia—both from Southern Highlands Province. According to Madang police, Dinaiwa was allegedly the main aggressor, while Tandaku filmed the assault on his phone. The pair claimed they were off duty at the time of the incident.  Cullighan Tanda [Photo credit - Lamack Lavari /FB] Papua New Guinea’s Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communication has announced plans to investigate recent cases involving the suspension of journalists due to their professional duties.
The decision follows public criticism over the suspension of FM100 Talkback Show host Cullighan Tanda, who was stood down after airing an interview with East Sepik Governor Allan Bird on his radio program.  PNG PM Marape Urges Nation to Honour Women on Mother's Day Prime Minister James Marape has used Mother’s Day as a platform to appeal to all Papua New Guineans to uphold respect and care for women, particularly mothers, as the nation approaches its 50th year of Independence.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Prime Minister Marape urged citizens—especially men and boys—to honor the women in their lives not only in words but through daily actions that reflect love, protection, and dignity. “This is our 49th Mother’s Day as an independent nation,” he said. “Real national progress starts with how we treat our mothers and women.” Mr. Marape referenced the Bible, specifically Genesis 2:18, to highlight the vital role of women as partners in society, saying they were created to support and complement men.  Minister Kessy Sawang Launches New Political Party Kessy Sawang, who serves as both the Member for Raikos and the Minister for Labour, has announced the formation of her own political party. This move is being highlighted as a potentially historic development in Papua New Guinea's political landscape, suggesting she may be the first female politician to achieve this milestone. The newly established party is named the People's Transformation Party.
The formation of the People's Transformation Party followed Ms. Sawang's departure from her previous party affiliation. Solomon Nani, the First Assistant Secretary to the Minister, confirmed that Ms. Sawang had resigned from the People's First Party to embark on forming her independent political group, signaling a strategic shift in her political direction.  Cheap Imports Threaten PNG Industries; Minister Maru Calls for Tariff Overhaul A critical review of Papua New Guinea's import tariff regime is urgently needed to safeguard local businesses struggling against a flood of cheap and unfairly subsidized foreign products, according to International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru. The Minister expressed profound disappointment with the current "unilateral, discriminatory, and arbitrary" approach to tariff policy.
Minister Maru argued that the long-standing Tariff Reduction Program (TRP), introduced in 1999 to promote economic efficiency, has failed to deliver its promised benefits. Despite nearly 80% of import tariffs being liberalized, PNG's economic structure has seen little change, with the local manufacturing sector remaining stagnant, contributing only a small fraction (3-6%) to the nation's GDP. The country continues to heavily export raw materials while importing goods that could be produced locally. Commentary : By George Lemako  Marape's PNG: Where Crime Walks Free and Justice Is Gagged Prime Minister James Marape has often spoken of transparency, accountability, and his vision of a "Black Christian Nation." But the reality under his leadership increasingly points in the opposite direction. His support for Members of Parliament implicated in rape, corruption, bribery, and even murder is not only alarming—it is a national crisis of ethics and governance.
The recent case of Renbo Paita, who was allegedly involved in election bribery in Laigap Open, serves as a glaring example. Instead of allowing the courts to operate independently and transparently, Prime Minister Marape appears to be dismissing or downplaying such allegations. Why? Is he trying to shield political allies ahead of the 2027 elections? Or is he, perhaps, afraid of those within his own ranks?  Austria Expresses Strong Interest in Investing in Papua New Guinea The newly accredited Austrian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Her Excellency Elisabeth Koegler, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, to convey Austria’s keen interest in strengthening economic ties and exploring investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Ambassador Koegler highlighted that Austria is particularly interested in investing in the downstream processing of forestry products, renewable energy—especially hydro and solar—along with high-tech industries. She noted Austria's expertise in hydroelectricity, citing the country’s mountainous terrain and rich water resources, which have positioned it as a global leader in hydro power generation.  Rebooking Fee ‘Fairer’ Than Ticket Cancellation, Says Air Niugini CEO Papua New Guinea national airline, Air Niugini, has announced that a rebooking fee for passengers who check in but fail to board their flights is a more equitable approach compared to the previous policy which saw tickets cancelled entirely.
According to Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Mr. Gary Seddon, the airline incurs not only financial costs when passengers fail to board, but also operational disruptions including flight delays and inconvenience to other travelers. He stated that the rebooking fee, while only a fraction of the actual cost, addresses the issue in a more balanced manner. Mr. Seddon explained that missed boardings create a sequence of delays, starting with staff searching for the missing passenger, followed by the removal of the passenger’s baggage from the aircraft. At busy international airports, these delays can extend due to the aircraft needing to be rescheduled into a new departure slot, potentially delaying flights by 10 to 30 minutes.  PNG Opposition Files Supreme Court Action Over No-Confidence Amendment Papua New Guinea Deputy Opposition Leader James Nomane has initiated Supreme Court proceedings to challenge the constitutionality of the recently enacted amendment to Section 145 of the Constitution concerning motions of no confidence.
The application, submitted on April 17th, seeks a judicial interpretation of Parliament's decision to pass the Motions of No Confidence Law 2025, which introduces an 18-month moratorium on future motions following a failed attempt. This amendment was passed on March 11th and certified on March 17th. |
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