Papua New Guineans seeking specialist medical treatment are set to gain greater access to healthcare expertise from India under a new partnership between CPL Group's City Pharmacy Medical Clinic and Apollo Hospitals.

The agreement creates a referral pathway linking patients in PNG with specialist consultations and advanced medical services in India, while also opening opportunities for international medical expertise to be shared with healthcare professionals locally.

The partnership was formally launched in Port Moresby on Wednesday, September 9, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CPL Group chief executive officer Ajay Patel and Apollo Health senior manager for international marketing Dr Harsh Jadhav.

Three people, including two members of the police force, are now in custody following investigations into the escape of 25 prisoners from the Wabag Police Station in Enga Province.

The arrests mark the first major action against individuals allegedly linked to the mass breakout, with Acting Enga Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen confirming that the two officers have been charged with 22 indictable offences.

Among the allegations against the officers is aiding and abetting the escape of prisoners, while the civilian has been charged with aiding one escapee.

A road that took generations to build finally got its maiden run today, with Prime Minister James Marape behind the wheel.

More than 100 vehicles followed him out of Port Moresby as he headed for Lae along the Transnational Highway, a route now set to be renamed the Pangu Highway. It is the first time the Southern Region has been physically connected to Momase and the Highlands by road.

Papua New Guinea's National Parliament this week received one of the most significant documents in the country's post-independence history, as the results of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum were officially tabled, confirming that 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans cast their ballots in favour of Independence.

Bougainville Affairs Minister Manaseh Makiba presented the referendum outcome alongside two other key documents — the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework Agreement — marking a major step in the long-running process between Waigani and Buka.

Papua New Guinea has activated a countrywide response to a worsening drought crisis, with the National Capital District and Gulf Province now sitting in the most severe category as dry conditions spread across the country.

Health and National Disaster Services Minister Dr Billy Joseph confirmed the situation on Monday, saying the National Disaster Centre (NDC) was working hand in hand with provincial governments and communities to soften the blow of the El Niño weather pattern now gripping the nation.

A fresh batch of over 60 police vehicles is now in the hands of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, courtesy of the Japanese government, marking one of the larger equipment boosts the force has received in recent years.
The vehicles, worth K12.8 million under Japan's economic and social development programme, were officially handed over at the National Centre of Excellence in Bomana by Japanese Ambassador to PNG Hisanobu Mochizuki.
According to the ambassador, the fleet addresses a long-standing gap in police mobility that has made it difficult for officers to respond quickly to incidents or maintain a visible presence in outlying communities.

Papua New Guinea's political scene has shifted with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the PNG Party and the Nesenel Unity Party, an alliance both sides say lays the groundwork for stronger, more accountable leadership as the country heads toward the 2027 National General Election.
The MoA was signed during the official launch of the Nesenel Unity Party, an occasion that saw PNG Party leader and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Belden Namah, describe it as a first-of-its-kind agreement for his party.

Prime Minister James Marape departs for Honiara this week to headline the first-ever PNG-Solomon Islands Investment Conference, a two-day gathering he says will push the two Pacific neighbours beyond friendly diplomacy and into serious business partnerships.

Marape will share the platform with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Prime Minister Matthew Wale, who is set to officially open proceedings. The event, running over two days starting tomorrow, will draw together government officials, private sector investors, company executives, bankers and development partners from both nations.

Papua New Guinean citizens could soon be wearing Australian Defence Force uniforms, with Canberra's top defence official confirming that recruitment under the Pukpuk Treaty is on track to begin in late 2027.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, made the announcement following his first ministerial engagement with PNG Defence Minister Elias Kapavore on Sunday, August 16, where both leaders confirmed their shared commitment to getting the initiative off the ground within the next twelve months.