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PNG News Links
Drugs for quitting smoking may curb betel nut habit, researchers say -- http://giaman.com/pg/?db2784
Sir Somare should blame himself for the overthrow of his government in 2011 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4a6e50
Australia's Woodside Abandons $8.4 Billion Bid to Take Over Oil Search -- http://giaman.com/pg/?45da09
BSP invests in the Pacific's potential leaders -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c8f81a
PNG Government slammed for lack of response to police brutality -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b322ca
Domestic violence: the issue with no borders -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3e9445
PNG's staggering Debt level worries Polye -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d2a999
Misc. Links
Department of Personnel Management -- http://www.dpm.gov.pg/
Department of Personnel Management launches new website -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/99768
Simbu Children Foundation -- http://simbuchildrenfoundation.org/
Kind Man Buys Turtles From Food Market And Takes Them Straight To The Sea -- http://giaman.com/pg/?be39a3
Link PNG Flight Schedule -- http://airniugini.com.pg/linkpng/flight-schedule/
The Milne Bay Melting Pot -- http://www.guysofficial.com/article.php?articleID=88
Follow Chief Mundiya Kepanga on twitter has he travels the world -- https://twitter.com/mundiyakepanga
The Skeleton Warriors Of PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cf297e
Vale Peter Ryan -- http://giaman.com/pg/?49c595
News Items
Christmas
To all the readers of the PNG Gossip Newsletter who celebrate Christmas -- A very Merry Christmas to all of you.
Miss Pacific Islands
Miss Pacific Islands PNG, Abigail Havora, has been crowned Miss Pacific Islands for 2015
Miss Pacific Islands
Results as follows
Miss photogenic: Miss Tonga
Miss social media: Miss Tonga
Miss personality: Miss American Samoa
Miss national tourism: Miss American Samoa
Best Sarong: Miss Papua New Guinea
Best Traditional wear: Miss Fiji
Best Talent: Miss Papua New Guinea
Best interview: Miss Samoa
4th runner up: Miss Solomon Islands, Deanne Enoch 3rd runner up: Miss Fiji, Zaira Begg
2nd runner up: Miss Tonga, Brittne Fuimaono 1st runner up: Miss Samoa, Ariana Taufao
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?e0194b
Havora hailed as beautiful, articulate -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/99770
New Official Language
The Papua New Guinean government has recognised the Papua New Guinean Sign Language (PNG SL) as one of the country's official languages. PNG SL is indigenous but not local; it is used nationwide.
The Deaf population is estimated to be about 30,000 people, making it one of the country's biggest language groups.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?5f2e50
Birding in PNG
Noah moves on to a new island - New Britain.
-- http://www.audubon.org/news/day-340-new-britain
Noah Strycker is traveling the world birding at a breakneck pace. Citizens of USA are invited to guess how many species he'll see each month-and have a chance to win great prizes -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3331c2
Kerema Roads
Kerema locals say most feeder roads from the Trans National Highway into their villages in inland Gulf have not seen road upgrades for at least two decades. Rex Karava, a former villager councillor, while thankful for the government's move to seal parts of the highway, said the road network has deteriorated, and challenged Gulf leaders to upgrade feeder roads.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?4d1074
Air Niugini Codeshare
Solomon Airlines has validated a tripartite codeshare agreement with fellow Melanesian carriers Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu. Under the terms of the accord, Solomon Airlines will be in position to buy seats from Air Niugini on its four weekly flights from Port Moresby to Honiara and vice versa. The codeshare also extends to a weekly Port Vila service which Solomon Airlines will codeshare with Air Vanuatu as well as the PNG national carrier.
-- http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news15/812-SolomonAirlines.shtml
PNG Air Flies to Vanimo
PNG Air has announced that from the 9th of December 2015 it will operate twice weekly services to Vanimo, West Sepik province. Vanimo brings to 22 the total number of commercial ports served by PNG Air
-- http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/12/png-air-to-fly-into-vanimo.html
PNG Air Dash 8 repainted -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7120c2
Papuans to get PNG Citizenship
PNG's deputy chief migration officer, Esther Gaegamin, says processes are underway to grant citizenship to about 3,000 West Papuan refugees. She says most of them are qualified for PNG citizenship and her office has commenced a registration and naturalisation project with them.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?8b074b
Contracts Awarded to Ministers' Company
The PNG opposition has slammed the government for awarding a major road construction contract to a company it says is owned by cabinet ministers.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?2880aa
Hospital Poroman Foundation
Hospital Poroman Foundation has hosted a Funky Cancer Hair Day event at the Lamana Hotel, Port Moresby. Proceeds and funds raised from the event will be used to purchase items for kids at the cancer ward of the Port Moresby General Hospital.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?7ba705
Safe Motherhood Alliance
The Prime Minister's wife Lady Linda Babao, speaking at the Safe Motherhood Alliance's Blooming Teen Project Conference, said that the taboos and cultural norms that prohibit talking to children and young people about sex in this fast and changing world must change, as our young people are highly influenced by the technology and thing of the 21st century.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?9c9863
Taurama Road Project
National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, is not budging with his plans to develop the Taurama road and by-pass. Parkop urged critics of the project to look at the bigger picture and not play down the project.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?15b0f8
Baki's Comments Disappoints Family
Following the press statement released by the Police Commissioner Garry Baki in the media last week which was published as front page story on one of the daily newspapers, the family of the police brutality victim Nelson Nene Rema, who was shot dead at close range by police officers in NCD, say they are not happy with Mr Baki's comments on the media as it has no grounds to support his claims.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a98ec6
City Police Assault Family -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f7b207
Father Speaks Out After Son's Shooting -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9a9006
MVIL Celebrates Success
Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited has attributed its success this year to the hard working efforts of its staff in all 22 Provinces across Papua New Guinea. This has culminated with it being awarded the best performing company in the inaugural Prime Minister's Excellence Awards 2015.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?5b5513
PNG Ombudsman Commission
The PNG Ombudsman Commission has dealt with a total of 110 referral cases of politicians and public officials since its establishment in 1975.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?9afe89
Waste Management Laws Questioned
Accumulation of waste or rubbish in front of many shops operating in the national capital has raised concerns among the general public. And, many have questioned if there are certain laws in place to penalise shop owners who fail to keep their shop fronts clean.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?49804b
Female Enrolment Concern
A school principal has questioned parents whether they were producing only males as the enrolments of girls in school was low. Kisam Tare, the principal of Sir Tei Abal Secondary School, in the Wabag district of Enga Province has challenged parents and guardians to send their daughters to school as keeping them back home and sending them away to get married was only spoiling their lives and contributing towards unemployment, violence against women, sorcery, prostitution and the high number of infant and maternal mortality cases.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?70e251
Arore Wins Ijivitari Seat
The Electoral Commission has confirmed that Ijivitari MP David Arore has retained his seat in the recent by-election. He finished at the top with more than 9700 votes followed by John Warisan 8389 votes.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?24eb90
Logging Companies Told to Stop
PM, Peter O'Neill, has announced that the Environment and Conservation Authority has issued stop work orders to two logging companies for breaching the Environment Act.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c31040
Baruni Dump
If you reside in Port Moresby City, Baruni Dump is where your rubbish ends up. The dump now uses a world-class sustainable system to contain its solid waste and it is estimated to take in over 200,000 tonnes of rubbish per year. The area is being renamed as the Baruni Sanitary Landfill.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?d6ebd7
Jacks of PNG
Jacks of PNG, a leading pacific clothing provider with most of the products tailored and produced in Fiji, has opened its second shop at the Vision City Mega Mall in Port Moresby
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?0c2883
Bilum - String Bag
A bilum is a traditional woven string bag used mainly by women in PNG. They come in different colours and styles according to their origin, so bilums from the Highlands region are generally made of wool and brightly coloured, while Gulf bilums are made of animal fur or vines, and its drab colours come from natural, plant-based dyes.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?f56b4c
Singapore Lose to PNG
PNG has narrowly beaten Singapore in the Mission Foods Nations Cup Netball Tournament by one point. (Singapore 43 - PNG 44)
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?04e550
Aropa Airport
It has been one year since Aropa Airport, serving Kieta on Bougainville, reopened on the 12th of December 2014. It was officially reopened by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, and by the president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, John Momis. National Flag Carrier, Air Niugini, operates six weekly flights to Aropa
-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuKaq2eMqK0
Hoskins Airport Opened
Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill has opened a redeveloped Hoskins Airport. Improvements included a 1,900 metre runway extension; strengthened pavements; and installation of a perimeter security fence. Additional upgrades comprise: a modernised terminal building with an eco-friendly sewerage system; and new solar-powered street lights around the terminal to boost energy efficiency.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?403368
New US Ambassador
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the U.S. Senate confirmation of Catherine Ebert-Gray to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Republic of Vanuatu. She will be succeeding Ambassador Walter E. North who has served in this position since 2012.
-- http://portmoresby.usembassy.gov/ebert.gray.html
Airport Fire Trucks
The Government has invested K27 million into nine state of the art fire trucks, in its latest move to get PNG's airports to the same par as the world. The trucks have been fully funded by the Asian Development Bank, in partnership with the National Airports Corporation.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/99757 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0ac8e9
Wanem App
Skerah PNG has introduced its Google Play App "Wanem". The App is targeted to the more sophisticated so they can access quality Event information on What's On, the latest products, services, lifestyle and tourism opportunities on What's New and the most popular and trending opportunities on What's Hot.
Requires Android 4.0.3 and up.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?1ed735
School Exams
The country's national examination system for Grade 8 and 10 students has been abolished. It will now be compulsory for students to continue on to complete Grade 12 regardless of poor performance.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ed659a
Coming Events
Note: please verify any date mentioned as dates change and events can sometimes get cancelled. Of course I may also put down a wrong date.
Christmas Day - 25 December 2015
Boxing Day - 26 December 2015
New Year's Day - 1st January 2016
Trade Pasifika - 2016 in Port Moresby
2016 8th FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup tournament (Port Moresby) -- http://giaman.com/pg/?18525e
12th Festival of Pacific Arts 22 May to 4 June 2016 (Hagatna, Guam)
Christmas Day - 25 December 2016
Boxing Day - 26 December 2016
Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu 2017
2018 - APEC summit to be held in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a3e64e
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- http://www.pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
Interested in having your own Web Site? Worried about the cost? It may be cheaper than you think. Take a look at pricing at the PNG Web Hosting site. Sites with space for unlimited data storage and data transfer per month start from less than US$5.00 per month. -- DOT COM Domains from US$9.00 per year. All plans come with 24 hour a day / 7 day a week ticket / phone support
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