Police in Central province have reported a peaceful Local Level Government (LLG) election so far despite some issues arising from the availability of ballot papers during polling.Central Provincial Police Commander (PPC) acting Superintendent Joseph Salle said the good job his officers did in providing assistance during polling also led to the arrest of three individuals involved in the hijacking of ballot papers. He mentioned that the issue leading to the hijacking of the ballot papers was again the limited number of ballot papers compared to the eligible voters there. He said that is something the Electoral Commission needs to look into and resolve. "I am happy with how the people of Central are behaving during the election, even though eligible voters have raised issues regarding their names not being on the common roll and the shortage of ballot papers.” “However, they have come to an understanding and proceeded with the voting, which is nearing completion. Most of the ward councilors have been declared, while the other wards are still voting. After all ward councilors are declared, the election officials will continue to count the LLG President votes, " Salle Said. PPC Salle further confirmed that there were no further incidents reported, except for one ward in the Hiri Koiari LLG. He said polling will continue this week and will end when all wards have completed polling.

Fiji Bati’s Head Coach Wise Kativerata has put forward a bold proposal for a historic collaboration between Papua New Guinea and Fiji, suggesting the creation of a joint team in an New South Wales Cup to secure the future of rugby league in both nations.In the wake of the Pacific Bowl Championship test, Kativerata argued that for Rugby League to truly grow, the two pacific brothers must unite to create a professional pathway for their upcoming athletes. "To me personally, I think we should have a New South Wales Cup team with the (PNG) Hunters to feed the Papua New Guinea team," Kativerata stated. "It's important that we work together. Not only grow Papua New Guinea but grow Fiji too." Moreover, he highlighted the shared challenges and strengths of the two countries, noting their similar cultures and the power of sport to unite communities. However, he pointed out that Fiji lacks the established development system that PNG has built with its SP Hunters team. "Because no one else will do it, we might as well do it ourselves," Kativerata said, emphasizing the need for a united-driven solution. His vision extends beyond a senior team, suggesting exchanges at youth levels to strengthen the talent pool from the ground up. "Bringing the young under-17, under-19 team to come and play against your boys. we can help each other on that." This call for a unified Pacific pathway is a direct response to the competitive disadvantage faced by Fiji, where rugby union is the dominant sport. Coach Kativerata believes, by sharing resources and talent with PNG, both nations can build a stronger, more sustainable future for rugby league, ultimately leading to greater success on the world stage.

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) LNG Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou remains focused to the future, emphasizing player development, squad depth, and the pride of homegrown talent as the foundation of the team's success following commanding 50 - 18 victory over Fiji Bati.The victory at a packed Santos National Football Stadium on Saturday secured the Kumuls' third consecutive Pacific Championship Bowl, a dominant performance featuring eight tries and a perfect nine goals from captain Rhyse Martin. While the score line reflected a team at its peak, Coach Demetriou revealed in his post-match press that hardship faced just days before the match. Star playmaker Lachlan Lam had been hospitalized with a severe stomach illness, only being discharged on Friday. "Yeah, well, Lachie's been in hospital. He was in hospital on Thursday and only got out on Friday, halfway through the day," Demetriou revealed." “He wasn't in a good way... I knew he wasn't going to last, so we couldn't afford to put him out there for the start." Despite this setback, came an opportunity to showcase the team's growing depth. Demetriou expressed unwavering confidence in young Finley Glare, who stepped into the crucial role. "I was confident in Finley, to be honest. I picked him for a reason," Demetriou stated. "I have a lot of belief in what he's capable of and where he can go to as a player. His ability to jump in from seven to nine and have it equally as effective is impressive for a young man." The coach's pride, however, was most palpable when he highlighted the composition of his starting spine. "I was really excited about the starting spine today. To have Edwin [Ipape], [Morea] Morea, [Cairo] Olam, and Finlay—all PNG-born and bred—out there on the national stage... I'm not sure how often that's happened." This homegrown core is filling a significant void, with Demetriou pointing to the retirement of long-time halfback Kyle Laybutt. "That's a big hole to fill, and these guys have come in and done a great job." Moreover, he reserved special praise for hooker Edwin Ipape, whose stellar form has sparked talk of a move to the NRL. "If you're asking me, can he handle NRL, then he can more than handle NRL. He'll be a standout," Demetriou asserted. "He's a standout out there playing against a lot of NRL players... What's impressed me about Edwin is his character. He was the leader amongst the born-and-bred PNG players." Demetriou revealed that the squad's inspiration was drawn from the past, with members of the iconic 2000 Kumuls team visiting the camp. "Listening to those guys and how they represented, and what they went through to put this team on the map 25 years ago, was pretty special. I know how much it meant for the players, and it was good to see that come out in our form today." Looking ahead, the coach issued a clear message to his squad and aspiring Kumuls stating, “performance at the club level is paramount. With fierce competition for places expected next year, form will be the ultimate selector.” "My message to all the boys will be, go back and play good footy," Demetriou said. "The competition for places next year is going to be high. There were four or five players we could have picked in this squad, and the squad still would have been as strong, which is a great reflection of the depth that's around." He concluded with a promising vision for the national team's future current and upcoming players, echoing Ipape's own sentiments, "We can keep them together for four or five years. We're going to only keep getting better." The future looks exceptionally bright for the PNG Kumuls, with a perfect blend of emerging local talent and a coach instilling a culture of high performance and accountability.

The Fiji Bati Head Coach Wise Kativerata pointed to a disrupted preparation and a cascade of on-field errors as the significant reasons for his team's 50-18 defeat at the hands of the PNG LNG Kumuls in the Pacific Bowl Championship.Coach Kativerata stated this in a frank post-match assessment revealing the team's challenges began long before kickoff. "We didn't start well from the hotel coming in here. We lost one of our players who's been sick," the coach stated, forcing a last-minute reshuffle of his squad. This adversity was compounded early in the contest with an injury to a key player, further destabilizing the young Fijian side. "We tried to regroup, but I think our errors capitalized," Kativerata explained. "We came back with another penalty, then we gave a six-again and a penalty. So that's what brings us down." The coach highlighted the particular difficulty of conceding repetitive penalties against a powerful team like PNG, especially with a depleted forward pack. "When you give away a penalty and when you're so thin up front, you pay the price," he said. While acknowledging the scoreline, Kativerata refused to pin the loss solely on his players' effort, instead framing it as a painful but necessary lesson for a squad in its development phase. He emphasized that the path forward is simple in theory but requires greater discipline: "We just need to learn to keep the football and cut the errors. Rugby league is a very simple sport."

The Fiji Bati captain and 2024 Penrith Panthers Premiership winner Sunia Turuva lifted the focus from the scoreboard to the soul of the game, expressing gratitude for the passionate PNG fans and the wealth of untapped talent in the Pacific.While upset of his side's defeat, the NRL star was visibly moved by the experience of playing in front of the enthusiastic Papua New Guinea (PNG) crowd. "This is my second time here and I think they were even louder today," Turuva said with a smile. "They scored a try, we made mistakes, they let us know about it.” “We love the PNG fans." He described the scene of fans waiting for autographs long after the final whistle as a "cool" and humbling spectacle. "Even just giving gear away, we take that stuff for granted when we see their reactions... it's a very good testimony for our players." Resounding his coach's long-term vision, Turuva also highlighted the exciting potential within the local competitions. Recalling a visit to a local PNG match," Turuva said. "It was pretty exciting to see. A lot of talent. I think it's the same for back home in Fiji." The captain endorsed a greater scouting presence in local Fiji competitions, pointing to stars like Semi Valemei and Tui Kamikamica as success stories born from such initiatives. "If we can have a bit of a look at the local footy... I think they'll be very surprised by who's back home in Fiji," Turuva stated, painting a hopeful picture for the future of Fijian rugby league despite the present setback.

The Papua New Guinea LNG Kumuls displayed a spectacular victory in the 2025 Pacific Bowl Championship, delivering a decisive 50-18 at the Santos National Football Stadium. Backed by a courageous home crowd, the opening whistle erupted a momentum of tries in the first half by the Kumuls. Despite Bati's competitive attempt to recover from a first-half margin scoreboard, the Kumuls played with an intensity that Bati simply could not match. The home side ran in four unanswered tries in a blistering 20-minute period to stun the visitors. Morea Morea opened the floodgates with the first try, quickly followed by scores from the dynamic Edwin Ipape, the powerful Nene Macdonald, and a clinical finish from captain Rhyse Martin. The onslaught continued as Cooper Bai crossed to extend the lead, with the Skipper himself maintaining a perfect kicking record by converting all five first-half tries. The Kumuls went into the sheds with a commanding 30-point lead, while Fiji’s only first-half response was a solitary try to Kitione Kautoga, converted by Brandon Wakeham. Any hopes of a Fijian fightback were quickly eliminated in the second half. The Kumuls picked up right where they left off, with Nixon Putt, Dudley Dotoi, and Robert Mathias all powering over the line to further extend the PNG lead. Martin’s boot remained consistent, adding the extras to all three tries. The Fiji Bati showed flashes of their flair, with Kitione Kautoga grabbing his second try of the afternoon and further consolation scores coming from Solomone Saukuru and Semi Valemei. However, their failed conversions continued, managing only one successful from their four tries, which starkly contrasted the flawless performance of their opponents. To cap off a near-perfect evening for the home side, captain Rhyse Martin from 40 metres slotted a penalty goal in the final minute, bringing up the half-century mark and finishing the game with a personal haul of 22 points from nine successful kicks and a try. This resounding victory, built on a dominant forward pack and clinical finishing, sends a powerful statement in the Pacific Championship. The PNG Kumuls have not only secured a vital win but have done so in a style that will make them a feared contender as the tournament progresses.

South Korea’s Wonkwang University shared interest in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Universities, following PNG Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru and his delegation’s visit to South Korea.The progressive news was announced during a meeting while visiting the Wonkwang University between Minister Maru, his delegation and the President of Wonkwang University, Mr. Park Sung Tae and his executives on Monday 27th October 2025. Minister Maru’s visit to Wonkwang University followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of International Trade and Investment and Wonkwang University in September, outlining cooperation in vocational training, talent development, research, trade, and industrial collaboration. Meanwhile, the meeting revealed South Korea’s Wonkwang University stands attentive to a cooperative effort with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology and the new Papua New Guinea University of Medicine and Health Sciences, especially in the agriculture and Health space. According to Minister Maru, the Wonkwang University will be introduced to the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to discuss and establish a path forward. “With Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to open its office in PNG, we hope to work them to identify what programs Wonkwang University can assist us with through our universities,” said Minister Maru. Moreover, Mr. Sung Tae also announced that Wonkwang University will be sending a medical team to Port Moresby late this year to provide free medical services to reinforce the relationship between the two countries. Minister Maru thanked the university for their drive and passion in pushing to enhance the relationship between PNG and South Korea. “I will put them in contact with the Chief Executive Officer of Port Moresby General Hospital to arrange for their visit,” he said.

Five (5) police officer based in Manus Province have been arrested and charged in relation to the murder-case of a colleague, Late Constable Ralwin Lamu, who died on May 5th, 2021.Assistant Commissioner of Police Crimes Hodges Ette confirmed that the five individuals, four Manus-based police officers and an ex-Manus-based police officer charged are now in police custody in Manus and appeared in court yesterday. The court adjourned their case to January 26th, 2026. Moreover, ACP Ette pointed out in police reports that allegedly on May 5th, 2021, the deceased was attacked while on a boat heading to N'dilau for a job. He said that while on board, the suspects were seen hitting the deceased with hard objects at locations near the village. "From information obtained by police after executing their task, they returned to Manus Police Station. Before they reached the shore, they found out that the late Lamu was not talking, so they called for a police vehicle to assist.” “When they reached the shore, they transported him in a waiting police vehicle to Manus Provincial Hospital. At the hospital, he was pronounced dead. A police complaint was registered, which my officers went to Manus to carry out the investigation that led to the arrest of the five after four years,” Ette said. He added that the five were charged with murder and are currently detained at Manus Police Station.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s (RPNGC) Human Resource Division will once again be spearheading the October 2025 Breast Cancer Fund-raiser at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGM). The Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Police Administration Dr. Philip Mitna announced this year’s theme for the upcoming Breast Cancer Fund-raiser is, “Together we Fight, to save lives through cancer awareness.” DCP Mitna declared this in a statement on Friday 23rd October 2025, emphasizing the purpose of the Fund-raiser to aid the work of the Cancer Foundation and PNG Cancer Ward at PMGM on the Wednesday 29th October 2025. Moreover, DCP Mitna said, apart from breast cancer, the RPNGC recognizes the existence of all forms of cancer in the communities and their serious impact on the society. Acknowledging the rise in deaths from different forms of cancer, the RPNGC is to recognize with emphasize the importance of this fundraising drive. · To commemorate the start of the Pinktober campaign the policemen of the NCD/Central Command will walk from 4 Mile Traffic Office to the Boroko Police Station in a show of solidarity and strength. · They are not alone in this campaign because several countries around the world are also staging similar events in their quest to prevent or minimize breast cancer across the world. The Constabulary raised over K90,000 last year, mostly from donations coming from generous individuals and corporate entities in NCD and Central Province. Furthermore, Dr. Mitna stated that anyone in the society can one day fall victim to cancer, and once again appealed to the residents of NCD both within the private and public sector and the corporate entities, to support this worthy cause. "The Pinktober initiative is all about uniting people in the fight against cancer. They must help each other to protect and fight against cancer in the community," Dr Mitna pointed out,

Air Niugini welcomed a signed Contract agreement with Airbus to support the new fleet of eleven A220 aircraft with Airbus Flight Hour Service (FHS), including integrated component services, on-site stock, pool access and repair services.The official signing commenced in a recent ceremony in Port Moresby to mark the arrival of the airline's first aircraft from the A220 main assembly facility in Canada. Present at the ceremony and signing the official document, the President Airbus Asia Pacific Mr. Anand Stanley and Captain Samiu Taufa, Air Niugini’s Officer in Charge and Acting Chief Operating Officer. “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Airbus as part of our comprehensive preparations for our new A220 fleet,” said Captain Taufa. “The arrival of the A220 marks a milestone in our long history and for the whole nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG).” “Working together with Airbus and our other partners, we are working at every level not only to meet but to exceed the expectations of our customers and the country with the best products and services the industry has to offer.” Meanwhile, Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific, expressed enthusiasm about Air Niugini joining the Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS) program while underlining Airbus’s commitment to delivering top-tier maintenance support to enhance the efficiency and performance of Air Niugini’s new A220 fleet. “We look forward to supporting Air Niugini in bringing the full potential of the A220 to their passengers and markets.” Furthermore, Airbus FHS provides airlines with a flexible, power-by-the-hour model designed to maximize aircraft availability while reducing overall operating costs. Leveraging Airbus’ engineering expertise, predictive maintenance tools, and global logistics network, FHS ensures operators are well-placed to achieve best-in-class fleet performance and reliability.

The 15km all-weather road starting at Boinahitim will reach Boinam in West Yangoru Local Level Government (LLG), taking down the last frontier in Yangoru Sassia District after fifty years.Worth K4 million, The District Engineer, Mr. Josiah Sengi, confirmed that based on the scope-worth of operation, it the highest cost in the district and will be completed in three months. He stated that the K4 million road budget covers essential construction components such as earthworks, drainage systems, culverts, and gravel surfacing. Meanwhile, member of Yangoru-Sassia District Richard Maru, pointed out his initial plan to connect the Entire Yangora-Saussia District by Road, within the country’s fifty years. Mr. Maru addressed the challenge of Residents of Boinamhitim and Boinam previously carried school building materials by foot for 15km, relying only on planes overhead. He described the new road as the final and most challenging link, cutting through mountains and jungles to reach villages that have never seen a vehicle. With this road, long-awaited services like health centres and schools will finally arrive, fulfilling the Marape-Rosso government’s promise to “leave no one behind.” “We gained independence without many roads and many villages unconnected. In my time, I am determined to connect every village in my district.” “I want to thank the Prime Minister James Marape, and the Marape-Rosso government for making available additional funding to all the districts called the Kina for Kina and District Infrastructure Funding.” “At Yangoru-Saussia, we are using these funding to deliver roads like this.” He also said that this road also meant more people working on cocoa gardens and bringing their produce to the market. “The value of cocoa exports is twice the value of coffee exports in Papua New Guinea (PNG).” “Last year, the export value of coffee was K500 million, and the value of cocoa exports was K1.2 billion.” “More funding has been going towards roads for coffee-growing regions, and it is time the Government focuses on building and maintaining economic roads in cocoa-growing regions in PNG.” Moreover, Maru acknowledge the roads upcoming contribution to enable more farmers to access markets and expand cocoa production, pointing out K1.2 millions of PNG Cocoa exports last year, more than double the value of coffee exports at K500 million. Maru urged the Government to prioritize infrastructure investment in cocoa-growing regions, which have been historically underfunded compared to coffee-producing areas. Furthermore, Maru urged the Asian Development Bank to extend its economic road program to coastal provinces, not just the highlands. He emphasized that Yangoru-Saussia District produces 20% of PNG’s cocoa and needs better infrastructure to boost output. In addition, he highlighted the Tangori to Koboibus Road as the province’s most economically viable route, deserving priority maintenance. “The new Boinahitim to Boinam Road, upon completion, will be one of the very critical high-value economic cocoa roads into the future.” “We are spending significant government funding on roads that are economical and those that will generate revenue to support the national purse.”

The first delegation of high-profile Korean investors visited Papua New Guinea (PNG) this year to explore investment opportunities in the country.Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, said that this is the first visit they have had from the Koreans this year.“Korea has transformed from being war-ravaged to a global economic powerhouse.”The delegation includes a representative from Charmfre Inc, a leading animal welfare chicken company, the second largest Korean chicken company with a global presence, who are looking at a possibility to invest in the poultry industry in PNG.According to Minister Maru, more than K200 million worth of chicken is imported each year to PNG due to insufficient local production, relying on expensive supplies from Lae due to additional freight costs. He emphasized the need for major investors, like Charmfre, to establish a full poultry operation in Central Province to meet demand for meat, eggs, and chicks while also exploring exports. He added that the project would qualify as a Special Economic Zone with incentives, noting that PNG’s 4% annual population growth and upcoming projects will keep driving demand for chicken.“The Marape-Rosso Government is keen to replace all chicken imports and be a net exporter of chicken.""Partnerships with countries like Korea and its leading poultry companies who own global export brands like Charmfre would be a very exciting investment prospect.”In Minister Maru’s support, the PNG Poultry Industry Association Chairman Mr. Chris Prestwood underlined that chicken supply shortages this year were caused by mainly avian influenza outbreaks in exporting countries.He stressed the need for government support to attract international partners, build local capacity, and reduce reliance on imports. Prestwood added that over the next decade, more than K1.2 billion must be invested in the poultry industry to tackle malnutrition and achieve these goals.“We have the potential. Meanwhile, our existing producers are doing wonderful job as this year, production in PNG has grown by forty percent which is tremendous.”A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was the highlight of the Delegation’s visit, signed between the Ministry of International Trade and Investment and the Wonkwang University represented by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Jin-Soo Hwang, a member in the delegation.Furthermore, Minister Maru pointed the purpose of the MoU aims to boost economic development and strengthen industrial cooperation between the two countries by working together in vocational training, talent development, trade, investment, and research on imports and exports.“This is a start of our relationship. While they have signed an MoU with my Ministry, I will channel them to other Ministries and agencies that will be required to work with them.”“We are hoping that as a result of this visit, they (the Korean investors) will make some investment decisions in PNG. I am extremely delighted and excited about the future,” said Minister Maru.