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Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Papua New Guinea. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Capital
Port Moresby
Head of State
King Charles III
Head of Government
Prime Minister James Marape
A truck is engulfed by floodwaters brought on by heavy rains from tropical cyclone Maila in the Tinputz district of Northern Bougainville. Photo: AFP
Pacific nations

Australia pledges US$1.7 million in aid after Cyclone Maila kills 11 in Pacific

Entire villages were destroyed in the storm, was briefly classified as a Category 5 cyclone.

Indonesia

Indonesia earthquake kills 1, triggers tsunami waves

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Indonesia

Australia, Indonesia sign security deal in ‘watershed moment’

Indonesia

World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia

A handprint dating back at least 67,800 years is over a thousand years older than hand stencils in Spain that are attributed to Neanderthals.

Handprints with sharpened fingertips are seen in the Maros region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo: Ahdi Agus Oktaviana/Maxime Aubert via AP
US-China relations

US denies Indo-Pacific retreat, says aid is being recalibrated to counter China

Washington argues that targeted assistance and partnerships will deepen regional ties and deliver longer-term economic and security gains.

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China-Australia relations

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Think tank proposes dedicated alliance – initially with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to avoid being ‘blindsided’.

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Pope Leo XIV

Nuns, teen influencer and ex-Satanic priest among 7 new saints

Pope Leo XIV created the new saints, including the first from Papua New Guinea and an archbishop killed in the Armenian genocide.

Pope Leo XIV attends a Mass on the day of the canonisation of seven new saints, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Australia

What Australia’s ‘Pukpuk’ pact with Papua New Guinea means for the Pacific

While China has voiced misgivings, the pact is seen as necessary by some – even if it could draw Australia into PNG’s domestic conflicts.

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Australia

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

Diplomacy

Opinion | Apec offers a stage for China, US and two Koreas to make peace

With Trump and Xi set to attend, it could pave the way for a US-North Korea summit and mend China-South Korea ties.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Australia

Australia to ‘upgrade’ defence ties with PNG as China’s Pacific influence grows

The deal will allow the nations’ citizens to serve in either military, with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive.

Australian soldiers talk to Papua New Guinea’s defence minister and other officials during a visit to Brisbane earlier this year. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP
Indonesia

Indonesia, US start 13-nation ‘Super Garuda Shield’ military drills

More than 4,100 Indonesian and 1,300 American troops will take part in this year’s ‘largest ever’ drills, aimed at boosting deterrence.

Pacific nations

Australia, US push Pacific deterrence amid China’s security overtures

Analysts note the significance of Papua New Guinea and Fiji’s unprecedented involvement in this year’s ‘Olympics of war games’.

Australia

Australia’s largest-ever military drill under way, Chinese spy ships expected

Chinese military have observed these biennial exercises since 2017, but this year’s drills coincide with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China.

Australian and US HIMARS rockets are launched during the firepower demonstration as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 joint military exercises on Monday. Photo: EPA
Pacific nations

‘Glassman’ jailed: PNG hopes ruling can curb tribal sorcery violence

After a horrific machete killing, a landmark ruling in Papua New Guinea aims to curb deadly sorcery accusations driven by jealousy and greed.

Neighbours gather near the home of a 55-year-old mother of two in the Tsak Valley in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea after she was accused of sorcery and tortured. Photo: AFP
Pacific nations

Pacific nation’s Facebook blackout tied to content ‘control’ experiment

Meta’s Facebook and Messenger remained inaccessible to users in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, over 24 hours after mysteriously going offline.

Australia

Will Australia use PNG defence deal as a ‘watchtower’ to track Chinese navy?

While the pact aims to strengthen Canberra’s regional leadership, it could also be utilised to monitor Chinese naval activity in the Pacific.

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Australia

Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China

The agreement comes just days after Canberra signed a similar treaty with the small Pacific nation of Nauru.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) shakes hands with Papua New Guinea’s leader James Marape during a press conference in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Pacific nations

Rebel region vows to become Pacific’s newest nation by 2027

Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, voted to secede from Papua New Guinea five years ago after a bloody decade-long war.

Australia

As Chinese banks circle, Australia pushes ANZ to stay in Pacific island nations

For years, Western banks have been closing branches throughout the South Pacific. State-owned Bank of China has shown it’s eager to step in.

Pope Francis

Video | Pope Francis tours one of the world's most remote areas

Pope Francis exchanges gifts with children in remote area of Papua New Guinea
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Pacific nations

Pope calls for PNG to ‘end’ tribal violence, urges fair share of its resources

In a keynote speech, the pope called for an end to tribal violence while insisting the people benefit from the country’s resource boom.

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Pope Francis gives a speech in front of diplomats and dignitaries including the Governor General of Papua New Guinea Bob Dadae. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesia

Video | Pope praises Indonesians for choosing children over pets

Asia

Video | Indonesian Catholics in tears as pope visits Jakarta

UAE

Pope heads to Southeast Asia in ambitious trip

Pope Francis’ visit aims to cement the Catholic Church’s position in the region and comes despite his growing health problems.

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Pope Francis will visit four countries in Southeast Asia starting next week. Photo: Reuters
Pacific nations

Australia pushes Pacific police force proposal to check China’s ambitions

Pacific leaders endorsed on Wednesday a plan creating a 200-officer police force to address security challenges and limit China’s reach.

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Solomons Islands police receive training from Chinese liaison officers in 2022. Photo: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force/Handout via AFP
Australia

Opinion | Aukus is a setback for Australia’s hard-fought independence

Years after Curtin stood up to Churchill and Keating rejected the “US deputy” label, Australia seems to have lost its backbone.

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Architecture and design

How the other half travel: in their own flat aboard mega-yacht The World

Residents mostly spend a few months at a time aboard, visiting their pick of the more than 100 ports the ship visits in a year – and perhaps making plans to change the wallpaper ahead of their next visit

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