The family of Public Solicitor Jimmy Wala Tamate was held at gun point by five armed criminals at their five mile resident in Port Moresby yesterday afternoon.
The criminals drove into the residential area in a white Toyota Harrier just after Mr. Tamate arrived from work and held him and his family at gun point.

They took his personnel items from his vehicle including a mobile phone, tablet,bank cards, keys to the Public Solicitors office and some court files.

Also a cash of K1000 was taken from his father's bag who was sitting outside the house.
They attempted to steal Mr. Tamate's vehicle but they were unable to reverse it.
They fled the scene as soon as the neighborhood came to assist.
Police were alerted but failed to turn up at the scene.
The family was traumatized of what has transpired.

Mr. Tamate says he will lay a formal complaint today as well as bringing the matter to the attention of the Police Commissioner as to why there was no police presence when the robbery was reported. FM100/PNG Today

The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill , will travel to the United States of America this week to present Papua New Guinea’s Country Statement to world leaders at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In the lead-up to the UNGA meeting, Prime Minister O’Neill will speak at an investment conference to promote investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea’s resources sector. PM O’Neill will also meet with senior executives of ExxonMobil while transiting Dallas, Texas.
“The opening of general debate at the United Nations provides an opportunity to share Papua New Guinea’s perspective on priority national, regional and global issues,” the Prime Minster said prior to departure.
“Through this process we also engage with partner countries to find common ground on matters of significance to our people.
“As a developing country, Papua New Guinea carries a number of concerns on which we seek greater engagement with larger economies.
“The plight of people who have been displaced by conflict or climate change, or by instability in the global economy, are all matters that have significant impact on developing countries.
“We need stronger global governance on these and other equally important issues so that developing countries can continue to advance our economies and strengthen our communities.”
While in New York for the United Nations meeting, the Prime Minister will address a business and investment conference with current and future investment partners in the Nation’s resources sector.
“With the gradual improvement of energy prices, now is the time to invest in Papua New Guinea, and that is the key message I will take to leading resources companies.
“The oil and gas sector in Papua New Guinea has enormous potential and we will continue to discuss operations with investment partners to expand investment and create more jobs.
“While in the United States I will also take the opportunity to meet with senior executives of ExxonMobil.
“The contribution that the PNG LNG project has made to our economy had been substantial.
“I look forward to meeting with executives from ExxonMobil to hear their views on ongoing investment in Papua New Guinea.”

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - As part of the 42nd Independence anniversary celebrations,
members of the PepsiPNG Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Teams took the streets of Port
Moresby to showcase the two FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cups.
During the day, over 5,000 people had the chance to get up close with the two hand-carved trophies,
taking photos with the silverware and selfies with their favourite PepsiPNG National Team players.
The tour commenced on Saturday morning in Kaugere, before the convoy made stops in Badili, Koki, Ela
Beach, Town and Hohola.
PepsiPNG Men’s National Team Head Coach Joel Khalu said getting the trophies on display to the public
was a great way to promote the international event that will be taking place in the last week of September.
“The kids especially, really enjoyed holding the trophies and taking pictures,” Khalu said.

“Fans were excited and kept saying that they were looking forward to watching our team’s play.”
Men’s star Apia Muri felt the ‘buzz’ while mixing with fans on the tour.
“Papua New Guineans love basketball,” Muri said.
“You could really tell that with the way they were coming up to get pictures with us and the trophies.”
“It was a great feeling getting well wishes from our supporters and I can’t wait to play,” Muri added.

The 2017 FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup presented by Paradise Beverages commences on
Wednesday, September 27 at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre (TAIC).
For more information, please contact BFPNG Chief Executive Officer Joel Khalu on khalujoel@gmail.com
- ENDS -

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) will maintain visibility during the approved march by the civil society group scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday 19 September 2017.

“I can confirm that the police has given approval for the peaceful march by the civil society group.  The approval was given after the organisers of the event have assured us that it will be a peaceful march from the SMI area near Town Ground in West Honiara to the Office of the Prime Minister,” says Gabriel Manelusi, Deputy Commissioner, Operations.

“The police appeals to members of the civil society group taking part in the march to exercise their freedom of speech peacefully and not to be involved in any acts of violence. Members of the public who are not involved in the march are requested to observe peaceful as the police will take action against anyone who tries to disturb the peace,” says Deputy Commissioner, Manelusi.

The civil society plans to present a petition to the Prime Minister for the reintroduction of the proposed anti-corruption bill when the National Parliament resumes its next witting next month.

Police in Malaita Province have arrested a 42-year-old male on the 10th of September 2017 following a complaint the man had allegedly falsified documents for payments.

The man was later charged by police for allegation of False Pretence and appeared  before the Auki Magistrate Court on 13th September 2017 .The court ordered he be remanded in custody for 14 days.

It was alleged the man claimed his affiliation with the Ministry of Forestry as the Deputy Director and was responsible for issuing application forms upon payments for projects which will then be financed by the Ministry concerned.

Police are continuing with its investigation into the matter.

Provincial Police Commander, Malaita Province, David Wate says, “Police wish to appeal to the public and individuals who may have information as alleged to assist the Auki police in its investigation by calling phone number 40132 or 23666.”

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced New Zealand will sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at a ceremony during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

New Zealand will sign the Treaty on the first day it is open for signature, September 20.

“Our signing at this first opportunity is consistent with New Zealand’s long-standing commitment to international nuclear disarmament efforts”, Brownlee said.

“While no state currently in possession of nuclear weapons will be signing along with us, this Treaty nevertheless represents an important step towards a nuclear-free world.

“It establishes the first global prohibition on nuclear weapons and provides the international legal framework for a world without these weapons,” Brownlee said.

New Zealand joined over 120 other states in supporting the adoption of the treaty at a United Nations conference in July this year.

The Treaty will enter into force once 50 states have ratified it.


SOURCE: NZ GOVT

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, will be seeking a Papua New Guinean citizenship after he retires from politics, which is any time soon.

He announced his desire to settle in PNG upon retirement, while celebrating Papua New Guinea’s 42nd Independence Day anniversary in Honiara last Saturday.

Sogavare declared that he was a Papua New Guinean by birth and would be pursuing an official dual citizenship status in PNG.

He was the guest of honour at the Independence Day dinner event hosted by PNG High Commissioner, Fred Yakasa, during which he could not hold back and could not hide his connection with PNG.

Yakasa also confirmed Sogavare’s retirement plans Monday and commended him for making the announcement on September 16.

“I am a Papua New Guinean by birth,” Sogavare said at the dinner.

Sogavare is the youngest of five sons of a pioneer missionary, Loko Sogavare, from Choiseul, Solomon Islands, who worked as a Seventh-Day Adventist Church missionary in remote Northern Province in the 1950s.

Two of his elder brothers are buried in PNG, one in East New Britain and the other in Lae, where they married and had children.

Eldest brother, Moses, married a woman from Kerema and Koiari and had settled in PNG, living in Port Moresby. Two brothers, Samson, who married a Manus woman, is buried in Lae and John, who married a woman from Rabaul, is buried in East New Britain.

Only PM Sogavare and his other elder brother Jacob, both born in Northern Province, returned to the Solomon Islands.

Sogavare said he is looking forward to the Dual Citizenship Bill and would be applying for PNG citizenship when he retires from politics.

SBM Online ran the story last weekend after PM Sogavare’s announcement.

“I still have family there in PNG, and yes, I will be applying for dual citizenship once I bow out of politics,” he told the Post-Courier.

Speaking from Honiara, Sogavare said he was born in Popondetta in 1955, where his father was based working as a missionary. He added that his family still lives in PNG.

At the Independence Day anniversary dinner, Sogavare described PNG as a big brother who plays an important role in Melanesia and the Pacific.

He said the Solomon Islands wants more Papua New Guinea businesses on top of the 50 already operating there.

Yakasa, on the other hand, urged more Solomon Islands businesses to invest in PNG which, he added, had a bigger market.

From the Immigration acting chief migration officer Solomon Kantha, PNG would welcome his application if Sogavare decides to apply for dual citizenship.

“The requirements for dual citizenship apply, including residency requirement, but we will wait for his application,”Kantha said.

Manasseh Damukana Sogavare (born January 17, 1955) is Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.

His most recent term began on December 9, 2014, and he had served two terms – in 2000-2001 and in 2006-2007. Before becoming Prime Minister, Sogavare served in the National Parliament as Member for East Choiseul beginning in 1997.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS

Six Pacific island nations are expected to sign a United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons when it opens for signature later this week, but the Marshall Islands won’t be one of them.

Island countries that have said they will sign the treaty this week include Palau, Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Tim Wright, Asia Pacific Director, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said Monday.

Heads of state from the first four are expected to sign, while foreign ministers for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will sign for their nations, he said.

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine said Monday that her government will be considering whether or not to sign the treaty. Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United Nations Amatlain Kabua joined representatives of over 120 nations earlier this year in casting a vote in favor of the U.N. resolution supporting the treaty, which is open for signature at U.N. headquarters this week.

“Obviously the Republic of the Marshall Islands — from its own experience — doesn’t want anyone to ever use nuclear weapons,” said President Heine. “But the big question is how does the world effectively eliminate this threat. It’s actually pretty complicated. This treaty deserves due time for consideration and consultation.”

The Marshall Islands was the ground zero for 67 United States nuclear weapons tests conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls between 1946 and 1958. It also hosts the Reagan Test Site, a major U.S. Army missile testing facility at Kwajalein Atoll.

While the treaty bans the use or possession of nuclear material, it also prevents its signatories from encouraging other countries to do so. President Heine noted that the treaty touches on two key issues for the Marshall Islands — the Compact of Free Association with the U.S. that provides base rights to use Kwajalein through at least 2066 and the country’s nuclear weapons testing legacy.

Heine said the treaty will be the subject of consultations with the public as well as review by legal authorities in the Marshall Islands before a decision is made about formally ratifying the treaty.


SOURCE: MARIANAS VARIETY/PACNEWS

The Flag raising ceremony on Saturday attracted hundreds with provincial and national flags including face paints in red, black and gold to mark the 42nd Independence Day.

The people turned up as early as 5am to witness the flag raising ceremony at the Independence Hill in Port Moresby. Disciplinary forces, girl guides and boy scouts including students braved the early morning to welcome the guest speaker Prime Minister Peter O’Neil and other guests.

At the flag raising ceremony, Prime Minister Peter O’Neil told Papua New Guineans to focus on the future and what they can do to play a part in the development of the nation both as individuals and in the communities.
“At the same time, we must continue to strengthen National institutions to
better work with the regions in the delivery of core Government services”PM O’Neill said.
“Our Government will continue to empower the provinces and the districts to make more informed decisions at the local level. We will maintain our focus on representing the interests of our people, our business community, and our economy around the world,” he said. PNGFM/PNG Today

PNG LNG Kumuls will be travelling to Fiji after the annual Prime Minister’s 13 match for their tri- series against the Fiji Batis and Australian Kangaroos on the 14th of October 2017, according to PNG Rugby Football League CEO Reatau Rau.

Mr Rau said it is one of the international engagements of the PNG LNG Kumuls. He said this will be the only trial game for them leading up to the World Cup challenge by the end of October. The format will be new where the teams will be playing against each other for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile plans are in place to put an U20 team for the SP Hunters into the Intrust Super Cup competition in 2019.

Mr Rau said all current teams in the Intrust Super Cup already have U20 teams except for the SP Hunters who are yet to field an U20 team. He said PNGRFL have finalised all information to put a Hunters U20 team by 2019.
He added that 2018, they will try to renegotiate the 5 years contract for the Hunters, which will be a big task. They will also be negotiations with the Queensland Rugby League in 2018 to field an U20 team in the Intrust Super Cup competition. PNGFM/PNG Today