His Excellency, Honourable Ishmael Toroama, joined the Vice President, Honourable Ezekiel Massat, and other members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday 22nd July 2026, in commemorating the establishment of the First Great Council of Chiefs with the Chiefs and people of Tonsu, in Petats Island. The occasion marked the beginning of an initiative that will see a traditional governing body working together with the Autonomous Bougainville Government in decision-making at different levels. In his address, His Excellency mentioned that traditional leaders are significant as they will act as another foundation to hold the people of Bougainville together. “Our (chiefs) work is different, responsibility is different, but it manages the livelihood in the villages, it manages the land and the future generation that are still yet to come.”He thanked the Vice President, who is also the interim Chairman of the Council and the chief of Tonsu, for coming up with such an initiative that represents community governance. “This is the foundational pillar of any governance that can be built.” As a recognized group, they will now be able to participate in the decision-making and assist the ABG at their level; they might be smaller than political leaders, but they make impactful decisions at the community level. “I want to thank you for establishing this initiative; my interest is to see how you establish it, what the responsibility of the Great Council of Chiefs would be up to the level of the right hand, which our government (ABG) has with me as the President.""And I want to see the decision you can make at your level so that we can work together, so we don’t fight over the responsibilities; each person is aware of their responsibility,” President Toroama said. The establishment of the Tonsu Great Council of Chiefs was followed by the nomination of co-chairpersons from the two clans, Naboin and Nakaripa, witnessed and voted for by the chiefs of the different wards. The initiative is a notable achievement for the people of Tonsu and is anticipated to be used by other Constituencies in Bougainville as a blueprint to create theirs. In Bougainville, the traditional leadership is based on matrilineal clans with Paramount Chiefs as the head, who govern with traditional rules and customs to keep social order and make important decisions in the communities.

The East New Britain Provincial Government today presented traditional shell money (tabu) to Captain Jurgen Ruh as a heartfelt expression of appreciation for his compassion and commitment in assisting with the transport of three recovered bodies from New Ireland Province to Nonga over the past few days.This traditional gesture reflects the deep gratitude of the people of East New Britain for Captain Ruh’s service during this difficult time for the affected families.Captain Ruh will return to Lae tomorrow. Due to the condition of any recovered bodies found later, they will first be transported to the Kavieng Hospital morgue for the necessary preparation before being placed in coffins and returned to East New Britain on commercial flights.The Governor also extends sincere appreciation to the people of New Ireland Province, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Provincial Disaster teams, and all agencies involved in the search and recovery operation. The close cooperation between East New Britain and New Ireland throughout this tragedy has demonstrated the true Melanesian spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.On behalf of the people of East New Britain, the Governor thanks everyone who has stood with the grieving families during this challenging time. "Your compassion, professionalism, and unwavering support will always be remembered."

West Papuan militants have claimed responsibility for the deaths of three indigenous Papuans, who they claim were supplying intelligence to Indonesia.In a statement, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said the three were executed in Yahukimo as traitors to Papua's independence movement.It claims to have evidence that the three Papuans had caused the deaths of several TPNPB troops.Along with the three Papuans, the TPNPB also killed an Indonesian Brimob police officer.The TPNPB said the executions were a warning to all Papuans not to engage with the Indonesian military, and that they will execute anybody that does.The TPNPB executed an American pilot, Nicholas Gosselin, after he flew a small aircraft into Yahukimo earlier this month.A spokesperson for the TPNPB said foreigners had been warned not to fly into the area, which the Army considers an active war zone.Allegations by the TPNPB that the company Gosselin flew for PT AMA had been helping transport Indonesian military, has been rejected by the company and the government.Indonesian's security forces have been a in a long-running violent conflict with the TPNPB which has escalated in highlands regencies in recent years.

Nauru's government has announced plans to set up an embassy in Israel.The government said Cabinet had endorsed the deployment of a scoping mission to Israel, to assess the diplomatic, operational, and logistical requirements to establish the embassy."A diplomatic presence in Israel will serve as an essential platform for advancing [Nauru's] foreign policy priorities, promoting sustainable development, and deepening bilateral engagement with one of the region's key partners," the government said in a statement on Wednesday."The creation of an embassy in Israel represents a significant milestone in [Nauru's] diplomatic outreach and underscores the nation's dedication to expanding its global partnerships in support of national development and strategic cooperation."The statement did not specify which city the embassy would be established in, but Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar said it would be in Jerusalem.In a translated social media post shared by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saar said the Nauruan embassy is expected to be the tenth embassy in Jerusalem, and the fifth since he took office, coming after he also reached an agreement with Colombia's incoming foreign minister on a similar move.Fiji and Papua New Guinea are among several countries which have diplomatic missions in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv, which is controversial due to the sensitive nature of a territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, who both claim Jerusalem as their capital.Fiji opened its embassy in Jerusalem in September 2025.Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said earlier last year that establishing an embassy "is not a blanket endorsement of another country's policies; it is a bridge that allows Fiji to work directly with partners".Fiji also reaffirmed its support for a peaceful two-state solution "where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in dignity and security".In March this year, Fiji's human rights watchdog warned that the country's pro-Israel foreign policy and diplomatic engagement works against its international obligations and could be enabling "genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity" in Gaza.Israel has also opened its permanent diplomatic base in Suva.In January, Saar said that Samoa will open an embassy in Jerusalem this year.Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa (La'auli) Leuatea Schmidt said he instructed Samoa's foreign ministry to begin preparations for the embassy's opening by the end of the year, according to a recording of the speech posted on the Samoan government's Facebook page.When PNG opened its Israeli embassy in Jerusalem in 2023, the Palestinian Authority called it an "aggression" and a "violation" of international law.PNG Prime Minister James Marape said at the time the move had deep religious significance."Many nations choose not to open their embassies in Jerusalem, but we made the conscious choice," he said."This has been the universal capital of the nation and people of Israel."For us to call ourselves Christian, paying respect to God will not be possible without recognising that Jerusalem is the universal capital of the people and nation of Israel."The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo and Paraguay also have embassies in Jerusalem.The Israeli government has a formal policy of offering incentives to countries willing to open embassies in Jerusalem, including financial support for relocation and setup costs.

Eleven Pacific Island nations will be represented at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games scheduled to officially open on Friday (New Zealand time).Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have all sent teams to the event.While majority of the athletes will be using the Glasgow Games to measure their growth in their respective sport, there are some who will be genuine medal contenders against the best in the Commonwealth.There are 74 nations and territories represented at this year's Commonwealth Games, which includes separate teams for the four home nations of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.There are also various overseas territories, and debutants, with Togo and Gabon making their first appearances.For the Pacific, there have been different hurdles as the respective countries worked on assembling their best for the Games.Finance has always topped the list of challenges island teams faced, particularly with the change in hosting venue.But that is now behind the teams as their focus shifts to participating and competing at the 23rd Commonwealth Games.The event was originally planned to be held in Victoria, Australia, but moved to Glasgow following the initial hosts' inability to get their hosting in order.Victoria cancelled hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to massive cost blowouts, following an increase in projected costs from the originally budgeted AU$2.6 billion to around AU$7 billion.The increased budget came from the decentralised model that was to be used, which would see the Games' events hosted across four regional hubs in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland.The Victoria State government withdrew their hosting rights and paid AU$380 million in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA).Glasgow put its hand up and agreed to host, but with a reduced competition format, settling for only 10 sports from the usual 20, as was the case at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.So, to Glasgow the Pacific island teams have flown, with a lot more to pay for the exercise.The majority of Pacific Island contingents have arrived at the host city.It includes Team Vanuatu members, who were unable to leave Port Vila on Monday, but are now on their way to Glasgow because of flight cancellations.With the popular sevens rugby competition not part of the event this time around, Pacific Island teams would be banking on their weightlifters, bowlers and judokas to lead their campaigns for medals.Weightlifting will see 10 of the 11 Pacific Island nations competing and should be the sport that will win the most medals for them.

Opposition Leader James Nomane is urging Papua New Guineans to honor the sacrifices of the nation's wartime heroes by renewing the values of integrity, faith and service that helped shape the country on this National Remembrance Day.Reflecting on the significance of 23 July 1942, when soldiers of the Papuan Infantry Battalion fought invading Japanese forces at Awala, marking the first time Papua New Guineans fought and died defending their own land during World War II.He also paid tribute to the soldiers, carriers, and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels whose courage during the Kokoda Campaign contributed to the nation's journey towards independence.It said the sacrifices of those who served laid the foundation for Papua New Guinea's sovereignty, which was realised on 16 September 1975 under the leadership of the country's founding fathers, including Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Sir John Guise and Sir Julius Chan.Nomane noted that the nation's founders envisioned a country built on Christian principles, strong traditions and responsible leadership.“Our founders wrote a Constitution that pledges us to guard and pass on our noble traditions and the Christian principles that are ours. They gave us nationhood. They asked us to give it character.”However, he also expressed concern over rising violence, corruption, weakened families, and declining public trust, arguing that these challenges stem from shortfalls in leadership rather than a loss of faith among ordinary citizens.“When leadership serves itself, society learns to serve itself. Moral failure at the top becomes moral erosion at the bottom.”The message also questioned whether the goals of Vision 2050 were being achieved.“Seventeen years after its launch, that promise of 2050 is drifting. Vision without discipline is a dream, and progress without values is decaying in disguisez.""Our forebears knew better they anchored the nation in faith, family, and land — and so must we.”Nomane called on political, provincial, local-level and church leaders to lead with integrity, serve selflessly and protect the values for which Papua New Guinea's wartime heroes sacrificed.Young people were also encouraged to carry forward the courage and commitment of those who defended the country during World War II.“The soldiers of 1942 did not die for a corrupt State; they died for a free people. Let us remember with gratitude. Let us rebuild with faith. Let us rise with purpose.”

It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the tragic boating mishap in East New Britain Province, which has resulted in members of three families being reported missing at sea.On behalf of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the people of Bougainville, Autonomous Bogainville Government President Ismeal Toroama sends heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the affected families and the people of East New Britain during this distressing time.Toroama says that in Bougainville, they too understand the pain and uncertainty that such incidents bring, because on that same day, their own people were affected by a separate boat incident, with three Bougainvilleans still unaccounted for. "This shared experience strengthens our resolve to stand alongside our brothers and sisters in East New Britain province.""As a maritime province and island region, we understand the dangers and uncertainty faced by our people when travelling by sea and we share in the pain and anxiety being experienced by the families whose loved ones remain missing.""Our thoughts and prayers remain with the affected families. May Almighty God grant them strength and comfort, and guide and protect those undertaking the search".He further made an appeal to all seafarers and boat operators throughout all maritime provinces to exercise extreme caution during this period of strong winds and rough seas.You are all urged to please check weather conditions before travelling, avoid unnecessary journeys, do not overload boats, and ensure that adequate fuel, communication equipment and life jackets are carried at all times. "No journey is more important than the safety of our people."

A new community-led poultry project for helping children stay in school has been launched in Awasa Village in Huon Gulf District, Morobe Province.The "Chicken for Learning" Project, established by villager Jetta Caleb, will use income earned from poultry farming to support students with school fees and other educational expenses.Funded through the Santos Foundation Employee Benefit Small Grants Program, the work is the first of its kind in Huon Gulf District, combining sustainable livelihoods with education support.The project will be managed by the Christian Outreach Centre (C.O.C.) Church Youth Ministry who will be responsible for raising, managing, and marketing the poultry.This’ll aid young people develop practical skills in agricultural and business skills while helping fund education for future generations.The first beneficiaries will be students attending Buakap Early Childhood Learning Centre and Busamang Primary School.During the launch, Mr. Caleb said the project was created to provide long-term support for children rather than one-off assistance."Education changes lives. If we can create a sustainable project that continually supports our children to attend school while empowering our youths with practical skills, then we are investing in the future of our community.”The official launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Ward 15 Councillor Tom Boya and Huon Gulf MP and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, Jason Peter.Minister Peter praised Mr. Caleb's leadership, describing the initiative as an example of community-driven development that creates opportunities for young people while strengthening education and local ownership.“I commend Mr. Jetta Caleb, for his vision and assure him of my support in helping expand this initiative wherever possible."He also expressed his confidence in the future success of Mr. Caleb’s project, inspiring other communities to follow in similar initiatives.

The prime minister has come out to defend the decision into the selection of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) acting Commissioners in light of commentaries criticizing and accusing the government of having a hand in the selection process.In a statement released by his office, Prime Minister James Marape said his Government does not interfere with the daily operations of the ICAC and has called on Papua New Guineans to respect the constitutional, transparent and merit-based processes governing appointments to the Commission.He made the statement following public and political commentary concerning recent changes to ICAC’s Acting Leadership, including the appointment of Retired Judge Don Sawong as Acting Commissioner and the appointment of Mr. Thomas Eluh and Retired Justice Ellenas Batari as Acting Deputy Commissioners.The Prime Minister said the Leadership arrangements were made by the legally constituted ICAC Appointments Committee and were not unilateral decisions made by him or by the Executive Government.“Let me make it absolutely clear that my Government, under my watch, does not interfere with or impose itself upon the everyday operations of ICAC,” Prime Minister Marape said.“The former substantive Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, as well as the present Acting Leadership, can confirm that I have never directed ICAC on whom to investigate, how to conduct its investigations or how to discharge its Constitutional responsibilities.ICAC is an independent Constitutional institution. Its operational independence must be protected and respected by everyone, including the Government, the Opposition, Political Parties and the wider Public.”Prime Minister Marape said Commentary suggesting that Mr. Eluh had been improperly removed or demoted from the position of Acting Commissioner failed to recognise the Legal qualifications and processes governing appointments to the Office.Meantime, the prime minister said supporters of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Party and others questioning the decision should seek accurate information about the Appointment Process before making politically motivated allegations.“I have seen too many Commentaries from PNC Party supporters questioning why Mr. Eluh, who was Acting Commissioner, is now serving as an Acting Deputy Commissioner,” he said.“People must first understand the due process and merit requirements for these Appointments. The Leader of the Opposition, James Nomane, is a senior member of the ICAC Appointments Committee. Those raising political concerns should also ask the Opposition Leader about the process because these are not decisions made by the Prime Minister alone.”The ICAC Appointments Committee includes the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and other designated Members responsible for considering Candidates emerging from the independent Recruitment and Shortlisting process.

Huon Gulf MP and Minister for Community Development, Youths and Religion, Jason Peter, recently opened the Yabem District Women’s Conference at Asini Village in Salamaua LLG.The week-long conference began on Sunday, July 19, and will continue until July 26.It has brought together women from churches across the Yabem District for worship, fellowship, leadership development, Christian teaching and community empowerment.The Huon Gulf District Development Authority (HGD-DDA) provided K60 000 through its Church Partnership Program to support the conference as well as donated K15 000 worth of water tanks and polyethylene pipes to improve water supply at the venue.The water infrastructure is expected to continue benefiting the people of Asini Village beyond the conference, including during future church gatherings, community events and household use.Minister Peter said churches were important partners among communities."Our churches are important partners in nation-building. They strengthen families, guide our young people, promote peace, and help build stronger communities.”“Through our Church Partnership Program, we are committed to supporting churches not only during major events but also through projects that leave lasting benefits for our people."He also commended the organising committee and the women attending the conference for their dedication and encouraged them to continue being leaders within their families, churches, and communities.Conference representatives expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Jason Peter and the Huon Gulf DDA for their generous support, remarking that the financial assistance ensured the successful hosting of the conference while the water tanks and poly pipes would remain as a valuable community asset.

East Sepik has become the first province in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to roll out the National Youth Engagement Strategy 2025–2029 across an entire province.The program was initially being piloted in one Local Level Government per district before expanding all 28 LLGs in the province.The rollout followed a four-day Youth Online Registration and Socialisation Program involving LLG managers, provincial officials, divisional heads and other stakeholders.The training concluded with the signing of LLG Youth Engagement Action Frameworks between the East Sepik Provincial Administration, districts and the National Youth Development Authority.Seven LLGs have begun the initial registration process, including Numbo, North Wosera, Ambunti Rural, Drekiker, Wewak Urban, Maprik Urban and Angoram.The strategy aims to register young people and connect them to education, employment, training and other opportunities.Acting Deputy Provincial Administrator for Social Services, Mr. Emanuel ToMarum, spoke on behalf of Provincial Administrator Mr. Torovi, who was unable to attend the launch.He said the initiative was more than a data-collection exercise — it was the first practical step to putting every young person in the province on the national record, “visible, counted and connected to opportunities.”“The Prime Minister James Marape has made the call already -youths must be mobilised and counted: government alone can't achieve this it needs a collaborative effort – you and me must play our part.”“The National Youth Engagement Strategy 2025–2029 was launched to encourage collaboration, establishing the online registration portal as the central youth database nationwide so that every young Papua New Guinean — out of school, in informal work or seeking a pathway — can be identified, referred and supported.”The province plans to extend the rollout to the remaining 22 LLGs and aims to engage 60-thousand youths under the strategy by 2029.

Forty-two children underwent specialised cardiac screenings at Mt Hagen Hospital last week, strengthening access to paediatric heart care in Western Highlands Province.The two-day screening program, conducted on 15 and 16 July, was led by Chief Paediatrician for the National Department of Health and Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr . Cornelia Kilalang, alongside Dr . Kunera Kiromat.The screening identified two children with complex congenital heart conditions, while two postoperative patients returned for follow-up assessments after successful heart surgeries—one following a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) repair and another after a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) repair.Three children were identified as requiring further surgical intervention, including one scheduled for PDA ligation and two referred for further assessment for open-heart surgery.The program also brought reassuring news for 11 families, with their children found to have no heart abnormalities.Dr Kilalang said early diagnosis remains critical, particularly for children developing pulmonary hypertension, a serious complication associated with congenital heart disease."Pulmonary hypertension is a complication we see in many children with heart disease in the Highlands region, especially those with lesions that increase blood flow to the lungs," she said."They develop pulmonary hypertension very quickly, and when they do, it is not safe for us to refer them for surgery. These children are instead managed with medications."Mt Hagen Hospital Paediatrician Dr Ian Kintwa acknowledged the support of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, Air Niugini Limited and BSP Financial Group Limited for making the outreach program possible.Beyond patient care, the screening clinic also served as an opportunity to strengthen local clinical capacity. Dr Kilalang said Mt Hagen Hospital Paediatrician Dr Clyde Kamo gained valuable hands-on experience during the program."Screening has been really good in the sense that we spend most of the time teaching," Dr Kilalang said."It's encouraging to see our doctors on the ground able to perform scans with their own machines here. That's a bonus for us."The outreach program will continue later this month with specialist cardiac screening visits to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and Madang Province as part of the 2026 national paediatric cardiac screening program.