The global prices for gold, silver and copper have jumped to historical record high, prompting the good prime minister to direct the government’s financial bodies to enable Papua New Guinea (PNG) to tap into this right away.Prime Minister James Marape has directed the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) to undertake a comprehensive review of all mining agreements in Papua New Guinea, following record global increases in gold, silver and copper prices. “With global gold, silver and copper prices reaching historic highs, mining operations in Papua New Guinea — whether large-scale or alluvial — are now generating extraordinary profits,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Most production costs remain relatively fixed, apart from inflation. When commodity prices rise sharply, the country must also benefit through appropriate tax returns and dividends.” Prime Minister Marape confirmed that Treasury and the IRC have been instructed to: • Compile individual files on every operating mine, including: • State-owned mining entities such as Ok Tedi Mining Limited. • Joint-venture operations including Porgera. • Medium and small-scale mining license holders. • Conduct accuracy and compliance testing on all production and revenue declarations. • Undertake joint reviews of project agreements with mining operators. • Ensure transparency in royalty, tax, dividend and equity returns to the State. “I have asked Treasury and the IRC to conduct accurate testing on all company declarations and to work collaboratively with operators to ensure compliance,” the Prime Minister said. “Many of these companies have operated in Papua New Guinea for decades and are corporate citizens of our country. Goodwill, honesty and fairness are expected — especially when global commodity prices deliver windfall profits.”

The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA) recently held its final Internal Consultative Meeting, bringing together Directors, Deputy Directors, Hospital Managers, District Medical Officers, Program Coordinators, and Line Managers from across the Provincial Health Authority.NCDPHA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robin Oge, indorsed the importance of inclusivity and teamwork in planning. “This Strategic Development Plan is a roadmap for transforming health services in the National Capital District.” “By engaging our leaders and managers in this final consultative meeting, we ensure that the voices of those at the frontline of health delivery are heard and reflected.” “Together, we are building a stronger, more responsive health system for our people.” Once the The Strategic Development Plan is finalized, it’ll serve as a guiding framework for enhancing infrastructure, service delivery, and overall health outcomes for NCD residents.

The National Government has confirmed its commitment to the 1-6-6 education structure, with national expansion expected to begin from 2027.Prime Minister James Marape said the policy, currently being tested in six provinces, ensures all students progress from Grade 8 to Grade 9 without being excluded due to limited spacing. “I have directed provinces not to refuse students.” “Take stock of your enrolments, especially at Grade 9 level, and the National Government will work with you to provide teachers, classrooms and curriculum support.” Under the 1-6-6 model, the Government aims to eliminate major drop-out points and ensure all children complete their education through to Grade 12. “For too long our education system has created drop-out points at Grade 6, Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 12.” The rollout will be supported by increased education budgets through to 2035 to fund additional classrooms, teachers and learning resources. The Government’s vision is to ensure no child is left behind, with education pathways that allow every student to advance uninterruptedly from early childhood through to Grade 12.  “Every child enters early childhood education and leaves the system at Grade 12 with the right mindset, skills, discipline and character.”

The Australian Government announced a new visa package to deepen people-to-people connections between Australia and Papua New Guinea and to support the historic entry of the PNG Chiefs into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028.This package will make it easier for Papua New Guinean nationals associated with the PNG Chiefs, including players, coaches, officials, media representatives, and fans, to travel to Australia, reinforcing both countries shared commitment to cultural and sporting ties. Under the new low-cost arrangements, for travel to Australia related to the PNG Chiefs, the visa application charges (VACs) will be reduced to approximately PGK 75 (AUD 25) per applicant, compared to current charges of up to PGK 1,300 (AUD 430). For PNG Chiefs’ fans, this means eligibility to apply for a PGK 75 visitor visa, valid for up to 12 months, allowing multiple short stays to attend games throughout the NRL season. The Australian Government will launch a new one stop shop website dedicated to providing information and resources for PNG Chiefs players, staff, officials, fans and media to apply for visas. Australia will also establish specialist visa processing teams to deliver expedient visa decisions when the PNG Chiefs visa arrangements commence in 2028. The new package builds on mobility initiatives already in place, including the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV), which provides permanent residence opportunities for PNG nationals, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which offers pathways for PNG workers to take up jobs in Australia. This visa package will also provide a significant boost to the Australian economy through increased tourism and creating new opportunities for local businesses. The PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko, thanked the Australian Government for working with Papua New Guinea and its Government on this. “It is a win-win situation, a win for Australia, a win for Papua New Guinea, a win for the Chiefs in sports in PNG and Australia.” “And it brings a wonderful relationship even closer together than ever before.” Meanwhile, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Sports, Kinoka Feo, stated that this is a massive announcement and is certain that people around the world, the country, and more importantly, the rural folks, will be excited when they hear this and the affordability of the visa as well. “You know, Papua New Guineans love Rugby League, and it is the one common denominator, as far as our Prime Minister says, that unites this country.” “I am sure you will see crowds and I know that all Papua New Guineans will go in numbers to support our team come game day.” On the other hand, Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke, shared similar sentiments stating that the friendship between Australia and Papua New Guinea is driven by shared passion for sport, deepening of people-to-people links and building a stronger, more connected region. “The PNG Chiefs joining the NRL is more than a sporting milestone, it is a symbol of friendship and partnership.” “I want to thank Prime Minister James Marape for his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment in making this historic initiative a reality.” “With the PNG Chiefs running onto the field in 2028, we are ensuring a level playing field, tackling the same issues, and striving for success, side by side and step by step.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Turi has issued a firm advisory for residents of the Four Mile works compound to vacate the premises following a condemnation notice from the National Capital District Health Authority.As the sole authority for police evictions within the NCD and Central Province command, ACP Turi confirmed that awareness programs will begin next week to prepare the community for the transition. The decision to clear the Four Mile works compound stems from both structural and safety concerns. ACP Turi noted that the buildings have been officially condemned and have become hubs for illegal activity. “Since the buildings were condemned and there are many reports of people committing criminal offenses residing there, police will move in to carry out evictions as per directives from the Works Department.” Furthermore, the directive extends to the management of livestock within the city. “Those who are looking after animals, like pigs, inside that yard are advised to remove them, or the NCDC enforcement team will move in and have them removed,” he warned. The eviction mandate is not limited to Four Mile. ACP Turi identified Eight Mile as the next priority area, targeting those squatting on land without proper titles. He highlighted the administrative strain caused by unplanned urban migration, stating, “When we allow people to be squatters in such areas, they move to the city without planning where to live.” “When they arrive in the city, they look for free land to reside on and engage in illegal activities like vending in undesignated areas, loitering, and many other unlawful actions that create more work for the police, who are supposed to concentrate on investigating other crimes.” To address this, the police are collaborating with the NCDC and various government departments to map out illegal settlements. “We will start evictions and take stock of people who are moving from one place to another,” Turi added, emphasizing a new focus on monitoring population movement to curb crime. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab, and Central Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joseph Salle, are currently coordinating with station commanders to identify and profile residents in these informal locations. This effort aims to isolate and deal with criminal elements effectively. ACP Turi concluded by expressing gratitude to the community for their role in urban safety. “This is the way forward to make our city clean and safe for everyone residing here and those coming in to do business in our city,” he said, acknowledging the vital updates provided by the public regarding local criminal activities.

The New York Times has lost its blue tick on Twitter after it said it would not pay to remain verified. Twitter has started removing verification badges from accounts which already had a blue tick, after announcing they would be part of a paid subscription from 1 April. The New York Times, along with several other organisations and celebrities, said they would not pay for the tick. It prompted Elon Musk to launch a volley of insults at the newspaper. "The real tragedy of @NYTimes is that their propaganda isn't even interesting", Mr Musk, who owns Twitter, wrote on the platform. "Also, their feed is the Twitter equivalent of diarrhea. It's unreadable," he added. There has been no official comment from Twitter and the New York Times has not responded to Mr Musk's comments. Under Twitter's new rules, blue ticks which once showed official, verified accounts, will start to be removed from accounts which do not pay for it. Organisations seeking verification badges instead have to pay a monthly fee of $1,000 (£810) to receive a gold verification tick, while individual accounts must pay $8 (£6.40) a month for a blue one. The subscription service will generate revenue for Twitter, however concerns have been raised that without the verification process, it will be difficult to tell genuine accounts from impersonators. As well as not paying the subscription fee, the New York Times said it would also not pay for the verification of its journalists' Twitter accounts, apart from in "rare instances where this status would be essential for reporting purposes", a spokesperson said. Following the announcement, the newspaper, which has almost 55 million Twitter followers, lost its verification badge. But it is unclear whether all organisations must sign up to the subscription service in order to remain verified. Ten thousand of the most-followed organisations on Twitter will be exempt from the rules, the New York Times reports, citing an internal Twitter document. Since December, Twitter has introduced three different coloured verification badges: gold ticks are used for business organisations, grey ticks are for government-affiliated accounts or multilateral organisations, and blue ticks are used for individual accounts. Many news organisations including CNN, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post - companies which also said they will not pay for Twitter verification - now have gold ticks. Other New York Times accounts, such as New York Times Arts and New York Times Travel, also have the gold badge. The removal of the blue ticks seems to be happening gradually. This could be because it is largely a manual process, according to The Washington Post, citing former employees of the company. Celebrities like American basketball great LeBron James, who said he would not be paying for Twitter verification, still has a blue tick. The same is true of US rapper Ice-T, who has also criticised the new fee-paying system. Source: BBC

Fentanyl is a deadly, synthetic opioid, 50 times more powerful than heroin. Americans are dying from it at such an alarming rate, that the US has approved the sale of naloxone - an overdose-reversing drug - without a prescription. But fentanyl's trail of destruction begins further south. Manzanillo is on the fentanyl frontline. This pretty, seaside town on Mexico's Pacific coast was made famous in the 1970s when Bo Derek ran along its sandy beaches in the Hollywood movie, 10. But today it lives in the shadow of cartel violence. Manzanillo is home to Mexico's largest port, the third busiest in Latin America - nearly 3.5 million containers from across the globe arrived there last year. All sorts of cargo pass through, including the chemicals that come mostly from China and India that are used to produce organised crime's most lucrative earners - synthetic drugs like fentanyl. As a result, the port has become the primary source of bloodshed and strife in Colima state. In 2022, this small western state had the highest per capita murder rate in Mexico, with the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels fighting for dominance. "Recently we made a seizure of propionyl chloride that's used in the synthesis of fentanyl. That's one of many precursor chemicals we see coming into Manzanillo," says the Naval Commander in charge of security at the port, who must remain nameless for safety reasons. The Mexican government put the Navy in charge of all seaports in 2021 in an attempt to reduce the endemic corruption that facilitates organised crime. Now, there's a sophisticated system of checks in place to monitor everyone working in the port of Manzanillo, and the businesses that trade in chemicals. But there's another obstacle - some ingredients are legitimately used in the manufacture of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. This means there are stringent checks on paperwork, and teams of naval personnel test consignments of chemicals to ensure they conform to their labels. There's also a sniffer dog, a Belgian shepherd - a gift from the US Embassy - trained to find fentanyl pills or powder, and some precursor chemicals. Mexico's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, recently made headlines when he said Mexico neither produces nor consumes fentanyl. But makeshift "laboratories" have been discovered and dismantled in Mexico City and the northern states of Nuevo Leon and Sinaloa. In Baja California, law enforcement busted two properties last year in the city of Tijuana and found large quantities of fentanyl pills and powder, with hydraulic presses to make tablets. Tijuana is a messy, brutal city that hugs the border with the United States. It's become "ground zero" for fentanyl - for the trafficking of the drug north into California, and for local use. "It's killing everybody - all my friends," says Smiley, a fentanyl addict who lives on the streets. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people live rough around the Tijuana canal, a concrete channel that cuts through the heart of the city. Many are drug users. And, as so often happens in the United States, those who overdose in Mexico don't always know they are taking fentanyl. Due to its potency, a tiny dose of fentanyl can kill. And on both sides of the Mexico / US border, it's being cut with other drugs including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Smiley thinks he has seen more than 20 people overdose, but he has revived them all by using naloxone, a medicated nasal spray which can reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone's now becoming widely available in the US. But in Mexico you still need a prescription - Smiley gets his supply from a local charity. It isn't only homeless people who are affected. In 2022, the Mexican Red Cross were called to an average of 60 drug overdoses a month in Tijuana - people from all walks of life. There have been multiple overdose events too, but we don't know how many fentanyl-related deaths have occurred because those statistics aren't collected in Mexico. The cartels fight to dominate the mean streets of Tijuana - each block or street may be run by a different organised crime group. Competition to control the sale of drugs is violent and bloody. In January alone, there were 156 murders in Tijuana - a city of just over two million people. Fentanyl contributes to the insecurity - and the profits from its sale are huge. It's estimated this synthetic opioid can be made for a hundredth of the cost of producing heroin. The drug cartels no longer have to control rural communities in Mexico and the land to grow poppies - they only need to secure access to the chemicals, and engage someone with the know-how to make fentanyl. And because it's so strong, it's a narcotic that's profitable in tiny amounts, even more so once it's smuggled to the US, where its price may increase 10-fold. "I'd wear like a Spanx - almost like a girdle, that kind of slims you down under your clothes, and I would shove [the fentanyl pills] down," remembers April Spring Kelly, when she speaks to the BBC from a US federal prison. Other times she would traffic drugs by car. Now April Spring Kelly is serving a lengthy sentence after admitting trafficking nearly half a million fentanyl pills plus other drugs from Tijuana into the US in 2018. Like many Americans, she had become addicted to opioid pain relievers but then turned to heroin produced by Mexican cartels when prescribed medications became harder to obtain. To fund her addiction, she rented an apartment in Tijuana and began moving fentanyl pills for organised crime across the border to San Diego. Last year 70,000 Americans died of a drug overdose associated with a synthetic opioid like fentanyl. April Spring Kelly lives with immense regret - one of the fentanyl pills she trafficked was linked to a baby's death. "It's horrible. And I hate that I was playing a part in it," she says. More than half the fentanyl confiscated in the US is stopped at the California border. April Spring Kelly was caught at the San Ysidro port of entry, where up to 120,000 people cross in a single day. Once across the border from Tijuana at San Ysidro, it's a 40 minute tram journey to downtown San Diego. In 2021, 814 people died of a fentanyl-related death in the city's county - that's more than 15 fatal overdoses a week in a population of just over three million people. "In the last couple of years, there have been so many people that died that we couldn't keep up if we did autopsies for all of those people," says the county's chief medical examiner, Dr Steven Campman. "If we did autopsies on all the people that overdosed, we'd have to hire four new pathologists," he adds. It's overwhelming. Especially for those dealing with bereavement. In Coronado, the pretty peninsula that sits across the bay from San Diego, Jan Baker reflects on an unforgettable morning in May, 2021 when she went to wake her 15-year-old son, Clark Salveron. "I walked into his bedroom around 7.30, and I found him. I remember throwing Clark on the floor trying to resuscitate him, even though I knew that he was gone. His computer was open, and he passed away at his desk in his chair." Clark died of acute fentanyl intoxication. He thought the pill he had taken was Percocet, a prescribed medication that contains the opioid, oxycodone. The fatal transaction was arranged online, says Adam Gordon, the assistant US attorney who prosecuted the case. When Clark was found dead, his laptop was still open on his Instagram page where he and the drug dealer had been messaging. Officers pretending to be Clark set up another drug deal and arrested the dealer. Those drugs came from Mexico. The fallout from fentanyl is incalculable - not just for bereaved relatives like Jan Baker but for the professionals who pick up the pieces. "I worked 486 deaths in four years," says Ed Byrne, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. "That's a lot of scenes you go to - it's a lot of bodies." From 2018 until last year, Ed Byrne collected evidence from the locations where someone died to try to identify the drug dealers who supplied the fentanyl. "You can go from a tent that a homeless person lives in to $10 million homes in [expensive beachside neighbourhood La Jolla," he says. And some of those death scenes have stayed with him. "They're like freezes in time almost, like paintings in your head." Pictures of lives lost - too many of them. And while Mexico's drug cartels continue to make and export fentanyl, there's no end in sight to a tragedy that plays out across the United States.

Separatists in Indonesia's Papua region who took a New Zealand pilot hostage in February have told authorities to stop searching for him, and to start negotiating. Philip Mehrtens was kidnapped after landing his plane in Papua's remote mountainous province of Nduga. He is being held by West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters. "The pilot is still with us," TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom told BBC Indonesian in a message. "The Indonesian government has to be bold and sit with us on a negotiation table and not [deploy] military and police to search the pilot," he added. He denied reports that the group was prepared to drop a demand for the Indonesian government to recognise Papuan independence before they could consider freeing him. The Reuters news agency reported on Thursday that Mr Sambom indicated this could be the case. "The demand for Papua's independence has already conveyed from a long time ago. That demand will not be perished, that's the main demand of Papua nation," Mr Sambom said. Previously a Dutch colony, Papua declared independence in 1961, but Indonesia took control two years later. The resource-rich region has been caught in a battle for independence ever since it was brought under Jakarta's formal control in a UN-supervised vote in 1969. Mr Mehrtens was kidnapped after his small passenger plane, which belongs to Indonesia's Susi Air, landed in Nduga in early February. His plane had departed from the Mozes Kilangin airport in Central Papua, and was meant to return a few hours later after dropping off five passengers. But shortly after landing, rebels stormed the single-engine plane and seized the Christchurch native. The TPNPB later told BBC Indonesian that Mr Mehrtens had been moved to a stronghold district for the group in a remote area, and he would be used as "leverage" in political negotiations. The group said the pilot was being held because New Zealand co-operates militarily with Indonesia. The other passengers, who were indigenous Papuans, were released. Around a week later the separatists released video footage of Mr Mehrtens reading a prepared statement in which he repeated the rebels' demands. Papuan rebels seeking independence from Indonesia have previously issued threats and even attacked aircraft they believe to be carrying personnel and supplies for Jakarta. Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian authorities are common, with pro-independence fighters mounting more frequent attacks since 2018. The region is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It is separate from Papua New Guinea, which was given independence by Australia in 1975.

Kenyan police have exhumed 47 bodies near the coastal town of Malindi, as they investigate a preacher said to have told followers to starve to death. The bodies of children were among the dead. Police said exhumations are ongoing. The shallow graves are in Shakahola forest, where 15 members of the Good News International Church were rescued last week. Church leader, Paul Makenzie Nthenge is in custody, pending a court appearance. State broadcaster KBC described him as a "cult leader", and reported that 58 graves have so far been identified. One of the graves is believed to contain the bodies of five members of the same family - three children and their parents. Mr Nthenge has denied wrongdoing, but has been refused bail. He insists that he shut down his church in 2019. He allegedly told followers to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus". Kenyan daily, The Standard, said pathologists will take DNA samples and conduct tests to determine whether the victims died of starvation. Police arrested Mr Nthenge on 15 April after discovering the bodies of four people suspected of having starved themselves to death. Victor Kaudo of the Malindi Social Justice Centre told Citizen TV "when we are in this forest and come to an area where we see a big and tall cross, we know that means more than five people are buried there". Kenyan interior minister, Kithure Kindiki, said all 800 acres of the forest had been sealed off and declared a crime scene. Mr Nthenge allegedly named three villages Nazareth, Bethlehem and Judea and baptised followers in ponds before telling them to fast, The Standard reports. Kenya is a religious country and there have been previous cases of people being lured into dangerous, unregulated churches or cults.Source: BBC

The Cattle Industry in Papua New Guinea will soon experience significant growth after the Managing Director for Livestock Development Corporation (LDC), Mr. Terry Koim, met with the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru – a move which resulted in an agreement.According to Minister Maru, his ministry and department will work in close partnership with LDC to develop their land. “We will work very closely with LDC to develop their land at Urimo in East Sepik, Baiyer in Western Highlands, and Launa Kalana in the Central Province into large-scale economic zones to raise cattle.” “This will be part of our Government’s drive to grow enough cattle to replace all imported beef. “Top priority will be given to the redevelopment of Urimo Cattle Station in East Sepik where LDC has 20,000 hectares of land.” “Additionally, LDC has 68 hectares of land located in Wariman, Wewak, where the abattoir will be.” “There is huge potential to produce cattle in the country to replace all beef imports.” “We are seeing 100 percent increase in the price of ox and palm due to importation of Australian beef because we don’t produce enough.” “We are ready to support LDC in a very big way in a scheme of arrangement that is acceptable to LDC and its Board.”

The Department of Education has informed students and parents that the certificates for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students, grade 12 and grade 10, have been received by the Department. The Secretary of Education Dr Uke Kombra stated that the STEM certificates have already been sent to the respective National Schools of Excellence to be given to the students. The certificates for grades 12 and 10 are being sorted out for distribution to the provinces this week. Meanwhile, the certificates for grade 8 students are being processed before being sent out to the provinces and distributed to the students. Provinces have been advised to use the attainment certificates and the selection list for confirmation and enrolment in grade 9 while waiting to receive their certificates. Furthermore, the Department of Education remains committed to the integrity of the national examination system and thanks the public for their patience as the department finalizes the distribution of these important certificates for all the students.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has received the highest commendation from two of the worlds renowned financial institutions for its fiscal discipline and economic management, a credit to the Marape- Rosso Government’s economic policies and measures.Prime Minister James Marape was honored to receive such feedback from the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and the World Bank during the high- level meetings with global financial institutions at the recent 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where PNG’s progress in reducing its Budget Deficit was praised. “When I told them, we are down to around a 1.1 percent deficit, they were pleasantly surprised,” Prime Minister Marape said in a press conference after returning to Port Moresby city. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering a balanced Budget and ending new borrowing. “Next year, there will be no more borrowing. We will move into a balanced Budget and focus on debt repayment,” he said. Prime Minister Marape said PNG’s Medium-Term goal is to reduce Debt-to-GDP levels below 20 percent over the coming years. “In a world where many countries are operating with deficits above five percent and debt above 80 percent of GDP, PNG is taking a disciplined path,” he said. He said the IMF and World Bank acknowledged PNG’s post-COVID recovery strategy and fiscal consolidation efforts. “They encouraged us to keep producing, exporting, and growing our economy,” he said. The Prime Minister added that this international confidence strengthens PNG’s credibility with investors and development partners.