Papua New Guinea

Siege fears as Australia asylum-seeker camp in PNG closes

Sydney - Muslimchronicle

Hundreds of asylum-seekers were refusing to leave an Australian detention camp in Papua New Guinea that authorities closed Tuesday, citing fears for their safety, despite food, water and electricity being cut off. Staff have abandoned the camp on Manus Island, and one resident said detainees had locked themselves in because they were terrified of what could happen to them outsideRead more

Papua New Guinea skull 'world's oldest tsunami victim'

Papua - Muslimchronicle

A 6,000-year-old skull found in Papua New Guinea is likely the world's oldest-known tsunami victim, experts said Thursday after a new analysis of the area it was found in. The partially preserved Aitape Skull was discovered in 1929 by Australian geologist Paul Hossfeld, 12 kilometres (seven miles) inland from the northern coast of the Pacific nation. It was long thoughtRead more

Australia moves to deport refugees in Papua New Guinea

Sydney - Arab Today

Authorities in the island nation of Papua New Guinea have begun action on Thursday to force the deportation of refugees housed in the Manus Island facility. The move has drawn outrage from Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim, who says the Papua New Guinean government are targeting 60 men, who are still awaiting appeal, yet their refugee status has as ofRead more

Over one million people in Papua New Guinea to get access to internet

Sydeny - Xinhua

A rural telecommunications project in Papua New Guinea (PNG) will give 1.2 million people access to the internet, the World Bank has announced. Set to begin development in August 2017, the project will improve access to telecommunications infrastructure and services in rural and remote areas of PNG, the World Bank said Thursday. The World Bank has been advising the PNGRead more

Residents flee to hills after quake off PNG; tsunami threat passes

Sydney - Arab Today

People living along Papua New Guinea’s coastline fled to higher ground on Saturday after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck east of the Pacific nation, triggering a tsunami warning for parts of its archipelago. A couple of hours after the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said the threat had largely passed, although it said government agencies should continue toRead more

Magnitude 8 Earthquake Strikes Off Papua New Guinea

Sidney - QNA

A magnitude-8 undersea earthquake has been registered off the coast of Papua New Guinea, according to US Geological Survey. The quake occurred Saturday 60 kilometres east of Taron on New Ireland island at a depth of 73.4 kilometres. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said in a message following the quake, "Widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible". The PTWCRead more

Earthquake Strikes Off Papua New Guinea

Sydney - QNA

An earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude struck southeast of Rabaul in the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. It was initially reported as magnitude of 5.9. The quake struck at a depth of 57 km, 182 km southeast of Rabaul. There was no immediate tsunami warning, or reports of damage or casualtiesRead more

Strong Earthquake Strikes Off Papua New Guinea

Sydney - QNA

A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude struck off the town of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. The epicenter of the quake was located 89 km northeast of Rabaul on New Britain island and at a depth of 499 kms. There were no immediate reports of damage or loss of life. Source: QNARead more

PNG: Australia agrees to close immigration camp

Sydney - Arab Today

Australia has agreed to close an immigration camp housing hundreds of asylum-seekers on Papua New Guinea, the Pacific island nation said Wednesday, but gave no timeline. Canberra's hardline immigration policy was thrown into turmoil in April when Papua New Guinea ordered the processing camp to close. "Both Papua New Guinea and Australia are in agreement that the centre is toRead more