papua new guinea

The PNG Sports Foundation announced the closures today after consultations with national sporting federations and the Department of Health.

The foundation's chief executive, Peter Tsiamalili Jr, said he knew how passionate Papua New Guineans were about sport and that the decision was not taken lightly.

But the risk of the coronavirus spreading through large congregations of people at sporting events was just too high, Mr Tsiamalili said.

For PNG to advance, they will need to beat the Bati by more than 20 points, but for Kumuls coach Michael Marum promotion is not their top priority.

"At the back of our minds that's what we want but we want to take out one game at a time," he said.

"It's going to be a tough one this weekend against Fiji. We have a strong side we put together for this game and the boys are looking forward to the match on Saturday."

Held in Qatar, the awards recognise the achievements of the National Olympic Committees, athletes and distinguished members of the Olympic family.

Wisil, dubbed the Pacific sprint queen, is a former Olympian who completed a historic triple gold in the 2019 Pacific Games in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.

The 31-year-old said representing PNG was a privilege.

"There's a sense of overwhelming pride to be recognised as the best female athlete of the Pacific Games," Wisil said.

The conference, hosted by the Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece P Kershaw APM, and Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram APM, facilitated strategic-level dialogue and demonstrated capabilities relevant to security agencies across the region.

The themes for the event focused on transnational, organised and serious crime; border security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Major eruptions of the volcano in August and June prompted mass evacuations from nearby villages, and displaced over ten thousand people.

The ABC reports a local community leader, Christopher Lagisa, saying the latest activity would exacerbate the hardships being experienced by the displaced.

He said food is their main concern as the 3 kilograms of rice per family per week provided by the government was not enough.

The Pukpuks only led by 5-3 at half-time, with replacement Emil Latumahina scoring the opening try minutes after coming onto the field to replace injured second five Tisa Kautu, but scored four more tries in the second spell, including in the final play of the match, to end up comfortable winners.

PNG captain Ahulo Ottio said they started slowly but eventually found their rhythm as the match wore on.

"We knew it was always going to be a grind with the bulk of the boys (in the Niue team) coming from New Zealand and Australia," he said.

The Business Link Pacific Portal is an innovative online platform designed to connect quality business advisors with small and medium-sized growing businesses in the Pacific.  

To mark the launch of the Portal, Business Link Pacific are co-hosting four launch events, one in each country, which are open to small and medium sized businesses and free to attend.  

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said today the format of the pools would ensure key rivals face each other in the fast-paced, action packed short form of Rugby League.

During the official launch of the tournament Monday in Parramatta, it was revealed that:

The 23-year-old is based in the US where she trains, but is back in the Pacific to compete in three separate events at the Pacific Games.

She surprised everyone at the 2015 Games to win bronze in the triple jump, but she’s hoping the medal she walks away with in 2019 is gold.

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At least 10 women and five children were massacred in Hela Province, in a suspected revenge attack which reportedly left the victims mutilated and unrecognisable.

After news broke on Tuesday Mr Marape said it was one of the saddest days of his life and vowed to use "the strongest measures in law" against the killers.

On Facebook, the Prime Minister said the killings, which took place in his electorate, were led by gunmen from the Haguai, Okiru and Liwi tribes.