MTOK MEDIA

01/03/2026

Government Monitoring Global Conflict, Ready to Act on Fuel and Food Prices: Prime Minister Marape

THE Government of Papua New Guinea is closely monitoring developments arising from the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with particular attention on its potential impact on global prices and the domestic economy.

Prime Minister Hon.James Marape said the Government recognises that rising global oil prices could lead to imported inflation, especially in fuel and essential goods that Papua New Guinea relies on from overseas.

“We are watching this situation very, very closely,” the Prime Minister said. “If fuel prices go beyond certain levels, or if food prices rise sharply due to imported inflation, the Government will intervene to assist the economy and protect our people.”

He said global oil markets remain vulnerable, noting that any disruption to key international shipping routes—through which an estimated 20 to 30 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes—could place upward pressure on fuel prices worldwide.

“If fuel prices rise to extraordinary levels, my Government stands ready to intervene and subsidise fuel prices to protect our economy and our people,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Fuel is a critical input across the economy, and we will not allow unchecked increases to destabilise households, businesses or essential services.”

Prime Minister Marape said the Government has proven experience in managing external economic shocks, pointing to interventions implemented during the COVID-19 period.

“During COVID-19, we successfully subsidised food supply chains, including shipping food from Lae to Port Moresby and transporting produce such as sweet potato from the Highlands to Lae,” he said. “Those measures helped stabilise prices and ensured food continued to reach our people during a very difficult global period.”

He confirmed that the Government stands ready to again provide targeted subsidies, particularly on fuel, should verified inflationary pressures threaten affordability or broader economic stability.

The Prime Minister also noted that the Government has already subsidised 13 essential household items, a measure that continues to support families across the country.

At the same time, Prime Minister Marape stressed that long-term economic resilience depends on strengthening domestic food production and reducing reliance on imports.

“In times like this, I strongly encourage Papua New Guineans to buy from local producers,” he said. “We have enough food in our country. We do not need to be pressured into consuming imported food as our primary staple.”

He encouraged greater consumption of locally grown foods such as sweet potato, taro, yam, banana, cassava and sago, describing them as healthier, more affordable and more sustainable.

The Prime Minister also highlighted local rice production as an emerging opportunity, noting that rice is now being produced in areas such as Rigo, alongside other local producers.

“We will continue to support local food production, including rice and other staples,” he said. “This reduces import costs, strengthens food security, and keeps money circulating within our own economy.”

Prime Minister Marape further pointed to improved road connectivity linking food-producing regions to Port Moresby and other urban centres as a key enabler of domestic food distribution and national food security.

“Our rural areas and islands are rich in fertile soil,” he said. “We can produce our own food. Buying local supports our farmers, strengthens our economy, and protects us during global disruptions.”

Prime Minister Marape assured the nation that should the global conflict escalate further and inflationary pressures increase, the Government will implement additional measures to help the country navigate what he described as a potentially stressful global economic phase.

01/03/2026

An attack on one journalist is an attack on the media industry

THE Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) is demanding a full independent investigation by police investigators into an attack on a female reporter on the morning of Friday, February 27th, 2026.
The reporter, who is employed by The National newspaper, was about to enter Correctional Service Headquarters around 11am to attend a press conference when she was confronted by five Correctional Service male officers who questioned her about an article that she had reported on in relation to injuries sustained by prisoners at the Bomana Correctional Service facility.
One of the CS officers punched the female reporter on her left ear, to which she reacted by pushing him away in self-defence, while another officer attempted to slap her across the face.
Following the incident, the reporter returned to the office and reported the matter to her Editor before filing a formal police complaint regarding the attack.
The unprovoked attack was in relation to a news article in The National carrying the reporter’s byline entitled “50-plus prisoners injured in ‘failed’ jail break.”
The National Newspaper Management in a brief statement said:
“The National merely reported a serious assault upon prisoners perpetrated, it has been confirmed, by warders.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hon James Marape has ordered an investigation into the assault of the journalist.
The Media Council in a statement stated: "We are fully supporting our journalist in filing a criminal assault case. We are calling on the CS command to look into this and discipline the officers responsible. We have lodged a complaint with the CS management. Regardless of this we will continue to report fairly all matters to do with CS including this incident.
Since the incident, the Council has received damning evidence which includes WhatsApp messages and voice notes which reflect the very worrying conduct of officers within the Correctional Services.
The Council again reminds the public in general that:
“Freedom of the press is the fundamental right of journalists and media organizations to report, publish, and disseminate information, news, and opinions without government censorship, intimidation, or undue restriction.”
MCPNG President, Neville Choi, has condemned the attack and threat against one of its own members and said reporters in Papua New Guinea must be respected for the work that they do in informing and educating the public of what is happening around them.
He further stated that if and when a citizen is not happy with a news report or has evidence to prove that a reporter was compromised when writing a story, he or she can simply inform the Media Council by raising a formal complaint in writing to the Media Council of PNG, or via the MCPNG website complaints page:
https://www.mcpng.net/complaints-tribunal
The Media Council of PNG has received the backing of its Editors in this industry and the region in calling for this investigation which remains an important step in ensuring freedom of the press in this country is respected so reporters can feel safe and free to continue to write the stories that matter.

01/03/2026

Iran's supreme leader dead, Trump says

01/03/2026

Iran's Supreme Leader, is dead, says Trump

ABC NEWS: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in the U.S.-Israeli attack on the country Saturday, President Donald Trump said.
"This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," Trump said in a social media post.
Khamenei, 86, had led Iran since the 1989 death of its founding supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, who ruled the country for 10 years after toppling the country's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Khamenei had vowed during the Iran-Israel conflict of 2025 that Iran would not surrender.
"War will be met with war, bombing with bombing, and strike with strike. Iran will not submit to any demands or dictates," Khamenei said in comments published on June 17, 2025, by Tasnim, Iran's semiofficial state news agency.
Before his decades-long rule as Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei served as the country's president from 1981 to 1989.
He was hand-picked by Khomeini to succeed him.
The supreme leader is "effectively Iran's leader for life, per the constitution," according to the D.C.-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

27/02/2026

Message from RPNGC

27/02/2026

ROSSO URGES THE U.S TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN PNG

THE Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon. John Rosso, has encouraged the United States of America Government and businesses to invest more in PNG

Speaking at a dialogue session at the recently concluded inaugural Pacific Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit in Honalulu, Hawaii, Hon. Rosso who attended on behalf of Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, said that the number of American businesses in PNG was low compared to other countries.
The summit brings Pacific leaders together to advance regional investment and security cooperation to support the island nations.
"How many American companies are in Papua New Guinea?
"I can only think of two, ExxonMobil extracting oil, and Newmont extracting gold.
"I can count these companies on one hand.
"*You need to put your money where your mouth is*," he said.
Hon. Rosso made these statements during the Economic Priorities and Investment Pathways for the Pacific Dialogue.
He also said that unreliable energy (electricity) is one of the main obstacles to investment in PNG and the Pacific, when speaking on the challenges of economic growth.
"Good energy will attract good investment," Hon. Rosso said.
"Reliable cheap power can lead to, as an example, increased tourism, an industry which PNG and most of the Pacific depend on, which will result in a variety of spin-off businesses.
"Consistent and dependable electricity also allows us to set up factories for downstream processing in, for example, the fisheries and logging industries. One factory could create 5000 jobs.
"This may be minuscule for America's economy, but for PNG and other Pacific nations, those jobs would lead to GDP growth and make a huge difference to economic development in our countries and the region."
Hon. Rosso's remarks reflect the PNG Government's focus on downstream processing rather than raw material export.
The PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, accompanied Hon. Rosso to the 2-day summit from February 23 to 24, where they also held bilateral meetings with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, and Australian Senator Nita Green, among other government and business engagements.
Hon. Rosso said the meetings with Deputy Secretary Landau and other U.S. government and business representatives were warm and productive, and America demonstrated a willingness to be receptive and responsive to PNG's bilateral agenda.

26/02/2026

Papua New Guinea's Gairo Voro and Morea Morea shine in London as pathway builds toward 2028 PNG Chiefs dream

ABC NEWS: The push for Papua New Guinea's historic 2028 National Rugby League expansion continues to gather momentum, and two young players in London are proving why the nation's talent pipeline is stronger than ever.

Gairo Voro and Morea Morea — two rising Kumuls prospects — now find themselves a world away from their tropical home, living in the same city as King Charles and playing for the London Broncos, a club partly owned by NRL legend Darren Lockyer.

"My sporting hero is the co-owner of the club, Darren Lockyer, because I grew up watching him," said Morea, the Broncos fullback originally from coastal Papa Village, about 20 minutes outside Port Moresby.

For the pair, the journey from playing barefoot footy on sandy beaches to competing in England's Championship is nothing short of surreal.

"It's a big thing for us, because in Papua New Guinea, rugby league is our national sport, so to represent PNG at the international level and to do it here in London is pretty special," Morea said.

The two left Port Moresby last November as part of a contingent of seven PNG players recruited by national coach Jason Demetriou. Finley Glare, Robert Mathias and Epel Kapinias were among the first wave to join them in the UK.
It made it easier moving here, seeing familiar faces with you, it made it easier for us to transition," Morea said.

Alex Max and Jeremiah Simbiken later bolstered the group, with Simbiken arriving from the Castleford Tigers and the others progressing through the PNG Hunters pathway.

Thriving on and off the field
Despite the cultural shock, the Papuan duo have adapted quickly, sampling kebabs, exploring London and adjusting to the northern winter.

"It's cold, but we have each other, so a win's a win," said Voro, who hails from remote Viriolo Village, four hours from Port Moresby.

"It's hot and humid in PNG; over here it's cold."

While Voro speaks little, he makes his presence felt on the field. His early-season statistics include four appearances, two tries and three goals for a total of 14 points.

Morea also continues to impress. In the season opener against Widnes Vikings, he set up two crucial trie including what teammates described as a "slick pass" for Alex Max. He later crossed for two tries in an 86–0 demolition of Wests Warriors.

Following stand-out campaigns in Australia's Hostplus Cup with Morea coming off a strong stint at the Central Queensland Capra, the pair look poised for even bigger numbers if they remain injury-free.

"It's a lot harder to get your mind into training here, it's so cold even when you're inside and feeling cold, if I go out there I'll be so cold," Morea admitted with a grin.
Despite being overlooked for Super League expansion in 2026 — losing the nod to Toulouse Olympique and York Knights — the London Broncos are determined to prove themselves on the field. Their focus is on climbing the Championship ladder and returning to the top tier by 2027.

The club is banking on a roster strengthened by PNG spark and NRL experience, including former stars Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tongan ho**er Siliva Havili.

But the grind is real. Hard-hitting opponents like the Bradford Bulls have already tested the Broncos' resolve with physical, bruising clashes designed to unsettle rising talents.

Morea and Voro say they aren't looking too far ahead.
They want to "be consistent" and play "every weekend and have a good season" — and maybe, just maybe, earn a place in the Kumuls World Cup squad.

London Broncos coach Jason Demetriou believes that placing PNG players in elite, professional environments is the only way to make them "battle-hardened" for the upcoming World Cup.
Papua New Guinea is bracing for a transformational moment in rugby league history, with the PNG Chiefs preparing for entry into the NRL in 2028.

For many fans, the London-based Kumuls players — from Morea and Voro to Epel Kapinias and Finley Glare — represent the future of the new franchise.

"I definitely have four boys from the London Broncos in my top 13, Morea Morea, Gairo Voro, Epel Kapinias and Finely Gare," said Lae entrepreneur and Taking Steps PNG podcaster, Francis Miria.

"We also need some experienced current players who are not from PNG."

Momentum behind the club is accelerating. Former Digicel PNG executive Lorna McPherson has been appointed the inaugural CEO, while the Australian government slashed visa fees for Chiefs players, staff and fans — from $430 down to $25 — to support travel for away games.

"Footy Visa is a good thing, and I hope our boys will one day play for the PNG Chefs, just like the New Zealand boys are playing for the [New Zealand] Warriors," said Voro's cousin and mentor, Wari Illamanuwale.

Reports already link Voro to interest from both the PNG Chiefs and the Perth Bears, while the Chiefs have appointed respected journalist Michael Chammas as General Manager of Football.
Prime Minister James Marape has even opened a dedicated office in Port Moresby to support the team's establishment.

"This will not just be about people coming to watch a game and fly out the next day," Mr Marape said.

"We want rugby league to be the seed that propagates tourism as a major economic activity for Papua New Guinea."

26/02/2026