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The Commonwealth Observer Group that are observing the  Papua New Guinea National Elections  has called for immediate reforms to strengthen the election process. Commonwealth Observer Group calls for Urgent Review of PNG Election Process [Photo by NBC News] The Observer Group, led by former President of Nauru, Baron Waqa, has also called for a review of this current national election as a matter of urgency. The Group expressed sadness about the escalation in election-related violence and strongly condemn these acts of violence. Mr Waqa presented the Interim Statement of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Port Moresby yesterday. The Commonwealth Observer Group met voters, polling officials, political parties, security personnel, civil society and scrutineers, to understand the electoral process. This happened in all four regions of the country. Among the key issues of concern, is the highly centralised structure of the Electoral Commission, which has undermined the effective delivery of

Counting for the Moresby North East Open seat heads into the third day of eliminations this morning. After Exclusion 38, progressive tally as of 10:30am this morning sees independent candidate Andapanga Baliawe maintaining the top spot with 10,654 votes followed closely by sitting MP and PANGU Pati candidate, John Kaupa with 10,290 votes.  In third place is Advance Party candidate Peter Dominic with 6,713 votes and in the fourth spot is former MP and Nation Action Party candidate, Labi Kamiak Amaiu with  6,170 votes. People’s Labor Party candidate Joe Tintin Saraga is on in fifth place with 5,861 votes.  Meantime, Exclusion 39 is in progress.  NBC / PNG Today Next :  PNG Politics : Governor General Invites Pangu Pati to Form Government

 The PNG Hunters – and the weather – rained all over the Western Clydesdales’ parade, as the Hunters triumphed 20-10 in wet conditions at Clive Berghofer Stadium. It was a historic day in Toowoomba as the Clydesdales played their first game in Cup since 2006. Fullback Morea Morea was named the Hastings Deering player of the match [Photo by QRL Media] The new team certainly fought hard and showed plenty of resilience with two second half tries, but the Hunters came in to ruin the party, proving to be just too strong for the home team. Backrower Sherwin Tanabi was full of praise for the Hunters’ debutants in particular, after the club underwent a large turnover for 2023. Fullback Morea Morea was named the Hastings Deering player of the match, standing up for his side as the rain poured down for the majority of the match.  “It’s exciting … I really can’t express it because half of the team, they are new boys who came up from Digicel Cup,” Tanabi said. “All the boys, they were amazing. Mos

If they stick with it, Volkswagen’s Polo supermini will hit its big 50th birthday in 2025, writes Brian Byrne. A lot of years, but the company’s Golf will pip it to that anniversary next year, in so doing just making it into the top 20 list of longest continuing car models. For comparison, the one in first place is the Chevrolet Suburban at 88 years old. So Polo isn’t going to make any nameplate records. But it does have a place in the history of many first time drivers, as a starter car that would get them going (for many, young fellows particularly, with the ambition to eventually get to the ultimate upgrade, a Golf GTI). In its sixth generation, since 2017, the Polo had grown up, and I remember thinking when I drove it then for review that it had reached the stage of being a viable rival for that same big brother Golf. The version had its mid-life upgrade just short of two years ago, and it’s probably appropriate that I take it up again to see how or if it is holding its place. In s