Dede Sophie

More than 1,500 members of the Joint Security Task Force moved into the Enga Province from Hela yesterday, in preparation for polling duties. Commissioner Manning who is in the Highlands overseeing the election security operations said,  security operation focus has been in the Highlands provinces based on the past experiences and intelligence reports, but so far Hela has been reported relatively quiet with few isolated incidents which have been managed.  He added,  police is expecting the same from the remaining provinces of Enga, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Chimbu and Eastern Highlands provinces. However, Commissioner Manning emphasized that security deployment and capability still remain heightened for worse case scenarios for polling leading into counting. Police Media/NBC/PNG Today Pics courtesy: Police Media Officer Inspector Tumbe Sam Next :  PNG Elections : Chief Justice Disappointed over delay in NCD Polling

Papua New Guinea, like the rest of the world, is being hard hit by skyrocketing inflation – impacting greatly upon citizens with no end in sight. Prime Minister James Marape has said that higher prices of fuel and goods are expected to remain reflecting the impact of the Russia – Ukraine war.  The National Government earlier introduced a K611 million assistance package which includes the 10%  GST cuts to specific goods, fuel prices subsidy, the inclusion of “lifting of the income tax threshold and fully funding school project fee costs in education for this year. Prime Minister Marape told NBC news – a lot of people did not benefit earlier from the subsidy due to agencies being slow in implementing it.  Marape says the subsidy should be fully implemented now with further assistance through a supplementary budget. He says Treasury and other relevant government agencies are re-looking at the model, to see what ways the assistance can be further provided. The revised pack...

A Nissan Ariya crossover electric car will take on a 27,000 kilometres journey from the North Pole to the South Pole next month, in an attempt to show the capability of an EV in long journeys and extreme conditions, writes Brian Byrne. It will be driven by a husband and wife team, Chris and Julie Ramsey, and the expedition will take about 10 months. The pair previously completed the 17,000kms Mongol Rally in a Nissan Leaf. Modifications to the Ariya are mainly the addition of 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres, with associated changes to the wheel arches to accommodate them. The 389hp powertrain for the AWD version of the car remains as standard. The car will also have a built-in espresso coffee machine, a drone launchpad on the roof box, and it will tow a trailer with portable solar panels and and wind turbines to help recharge the car when it is stopped.