PM’s office clarifies salary

PORT MORESBY (PNG PM OFFICE) – Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill does not set his salary conditions, says the PM’s chief-of-staff Edward Mike Jondi. Mr Jondi made the statement yesterday after a report published in The National newspaper outlining the salary ranges of all the ministers and members of Parliament, of which Mr O’Neill tops the list.

Mine access road closed

TIMIKA, Indonesia – The Indonesian unit of Freeport-McMoRan Inc closed the main access road to its giant copper mine in the eastern province of Papua on Tuesday for the second time in three days after another shooting incident. A Freeport vehicle was hit by gunfire while it was heading from Tembagapura to Ridge Camp, the company said in a statement, referring to an area where Freeport workers live.

Senator steps down

SYDNEY – The citizenship crisis engulfing Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government deepened on Tuesday as an eighth lawmaker exited parliament and the main opposition party drafted in a high-profile candidate for a key by-election. Mr Turnbull’s centre-right government has already lost its majority in parliament, accounting for four of the eight lawmakers to be forced out or to resign from parliament in recent weeks because they were dual citizens.

Refugees deny claims

PORT MORESBY – Refugees occupying the former detention centre on Manus Island have rejected claims made by a New Zealander that they are criminals who should not be resettled here. The man, known as Ian, says he was a guard on Manus Island for 18 months and has alleged the men now refusing to leave the centre are the ones who have caused problems in the local community.

Abkhazia links condemned

Georgia’s foreign ministry has condemned a visit by Nauru’s President Baron Waqa to its break-away region of Abkhazia as a blatant violation of international law. Mr Waqa visited Abkhazia to meet its leader before having talks with the leader of South Ossetia, which is a second Georgian break-away region backed by Russia. In Abkhazia, Mr Waqa confirmed Nauru’s friendship with the republic and laid flowers at a memorial in Sukhumi of those who died in the separatist war against Georgia in 1992 and 1993.

Plane crash kills 2

NOUMEA – A microlight plane has crashed in New Caledonia, killing its pilot and one passenger. Police said the accident happened near the reef off Voh in the north of the main island. The aircraft was on a commercial tourist flight, carrying a visitor from Reunion. The pilot, who had been trained in France, had reportedly moved to New Caledonia only six months ago.