PNG proposes firing-squad executions

Papua New Guinea's government is pushing for the South Pacific nation's first execution and has proposed firing squads as a humane and inexpensive method.

• PNG jails 'sorcery killer' for 30 years
• Four held over rape of US academic in PNG
• 2 suspected sorcerers beheaded in PNG

PNG jails 'sorcery killer' for 30 years

A Papua New Guinean who accused his aunt of sorcery and killed her with an axe has been jailed for 30 years, a report says, days after the UN urged a tougher stance on such murders.

• 2 suspected sorcerers beheaded in PNG
• PNG 'sorcerer' tortured, burned alive
• PNG women saved from sorcery burnings

24 die in PNG bus accident

Twenty-four people were killed when a bus plunged off a cliff into a river bed in the rugged western highlands of impoverished Papua New Guinea, says a report.

• 55 die in India, Nepal bus accidents
• 34 die in Vietnam bush crash
• China: 2 traffic accidents leave 47 dead

PNG 'sorcerer' tortured, burned alive

A young mother accused of sorcery was stripped naked, doused with petrol and burned alive in front of a crowd including schoolchildren in Papua New Guinea, say reports.

• Amnesty: Saudi 'sorcery' beheading shocking
• Lebanese 'sorcerer' faces death
• UK horror tale of witchcraft killing

Bad weather halts PNG ferry search

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says bad weather has forced rescuers to abandon their search for survivors after a ferry sank off the country's east coast.

• More than 100 feared trapped in PNG ferry
• Planes join Papua New Guinea ferry rescue
• 50 rescued from PNG ferry disaster

Papua New Guinea ferry rescue continues

The tally of survivors from the sinking of a coastal ferry in Papua New Guinea has reached 238 with no reports of bodies being pulled from the water.

• Planes join Papua New Guinea ferry rescue
• Papua New Guinea ferry sinks, 350 on board
• 50 rescued from PNG ferry disaster

50 rescued from PNG ferry disaster

Rescuers have plucked about 50 survivors from waters off Papua New Guinea after a ferry carrying more than 300 people sunk, say officials, leaving hundreds still unaccounted for.

• Papua New Guinea ferry sinks, 350 on board

PNG ex-commander 'seizes' control of army

A retired military commander in Papua New Guinea claims to have seized control of the country's armed forces and is demanding that ousted prime minister Michael Somare be reinstated.

Harmony holds on to PNG assets

Harmony Gold says it has received several enquiries from parties interested in acquiring its Papua New Guinea assets, but is not ready to sell.

• Harmony restarts Evander mine ops
• Harmony to boost output
• Harmony: No mines grab threat from PNG
• Harmony earnings treble on gold's surge
• Harmony profit drops as costs bite
• Harmony profit slumps, costs bite

Kite-surfer attacked by shark in PNG

A French diplomat working for the EU in Papua New Guinea has been airlifted to Australia after a shark apparently attacked him when he was kite-surfing.

• Aus officials not hunting killer shark
• Are humans to blame for shark attacks?
• Seychelles nets to deter shark attacks

Quake rattles Papua New Guinea

A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake has rattled Papua New Guinea, says the US Geological Survey, but there was no threat of a tsunami.

• Strong quake hits near Japanese islands
• Another quake hits Indonesia
• Thousands of houses damaged in quake

Papua tsunami warning lifted

Indonesia says it has lifted a tsunami warning issued after a powerful quake hit neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

• 2nd quake: Tsunami warning
• A tsunami could strike again
• Experts warn of Tsunami

Quake hits off Papa New Guinea

A strong 6.2 magnitude quake has struck off Papua New Guinea's coast, US geologists say, but there has been no tsunami warning.

• Quake knowledge saved lives
• Aftershocks could go on for years

Papua New Guinea on alert

Papua New Guinea is racing to contain a triple outbreak of cholera, flu and dysentery which has claimed at least 100 lives and prompted a health emergency.