Investigations

Hillsong’s founding pastor, Brian Houston, has resigned from the megachurch he founded in Sydney two decades ago after internal investigations found he had engaged in inappropriate conduct of “serious concern” with two women.

Houston stood down last Friday, but following another emergency staff meeting on Wednesday the Sydney-based church issued a brief statement announcing his resignation.

They are urging Minister for Police, William Onglo and Police Commissioner, David Manning to order an investigation and make arrests to perpetrators of violence against women shown in a recent video in Enga Province. The two videos were brought to their attention, depicting incidents of brutal violence against women.  

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, Co-Chair of the Coalition stated that he is appalled by the horrendous acts of violence captured in the two videos.

In a scathing report released earlier this month, McLaren and his team found that the IWF had been plagued by decades of corruption and also discovered the doping infractions.

These include gold and silver medallists who have not had their samples dealt with.

McLaren's investigation determined that the IWF's former president Tamas Ajan used "the tyranny of cash" to maintain control and the primary sources of this money came from doping fines paid personally to him.

Islands Business magazine reports university council chair Winston Thompson has established a team to investigate vice chancellor Pal Ahluwalia.

However, Mr Thompson has not specified the allegations against Prof Ahluwalia.

Last May, Prof Ahluwalia questioned contract renewals of at least 11 senior members of university staff.

He also questioned payments of professional and development leave.

It comes after leaked remarks suggested Iran knew immediately that it had struck the plane.

Ukrainian TV aired an exchange between air traffic control and a pilot who was landing as the jet crashed.

The Iranian pilot allegedly states he saw a flash like missile fire in the sky, and then an explosion.

Iran initially denied responsibility for the downing on 8 January that killed 176, but Ukraine's president said the conversation proved the country knew the flight had been hit by a missile.

All nine people on board the helicopter died, including Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Investigators are expected to focus on the weather conditions, which were foggy, and on any mechanical failures that may have occurred.

Bryant was considered to be one of the greatest players in the game's history.

He was a five-time NBA champion for his only team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and a double Olympic gold medallist. He retired in April 2016.

Tributes from fans, fellow basketball players and other public figures have been pouring in from around the world.

Tahiti-infos reported that investigators probing the disappearance of Jean-Pascal Couraud, known as JPK, have detained the two to again try to establish when and how he went missing.

The investigation was opened in 2004 after the family lodged a complaint for murder in response to a claim by a former spy that the journalist had been kidnapped and killed by a militia in the service of the government.

The body was never found amid speculation it was dumped between Tahiti and Moorea.

Director for Traffic Police, Joe Joseph is urging the families, friends and relatives of the Late Ruby Ann Laufa to remain tolerant during this time.

He said the case is not a clear cut case adding that the challenge is when you only have a case resting on witness statements.

“We need hard evidence and it is hard to comprehend when there was no one to see and tell of the actual event had taken place between the suspect and the victim.”

Josephs’ says police have already spoken to the Laufa family of the progress of the investigations and that they are aware of it.

Director for Traffic Police, Joe Joseph, says progress is yet to be made into the former Miss PNG’s investigations.

Furthermore, the main alleged suspect and key witness implicated in the death of the late Laufa is also yet to be charged.

However, the need for justice for the family is paramount.

“Police were not present during the actual happening of the incident and police are only following due process to complete the investigations as soon as possible.”

Traffic police are relying on statements given by witnesses to build a case.