Australia

International election observers have an important role in elections across the world as their observations improve the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

The role of international election observers is to provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of all aspects of the electoral process.

PNG Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai, has accredited the international election observers who are part of the international election observation effort. All international election observers have received an identification card from the PNGEC.

The equipment arrived in Port Moresby on Friday on a Royal Australian Airforce C17 Globemaster, inbound from the United States.

Jon Philp, Australian High Commissioner to PNG, and Australian Federal Police Commander, Jamie Strauss formally signed the equipment to RPNGC Police Commissioner, David Manning.

The goalkeeper, brought off the bench by coach Graham Arnold just before the end of extra-time after 120 goalless minutes at Al Rayyan Stadium, dived to his right to repel Alex Valera’s effort and secure the Socceroos’ place in the tournament later this year.

The Sydney FC keeper – whose distinctive style when facing penalties involves dancing along the goalline and waving his arms about, and has earned him the nickname “the grey Wiggle” – replaced captain Mat Ryan in a move that was specifically made to unsettle the Peruvian team.

Using genetic testing, scientists have determined a large underwater meadow in Western Australia is in fact one plant.

It is believed to have spread from a single seed over at least 4,500 years.

The seagrass covers about 200 sq km (77 sq miles), researchers from the University of Western Australia said.

The team stumbled upon the discovery by accident at Shark Bay, about 800km (497 miles) north of Perth.

They had set out to understand the genetic diversity of the species - also known as ribbon weed - which is commonly found along parts of Australia's coast.

The initiative provides all eligible Pacific exporters assistance towards freight costs incurred in the prior 6 months with grants of up to a maximum of A$2,500 per enterprise on a 50/50 cost share basis awarded to successful applicants.

Informed by PTI Australia’s Pacific Islands Export Survey 2020 report which revealed that freight costs were one of the top three barriers to export faced by Pacific businesses, PTI Australia’s COVID-19 Freight Assistance Package was launched later that same year and since then, has seen over 40 successful applicants receive the monetary grant.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government would no longer make it a condition of entry that people had to show they had tested negative for the virus before they travelled here.

The change will come into effect on April 17.

"Given that the vaccination requirements remain and the masking requirements, the medical advice is that [the test] would no longer be required," Mr Hunt said.

"Particularly as there are some challenges in some jurisdictions in having access to those tests or proving those tests."

The declaration gives the federal government power to intervene and deploy resources.

It is a legislative power that Morrison sought after the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis.

Morrison is also set to outline more money to help communities recover from floods on the east coast when he visits Lismore today, as government ministers expect anger from residents whose lives have been upturned.

The federal government has been criticised for the pace and scale of its response to the floods.

The Deputy Prime Minister saw him the Prime Minister off at the airport this morning.

“I welcome my brother Basil back to the country after his delegation successfully raised awareness of Papua New Guinea products at the Dubai trade expo and the connections done, especially for our agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors," PM Marape said before his departure.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk compared the weather to a cyclone event, as Brisbane, the Queensland capital, was bracing for flooding on Sunday, before the rainfalls ease by Monday.

They will target specific Russian individuals and corporations "who are at the heart of this bullying and aggressive behaviour".

"The reason we're doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine," Morrison tells reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

Ukrainians currently in Australia and with visas that expire by 30 June will have them extended by six months.