Manus Island

Harvard Scientist collect Meteor Fragments from Manus Island

Key points:

  • Analysis of the fragments is hoped to reveal whether the meteor was made up of elements different from those found in our solar system
  • Professor Loeb says the fragments may be the first sign of civilisation beyond our solar system
  • The meteor was detected by US ballistic missile systems in 2014

The team set out on a research boat called Silver Star in late June.

Using a magnetic sled, they excavated debris from the ocean floor where the meteor hit.

Husband charged over wife’s death

Police in Manus reported that the deceased, from Aitape in West Sepik, was discovered in the Bundralie village waters on Saturday, September 18th, between 11am and 12 midday.

Police alleged that the 59-year-old suspect killed her after badly assaulting her during an argument on September 16th.

She was found two days later with a wound on her forehead.

Search For Hit-And-Run Driver

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said at about 5.30pm on Saturday, a Toyota Hilux, owned by Harbourside Hotel, was travelling out of Lorengau town at ward 1.

The driver was travelling at high speed and ran off the road, hitting two sisters who were walking beside the road.

“The vehicle ran over one of the victims’ left leg, resulting in a broken bone,” said the PPC.

“Both victims sustained serious injuries to their bodies and were rushed to the Lorengau General Hospital.

“Both are in a stable condition in the hospital.”

Wife’s body found, husband detained

Police in Manus reported that the deceased, from Aitape in West Sepik, was discovered in the Bundralie village waters on Saturday, September 18th, between 11am and 12 midday.

Prior to that, Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the deceased and her husband had an argument on Thursday September 16th, when she went missing.

A search was conducted but she could not be located until Saturday’s discovery.

Award-winning cartoonist escapes Manus Island

Ali Dorani, known as Eaten Fish, fled Iran in 2013 and was detained by Australia on Manus Island in January the following year.

His cartoons documented the harsh conditions in the detention centre and were published widely in newspapers, including the Washington Post, earning him a Voltaire free speech award and a prize for courage from the Cartoonists Rights Network.

In a statement, Mr Dorani thanked his supporters and said he was thinking about his friends still on Manus and in Port Moresby.

NZ aid for Manus refugees could benefit island's hospital

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised the money last the month after restating the offer to resettle 150 refugees from Australian offshore detention.

Deputy secretary Jeff Langley from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there are a number of different ways the money could be channelled including to the Red Cross and other NGOs operating on the island.

He said the ministry is also talking to the Papua New Guinea government to identify needs created by the refugee population on the island.

PNG police enter Manus asylum centre, Australia confirms

Hundreds of men have refused to leave the Manus Island centre since it was shut down on 31 October, citing fears for their safety.

On Thursday, multiple men inside the centre said that PNG police had given them a one-hour deadline to leave.

Australia said it was a PNG operation.

Under a controversial policy, Australia has detained asylum seekers who arrive by boat in camps on Manus Island and Nauru, a small Pacific nation.

​700 Manus refugees to relocate

Deputy Chief Migration Officer, Esther Gaegaming, said the Regional Processing Centre is holding men from 20 different countries.

Gaegaming said 700 men have been granted refugee status.

“The refugees have been provided resettlement in the country, under the agreement with the Government of Australia; of course there are some of them who do not want to settle.

“Non-refugees we will have to return them (to their home country),” Gaegaming said.      

PNGDF confirms Manus confrontation

In a statement, Colonel Ray Numa, says those involved in the incident on Manus on Friday will be brought to justice.

The fight erupted over the use of the naval base oval, he explains.

Col Numa says residents of the regional processing centre were supposed to vacate the oval by 6pm.

“It is alleged that when they were asked to do so to enable dependents of the base to play on the oval, some of them refused to leave.

Escape from Manus Island: Iranian refugee seeks asylum in Fiji

"This is the end for me," said Loghman Sawari, whose time in PNG he claims has been punctuated by beatings, bullying, imprisonment, illness, suicide attempts and living on the street in Lae, one of the country's most dangerous cities.

The 21-year-old Ahwazi Arab managed to board a plane under a false name after he said he was threatened by a PNG immigration official and lost hope of being resettled in the United States under President Donald Trump.