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The Spirit’s first match in the OFC Woman’s U17 competition in Cook Islands is against Papua New Guinea on Thursday at CIFA Academy in Rarotonga.

“We all know that woman’s football in Papua New Guinea is strong and to play against them on Thursday will be tough.” Said Joel Rarua.

In a substantial blow to diplomatic relations between Australia and its former colony, PNG has gone ahead with a threat to end contracts for foreigners brought in to the nation’s public service.

There had been 33 Australian public servants seconded to various PNG departments including officials from the Tax Office, Customs, the Auditor-General, the Ombudsman, Treasury and Finance.

John Momis says many millions of dollars is due to Bougainville as per the peace agreement concluded with PNG in 2001.

In a lengthy statement, Mr Momis says his government estimates that PNG has underpaid Bougainville for the recurrent unconditional grant and owes at least US$33 million dollars, which must be paid immediately.

The president says Bougainville is owed another US$207 million under the Restoration and Development Grant.

Mr Momis says the national tax office is also failing to hand over taxes collected in Bougainville.

This was revealed yesterday during the launching of the Foundation’s 2014-2015 Annual Report at the Digicel Learning Centre in Port Moresby.

Foundation Board Chairman, Douveri Henao said the Foundation had continued its support to its focus areas of access to basic education, basic health, community building, services for people with special needs and addressing violence.

The Foundation’s key achievements included:

Digicel is once again bringing families and the Pacific’s greatest musical talent together with an upbeat new version of their hit song ‘We Are Family’. This new rendition is a cheerful Pacific Christmas music collaboration, available to all Digicel customers across the company’s six Pacific countries. 

The former leaders called a press conference in Port Moresby on Monday afternoon to slam Mr O'Neill for "bulldozing" the UBS arrangements through government agencies and exposing the PNG people to "huge" risks and costs.

The lawyers, Greg Egan and Terence Lambert, were preparing to represent PNG investigators in a major fraud case against the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.

But they were blocked from entering the country, apparently on instruction from Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura.

An executive member for the Law Council of Australia, Morry Bailes, says he is disturbed by the reports.

PNG replaced South Africa as World Cup hosts in March, gifting them automatic qualification and a second berth for Oceania.

Hosts Tonga face a tough test in today's opening match against defending Oceania champions New Zealand, who have been on an unbeaten run since 2002.

Coach Penateti Feke was a part of the Tongan team at July's Pacific Games.

She's selected four of her teammates from that event, while nine have experience from last year's Under 20 tournament.

Solomon Islands Police, National Security and Correctional Services Commission secretary, Wilson Orisi, says the mission, to be led by MP Jimmy Lusibaea, will travel to the Shortland Islands, Gizo and Munda.

He says problems at the border have developed because the area has been left unattended by agencies such as police, immigration, customs and quarantine for some time.

Mr Orisi says the border has allegedly been violated by criminals and the Commission wants to learn about people's experiences regarding both illegal and legal crossings.

In extending Fiji's well wishes to PNG on its 40th independence day celebration, the Fijian prime minister highlighted the progress the Melanesian state has made and the importance of its ties with Fiji, Fiji's Department of Information said Tuesday.

Since gaining independence, the two nations have enjoyed close relationship of mutual respect and friendship which was further cemented through their membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Bainimarama told his PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill in the congratulatory message.