The Latest Breaking News from PNG

Five men stand accused of orchestrating a clandestine flight from Papua New Guinea to Australia with more than 52 kilograms of methamphetamine on board.

Papua New Guinea said a proposed security treaty with neighbour Australia would be delayed as it consults "domestic processes", a week after signing a defence agreement with the United States that sparked student protests.

Prime minister James Marape was at pains to say he did not want to be forced to make a choice between the US and China

The Australian government on Tuesday welcomed a defence cooperation agreement between its closest neighbour Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the U.S. aimed at bolstering regional security amid China's plans to increase influence in the Pacific.

Australia continues to negotiate a defence pact with Papua New Guinea despite a similar US one drawing concerns it could damage its neutrality foreign policy.

China's moves in the region spurred Biden to action.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signs a Defence Cooperation Agreement between the United States and PNG, a leaked draft of which suggests it might open the door to a substantial US military presence in the country, as well as potentially offering American personnel in PNG some protection from prosecution.

Osman El-Houli has been accused of driving from Melbourne to Queensland to pick up drugs that never arrived after a plane loaded with cocaine crashed in PNG.

Blinken says defence and maritime surveillance pact was signed by both countries ‘as equals and sovereign partners’.