Papua New Guinea declares state of emergency over riots

CGTN

Papua New Guinea has declared a state of emergency, suspended a provincial government and is sending armed forces to its rugged highlands to restore order after rioters went on a rampage of looting and burning, the government said.

Violence has often ravaged the remote interior of the resource-rich Pacific nation, where tribal and land disputes overlay regional politics.

Armed crowds angered over the failure of a court challenge to a regional governor's election burned an airplane, looted a warehouse and torched buildings in Mendi, the capital of the Southern Highlands province, this week.

Papua New Guinea has declared a nine-month state of emergency in the province, and suspended its government for the duration, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said on Friday.

"The actions of reckless individuals damaging property in Mendi has disgusted the nation," O'Neill said on his website.

"Police will investigate every agitator, and every person who was involved in the unrest."

Papua New Guinea police prevent students from marching from University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 8, 2016. /Reuters Photo

Thomas Eluh, a former policeman and acting administrator in the province, has been given constitutional emergency powers.

Police, including a mobile squad, were immediately deployed, along with criminal investigators, O'Neill added.

More than 200 PNG Defence Force troops are to be flown to the city of Mount Hagen on Saturday before making their way to Mendi, media outlet Loop PNG said.

Looters ransacked a warehouse of earthquake relief supplies during the Mendi rioting, said Barclay Tenza, a spokesman for the provincial disaster.

Many communities are still receiving aid after February's 7.5-magnitude earthquake killed 100 people, testing the finances and capacity of one of the world’s poorest countries. 

Source(s): Reuters

Sakurajima volcano in southwestern Japan erupts

CGTN

The Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, saw an explosive eruption Saturday morning. No injuries have been reported.

The eruption was observed at around 7:20 a.m. local time at one of the peaks of the volcano, spewing volcanic ash 4,700 meters into the sky, according to the local weather agency.  

Sakurajima is an active composite volcano and a former island in Kagoshima prefecture. The most recent eruption was on May 2, 2017.    

The weather agency maintained the alert level for the volcano at level three on a scale of five, has restricted entry into the mount and issued a warning for falling rocks.

(Top image: file pic)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

June 12: Shafaudeen Lauds P.M.B. Tasks Islamic Clerics

With Hi-Tech.innovations today Muslims leaders worldwide have being challenge to intensify the pursuit of global educational technology and look inwards for a powerful telescopic device that can solve the Moon siteing in the earth surface whenever the need arises.
Founder / Spiritual head of Shafaudeen ln lslam worldwide Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP. made the comments in his Eid el Fitr chat with Transview magazine Chief news bureau at the organization international headquarters lbadan.
According to the erudite lslamic scholar noted that presently among the problems facing lslam worldwide caused by political apologists and the elites who have no other intentions than to pocket the clerics.
He observed that engaging in a robust ICT. programs will resolve the mis understanding that always occour in Islamic event Moon siteing.
On the recognition of June 12 by Mr President . Prof. Olagoke stated that the national recognition is overdue and frown on the government critics over the issue.
Adding "ln politics every game is symbolic, you don't do things that will not favour your camp', and therefore commended Mr President for doing what his predecessor failed to do.
Prof. Olagoke however urged missionaries to be role models and avoid contradiction of theory and practice, he challenge them to have more impact on the people and change for good our society.
He enjoin all faithful to shun social corruption in order to gain fairness, equity, rulership by conscience and piety in religious worship and also admonished them to be consistent in good deeds and live by the words of God even after the Ramadan.