Papua New Guinea

They grew up playing footy in cow paddocks at home, where "rugby league is a religion". Now, these young men are preparing to grace footy fields in Australia, hoping to one day represent their country. 

The historic address came amid simmering political tensions in PNG and the spectre of China looming over the Pacific.

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape urges Australia to not "give up" on his country during an historic address to the federal parliament.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed PNG's Prime Minister James Marape to the Australian parliament.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape has arrived in Canberra ahead of a historic address at Parliament House, but a political storm is continuing to brew at home in Port Moresby.

The Coalition is trying to ramp up pressure on the federal government over new police cooperation negotiations between China and Papua New Guinea, saying it's "essential" that Australia's strategic position in the Pacific nation isn't undermined.

Amid jostling between Washington and Beijing for influence in the Pacific, PNG has previously said Australia and the United States are its main security partners, and Prime Minister James Marape signed a $200 million security deal with Australia in December.

On Sunday, the ABC revealed Mei Lin, who is understood to have Australian residency, had been arrested and charged over a "black flight" drug plot.

The arrest of company director Mei Lin in Brisbane last week has raised concerns in PNG government circles due to her links to business interests associated with political figures, including former deputy prime minister Moses Maladina.

Behori Joku lost everything she worked for in the Port Moresby riots. Others lost more than that as economic and political tensions erupted.

The death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has risen to at least 22. A state of emergency is in effect in Port Moresby as authorities attempt to restore normality.

The death toll has risen to 22 after demonstrations by public servants turned ugly.

The national death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has climbed to 22, with the remains of six people found in Port Moresby today.

Cars were torched, businesses looted and at least 16 dead in Papua New Guinea in violent riots.

Social and political tensions were rising across Papua New Guinea, then police went on strike and the streets ignited with deadly unrest, but the prime minister is claiming it was "political influence" that lit the match. 

Public servants' missing pay saw PNG's capital boiling over this week, leaving at least 16 dead and police withdrawing from the streets in a "pretty extraordinary scenario".

At least 15 people have died in the violent unrest in the cities of Port Moresby and Lae.

Sixteen people have died in violent riots in Papua New Guinea after some residents took advantage of police being on strike to set shops and businesses alight in the capital. The PM has now declared a state of emergency for 14 days.

St John Ambulance has reported severe burns and gunshot wounds, as thousands engaged in looting and vandalism.

Angry mobs storm and pillage shops, setting fire to buildings in the Papua New Guinean capital.

The defence force has been deployed to restore order in the Port Moresby, as the government blames a payroll 'glitch'.

Footage shows the warehouse for one of PNG’s largest retailers in flames after it was ransacked, with hundreds flooding the streets outside.

A 'glitch' that short-changed public servants' pay packets led to protests and violence in Papua New Guinea.

Violence erupts on the streets of Port Moresby after a payroll error docked about $100 from the pay of public servants across the country.

This couple started writing picture books for children who have never seen one before. Now, they are building them a kindergarten too.