Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
According to recent data, 848 different languages are listed for the country, of which 12 have no known living speakers.[7] There may be at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of about 6.3 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centres.[8] The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior.[9] Strong growth in Papua New Guinea's mining and resource sector has led to the country's becoming the sixth fastest-growing economy in the world as of 2011.[10] Despite this, many people live in extreme poverty, with about one-third of the population living on less than US$1.25 per day.[11] The majority of the population still live in traditional societies and practice subsistence-based agriculture.
History[edit] Politics[edit] Law[edit] Papua New Guinea: Corruption destroying largest Asia-Pacific forest. Malaysian interests dominated the multi-million dollar logging ndustry while much of the timber was processed in China for consumption in Europe and North America, Washington-based Forest Trends reported Tuesday.
Working conditions were described as "modern-day slavery," while forests were effectively being "logged out," the international non-profit organisation said in its report "Logging, Legality and Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea". The report summarises findings from five independent reviews of the timber harvesting industry conducted since 2000 for the PNG government and the World Bank. The government of the half-island state off the northern tip of Australia received 30 million dollars in cash revenues from. Most Corrupt Countries. Ex-PNG minister faces more corruption charges. Posted Thu 17 Nov 2011, 9:10pm AEDT More corruption charges have been laid against Papua New Guinea's former planning minister Paul Tiensten.
He is already facing charges of misappropriation, conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office over a grant to establish a regional airline. He had been out on bail but was re-arrested and charged with another count of misappropriation as well as official corruption and stealing by false pretence. A police spokesman says the new charges relate to a $1.5 million grant to rehabilitate a copra plantation on New Britain Island. Tiensten allegedly deposited the money into the account of a company of which he was the sole director and owner. Around one-third of the money was then used to buy another plantation on the island. Topics: world-politics, crime, papua-new-guinea. Transparency International PNG (Inc.)
Papua New Guinea country profile. Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of the world's second largest island and is prey to volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves.
Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 700 native tongues. Some 80% of Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no facilities of modern life. Many tribes in the isolated mountainous interior have little contact with one another, let alone with the outside world, and live within a non-monetarised economy dependent on subsistence agriculture. Population 7.2 million Area 462,840 sq km (178,704 sq miles) Major languages English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu Major religions Christianity, indigenous beliefs Life expectancy 61 years (men), 66 years (women) Currency kina Getty Images Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor-General. Prime minister: Peter O'Neill Image copyright Getty Images Read full profile The government operates a national network and provincial stations. Read full timeline.