In a statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on behalf of a group of unnamed countries, China has hit out at Australia's detention centre operation and says human rights are being violated.

Thousands of Papua New Guineans gather to mourn their beloved prime minister Sir Michael Somare at a state funeral, despite fears the farewell could lead to a surge of COVID-19 in the country.

Known as the father of the nation, the revered leader brought PNG to independence from Australia. Natalie Whiting reports.

Thousands gather to honour the life of Papua New Guinea's first Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare at a state funeral held in Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea's first prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, is being honoured in a state funeral as people across the country produce unique artworks to remember the Grand Chief's life.

Even as many countries around the world are reaching what they hope is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, a new coronavirus tragedy is just starting to unfold on Australia's doorstep.

One of the biggest hospitals in Far North Queensland has declared a «code yellow» emergency indicating it is nearing capacity as it treats six fly-in fly-out mine workers.

Papua New Guinea is in the grip of a second coronavirus wave and one Queensland hospital is at the forefront. Natalie Whiting reports.

From The Afghan Files to the disability sector, Australians who have spoken up and paid the price are the subject of a revealing series by Iranian-Australian artist Hoda Afshar.

From The Afghan Files to the disability sector, Australians who have spoken up and paid the price are the subject of a revealing series by Iranian-Australian artist Hoda Afshar.

The death of a Somali asylum seeker in Perth years after he suffered a heart attack on Nauru highlights the deep impact of Australia's refugee policies, advocates say.

Sir Michael Somare led PNG into independence from Australia in 1975 and was one of the country's longest-serving politicians, with a career that spanned five decades.

Leaked documents obtained by the ABC reveal PNG ministers have been granting unauthorised exemptions from quarantine. Key staff at its pandemic control centre have also not been paid. PNG Correspondent Natalie Whiting reports.

There are holes in Papua New Guinea's COVID-19 quarantine systems, and «critical functions» at its pandemic control centre are «at risk of collapsing» because some staff haven't been paid, leaked documents reveal.

An expert has called travel bubbles «futile» and potentially dangerous if rolled out before all Australians have received the jab, though the federal government is eyeing off at least three nations as potential candidates.

The tiny Papua New Guinean island of Daru has become the latest flashpoint in tensions between Australia and China, as one Chinese company looks to build an industrial fishing park in the region, while another proposes a new city.

The Papua New Guinea Government disputes a claim by China that it is assisting the nation with a supply of COVID-19 vaccines, despite a contradicting statement from a Beijing Government official.

A Chinese company puts forward a multi-billion-dollar plan to build a new city on the Papua New Guinean island of Daru, which sits on the sea border with Australia.

A Papua New Guinean governor accuses Australia of wanting the «status quo» of poverty in the region to remain after a proposal for a Chinese fisheries park in the region raised national security and overfishing fears in Canberra.

A Papua New Guinean governor accuses Australia of wanting the «status quo» of poverty in the region to remain after a proposal for a Chinese fisheries park in the region raised national security and overfishing fears in Canberra.

Former Queensland lawyer and father of Sheppard band members, Greg Sheppard, is arrested in Papua New Guinea over allegations of withdrawing more than $90 million from a trust fund earmarked for development projects.

Solomon Islands has not recorded a case of community transmission, but its road out of the pandemic may be slow due to the rollout of COVID vaccines.

Solomon Islands has not recorded a case of community transmission, but its road out of the pandemic may be slow due to the rollout of COVID vaccines.

Diana McKinstry pitched her tent near the ocean about five months ago in a bid to aid her recovery from depression. The community is now working hard to find her shelter as Tropical Cyclone Kimi approaches.

Almost half of the people in Papua New Guinea's capital live in informal settlements and they often don't have a legal right to the land their homes are built on. PNG correspondent Natalie Whiting reports.

Faced with nowhere to live in Papua New Guinea's crowded capital Port Moresby, a group of people decided to build their own community on the outskirts of the city. For almost 20 years it has grown. Now the residents are facing eviction.

Faced with nowhere to live in Papua New Guinea's crowded capital Port Moresby, a group of people decided to build their own community on the outskirts of the city. For almost 20 years it has grown. Now the residents are facing eviction.

Papua New Guinea's Olympic Committee is writing to the Australian Government asking for its athletes to be allowed into the country to train for the six months before the Tokyo Games.

Papua New Guinea's Olympic Committee is writing to the Australian Government asking for its athletes to be allowed into the country to train for the six months before the Tokyo Games.

Papua New Guinea's Olympic Committee is writing to the Australian Government asking for its athletes to be allowed into the country to train for the six months before the Tokyo Games.

Five bodies are recovered from the site of a landslide in a remote part of Papua New Guinea's Central Province. Fifteen people, including three children, are believed to have died in the disaster.

As many as 15 people, including three children, are feared dead in a landslide in a remote part of Papua New Guinea's central province.

Daru mayor Samuel Winggu says a potential Chinese fisheries development on his run-down island, just few kilometres from Australia's border, could be worth the risk.

Daru mayor Samuel Winggu says a potential Chinese fisheries development on his run-down island, just few kilometres from Australia's border, could be worth the risk.

The World Health Organization says countries in the Asia-Pacific region are not guaranteed to have early access to COVID-19 shots and urges them to adopt a long-term approach to the pandemic.