Papua New Guinean FM highlights education project with China on enhancing friendship

Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko highlighted an education program partnered with China when speaking about forging closer people-to-people relations between the two countries in an interview.

Speaking at a panel interview session with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in east China's city of Xiamen on Wednesday, Tkatchenko spoke positively about his country's cooperation with China at all levels.

"We've seen some really great projects come forward with our partnership with China and also our sister city relationships with Shenzhen and with other provinces like Guangdong [Shenzhen City in Guangdong and other Chinese provinces] that have really inspired to bring our two countries closer together," he said. On people-to-people exchanges, Tkatchenko spoke of a school project funded by China as a key bridge to connect the two peoples, while providing thousands of Papua New Guineans with quality education each year.

"The people to people relationship between China and Papua New Guinea is very important. And it has come out through an investment into a school called Butuka Academy which is a school of excellence and a friendship school between China and Papua New Guinea which educates over 3,000 Papua New Guineans every year from elementary, primary to high school. It's a state-of-the-art school as well," said Tkatchenko.

Noting that the secondary school and primary school of the Butuka Academy are teaching Chinese classes, the minister proudly said that some of the students there can speak Chinese as fluently as native speakers.

"It has become a great success since the construction of that school and the opening of the school by the Chinese President in 2018. Now that shows you the dedication and the will and the need of partnership in this sector, which has really enhanced our relationship with China in our future generations. And that's going to be going on for a long, long time. And we look forward to the other projects as well, in health, and also in infrastructure development, roads and hotels and many other things that China's private sector and government have contributed to," he said.

Papua New Guinean FM highlights education project with China on enhancing friendship

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.

The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.

The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.

The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.

The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges