Papua New Guinea |  |
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Papua New Guinea | |
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| capital: | Port Moresby |
| geographic coordinates: | 9 30 S, 147 10 E |
| time difference: | UTC + 10 |
| daylight saving time: | NO |
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The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. |