Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister resigns due to protests over his $1 million trip to London for King Charles coronation

Colombo (News 1st) - Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko resigned Friday following a public outcry in the impoverished Asian nation at his extravagant USD 1 million trip to London for King Charles' coronation, which turned into angry protests outside parliament when he labeled critics as 'primitive animals'.

The foreign minister's resignation comes at a critical time since Papua New Guinea is scheduled to receive two important world leaders - Indian PM Narendra Modi on May 21 and U.S. President Joe Biden the very next day.

The controversy began when his daughter posted a Tik Tok video of their shopping spree in Singapore's luxury fashion stores where they stopped en route, and an extravagant meal in the first-class lounge. The entourage had also included 10 members of the minister's staff.

Prime Minister James Marape said that he too was offended by his minister's remarks and he had accepted the resignation, and asked the public to accept the minister's apology.