Samantha Magick
Tonga lockdown restrictions eased
Lockdown restrictions in Tonga will be eased with businesses able to operate for three days starting on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday, said the Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siasoi Sovaleni. This means businesses
Melanesian Spearhead Group receives US$100,000 from Indonesia police
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has received a contribution of US$100,000 from the Indonesian National Police (INP), for the formulation of the MSG Regional Security Strategy (RSS). At a virtual
Whispers
Samoan style Samoa’s former PM, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been found guilty of contempt of court in relation to last year’s contentious election. But in a judgement that reflects the extraordinary way Samoans
Teleworking realities
The COVID-19 has been dubbed the “great accelerator,” as it brought an enormous shift to digital around the world. Schools and learning went online, video conference participation rose dramatically, medical services
Greenhouse: Coworking and community making
The establishment of the Greenhouse Coworking Space was an extension of how the team already
When home is an office, a church and a school
Working from home during COVID lockdowns was a chance for Fijian communications consultant Mere Tuivuniwai and her family to build resilience, flexibility and
New Pacific workers scheme to deal with “slave labour” conditions
Next month (April) a new scheme for Pacific Islanders to work in Australia’s agricultural industry comes into force, after parliamentary inquiries heard evidence that Pacific Islanders have been exploited and treated
Wallis and Futuna elects new assembly president
Wallis and Futuna has a new Assembly President, Munipoese Muli’aka’aka. As the only candidate for the role, Muli’aka’aka was elected unanimously by the 20 member assembly. Previous assembly
Pacific losing ground on water and sanitation
n the Pacific region, access to clean water and sanitation has gone backwards since 2015 according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals 2002 progress
Navigating the Pacific studies canoe
Professor Katerina Teaiwa is a pioneer in the area of interdisciplinary Pacific
The cost of politics
is again under the spotlight as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia, Wallis and Futuna and American-affiliated Pacific states and territories are all expected to hold elections this
Women MPs should be the norm, not a novelty: Bale
The absence of any women in the Papua New Guinea parliament is a matter of deep national shame, says candidate, Tania
“The game plan from the outside is to divide and conquer”
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna talks Forum unity, the 2050 strategy and his
Australia hands over Blackrock as China concerns re-emerge
The opening of the Blackrock Camp in Nadi this month signified the culmination of “close to a A$100 million investment” by the Australian government designed to support Fiji’s peacekeeping and humanitarian
Tongan volcanic eruption prompts resilience
The recovery effort following Tonga's volcanic eruptions has demonstrated Tongan resilience, and the need to remember traditional
Cobb seeks ‘Freedom’
Chris Cobb’s song Freedom is inspired by two tragedies, the ongoing human rights abuses of the indigenous people of West Papua, and the sinking of the MV Rabaul
Movers and Shakers
Leonard Louma is the new Director General of the MSG Secretariat. Louma is a seasoned PNG diplomat, with postings to the UN, France and China, and was involved in several regional initiatives, including the Pacific
Solomon Islands PM says China security deal ‘ready for signing’
Solomon Islands' PM says a contentious security agreement with Beijing was “ready for
Marshall Islands president calls for Forum ‘peace’
The President of Marshall Islands says not only does he not want the Micronesia area nations to pull out of the Forum, he wants current Secretary General Henry Puna to stay on the job. In a 17 February letter to Nauru
Lessons from Volcanoes in Predicting the Next Pandemic
COVID-19 alerts and warnings can be better developed by bringing together lessons learned from natural hazards like
PNG Company tax approved
The contentious PNG company tax or ‘super tax’ on the country’s big players in the banking and telecommunication sectors finally got the green light from Parliament Wednesday, now making it a law. While the tax
Changes proposed to PNG super tax
Papua New Guinea's Parliament may consider some changes to the market concentration levy, or so-called 'super tax' this