Australia to increase funding in the Pacific
A wide-ranging Pacific assistance package covering environmental, military, and economic support for Australia’s closest neighbours will be unveiled in Tuesday’s budget, as the Albanese government moves to
PNG Trade office in China eyed
China will be one of eight countries where Papua New Guinea will establish trade missions, Papua New Guinea’s Trade minister says. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said this following a recent
Shipping lobby group advises caution on climate targets
An influential shipping industry group has quietly warned shippers to think carefully before they sign up for a new plan to reduce pollution and eventually eliminate their contribution to climate change. The
Samoa in press freedom’s top 20
Samoa has jumped into the top 20 in the latest press freedom index released by the global group Reporters Without Borders out of 180 countries and territories assessed. It is one of only two Pacific nations in the top
Trade fragmentation risks 5% GDP reduction, WTO warns
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) warns members, including Fiji and the Pacific, of the risks of trade fragmentation. The WTO forecasts that fragmentation will likely reduce long-term global Gross Domestic Product
Marine sanctuary expansion alarms Pacific governors
The prospect of expanding a marine sanctuary has alarmed CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios, Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero and American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga. In their joint letter to President Joseph
Fukushima seafood businesses adapt as treated water release looms
With the release of treated water from the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture looming, embattled seafood businesses in the region fear fresh reputational damage to their products, Takaki Tominaga writes. By
Brown is first Vanuatu Female High Commissioner to Fiji
Women continue to make progress in diverse fields, as the First Secretary to the Vanuatu High Commission in Fiji was appointed High Commissioner, making her the first woman to be assigned to this high level position.
World Press Freedom Day: Media under threat and MIDA
The move by some countries across the region to introduce laws and policies to limit media freedom is a direct breach of their legal obligations under the UN human rights treaties to protect and promote freedom of
World Press Freedom Day: Advancing Pacific anti-corruption efforts through Teieniwa Vision
Being an anti-corruption partner is a long-time commitment, just like the Teieniwa Vision, says Kiribati investigative journalist Rimon Rimon. In February 2020, the inaugural Pacific Leaders Regional Anti-Corruption
How Tonga strikes a balance between king and democracy
The Pacific’s last remaining monarchy has taken a unique approach to balancing executive powers between the king and the parliament, Mele Tupou Vaitohi reveals. Tonga knows how to do coronations. When the current
World Press Freedom Day: Fiji success leads celebrations in 2023
The human rights context of journalism is essential for realising all other rights, and is a timely theme for the WPFD annual celebrations, says Pacific watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF). Speaking on this
Suidani ousted from post ‘after turning down Chinese bribes’
Daniel Suidani, an outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands’ closer ties with China, was ousted as premier of Malaita in early February after refusing “huge” bribes from Chinese businesses who threatened to have
75 percent of overdrawn BSP accounts settled in PNG
BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) group chief executive officer Mark Robinson, says as of Mondays the bank has recouped 75 percent of funds that were overdrawn in April, with an outstanding balance of less than K2
PNGX to adopt new listing rules and increase standard
Papua New Guinea’s national stock exchange (PNGX) will adopt new listing rules from 03 July. Chairman David Lawrence said the new listing rules were a key step towards the development of a more effective secondary
South Auckland dawn raid criticised by Pacific community leader
Pacific community leader is “appalled” that a Pasifika overstayer was detained in a dawn raid in South Auckland last month. Police showed up at the Tongan national’s home at 5am on 19 April and took him into
U.S. set to open new embassy in Tonga this month
The United States is on track to open a new embassy in Tonga this month, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday, part of efforts to step up its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China.
World Press Freedom Day: Tell the truth without fear or favour -SG Puna
The 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the role of journalists whose first rule is to uphold the news creed – to tell the truth without fear or favour, to serve the public
PNG hopes to sign defence agreement during Biden visit
Papua New Guinea hopes to sign a defense cooperation agreement with the United States during President Joe Biden’s stop over in the Pacific island nation this month. Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape
Gold Coast to host 2023 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship
Four nations will battle for supremacy in the region’s pinnacle premier women’s rugby competition, the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship. The Gold Coast City Council and Bond University, with support
World Rugby Pacific Challenge ready to return in Apia
Samoa will host a men’s international tournament this week for the first time in 13 years. Returning for the first time since 2020, the Pacific Challenge will pit Manuma Samoa, Fiji Warriors, Tonga A and Junior Japan
World Press Freedom Day: The fight for press freedom is a fight for us all
Newsrooms are still fighting to honour press freedom despite government pressure, competition with social media platforms and declining trust in the media, says Shahirah Hamid. It has been 30 years since the UN General
World Press Freedom Day: When journalists are targets, we all suffer
Autocrats know that controlling the media is the first step in controlling the population. It’s why journalists are increasingly in the firing line, writes Professor Peter Greste. As we mark the 30th anniversary
