Air Niugini restores direct PNG-Japan route after pandemic suspension
AIR Niugini has restored direct flights between Port Moresby and Tokyo’s Narita airport, reopening a route that first linked Papua New Guinea and Japan in 2018.
VILIAME TAWANAKORO
Building bridges to the future
FOR a nation of over 980 islands, the sky is not the limit – it can, at times, be the only lifeline.
The Tongan way
KING Tupou VI’s increased involvement in governance, framed as a political regression, rests on a narrow interpretation of democracy and a misreading of Tonga’s cultural and political landscape.
Fiji’s coups, and the decrees that hollowed out the state from within
FIJI’S coups triggered a wave of decrees that transformed Fiji's public service.
Vengaboys lead proud of her Pacific roots
SOME of the most popular dance and disco songs of the nineties were sung by the Dutch group Vengaboys. “We like to Party” and “We’re going to Ibiza” are just two of their most well-known hits among a host of
2006 Militarisation left Fiji’s civil service fearful and broken
FIJI’S 2006 military takeover did more than topple a government.
Liberation of Fiji Party files registration
THE proposed Liberation of Fiji Party has submitted a fresh application to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) after earlier failing
Australian survey finds dozens of wartime bombs in Nanumea lagoon
TUVALU has received the findings of an Australian underwater survey in Nanumea Lagoon which identified dozens of unexploded wartime bombs and other ordnance but found no immediate threat to residents.
Solomon MPs vote for pay rise
SOLOMON Islands MPs have voted themselves a second salary increase in two years – despite the economic
Cook Islands ready for election
ONE seat has been confirmed in the Cook Island general election after Agnes Helen Armstrong secured the Ivirua seat unopposed.
Church leaders call for genuine peace
IN an impassioned plea, church leaders have called for national leadership in the Pacific to lean toward courses of action that facilitate lasting and meaningful peace in our region.
Fiji’s drug crisis forces new rehab push
FIJI'S Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially opened the Salvation Army’s new Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programme facility as part of the country’s wider fight against a worsening crisis.
PNG LNG landowner stakes will not be diluted, Marape says
PAPUA New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has sought to calm concerns over the PNG LNG project, saying the government will not dilute landowners’ and provincial governments’ equity stakes.
Vanuatu strengthens measles outbreak defences
VANUATU has moved to sharpen its measles outbreak response as Pacific countries work to protect communities from the disease which was declared eliminated in the region in 2025.
Pacific moves to turn climate finance promises into bankable projects
PACIFIC leaders have taken a major step towards closing the region's climate finance gap after concluding a regional workshop aimed at turning long-standing climate finance commitments into investment-ready projects.
Samoa begins ground-truthing mangroves for carbon storage data
SAMOA has launched community consultations and fieldwork to assess the carbon storage capacity of selected mangrove sites to strengthen climate reporting, conservation planning and the country’s greenhouse gas
Tuvalu says SDG progress needs urgent global action at UN forum
TUVALU used a United Nations sustainability forum to press rich nations for faster climate finance and reforms to the global financial system.
Fiji and New Zealand renew Duavata Partnership
FIJI and New Zealand have renewed the Duavata Partnership for a further five years.
Australia launches five-week hydrographic mission in PNG
AUSTRALIA will deploy its hydrographic survey ship, HMAS Leeuwin, to Papua New Guinea for a five-week mission to improve navigation safety and strengthen maritime cooperation.
Marape pledges legal and funding support for St John Ambulance
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the government would move to strengthen St John Ambulance through legislation which would recognise its role as a national emergency service.
Taipei protests as PNG orders Taiwan office shut
PAPUA New Guinea has ordered the immediate closure of Taiwan’s Economic Office in a move which strengthened Port Moresby’s alignment with Beijing and drew a sharp protest from Taipei.
European film festival returns with focus on culture and connection
THE European Union has officially launched the 5th European Film Festival in Fiji, bringing eight acclaimed European films to audiences across Suva, Pacific Harbour, Lautoka and Labasa.
