Briefs
American Samoa Three doctors and one dentist have reportedly left American Samoa’s Department of Health and more may be leaving soon, as benefits under their contracts have not been honoured due to lack of funding.
Kite Pareti
Olympians advocate for Pacific wrestling potential
Three of Oceania’s five wrestling hopefuls for this month’s Paris Olympics are women. They are torch bearers for a sport whose profile in the Pacific is such that in the 61-year history of the Pacific Games, there
A Pacific basketball star rises
It was not your everyday greeting, even in the American state that produced Michael Jordan and is home to two of the most dominant schools in college basketball. A 57-year-old man still maintaining an athletic build and
Movers and Shakers
Former Nauru President, Baron Waqa has begun his term as the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). He succeeds Henry Puna. Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) has appointed Rufino Varea as
‘Wall of shame’ faces mounting protests in Guam
Guam’s attorney general is facing a wave of backlash over his billboard campaign to deport convicted aliens, which critics described as “dehumanising.” Douglas Moylan, however, defended his “Deport Air
French police kill alleged gunman amid continued unrest in New Caledonia
French police shot and killed an alleged gunman in New Caledonia on Wednesday, local prosecutors said, bringing the toll of almost two months of unrest in the French Pacific territory to 10. The suspect was killed
Fiji’s golden dream: Can Jerry Tuwai lead them to Paris glory?
Fiji are pinning their hopes on the return of their influential star Jerry Tuwai to help secure a third consecutive Olympic rugby gold medal after experiencing a challenging period both on and off the field. The Fijian
Queen of PNG weightlifting Dika Toua misses out on Paris Olympics
PNG weightlifting queen and veteran Olympian Dika Toua will not be able to represent PNG at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Toua told this paper Thursday that, unfortunately, she didn’t make the Olympic team because of one
Tongan trailblazer Ofa Aki is off to the Olympics
Tonga’s first female athlete to compete in the Olympics boxing competition, Fe’ofa’aki ‘Epenisa, is excited to represent her Pacific heritage in Paris this month. “I just feel honored and proud. I know
Repair ship on its way, but Tongan internet users still struggling to stay connected
With a cable repair ship still nine days away from Tonga, internet customers in Vava’u and Ha’apai are struggling to keep connected. And customers have been warned that satellites may not be the answer, even as Elon
Air transport woes top agenda of Marianas lawmakers’ assembly
Issues and concerns regarding air transportation between the CNMI and Guam topped the agenda of the Mariana Islands Legislature Association’s 2nd General Assembly at the Guam Congress Building on Wednesday. Guam
Pacific islands are being ‘debanked’. What does it mean – and why are Australia, NZ and the U.S concerned?
The withdrawal of major banks from Pacific islands poses significant socio-economic risks to the region, prompting intervention by Australia, the U.S and New Zealand. The so-called debanking of the Pacific – when
Air Vanuatu liquidation nears final stages with August deadline
Air Vanuatu (Operations) Limited (Ltd) entered liquidation on 9 May 2024 and Ernst and Young (EY) were appointed as Liquidators. 09 June marked one month since the liquidation, and Tuesday, 9 July, marked two months.
Papua New Guinea’s growing need for more residential land
A Papua New Guinea (PNG) think tank says the government must ensure that land is available for people to legitimately live on. It is a feature of life in PNG that tens of thousands of people live illegally as squatters
PNG minister facing domestic assault charge steps down. Opposition demands resignation
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales said in a statement Saturday that a 58-year-old man was arrested and charged after a domestic dispute in Sydney after a 31-year-old woman known to him had injuries to
Guam eyed as Micronesian hub for Nauru Airlines
Guam leaders have begun a dialogue with Nauru Airlines to explore air service expansion and consider a proposal to create a regional hub on island. The meeting between Guam officials and Nauru Airlines executives
Exams in doubt after Solomon Islands Government cuts entire funding allocation
All examination classes face the possibility of not sitting their exams as the Solomon Islands Government has cut the entire budget allocation of more than $70 million (US$8.41 million) for this year’s national
Medicinal cannabis now permitted in Cook Islands with prescription
Islanders and visitors can now bring in medicinal cannabis into the Cook Islands from New Zealand and Australia provided they meet certain requirements, says Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry for Health. Minister for Health
EU rebukes African, Caribbean, Pacific org ‘not aligned with reality’
The European Commission is privately threatening to stop propping up the 79-member Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States amid concerns of financial mismanagement, just months after signing a new 20-year
Vanuatu prime minister visits Huawei, views policing technology
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai visited technology company Huawei in Shenzhen and viewed surveillance technology used to enhance policing and reduce criminal activity, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.
ANZ says in talks with Australian govt about shoring up Pacific Islands business
ANZ bank is in talks with the Australian government about ways to make its business in the Pacific Islands more viable as an exodus of Western financial services fuels concern about rising Chinese influence, its CEO
No one is above the law, says Fiji’s Attorney General
“No one, including the elected Government of the day, is above the law”, says Fiji’s Attorney General, Graham Leung. While delivering his maiden speech in Parliament this week, Leung said that the rule of law was
Funding injection to help keep banks in Pacific
An extra $6.3 million (US$4.24 million) in Commonwealth funds will go toward bolstering banking infrastructure in the Pacific, the federal treasurer will announce at a forum in Brisbane. The talks are focused on banking