Opinion: The political risk of a failed census in Papua New Guinea
The last reliable national census for Papua New Guinea (PNG) was conducted 24 years ago, therefore the 2024 census is critical. But early signs suggest the latest attempt to count the country’s population will not be
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo to represent American Samoa in Paris Olympics
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo, who is from the CNMI and American Samoa, left Saipan on Saturday with Paris as her final destination. She will compete in the 100 meters event of the Olympic Games in the French capital on 02
Superannuation is sitting in Australia as PALM workers report barriers, delays in claiming their money
Tevita Kofutu’a has plans for the $10,000 in superannuation he earned over five years of seasonal work in Australia. He’ll use it to buy a vehicle and pay a deposit on some land in Tonga where he and his
Tjibaou and Metzdorf win New Caledonia’s seats in French National Assembly
In New Caledonia, Emmanuel Tjibaou has won a seat in the French National Assembly – the first time in 38 years that a pro-independence Kanak leader will serve in the French legislature in Paris. Emmanuel is the son of
Pacific journalists’ resilience shines through at historic conference
Despite the many challenges faced by Pacific journalists in recent years, the Pacific International Media Conference highlighted the incredible strength and courage of the region’s reporters. The three-day event
Four-try hero Miller, Wallaroos blow away Fijiana in Sydney
Desiree Miller crossed for four tries in the weekend as the Wallaroos thumped Fijiana 64-5 at Allianz Stadium. It was a repeat of the Super Rugby Final as Miller proved unstoppable in space, scoring a hat-trick in just
PNG minister steps down after woman’s alleged assault in Bondi
One of Papua New Guinea’s most senior ministers have stepped down from his post after being arrested for the alleged assault of a 31-year-old woman in Bondi. Jimmy Maladina, who was the country’s Minister for
Samoa produce comeback upset victory over Italy
Samoa recovered from a 10-point deficit to beat Italy 33-25 in a sweltering Test in Apia on Friday. The home side scored four tries to three in a successful start to the tenure of new coach Mahonri Schwalger and newly
Budget cuts would be ‘devastating’ and ‘deadly’, say U.S. diplomats
Cuts to the U.S. State Department’s 2025 budget proposed by the House of Representatives would be “deadly” and “devastating” to American efforts to counter China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region,
Australia to strike new funding deal with PNG to manage transferred asylum seekers
The Albanese government will strike a new funding deal with Papua New Guinea to support asylum seekers after the country threatened to send them back to Australia unless a fresh agreement was signed. In December 2021
‘Very early stages’ of talks on viability of Nauru Airlines’ direct Australia-Guam route
Visiting Nauru Airline officials on Tuesday met with Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and other local officials on the possibility of adding Guam to Nauru Airlines’ route, as it once did in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Future of New Zealand’s Nauru resettlement deal unclear
New Zealand is unlikely to resettle its full quota of refugees from Nauru under its 2022 agreement with Australia, and faces choices on the future of the pact. A deal struck by previous governments on both sides of the
Tarere, Vele to join Team PNG for Paris Olympics
Papua New Guinea Swimming Inc this week confirmed that two of its swimmers, Josh Tarere and Georgia-Leigh Vele are bound for the Paris Olympic Games after their universality slots were approved by World Aquatics. This
Opinion: Most plastics are made from fossil fuels and end up in the ocean, but marine microbes can’t degrade them
Marine plastic pollution is a massive environmental issue, with a plastic smog of an estimated 170 trillion particles afloat in the world’s oceans. This highlights how urgently we need to develop strategies to
Cyclone risks for Pacific Island hospitals modelled
Cyclone and extreme weather risks for individual hospitals across Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tonga are being modelled in a study led out of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Climate models with
Opinion: Tapestry of Pacific ambiguities: Political tensions against the backdrop of FestPac celebrations
The focus of the Festival of Pacific Arts, or FestPac, is always culture, and the 13th iteration held in June 2024 in Hawai’i was no different. More than two dozen island nations sent delegations of dancers,
‘Talanoa’ key to Forum’s seabed mining approach
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the Pacific Islands Forum outgoing chair, told the media in May that one of the outcomes of the Leaders meeting in Rarotonga last year on the issue was a “talanoa” (a Pacific
Theo McFarland to captain Manu Samoa
Theo McFarland has been given the Manu Samoa captain’s armband for the July Tests against Italy and Spain, and according to management, the lock deserves the leadership role. The 28-year-old was one of the
Air Niugini increase flights to Hong Kong
Air Niugini has increased its direct flights between Port Moresby and Hong Kong from three to four flights per week, effective Monday 01st July 2024. The additional service operates every Monday, adding to the
Cook Islands new minimum wage comes into effect, employers told to adhere
Employers in the Cook Islands are required to adhere to the new minimum wage rate that comes into effect today. The new minimum wage increases by 50 cents $9.00 to $9.50 per hour (US$5.47 – $5.77) from today,
All female Pacific crew set to sail Hinemoana II for research on whales
An all-female Pacific-crewed expedition is to set sail from New Zealand’s North Island for scientific research on whale populations. The Hinemoana II is set to leave the Bay of Plenty in mid-July and arrive in
Fiji Navy successfully salvages RFNS Puamau after grounding incident
The Fiji Navy has announced the successful salvage of RFNS Puamau, three weeks after the grounding incident in Fulaga in the Lau group. Following two weeks of intensive operations, the Ratu Rabici tug, with support
Pacific export revenue returns to pre-pandemic levels
The Pacific island region’s export industry has recovered its pre-pandemic-level performance, posting a 49 percent revenue increase in 2023, which was twice the growth rate recorded in 2022, according to the 2024