CNMI seeks to address fiscal crisis
CNMI leaders on Sunday announced plans to revise the government’s current budget to address the “urgent fiscal challenges” facing the commonwealth. “While it’s not easy to share this news, I believe we
Pacific Islands Times/ Pacnews
Cook Islands migrant workers welcome High Court ruling on residency threshold
The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country’s immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is “invalid”. New Zealand passport holders only
Fiji Business Briefs: McDonald’s expansion, hotel room demand, reporting season
McDonald’s Fiji expands back-end operations Vuvale Restaurants (Fiji) Ltd, the parent company of McDonald’s Fiji, has announced a $25 million investment of a new retail and supermarket complex
Brave Reds fall to Fijian flourish in Super Rugby Women’s, Moana Pasifika fight their way to victory over Western Force
Brave Reds fall to Fijian flourish in Super Rugby Women’s The brave Queensland Reds dug deep before bowing 32-21 to the two-time champions from Fiji when Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s launched at Ballymore Stadium
Severe weather kills 23 in PNG
Twenty three persons, including a pregnant woman and seven children, died as flash floods and landslips wreaked havoc across Chimbu in Papua New Guinea last week. The tragedies, resulting from continuous heavy rains,
Corruption watchdog to probe whistleblowers’ claims
Claims whistleblowers were targeted for speaking out about a remote tuberculosis unit’s patient care have been referred to Queensland’s corruption watchdog. Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on
Former Fiji PM, suspended police commissioner found guilty
Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama was found guilty Thursday of illegally shutting down a sensitive police investigation, local media and a court official said. Bainimarama, a former military commander who
Opinion: The Rabuka government: a first-third assessment
Ice hockey is, almost uniquely, a game played over three thirds. You won’t find much ice hockey in tropical Fiji, but its speed and brutality certainly find parallels in the world of Fijian politics. The Sitiveni
Women make up just six percent of candidates for Solomon Islands election
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has revealed the number of women candidates running at the 2024 national election will be just six percent of the total number of candidates contesting, lower than the previous
No rain for three months in some of the Marshall Islands
A humanitarian operation supported by the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund was getting underway late last week in the Marshall Islands, some of whose atolls and islands are said to have had no rain this year.
Opinion: Micronesia in the Headlines
The rise of China and its role in the region is driving U.S. “re-engagement” with the island Pacific. In the case of those Micronesian states who have Compacts of Free Association with the United States (COFA), the
Historic ceasefire signed in PNG
A historic ceasefire agreement was signed last night between two warring tribes from Enga Province in Papua New Guinea that will completely end killings in Middle Lai, Aiyale and Tsaka Valley of Wapenamanda
Pacific youth to #SwipeUp4Change
Young climate activists and content creators from the Pacific are taking steps to harness the power of social media to further drive climate action in the region. Twenty young people are in Suva for a week-long workshop
Another drug bust in PNG’s capital Port Moresby: Commissioner of Police
Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning has warned of the multi-billion kina drug trade threatening security in the nation and the region, after two women, two sacked policemen and seven others were arrested
UN nuclear chief tells Japan transparency is ‘very important’ in ruined nuclear plant’s discharges
The head of the UN atomic agency on Tuesday emphasised to Japan’s government the importance of transparency in its ongoing discharges of treated radioactive wastewater at the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
Reigning Champions AS Academy Féminine clinch a dramatic win at OFC Women’s Champions League
Three goals in eight minutes has secured reigning champions AS Academy Féminine a 4-1 victory in their opening Group B match against Veitongo FC at Lawson Tama Stadium Tuesday. Playing in torrential conditions, the
Penina pioneers prove ‘Pacific women are worth investing in’
Just three matches into their existence, Penina Pasifika is fast becoming one of rugby’s great success stories. Supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme, Penina Pasifika has
Digicel Samoa cleared to offer 5G, taps Nokia for upgrades
Digicel Samoa announced on Monday that it has been granted conditional approval from the Government of Samoa to launch 5G technology, and is already working with Nokia to upgrade its cell tower sites. Digicel Samoa
PNG Census to begin in June: PM Marape
A nationwide census with the slogan “Be Counted” will begin in June, says Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. With the country approaching its 50th Independence anniversary next year, the Government plans
Opinion: Question for PNG foreign minister Tkatchenko – what does the defence pact mean for West Papua?
Papua New Guinea and Indonesia have formally ratified a defence agreement a decade after its initial signing. PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko and the Indonesian ambassador to the Pacific nation,
Micronesia drought leaves thousands desperate for food – UNICEF
Thousands of people are being impacted by drought in the Federated States of Micronesia. The four states – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – have all been experiencing drier than normal weather since
$10 million project aims to reduce single-use plastics in Cook Islands
A project to reduce the number of plastics entering the country, focused on the food and beverage sector, was discussed during a workshop in Rarotonga last week. Like other countries around the world, the Cook Islands
Crusaders condemned to worst Super Rugby start in years after Fijian Drua win
The Fijian Drua have condemned the reigning champion Canterbury Crusaders to their worst start since the first season of Super Rugby in 1996 with a 20-10 victory in front of a passionate home crowd in Lautoka. The