Whispers
Quiet diplomacy While all the China watchers and US/Australian/NZ journos were focused on the Solomon Islands elections in mid-April, PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a quick visit to Papua New Guinea. Despite renewed
Islands Business
Protecting tourism’s biggest drawcard
Pacific Island nations have joined a landmark collaboration aimed at ensuring marine-based tourism adds to, rather than undermines, conservation efforts. The initiative to develop Pacific Marine Tourism Guidelines and
West Papuans still inspired by the heritage of Arnold Ap
In 1969, Indonesia annexed the western half of the island of New Guinea, through the so-called Act of Free Choice. As Indonesian authorities began to expand legal systems and education in Bahasa Indonesia, a generation
Opinion: What’s wrong with Vanuatu’s proposed party laws?
Vanuatu is holding its first ever referendum on 29th May on two constitutional amendments designed to lessen instability on the floor of parliament. The first amendment (17A) intends to tie members of parliament (MPs)
Opinion: The falling demand of seasonal workers
Evidence over nine months to the end of February 2024 shows a declining demand for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme seasonal workers — those who used to be under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP),
Vaka carries the torch for Tonga’s soccer aspirations
Except for 1991, when they didn’t qualify, the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tonga has participated at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987. Rugby is Tonga’s most popular sport, with
Briefs
American Samoa Concerns have been raised over conditions at Tafuna Prison. Samoa News reports that a hearing of the Senate Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee heard that the buildings are unfit for human
Movers and Shakers
Appointments Sri Lankan-born Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena is the first President of the Nauru Court of Appeal since its establishment in 2018. Samoa’s Cabinet has appointed Tuaopepe Dr Cam Wendt as the new Consul for
Australia pays controversial Chinese company millions for Nauru’s new port
Amid intensifying competition in the region, Australia is bankrolling a Chinese government-backed construction company with a chequered history to build Nauru’s new port. In January, the Chinese Communist Party’s
Solomon Islands: No clear winner as lobbying to form next government intensifies
Lobbying to form Solomon Islands’ next government is intensifying. With only four more seats in the 50-member parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner. As of Monday, the two
Saipan casino buried in $165m debt but hoping to regroup and resume business
Succumbing to the pressures from its creditors, Imperial Pacific International has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S District Court for the CNMI, reporting debts totaling of US$165.8 million. Before the
Former PNG PM O’Neill cleared of UBS loan allegations
The Papua New Guinea National Court in Waigani on Friday closed criminal proceedings against Ialibu-Pangia MP and former prime minister Peter O’Neill regarding the K3billion (US$790 million) UBS loan saga for lack of
Baron Waqa negotiating – No start date for incoming Pacific Islands Forum boss yet
The incoming head of the Pacific region’s main political body is yet to sign his contract, almost six months after the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders meeting in Rarotonga. Former Nauru president, Baron
Sogavare returns for his 7th term
Caretaker Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected for his seventh tenure as the Member of Parliament for East Choiseul. The four-time Prime Minister secured his seventh parliamentary election by a total
Voter turnout reaches 50 percent, over 80 percent of seats declared
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has reported a 50 percent voter turnout so far, with the ongoing counting in Honiara. In response to SIBC’s request for updates on the voter turnout, Chief Electoral
Micronesia: Prolonged drought now impacting food and water across region
Extreme droughts in the Western Pacific region are expected to persist over the next three months. Parts of the Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are now
Samoa declares a dengue fever outbreak
After a total of 216 confirmed cases of dengue fever since November last year, the Ministry of Health, Thursday, declared a dengue fever outbreak in Samoa. Director General of Health Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma said the
More than half of Solomon Islands election results in as counting continues
More than 60 percent of the national results of the Solomon Islands election are now in. So far, two female MPs have been elected and three former prime ministers may be in the running for the top job. Counting is still
As protests grow in New Caledonia, Australia backs France’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
As the French National Assembly and Senate debate changes to New Caledonia’s electoral laws, there are protests in the streets of Noumea. On Saturday 13 April, tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of
Opinion: It’s important to acknowledge PNG’s own interests with China
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected in Papua New Guinea this weekend to sign an agreement clearing the way for PNG’s agricultural exports to enter the Chinese market. This step has already caught
PetroChina enters PNG’s hydrocarbon industry
Prime Minister James Marape announced that Papua New Guinea continues to be a prime destination for business ventures, highlighted by PetroChina International Co. Ltd’s recent entry into the nation’s hydrocarbon
Tendered ballot papers used in Wednesday’s Joint Election
More than one hundred tendered ballot papers were issued to voters by some Presiding Officers during Wednesday’s election across the country. Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi confirmed this during the
Scammers use fake Cook Islands resort to lure overseas job seekers
International scammers have created a fake Cook Islands resort to lure people looking for jobs in the tourism industry. They deceive victims into paying an upfront fee of at least $280 (US$165.90). Cook Islands News
