Dropouts declining, but education challenges remain
Analysis of 2021 data on student retention and attrition of students indicates that student dropouts are gradually decreasing in the region. Data collected by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
The growing impact of technology on education
Technology has had an increasingly significant impact on the education sector, with mobile phone technology upscaling the delivery and accessibility of education in the Pacific, and the growth of artificial intelligence
Pacific women and online abuse
Fijian women are bearing the brunt of online abuse, says the country’s Online Safety Commission (OSC). The OSC says 61.44% of Fijian women experience this form of violence while men account for 38.56%. Facebook
Opinion: The standoff between Tonga’s King and government
Tonga: Early last week, the Secretary of Tonga’s Privy Council wrote to the Chief Secretary (Secretary to Cabinet and to the Prime Minister), saying: “I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty in Council’s
Eroni Leilua, the Samoan Olympian
Having qualified for his second Olympic Games in Paris this year, Samoa’s sailing champion Eroni Leilua recalls how it all started for him while growing up in the village of Vaivase Uta in Upolu, Samoa. “Growing up
Lifting through his struggles: Taniela Rainibogi
Fiji’s new-found weightlifting sensation, Taniela Rainibogi, is powering his way to becoming one of the biggest names in Pacific sports, after becoming the first weightlifter from his country to win a medal in a
Briefs
American Samoa American Samoa’s government has passed a bill that will prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers, with fines of up to US$1000 for its importing, sale, and use. In 2019, a bill was drafted to
Movers and Shakers
Si'alei Van Toor is New Zealand's new High Commissioner to Samoa. She is the first person of Samoan heritage to take up the role and is accredited as New Zealand's Consul-General to American Samoa. Elizabeth Genia
Samoa dealing with ‘taro trouble’
Taro, a Samoan staple food, has been on the decline for the last few years and as a result the prices have soared and supply to the local markets has dropped. This has also seen many Samoans consume less of the healthy
Plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals
Plastic producers have known for more than 30 years that recycling is not an economically or technically feasible plastic waste management solution. That has not stopped them from promoting it, according to a new
Stop fuel supply notice to affect PNG Air flight
The stop fuel supply notice by Puma Energy has now posed an imposition to business and communities traveling on the PNG Air Network. PNG Air in a statement said that under the circumstances PNG Air has assessed that the
Bank boss paints positive picture of PNG prospects
Kina Bank plans to invest over K30 million (US$7.9 million) this year to expand and refine its services with a focus on improving Papua New Guinea customer service, says Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,
Call for King to ‘urgently’ refine Tonga democracy
Tongan Democrats in New Zealand have called on the King to urgently refine what they describe as the country’s fragile democracy. They said the memorandum King Tupou VI sent withdrawing his consent to the appointment
Opinion: Science says Tuvalu will drown within decades; the reality is worse
Tuvalu, a picturesque island nation nestled in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, is currently grappling with a relentless onslaught of storm surges and towering waves, wreaking havoc on coastal communities. While
Country must never face repeat of civil unrest: PNG Business Council
Papua New Guinea Business Council President, Susil Nelson-Kongoi says there should not be a repeat of the 10 January civil unrest in Port Moresby and around the country. She told the Prime Minister’s back-to-business
Australian Defence Chief unaware of Commander Naliva’s torture allegation
Australia’s Defence Force Chief was unaware a Fijian officer who became a Deputy Commander of 3000 troops was alleged to have committed torture. Colonel Penioni Naliva was appointed the Deputy Commander of the 7th
U.S. Senate fails to add Compact Funds to aid package
A last-minute bipartisan effort to add key funding aimed at countering China in the Pacific has failed in the U.S. Senate even as a US$95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan moved forward. A renewal of
O.U.R. Party unveils five key policy priorities: Solomon Islands Caretaker PM Sogavare
Solomon Islands Parliamentary leader of O.U.R. Party and caretaker Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has unveiled the five key policy priorities of the party during the launching of the party’s manifesto. The
PNG PM Marape addresses Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion with confidence
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has openly welcomed the Opposition’s motion for a vote-of-no-confidence against him. This announcement came after the Acting Speaker, Konie Iguan, briefed Parliament
Complaints mount at PNG ‘care centers’ for volcano displaced
Several thousand people remain in limbo three months after the eruption of Papua New Guinea’s Mt Ulawun, living at muddy camps euphemistically named “care centres” by authorities, and increasingly unhappy about
Russian oligarch’s seized yacht costs $7 million a year to maintain, U.S says
The U.S government said it is spending more than US$7 million a year to maintain a superyacht it seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, and urged a judge to let it auction the vessel before a dispute over its
Huge pay rise for Solomons politicians
Members of Parliament in Solomon Islands are due to receive a huge pay rise this year despite the nation’s precarious state of the economy and poor government service delivery. The pay increase was published in a
PNG PM Marape describes challenge as ‘frivolous’ and ‘opportunistic’
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has described planned attempts to challenge his government in a vote of no confidence motion as “frivolous and opportunistic”. The traditional 18-month grace period that
Japan Foreign Minister assures Pacific nations of ALPS treated water discharge compliance
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has reassured her Pacific counterparts the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean last year
