Macron begins Melanesia tour in New Caledonia
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun his five-day visit to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, outlining his “economic, environmental and geopolitical program.” Arriving at Tontouta airport in New
Opinion: Geopolitical competition and Solomon Islands: navigating the middle ground
Geopolitical competition can have adverse impact on third-party countries. We are seeing this in Solomon Islands, where domestic political discourses – at least in Honiara and on social media – are dominated by the
Congress prodded to finalise Compact package for freely associated states
Defence officials and territorial delegates have pressed both houses of Congress to tie up the proposed new economic packages under the Compacts of Free Association, noting the freely associated states’ critical role
U.S.-China competition: Blinken heading to NZ, Tonga, Australia
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Pacific this week – his third foray to the region – to discuss security co-operation with New Zealand and Australia. The State Department said Blinken
Pacific workers in Tasmania, Queensland in limbo as large employer quits PALM scheme
More than 200 Pacific workers have been left in limbo after their employer Linx Employment agreed to end its participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme amid worker treatment investigations. The
Nations aim to ink deep sea mining rules by 2025
The International Seabed Authority’s member nations on Friday agreed on a two-year roadmap for the adoption of deep sea mining regulations, despite conservationists’ calls for a moratorium on mineral
Fiji withstand Tongan comeback
The Fiji Water Flying Fijians successfully defend their home ground against a strong Tonga Ikale Tahi team 36-20 in a fully-packed Churchill Park this past weekend. Tonga was coming off an impressive win against
Opinion: Vital to protect pro-Israel UN votes from Pacific nations
It is no secret that Israel is disproportionately singled out at the United Nations. Last year, the General Assembly approved 15 anti-Israel resolutions. That was two more than all of the other resolutions criticising
China-backed AIIB secures World Bank deal
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Beijing’s answer to the World Bank, has approved one of its highest-profile international partnerships, just weeks after it was accused of being infiltrated by China’s
Morrison government struck secret deal to pay PNG to take refugees and asylum seekers
The Australian government is refusing to say how much it is paying to Papua New Guinea in a secret agreement to hold about 75 refugees and asylum seekers in Port Moresby. The Guardian reports that parliamentary
Tasmanian fruit pickers rescued from Samoa, Vanuatu and PNG alleged “modern slavery”
Tasmanian fruit pickers have been rescued from a company that has been treating them as ‘modern slaves’, unions say. The Australian federal government has revoked the business license of Linx Employment, leading to
Failed Palau Media Deal reveals inner workings of China’s Pacific influence effort
For years, Moses Uludong has been a lonely voice pushing the small, strategically located Pacific island nation of Palau towards closer relations with China, says the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries
Pacific Islands nations, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are considering forming defence forces and have discussed the matter with Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday. Security partnerships in the
Palau president says U.S. ‘reactivating’ WWII airstrips in country
The president of Palau said the U.S. military is “reactivating” Palauan airstrips built by the Japanese during World War II, after being asked at a speaking event on Monday if America would have full access to his
Porgera gold mine reopening date set
Barrick Gold Corporation and the Papua New Guinea Government expect the Porgera gold mine to reopen in September, according to Barrick chief executive officer Mark Bristow. Bristow met with Prime Minister James Marape
One million blown away by Fiji’s ‘epic’ training method for Wales World Cup match
A lot has been said about the gruelling nature of Wales’ World Cup training camps so far, and Fiji have certainly shown they are not messing about either. Wales’ first World Cup opponents at this
French President to visit Melanesian nations
In an unprecedented tour, French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea next week, after holding discussions in New Caledonia on the political future of the French Pacific dependency. The
Bougainvilleans urged to evacuate after eruption at Mt Bagana
The government in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous Bougainville (ABG) region has issued a stage three alert seven days after Mt Bagana began a mild eruption. The government said on Monday there has been a significant
Marshall Islands seeks U.S. apology, compensation for nuclear tests damage
The Marshall Islands on Tuesday called on Washington to pay “full” compensation for the health, environmental and cultural damage caused by 67 nuclear tests carried out by the American government, refusing to accept
Rendering Nauru safe: ADF
A team of Australian Army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists are working with authorities in Nauru to render safe an unexploded 500lb bomb. The 20th EOD Squadron is operating Under Operation Render Safe, the
Nauru declared State of Disaster
Nauru’s Acting President Martin Hunt has revoked the declaration of state of disaster for Aiwo District but declared a state of disaster for the whole of Nauru for the management of the impacts of the UXO bomb. On
World Rugby Sevens Series rebranded as SVNS with new relegation format
HSBC SVNS, World Rugby’s revamped and rebranded global celebration of rugby sevens across eight iconic cities has been launched as a rugby event, festival and a must-attend experience set in some of the world’s most
Tonga Domestic submarine cable repair completed
Tonga’s domestic submarine cable system connecting Vavaú and Haápai Islands has been successfully repaired and restored for service, effective from Wednesday, 12 July This follows damage it suffered during the