Pacific leaders to identify the next PIF Secretary General soon
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) says it will continue to ‘offer an olive branch to Kiribati’ as the five-member Micronesia nation grouping prepares to name a candidate to replace Henry Puna as Secretary
U.S. nears new cooperation deals with Pacific Island nations
The Biden administration is nearing deals with two Pacific Island nations to extend ties that are considered critical to maintaining balance in the U.S-China rivalry for influence in a region where the Chinese are
FSM’s Panuelo hints March election will be his last
The President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo has informed his people, the upcoming March 2023 election will be his last, to pave the way for new and young leaders. “I will accept the will
The late Brij Lal to finally return home
After 12 years in exile, the late Professor Brij Vilash Lal is returning home to Tabia in the Fijian province of Macuata on Saturday, February 25. Funeral rituals will be held at Tabia Sanatan College from 12.30-2pm
The power of one vote: Fiji PM Rabuka
Fiji’s new Prime Minister visited parliament in his new capacity this week. “The Honourable Speaker and I were both voted into office by the power of one vote,” he reminded parliamentary staff. “When you
Tourism continues to buoy Fiji’s economy, but inflation still 5.2%
The Reserve Bank of Fiji says the country’s economy continues to buck international trends on the back of a “marked recovery in tourism.” In November 2022, more than 560,700 international visitors arrived in Fiji,
Owen soars high with Solomon Airlines
Solomon Airlines has promoted one of its female pilots to Captain the national carrier’s largest domestic aircraft – Dash 8. Lyndah Tito Owen was Dash 8 First Officer before officially receiving her Captain’s
No domestic flights in PNG today
Air Niugini has cancelled domestic flights indefinitely, citing the suspension of fuel supply by Puma Energy within Papua New Guinea. Hundreds of holiday-makers who travelled to other provinces during the Christmas
Race for PNG head of state
Papua New Guinea is on the cusp of voting in their first female Governor General (GG) after nominations for the post lapsed on Tuesday afternoon. In the running are only three familiar names. Former PNG High
FijiFirst clarifies it’s still in govt until election of PM
FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has spoken out for the first time after the result of the election was made public on Sunday – clarifying that Voreqe Bainimarama and his cabinet remain in government
New hope for explorer sitting on huge deposit in Bougainville
Enigmatic Bougainville Copper (BOC) was up as much as about 30 percent on Wednesday morning, despite no solid news. It was still up more than 20 per cent at 3pm, perhaps related to reports about the company’s
Cook Islands tourism industry faces spectre of fewer visitors
Cook Islands Tourism operators are preparing for a quiet few months, as visitor numbers drop as predicted. In November there were 10,278 visitors to the Cook Islands, a drop of about 24 per cent compared to October
FSM reiterates plea for lifting ban on Philippine labour deployment
Micronesian officials have renewed their appeal for the Philippine government to rescind its four-year-old ban on deployment of Filipino workers to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Last week, FSM Justice
Samoa Court to rule if three resigned MPs need to go back to by-elections
The three former Samoa Opposition MPs, who resigned from Human Rights Political Party (HRPP) last month, will go to court arguing the unconstitutionality of the 2019 Electoral Amendment Act that now stops them from
Alternergy says Palau battery project nearly complete
Renewable energy pioneer Alternergy on Monday said that a solar PV and battery storage project in Palau, which is expected to commence commercial operations by April 2023, was nearing completion. In a statement,
Indonesia president supports plan to scale back troops in Papua
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Monday he supports plans to scale back the presence of troops in the eastern region of Papua, where the country’s military has been accused of human rights abuses in tackling a
COP15: Historic deal to protect a third of the world’s biodiversity
Negotiators reached a landmark agreement Monday at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) to protect 30 percent of the planet’s lands, coastal areas and inland waters by 2030. The Kunming-Montreal Global
Punching above its weight, Pacific pushes for ship polluters to pay
Punching above our weight has been the statement echoed in London this week to describe the tiny Pacific’s bold push against some of the global heavyweights to have polluters (ship) pay-up for their pollution. This
Napier fishing fleet giant off to Kiribati
The biggest trawler fishing out of Napier for most of the last two decades has been sold to a partnership between the government of Kiribati and Auckland business interests. The sale was confirmed to Hawke’s Bay Today
Forum SG ‘remains confident’ in Fiji’s electoral process
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna says he remains confident in Fiji’s constitutional processes to ensure a peaceful transition towards the formation of a new government. The Secretary-General
Kiribati government looking to get flights back in the air
Kiribati’s transport boss says his ministry aims to re-establish air service connections in the Line Islands. The Minister of Information, Communication and Transport, Tekeeua Tarati, said part of the work is to
Fiji Writ of elections to be returned this afternoon
The Fijian Electoral Commission Chair Mukesh Nand says the General Election was held in a peaceful and environment. The Electoral Commission is now calculating the allocation for the 55 seats in the next Parliament.
SODELPA still pondering coalition
Fiji’s Social Democratic Party (SODELPA) has denied rumours that they have decided who they will support to form the next Fiji government. The SODELPA Party leader, Bill Gavoka, says, “It’s still very much