Huge turnout for referendum
From NETANI RIKA, Buka, Bougainville THOUSANDS of Bougainvilleans flocked to the polls today (Saturday) in a process which might lead to the creation of a new nation. At 800 polling stations – including venues in
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All eyes on island
From NETANI RIKA, Port Moresby THE eyes of the world focus on the resource-rich island of Bougainville as the territory prepares for a referendum to decide whether it becomes the world’s newest nation. Tomorrow
McGarry barred from Vanuatu
Vanuatu Daily Post journalist Dan McGarry has been stopped from re-entering the country by Vanuatu immigration officials. McGarry was until recently, the Media Director for the Daily Post. However the government earlier
Australia probes alleged exploitation of Fijian farm workers
(ABC news) This report was produced in collaboration with Islands Business, Fiji. Australian authorities are investigating whether dozens of workers from small, remote Fijian villages may be victims of labour
O’Neill matter still tied up in courts
The arrest warrant against former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill has been withdrawn by police – but the matter is still making its way through the courts. The warrant related to alleged
Police after former PM O’Neill
By Samisoni Pareti There is a standoff in Papua New Guinea today over new plans by the country’s police constabulary to arrest former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Acting Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed
Marshall Islands off EU blacklist No joy yet for American Samoa, Fiji, Samoa,Vanuatu and Guam
Reuters European Union finance ministers have agreed to remove Marshall Islands from the bloc’s lists of countries deemed to be acting as tax havens. The 28-nation EU set up a blacklist and a gray list of tax havens
P?hiva Tu‘i‘onetoa sworn in as new Tongan Prime Minister
P?hiva Tu‘i‘onetoa is officially the prime minister of Tonga. King Tupou VI signed the warrant appointing Tu‘i‘onetoa as prime minister in a swearing in ceremony at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa
FNPF members urged to buy cane farms as sugar industry struggles
Fiji’s Sugar Cane Growers’ Fund (SCGF) is calling on Fiji’s working population to buy sugar cane farms, as more farmers go out of business and defaulters plague its loans portfolio. SCGF’s chief executive
PNG-Papua border closed
By Netani Rika INDONESIA has closed its border with Papua New Guinea as violence continues in Papua. Shots were heard by Indonesian troops on Tuesday with reports of increased rebel activity in the area. The Organisasi
Is Fiji Out of the Playoffs?
By Alipate J Pareti A very poor performance by the Flying Fijians in the first spell of the game saw Uruguay claim one of the biggest upset in the Rugby World Cup 2019. The Fijians lost the game 27 points to 30..
Manu Samoa wins first game at RWC
By Alipate J Pareti Samoa became the only Pacific Island team that won its first game during the Rugby World Cup in Japan with a convincing win over Russia overnight. It won 34 to 8. It was clear though that fatigue
More Papua Students Protest
By Netani Rika PAPUAN students have staged a sit down protest after they were racially abused today. Riot police from the Mobile Brigade have cordoned off the main road in front of the university at Abepura. Students
Tuvalu Chief Judge Suspended
By Samisoni Pareti The Chief Justice of Tuvalu, Australian Queens Counsel Charles Sweeney has been suspended. In a dramatic turn of events, the new government of Tuvalu says Judge Sweeney will be investigated on
Farewell Palemia Pohiva
By Samisoni Pareti Tonga today buried the man who dared 30 years ago to take on the might and mana of the Pacific’s last surviving monarchy and got rewarded as the kingdom’s first commoner to be elected
Tuvalu’s new PM is Kausea Natano
By Samisoni Pareti Tuvalu’s new prime minister Kausea Natano is expected to name a strong cabinet lineup after defeating the incumbent Enele Sopoaga in the election for the top job in the island parliament today.
Solomon Islands cuts ties with Taiwan
(Pacnews) The Solomon Islands Government last night cut off the nation’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan. This came after Cabinet endorsed a Caucus resolution to sever the 36-year-old relationship. The decision came just
Natano gets PM nomination
By Samisoni Pareti A career civil servant and now veteran politician has been nominated for the position of Prime Minister of Tuvalu. Kausea Natano’s nomination was lodged with the office of the
Four funds to get Marshall Islands’ cryptocurrency
By Dionisia Tabureguci The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) government has released the names of four funds that will receive a certain percentage of the country’s soon to be released government backed digital
Tonga’s PM dies in Auckland
By Samantha Magick Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has passed away in Auckland. Pohiva was flown to Auckland from Nuku’alofa late yesterday, after spending two weeks in hospital in Tonga with pneumonia but
BDO report out on USP allegations
By Samantha Magick The Auckland-based accounting firm tasked with investigating allegations of mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific appears to have vindicated the University’s new Vice Chancellor, who
Tuvalu votes in new parliament
By Samisoni Pareti Lobbying for Tuvalu’s next prime minister has begun in the island capital following the completion of the country’s general elections yesterday. Whether incumbent Enele Sopoaga
Bainimarama apologises
By Samisoni Pareti “My conscience is clear,” Fijian opposition parliamentarian Pio TIkoduadua told Fiji’s Parliament before the ruling party of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama used its majority to pass a motion