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
PNG Cannery may generate K1.2 billion
Papua New Guinea Government and corporate partner RD Corporation will start talks on a fish cannery which is expected to generate about K1.2 billion (US$335 million) in annual revenue, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Pacific nations gather in Samoa for first Loss and Damage dialogue
Pacific people are increasingly suffering loss and damage from superstorms breaking records each year; sea level rise eating away villages and arable land; ocean acidification dissolving our reefs; increasing sea
Thriving stock exchange eyed in PNG
Companies are not currently obliged to list on the Papua New Guinea stock exchange (PNGX), but a thriving stock exchange in the country can act as a catalyst for broader economic growth, says chairman David Lawrence. On
Too little to avert crisis, Puma Energy received US$12.7 million of foreign exchange in PNG
Puma Energy received about US$12.7 million (about K45.8 million) of foreign exchange (FX) on Friday, but this is still not enough to buy fuel needed to address the looming shortage in Papua New Guinea, the company’s
Deep-sea mining poses potential threat to tuna fishing in Eastern Pacific Ocean
Research published in the science journal Nature Ocean Sustainability has found deep-sea mining is likely to pose a threat to bigeye, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna populations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Climate change
Japan turns to livestreamed fish in Fukushima safety campaign
Japan has launched a torrent of advertising campaigns to help convince a sceptical public that releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean is safe. Details of the
New craft beer brewery Inu Hake, offering different local flavours on Niue
Ihu Hake craft beer in local flavours like honey, vanilla, coconut and pineapple offers a different taste for locals and tourists on Niue. After many years of having only imported beer on the island, a locally owned
‘Precautionary principle’ is of utmost importance to us in the Pacific: Forum Chair Brown
As controversial plan by Japan to release treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant sparked anxiety and anger at home and abroad, the ‘precautionary principle’ is of utmost importance to us in the Pacific
PNG NRL bid can wait, Build pathways first: Melbourne Storm centre Olam
Papua New Guinea should focus on developing young talent instead of bidding to be the 18th National Rugby League (NRL) franchise, says Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam. While Olam was excited about the possibility of
