Fiji Tourism looks north
As Fiji reopens to the world, Tourism Fiji’s top priority is securing new markets. “We were very serious about what we were doing over there,” says Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill about Fiji Airways’ recent
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Economic diversification is key for Fiji
Fiji’s recovery is good; however it needs to diversify its economy said Dr Kishti Sen, ANZ Pacific Economist, during his visit to Fiji last week. “Our expectations towards the end of last year was that the tourism
Niue premier warns against falsifying travel documents
The Niue government is concerned as allegations emerge of passengers falsifying travel application requirements while the Health Department continues investigations into the origin of the index case of the current
PNG facing downgrade, says Popoitai
Frustrated by the lack of prosecution of financially-motivated crime cases, Bank of PNG has warned that the country’s global standing and cost of banking could be affected as a result. Bank of Papua New Guinea acting
PNG proposed carbon credit law queried
Hiri-Koiari MP Keith Iduhu has asked in Papua New Guinea Parliament for an update on a proposed amendment by the Forestry Authority to include forestry produce under its authority. This would include classifying carbon
Fisheries important to recover Pacific economies
Pacific Fisheries Ministers have identified maximising value from their fisheries as key to supporting the economic recovery from COVID-19. This was raised by delegates at the annual 19th Forum Fisheries Committee
PNGDF probe shooting in PNG waters
Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force has set the terms of reference to start off internal investigations into the shooting of an Indonesian fisherman in PNG waters allegedly by soldiers last week following the
Air Vanuatu confirms interim plan with lessor to safeguard 737
The national airline Air Vanuatu has confirmed that its Boeing 737 is at risk of repossession by its lessor. Air Vanuatu owed USD$8 million lease payments to American Leasing Company (ALC), which is approximately VT897
PNG remain neutral with issues in the APEC region: Marape
Papua New Guineans will not be caught up in the fight between the Eastern and Western countries but will maintain its stand on being friends to all and enemy to none. Prime Minister, James Marape made this known when
PNG to likely join NRL by 2025: Hill
Australia’s Foreign Ministry is working with PNG Sports executives to get the NRL bid up and running. Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong said this when appearing at NBC National Radio. She said
PNG youth carrying weapons ‘becoming a norm’
The rise in the use of a newly invented weapon called the wire-catapult or “silencer” is a big concern for East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea, says East Sepik Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent
PNG negotiates security pact with Australia
Papua New Guinea’s new Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has revealed his country is moving to negotiate a security treaty with Australia — and potentially New Zealand — in a move that could have far-reaching
Air Vanuatu YJ-AV12 twin-otter repossessed
Air Vanuatu’s YJ-AV12 twin-otter has been redelivered to Hevilift, a Papua New Guinea based Aviation Service Business which owns the aircraft, last week. A reliable source confirmed the aircraft was repossessed
Roch Wamytan re-elected President of New Caledonia Congress
Pro-independence leader Roch Wamytan has been re-elected President of the Congress of New Caledonia. It is Wamytan’s fourth successive term in this position. He received 29 votes in favour of his re-election and
PNG Election ‘severely flawed’, report shows
Transparency International PNG has described the accumulated failures in the preparation, conduct, delivery and conclusion of the 2022 PNG General Election as being a severely flawed process. TIPNG in its preliminary
West Papua: conflict continues, Indonesian soldiers arrested
Six Indonesian soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of killing and mutilating four indigenous Papuans. The soldiers are accused of luring their victims to a meeting with the promise of selling them weapons.
Former Fiji opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy dies
Former Fiji leader of the opposition, judge and political trailblazer, Jai Ram Reddy has died. Reddy, 85, passed away in Auckland on Monday night. He was born in Lautoka in 1937 and had a long and illustrious career as
Indonesian fishing boat captain shooting in PNG to be investigated
Indonesia has lodged a diplomatic protest with Papua New Guinea after the alleged shooting of an Indonesian fishing boat captain last week. Indonesian Ambassador to PNG, Adriana Suprandy confirmed this last night and
Pacific fisheries observers deployment to resume in January 2023
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) said that it will lift the moratorium on the fisheries observer coverage in the region by January 2023. In a Circular Memo in June, WCPFC stated that the
Kina Bank PNG announced a K45.6 million profit
Papua New Guinea’s Kina Bank has announced a K45.6 million (US$12.9 million) net profit after tax, as of August 29, 2022. The Board said that this is an increase of 15%, compared to the prior corresponding period
Opinion: Solomon Islands, a blueprint to stop a cycle of strife
Allowing more power for the provinces under a decentralised system of governance will be a step towards stability. In November last year, Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara erupted into three days of riots, resulting in
Kiribati govt labels NZ judges ‘very biased’ over Lambourne case
Three New Zealand judges have been branded “very biased” by the Kiribati government, after a dramatic attempt to deport a fellow judge failed. In July, Kiribati suspended Judge Bill Hastings, a New Zealand judge
USP Emalus Campus to resolve internet problem
The Director of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Emalus Campus, Dr Andrew McKenzie, believes that a stable and effective contract with the Vanuatu government is the way forward to avoid the ongoing internet