Vanuatu Citizenship programme under investigation
New locks have been installed on doors at the Citizenship Office in Port Vila as the Vanuatu Government initiates an investigation into the lucrative Citizenship Programme. This was disclosed by Prime Minister Ishmael
Marstella Jack is PIANGO’s New Board Chair
The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) convened its Council after it was delayed from 2019 due to COVID-19 threats. Twenty of the 24-member country representatives of PIANGO network
Samoan weightlifters smash Oceania records
Two Samoan weightlifters have set new Oceania records at the New Zealand national championships in Mt Maunganui. Don Opeloge, who is the 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medalist in the men’s 96kg class, set three new
Bi-partisan Parliament committee to better PNG electoral process
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape wants a bi-partisan parliamentary committee to work immediately on a submission to go before cabinet next year 2023, on how to improve the country’s electoral process. With
Team Palacios-Apatang wins CNMI runoff election
The Independent tandem of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and running mate Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang defeated the Republican team of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan in the CNMI’s
‘I hope they open their ears and listen to us’: Tuvalu at INC1 Forum
Pacific delegates attending the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) to negotiate a global legally binding instrument on plastics, have embraced the opportunity to share perspectives with
The Pacific at AAC2022: Lesson learnt; voices amplified?
After a break in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Australasian Aid Conference (AAC) returns to the Australian National University today. The AAC2022 will include some livestreamed sessions which Pacific audiences can tune
Legal bodies ‘deeply concerned’ over Fiji lawyer case
International legal bodies are “deeply concerned” over the Attorney-General of Fiji’s legal pursuit against Fijian lawyer Richard K. Naidu, calling for the judiciary to uphold the Rule of Law and set aside the
Visa on arrival in PNG for Melanesian countries
Solomon Islands nationals and nationals of other Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries can now get their visa on arrival when travelling to Papua New Guinea. This came after the PNG government formally declared the
Tonga volcanic eruption reshaped Pacific seafloor
Scientists say they are stunned by what they’ve learnt about the ferocity of the Tonga volcanic eruption in January. When the underwater mountain blew its top, it sent ash and water-vapour half-way to space, and
Fiji marks first Corporate Bond Offer under new regulations
Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) last week opened a Wholesale Corporate Bond offer of F$30 million, stating it marks a major step forward in efforts to diversify the nation’s financial market. It is the first bond offer
Pacific Media Institute to host communications and democracy summit in Majuro
The Marshall Islands’ capital, Majuro, will host a first-of-its-kind Pacific summit on communications and democracy next February. Conference organiser, the Pacific Media Institute (PMI), states the summit will
500 Fijian families to sign up for parametric insurance cover
500 families in two maritime islands in Fiji will this month join the latest parametric insurance product trial, launched in October by Tower Insurance, the third local insurance provider to offer parametric insurance
A free and fair Fiji elections, NGOs urge
Fiji’s NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) is calling for free and fair elections in the upcoming December 14 elections. Members of the NGOCHR include the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC), Fiji
Powerful earthquakes hit Solomon Islands
Damaged buildings and widespread power outages have been reported in the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara, after two earthquakes occurred off the southwest coast of Guadalcanal Province on Tuesday. The first
Stop urban drift, says PNG Govt
Papua New Guinea deputy Prime Minister John Rosso says the Government is looking at re-introducing the Vagrancy Act to curb the rise in crime and lawlessness in urban centres around the country. Rosso was responding in
Why Western Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries’ certification is under threat
Approximately half of the world’s tuna catch comes from the Western Central Pacific Ocean. However, the long-term sustainability of these important stocks could be at risk if governments cannot agree joint strategies
First refugees from offshore camps arrive in New Zealand
The first refugees to come to New Zealand after spending years in offshore Australian detention camps have arrived. The group landed in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, with the Government confirming the first six
Tuvalu’s Paeniu lauds recognition of loss and damage at COP27
Tuvalu’s Minister of Finance Seve Paeniu has praised the decision by the UN climate summit in Egypt, known as COP27, to formally recognise loss and damage from climate change. The move opens the way for more
‘More smoke than fire’: China’s Pacific aid falls short of pledges
Beijing’s development spending has fallen despite efforts to build influence in the region. In 2017, Papua New Guinea’s government announced a long-awaited AUD$4.1bn (US$2.6bn) upgrade of the nation’s potholed
New Caledonia agrees to sale of controversial nickel mine
Political leaders in French overseas territory New Caledonia have agreed new terms for the sale of the Brazilian-owned Goro nickel mine. The deal gives a majority stake-holding to state entities based on the island
Solomon Islands PM assures region of a thrilling safe Pacific Games
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has assured the visiting Pacific Games 2023 Chiefs of Missions that Solomon Islands is ready to deliver one of the most thrilling and safe chapters of the Pacific Games
COP27 closes with deal on loss and damage
After days of intense negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, countries at the latest UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, reached agreement on an outcome that established a funding mechanism to compensate vulnerable nations
