IHG set to open new hotel in Palau
IHG Hotels & Resorts on Monday signed a management agreement with Palau Coral Club to open a new hotel on Malakal Island. The proposed Hotel Indigo Palau is targeted for opening either in late 2024 or early 2025.
News
Additional $252m needed to resuscitate economy, says Tonga PM
Tonga’s Prime Minister acknowledged the strong commitment of Tonga’s development partners and donors and said financial assistance is still needed to ensure a prosperous Tonga, on opening the Development
Indonesia vows restraint as troops surround rebels holding NZ pilot
Security forces in Indonesia’s restive Papua region have surrounded separatists holding captive a New Zealand pilot, but will exercise restraint while negotiations for his release continue, a top security official
UN head says high seas treaty must be ‘ambitious’
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged countries Wednesday to agree a “robust and ambitious” treaty to protect the high seas, as time starts to run out for negotiators. After 15 years of formal and informal
Kina Bank recorded net profit of K106 million last year
Papua New Guinea’s Kina Bank recorded a net profit of K106.1 million (US$30.1 million) last year — an increase of 11 percent compared to the previous corresponding period. Managing director and chief executive
CEO Alabaster exits Air Niugini
Papua New Guinea’s national airline company Air Niugini Limited’s chief executive officer Bruce Alabaster has stepped down from his position. Air Niugini chairman Sir Kostas Contantinou announced that Alabaster
Establishment of Cook Islands Human Rights Institute gains momentum
Cook Islands Ombudsman Niki Rattle has returned from a conference in Fiji with fresh ideas as the office looks to establish a Human Rights Institute for the Cook Islands. The Pacific Regional Forum on National Human
New Pacific air route lands in Palau
There is excitement in the air in Palau as the first flight of a weekly service from Australia kicks off. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr said flights connecting Brisbane to Palau through PNG began on
Suspended PNG MP Kramer found guilty for alleged misconduct
The Papua New Guinea leadership tribunal inquiring into misconduct allegations against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer today found Kramer guilty on seven of the 12 allegations of misconduct against him. Initially,
Impressive results excite new BSP boss
New BSP Financial Group chief executive officer, Mark Robinson is impressed with steady results produced by BSP Group, not just for one year but for a longer period of time. He said the result does not only reflect a
PNG, Australia sign agreement to review forestry sector
Papua New Guinea’s Forest Authority (PNGFA) has successfully signed a cooperative memorandum of understanding with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to review and reform the forestry
Ocean Summit aims to secure pledges
Experts, ministers and philanthropists from around the world are meeting in Panama this Thursday and Friday in search of funding and new commitments to promote the “blue” economy, expand marine protected areas and
K100,000 paid for trio’s release: Tsiamalili MP
A ransom of K100,000 (US$28,000) was paid to armed bandits to secure the release of Australian-based Professor Bryce Barker and two local female researchers on Sunday, says Papua New Guinea Internal Security Minister
UN sets date for loss and damage talks
The United Nations has set a date for crunch talks over funding for climate victims despite Asia-Pacific developing countries’ failure to nominate their two representatives. The move piles pressure on the block to
Cyclone Judy lashes Vanuatu as residents hunker down
Residents of Vanuatu are hunkering down as a cyclone barrels through the Pacific island nation. Authorities said there were power outages in some areas and many fallen trees and branches, but it was too early to assess
Vanuatu braces for impending Category 3 cyclone
Vanuatu is bracing for the impact of a Category 2 cyclone, which is expected to intensify to a Category 3 over the course of this week. This was confirmed by Anthony Wong, the Weather Forecaster at the Vanuatu
Drought crisis to continue in Kiribati
Kiribati’s Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) has said the current drought crisis affecting Kiribati is projected to continue in the coming months posing risks to health, sanitation and
Worry, frustration as UN tries to finally agree high seas treaty
UN member states have much work to do to finally agree a treaty to protect the high seas before scheduled negotiations close in five days, participants and observers say. After 15 years of formal and informal talks,
700 apply to be PNG teachers
Job scarcity has seen over 700 degree holders from other universities applying to the University of Goroka to become Papua New Guinea teachers so that they can have a permanent job, Vice Chancellor Dr Teng Waninga said.
Council advises President Whipps to fully protect marine sanctuary
In their 16 February 2023 letter to President Surangel Whipps Jr., Palau’s Council of Chiefs (COC) made their case on behalf of the people, that the integrity and full-protection of the territorial waters in the
Researchers held hostage in PNG released
Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said all hostages taken by a Papua New Guinean criminal gang have been released, including an Australian academic, and will be reunited with their families.
Micronesian nations join UN’s demand for Russia to leave Ukraine
Micronesian nations have joined the international community in demanding Russia’s immediate retreat from Ukraine, one year after Moscow’s invasion which resulted in a protracted war that left tens of
Free Visa access to New Caledonia soon
Vanuatu and New Caledonia are expected to reach a visa waiver agreement soon. This news comes after a meeting between Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
