Vanuatu snap election: International observers arrive

There are a total of 49 regional and international observers currently in Vanuatu to monitor the running of the October 13 snap election. The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s

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Oceania Rugby men’s championship returns to PNG

The 2022 Oceania Rugby Men’s Championship will be hosted by Papua New Guinea Rugby Union at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on October 19-27, Oceania Rugby confirmed today. The tournament returns for the first time

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PNG to share vessel tracking data in new partnership

In a new partnership with Global Fishing Watch, Papua New Guinea has committed to sharing vessel tracking data from its Fishing Industry Association on the organisation’s public map. Through this agreement, PNG is

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Over 200 stranded pilot whales die on Pacific island

New Zealand’s conservation office on Tuesday said all 240 pilot whales stranded on the remote Pitt Island have died, just days after 215 whales died on a beach on nearby Chatham Island. Dave Lundquist, marine

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UNDP calls for debt relief now for 54 countries

Fifty-four countries that are home to more than half of the poorest people on the planet need urgent debt relief now, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a paper published on Tuesday that calls for rich

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Fisheries businesses off to Mauritius

Seven members of the business community across the region have been selected for a business peer-to-peer exchange programme in Mauritius this month. Pacific Islands Forum Director of Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak

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World Rugby Chairman opens home of Fijian Drua

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont Monday officially opened the Fijian Drua’s home base. The opening was done in the presence of Fijian Government leaders, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, stakeholders, sponsors,

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Losing Samoa police to seasonal work overseas: Schuster

Samoa Minister for Police & Prisons, Faualo Harry Schuster has raised concern over the loss of police officers to the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) workers scheme. Faualo told Talamua that it is an issue that

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Vanuatu Snap Election countdown

All ballot boxes are expected to be dispatched to all 18 respective constituencies in Vanuatu by today. The first dispatch of the ballot boxes occurred over the weekend for the Noumea Polling Station in New Caledonia.

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Opinion: High-stakes drama in Marshall Islands or just another day at the office?

A word of free advice: if you’re going to try to bribe legislators to create a special zone to attract at best suspicious investment, don’t do it as an officer of a non-governmental organisation you formed in the

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PNG Court orders Govt premises unlocked

The Mexican standoff over the closure of PNG government offices due to nonpayment of rentals has ended. The National Court last Friday ordered landlord Nambawan Supa Limited to remove all locks to Vulupindi Haus,

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14-try England overrun Fiji to make Women’s Rugby World Cup statement

A tricky first half did not prevent England opening their World Cup campaign with an 84-19 dismantling of Fiji at Auckland’s Eden Park, extending the tournament favourites’ winning streak to 26 matches. The match

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Marshall Islands to receive UN support over nuclear legacy

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Friday aimed at assisting the Marshall Islands in its efforts to secure justice for people suffering from the impact of the United States’ former nuclear testing

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Samoa PM says hotels’ auction a ‘hard decision’

The foreclosure of several local hotels by the Development Bank of Samoa due to ‘historical debts’ was a hard decision the Samoan Government says had to be made. The financial situation faced by the local

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PNG tops Pacific Women’s T20 comp

At the conclusion of the Pacific Women’s T20 Cricket competition yesterday, the undefeated Papua New Guinea team finished in top spot followed by hosts Vanuatu. Samoa finished in third place and Fiji in fourth. The

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Concerns raised over log exports to Malaysia

Nearly 70 percent of Papua New Guinea round log exports between 2019 and 2021 were concentrated in the hands of just ten groups of companies, all with strong links to Malaysia, according to new research by Act Now! and

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PNG Govt kicked out of premises

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape’s whirlwind four-nation tour did not end with the best homecoming he expected. He arrived home Wednesday to be greeted with news that his ministry, National Planning

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Biden Administration vows to renew Compacts with Palau, FSM and RMI

The Biden administration has committed to renewing the Compacts of Free Association, with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.   The promise of renewal of the partnership agreements from the United

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Major powers question Marshall Islands nuclear legacy bid

Nuclear powers have criticised an effort led by the Marshall Islands at the United Nations to seek help on dealing with the consequences of nuclear testing, sources following the talks involving countries including the

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PNG Chief Justice steps down from official duties

Papua New Guinea Justice Minister and Attorney, General Pila Niningi has announced that PNG Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika has stepped down from official duties for an indefinite period, as of Wednesday October 5,

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Three more NZ judges to face tribunal in Kiribati

Kiribati will put another three New Zealand judges before a tribunal for misconduct, as New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta warns of “constitutional issues” in the Pacific nation. The Kiribati government has

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Kiribati welcomes resumed airline service

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has welcomed the announcement by Nauru Airlines to resume its Island Hopper Service from October 16. This service last operated in March 2020, prior to the COVID-19 international

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Opinion: More of the same is not the answer to building influence in the Pacific

Following almost a decade of geopolitically driven “stepping up”, ‘uplifting’, ‘resetting’, and “stepping up across the board”, it appears that Western governments believe more of the same will achieve

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State debt is K51billion, says BPNG

Papua New Guinea’s total debt at the end of June was K51billion (US$14 billion), which is expected to increase to K54 billion (US$15 billion) by the end of the year, according to the Bank of PNG. The K54 billion

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