PNG’s election a violent event
Bitter experience should have been a warning that elections need to be properly planned and administered. Violence is a mainstay of Papua New Guinea’s elections. As I write this article, tensions are high in the PNG
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Palau’s microplastic crisis, study shows
A new study conducted by marine scientists found plastic waste has polluted islands, reefs and beaches of the island nation of Palau. Researchers from the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and the Center
First COVID outbreak in FSM ‘causing alarm’
Micronesia’s first outbreak of COVID-19 grew in one week to more than 1,000 cases by Tuesday, causing alarm in the Pacific island nation. Last week, FSM became possibly the final nation in the world with a
Palau’s new tax law to cause ‘substantial impact’: Kyota
The Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) has expressed concerns on the country’s new tax law on goods and services. PPUC says the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST), going into effect on January 1, 2023,
“I thought there was a war happening”
A tsunami that swept over the Lauan island of Moce following a volcanic eruption in Tonga in January left villagers in wonder. As Nasau villager Cama Uluilakeba said: "At first I thought there was a war happening when I
PNG capital on high alert after brutal election violence
Residents of Papua New Guinea’s capital were told to stay home and troops were deployed to its streets on Monday, after a brutal election-related attack hospitalised two people. One victim sustained a traumatic
Grace Road expands while police investigation remains open
(OCCRP) Grace Road Church believes a nuclear-tinged Judgment Day is rapidly approaching — and that Fiji is the post-apocalyptic promised land from which they’ll feed humanity. But despite repeated accusations of
Regional airlines “in the dark” on Fiji’s new airport management deal
The Fiji Government’s controversial decision to award the management contract for Airports Fiji Ltd (AFL) to its national airline, Fiji Airways, has intensified fears that a “conflict of interest”
Citizens should cast their vote without fear of violence: PNG Police
Running in a pack, armed supporters with bush knives, iron bars and other weapons chased down and attacked two men outside the counting centre at Papua New Guinea’s Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby Sunday
Marshall Islands celebrates new Iroojlaplap
Thousands of Marshall Islanders gathered on Ebeye Island last week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century. The gala coronation for Iroojlaplap or paramount chief Michael Kabua featured
COVID cases ‘rapidly increasing’ in FSM
Less than a week after the first COVID-19 community cases were reported in the Federated States of Micronesia, the country’s vice president has been hospitalised with the virus and hundreds of cases were being
Solomon Airlines announces code-share service with Air Niugini
Solomon Airlines has announced its code-share flight services with Air Niugini between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea will recommence next month. In a statement, Solomon Airlines announced the service which will
Vanuatu elects Vurobaravu as president
Nikenike Vurobaravu has been voted the 12th President of Vanuatu. It took eight rounds of voting by the 58-member Electoral College before he secured the required minimum number of 38 on Saturday. In the end, he got a
U.S. delegation to visit Solomon Islands
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, and U.S. ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, plan to visit the Solomon Islands next month, where their fathers fought in World War Two, and the United States is
Early voting in Cook Islands
With nine days left until the General Election on Monday, 1 August, 174 people have already exercised their right to vote, says Cook Islands chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua. Tangimetua said a lot of the votes
PNG price rises
The prices of goods and services in Papua New Guinea have continued to increase since the second quarter of 2021, according to the Bank South Pacific (BSP) Financial Group Ltd. The consumer price index (CPI) rating is
Porgera massacre shocks PNG
The district hospital in Porgera, Enga remains closed after a brutal massacre in Porgera town Tuesday afternoon in which 18 people were killed. The massacre has rocked Enga province and shocked Papua New Guinea.
Fiji is fully booked until October
Fiji’s 13,000 hotel room- inventory is fully booked until October, signalling a strong post-COVID comeback for the tourism sector. Speaking at a Reserve Bank of Fiji-organised post-budget discussion, Fiji Hotel
Palau Congress paves way for Blue Prosperity funding
Members of the Olbiil Era Keluau Monday adopted amendments to the supplemental budget to pave way for the Blue Prosperity funding assistance, while Palau Congress gave approval to the marine spatial planning. The new
Cook Islands: 5m waves expected, tourists urged to delay travel
A Cook Islands tourism operator is advising New Zealand travellers to consider putting off their travel as waves of up to 5 metres are expected. Last week, the south coast of the Cook Islands was hit by 4.5m waves which
No PNG election will be deemed as failed without evidence: Sinai
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says no election will be deemed as failed unless a full report is given by security and electoral staff in the five electorates that have faced issues in the past
PNG election update: Seats declared, election violence
The ruling Pangu Pati has drawn first blood in the PNG General Elections 2022 with its leader and deputy leader retaining their seats on first count alone. Pangu has a head start with four MPs, James Marape (Tari Pori);
Vanuatu seasonal workers speak out on mistreatment
A group of Vanuatu seasonal workers in Australia who absconded from their farms have come out to shed light on their working conditions. While they say they regret that their actions have tarnished Vanuatu’s effort in
