Vaccinations low in PNG: UN
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says there has been a decline in children’s immunisation in Papua New Guinea over the last two years. UNICEF PNG representative Dr Claudes Kamenga reported this during the
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Samoa at high risk debt distress: IMF
A new debt sustainability analysis (DSA) prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Staff has shown that Samoa remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress, unchanged from the
Pacific island countries are working to address mobility and sustainable transport
During the initial session of the 5th Pacific Regional Energy Transport Ministerial Meeting held at Le Lagon in Port Vila Monday, representatives from various countries shared their concerns and challenges with regards
Inadequate evidence to revoke Gupta’s brothers’ Vanuatu Citizenship: Commission
Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission has confirmed that corruption-accused fugitive Gupta brothers – Atul and Rajesh — are citizens of Vanuatu and there is inadequate evidence to cancel their Vanuatu citizenship
Samoa visitor arrivals returning to pre-pandemic levels
Visitors to Samoa’s shores in the first quarter of 2023 totaled over 30,000 with data released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) showing arrivals beginning to get to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
Progress on PALM worker proposal for shearing industry
Pacific islands workers could be working in Australian sheds this Spring if negotiations with the Federal Government and industry groups can be finalised to allow training to start in August. Long-time Pacific Australia
Researcher examines criminal deportations to the Cook Islands
Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) last week hosted assisting researcher Henrietta McNeill, a PhD Candidate with the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU)
New dates for stalled Micronesian Games announced
The twice-delayed Micronesian Games will now be held from 15-24 June, 2024 in Majuro, Marshall Islands. The Micronesian Games Council said the new dates for the quadrennial event was decided following a special virtual
Employers say contract workers abandoning contracts; Using Palau as stepping stone to getting U.S. visas
Several employers in Palau complain that many foreign workers have abandoned their contracts in Palau after getting visas to the United States from the U.S. Embassy in Palau. They claim that obtaining U.S. visas from
IAEA Task Force issues new report on regulatory aspects of Fukushima water discharge
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Task Force assessing the safety of Japan’s planned discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has issued its latest report. The report
WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency
The head of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. “Last
Guam to compete with other states for Compact impact funds
The distribution of migrants from the freely associated states has shifted since 2003, with more than half of the total number now spread out across the mainland U.S., the Department of the Interior said in a bid to
PIF secretariat rues being left out of regional dialogue
The Pacific’s premier regional body, the Pacific Islands Forum, is concerned that it is being left on the sidelines of a regional dialogue between India and Pacific island countries in Papua New Guinea later this
Moana Pasifika denied upset by last-second Blues penalty try
Moana Pasifka were denied their biggest scalp in Super Rugby Pacific after the Blues scored a late penalty try to win 31-30 in a dramatic finish at Eden Park. Following nine straight losses, Moana Pasifika were pipped
Fijiana Drua claim back-to-back Super W titles after defeating Reds
The Fijiana Drua have claimed back-to-back Super W titles with a 38-30 win over the Queensland Reds in Townsville. The Reds had claimed their previous match-up a fortnight ago with a second-half blitz. However, the Drua
Death of a newspaper
The closure of New Caledonia’s only daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes highlights the commercial and political challenges facing media across the Pacific. The death of a newspaper strikes hard — and not
Drua tame the Hurricanes at home
It was another Super Rugby Pacific thriller this weekend as the Fijian Drua tamed the Wellington Hurricanes at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, winning 27 – 24. Driven by the loud cheers of their home crowd, the Drua
Heleina Young, the track sprinter turned try express in Super W
The flying feet of the Queensland Reds’ instant star Heleina Young had lived a lifetime in rugby but never a proper game of 15-a-side until 12 months ago. The astonishing rise of the former track sprinter from Suva
Australia to increase funding in the Pacific
A wide-ranging Pacific assistance package covering environmental, military, and economic support for Australia’s closest neighbours will be unveiled in Tuesday’s budget, as the Albanese government moves to
PNG Trade office in China eyed
China will be one of eight countries where Papua New Guinea will establish trade missions, Papua New Guinea’s Trade minister says. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said this following a recent
Shipping lobby group advises caution on climate targets
An influential shipping industry group has quietly warned shippers to think carefully before they sign up for a new plan to reduce pollution and eventually eliminate their contribution to climate change. The
Samoa in press freedom’s top 20
Samoa has jumped into the top 20 in the latest press freedom index released by the global group Reporters Without Borders out of 180 countries and territories assessed. It is one of only two Pacific nations in the top
Trade fragmentation risks 5% GDP reduction, WTO warns
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) warns members, including Fiji and the Pacific, of the risks of trade fragmentation. The WTO forecasts that fragmentation will likely reduce long-term global Gross Domestic Product
