‘It’s good to be back’ – Tonga border reopens
With hugs and tears, families were reunited at Tonga’s Fua’amotu International Airport, after arriving on an Air New Zealand, the first flight as Tonga re-opened its international border on Monday. Most of
No Fiji-China security pact, Rabuka says
People’s Alliance leader hoping to return as Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, has ruled out a security pact with China if he wins government, saying it was time his country returned to its “comfortable
U.S. Senate Bill to establish embassies in the Pacific
A bipartisan group of senators will introduce legislation to establish three new embassies in the Pacific Islands region to strengthen America’s relationships there and counter China’s growing influence. The
Fiji software firm earns US$50k for fintech devt
Fiji software services provider IT Galax was one of five winning fintech companies in a competition to improve fintech infrastructure in the Pacific Islands, in Singapore last week. The Pacific Islands Fintech
Marianas octopus lures, oldest in the Pacific, study shows
An archaeological study has determined that cowrie-shell artifacts found throughout the Mariana Islands were lures used for hunting octopuses and that the devices, similar versions of which have been found on islands
Poll finds Brown as Cook Islands ‘preferred PM’
A poll conducted by Cook Islands News has revealed a divided electorate in the lead-up to today’s election, however a large percentage prefer Prime Minister Mark Brown to lead the country. According to the
PNG football plea for peace back home
In light of the recent political upheaval in Papua New Guinea, PNG Football Association president and OFC vice president John Kapi Natto has conveyed sympathy to those who lost loved ones in the election related
IFC to provide 3000 homes in Fiji
A housing project in Fiji is in progress to provide affordable, climate-resilient homes for 3,000 low and middle-income families says the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The IFC is the lead transaction advisor
Blame PNG Election Commission for chaos
Re-elected Papua New Guinea MP Tim Masiu says much of the blame for the country’s election fiasco can be directed at the Electoral Commission. The Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae has accepted a recommendation from
Commonwealth Games Update
As the Commonwealth Games begin, teams from the Pacific Islands are settling into their accommodation in the Birmingham 2022 Games village and are preparing to compete for the next 12 days. It’s a very long way from
Rugby 7s to light up Birmingham 2022
As the clock winds down to the grand opening of the Commonwealth Games 2022, the ever-growing sport of Rugby Sevens will be expecting to light up the stadium with some of the world’s best teams scheduled to take part
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
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
