Tongan island community to rebuild on ‘Eua
The island community of Mango in Ha’apai, Tonga who were affected by the tsunamis and volcano eruption on 15 January will have their homes rebuilt on the outer island of ‘Eua. ‘Eua is a high raised island in the
Australia, NZ and the PICs: a new era for PACER?
By Dr Wadan Narsey Australia has been jolted out of its self-declared “vuvale” (family) complacency in its relations to the Pacific. Following the recent political fall-out in Australia because of the
CNMI Governor Ralph Torres acquitted by Senate
Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) Governor Ralph Torres has been acquitted of all the charges filed against him by the Democrat-Independent-led House of Representatives in six articles of impeachment. The
PNG Commission sets poll timeline
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has announced that nominations for the 2022 PNG General Elections will be accepted from today, Thursday 19 May, and counting will be carried out in tandem with
U.S seeks to hasten Compact negotiations with Palau
The United States has expressed keen interest in expediting Compact negotiations with Palau, reported Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr after his visit to Washington DC earlier this month. President Whipps met with
Puma Energy PNG face foreign currency issues
Puma Energy PNG cannot possibly sustain its business if the foreign exchange (FX) issues remain unresolved, its country manager Hulala Tokome warned. “With the cost of crude, we cannot continue to sustain our business
Opinion: What do the stats tell us about the impacts of COVID-19 on Pacific economies – Q4 2021
Key economic indicators from the final quarter of 2021 indicate an uneven recovery for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) economies from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new paper from the Pacific
Australia and next steps in the Pacific
Dr Anthony Bergin and Jeffrey Wall The Solomon Islands security agreement with China is a significant setback for Australia and the region. In barely three years Solomon Islands has gone from supporting Taiwan
PNG PM Marape calls for full investigation into deputy PM fatal accident
Papua New Guinea Police have been tasked to furnish a full investigation report on the death of Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil and his bodyguard, first constable Neil Maino. Prime Minister James Marape told Basil’s
Gomes concerned about China’s advance in Melanesia
New Caledonia’s outgoing member of the French National Assembly, Philippe Gomes, has expressed concern about China’s position in the Pacific, saying Beijing has already colonised Vanuatu. Philippe Gomes, who
New era for women’s representation in Samoa
A new era has dawned in Samoa with the swearing-in of three women MPs, taking the number of women in the Legislative Assembly to seven. The swearing-in follows a court ruling issued by Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa
Healthy turnout expected for Pacific Mini Games
A total of 1034 athletes from 20 Pacific nations and territories are due to compete in the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas next month. The Pacific Mini Games were originally due to be held in May – June
French Polynesia hosts Blue Climate Summit this week
Global leaders including the Pacific Oceans Commissioner and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna, and the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are in French Polynesia this week for the Blue Climate
Tonga may be forced to dissolve parliament
Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei has become the third cabinet minister in a space of a week to lose his Parliamentary seat following a Supreme Court ruling on Friday morning in Nuku’alofa. Poasi Tei
Mobile service providers in PNG sign agreements
Vodafone Papua New Guinea has signed agreements with Digicel PNG and Telikom to ensure interconnection with the two networks, National Information and Communications Technology (NICTA) chief executive officer Kila
Vanuatu Govt halts vaccine protest march
The Vanuatu Government has pulled the plug on a planned march yesterday in Port Vila to protest the rules around COVID-19 vaccines, specifically vaccination of children. The protestors, involving church and youth
Drua and Moana Pasifika play for Pacific pride
It’s finally going to happen! After 13 intense rounds of Super Rugby Pasifika competition, and playing against some of the world’s best teams – the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will now face each other in what
PNG deputy PM dies in car accident
Papua New Guinea deputy Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo Open, Samuel Basil has passed away in a car accident at Wau-Bulolo Highway Wednesday night. “It is confirmed that Samuel Basil the Deputy Prime Minister,
Fiji Tourism Expo: ‘the eyes of the world are on this industry like never before’ says President
“Is it a wedding,” asked two curious guests as they watched several hundred people walk through the grounds of the Sheraton Resort to the beachfront last night. It was not nuptials, but the opening of the Fiji
China Foreign Minister likely to visit Solomons
Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi is likely to visit the Solomon Islands in coming weeks. A senior Solomon Islands government source told the ABC that preparations had begun for Wang to visit the
PIFS: Japan assures no discharge of treated wastewater if unsafe
Japan’s plans to discharge treated Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean was the focus of discussions between Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna and Japan’s Minister for
NASA finds Tonga volcano effects reached space
New scientific data from NASA has found that effects of the January 15 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano reached space. Analysing data from NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission and ESA’s
PNG Government approves new bank
The PNG Government has approved the Peoples Micro Bank Limited to be a full-fledged commercial bank, Papua New Guinea State Enterprises Minister William Duma says. “This means the bank and Kumul Consolidated Holdings
