Bach satisfied with Brisbane 2032 Olympics progress
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach says the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will be an event for the whole Pacific region. Bach made the statement after attending an Australian Olympic
Porgera violence ongoing, 17 dead
Seventeen people have been killed, hundreds of families were made homeless, dozens of houses razed and Papua New Guinea government services ground to a halt in Enga Province’s Porgera district as warring clans took up
Tongan Legislative Assembly to unseat members
A meeting of the Tongan Legislative Assembly will be held on 16 May to unseat two Members of Parliament from their seats, after their elections were voided by the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. The date for
Japan reaffirms Pacific regional support
Japan, Fiji and Palau share the same concerns over a security pact China recently signed with the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Sunday as he wrapped up a trip to the two Pacific island
Pacific labour mobility growth: winners and losers
One of Scott Morrison’s biggest announcements from last August’s 51st Pacific Islands Forum was to double the number of Pacific workers in Australia by March 2022 to at least 25,000. The government has come close to
Opinion: The world doesn’t care about swings in marginal seats. Climate action must spearhead a new Australian foreign policy
Late last year, more than 100 former diplomats and officials called for a new Australian foreign policy — with climate action at the centre — to help cement Australia’s future in a world rapidly shifting
Tonga: the scientific response
When the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15 this year, there were no sirens to alert the people of Tonga to the impending tsunami. Tonga disaster reduction risk expert Ana I’K M ‘Ake
Amadea seizure shows Russian oligarchs you ‘cannot hide’ says U.S. authorities
The U.S. Justice Department says the seizure of the Russian luxury yacht, the Amadea in Fiji is a lesson to anyone trying to violate U.S. laws, and that they cannot hide “even in the remotest part of the world”. The
PNG aims NRL entry to celebrate national sport
The PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has announced its ambitions to join the NRL as the competition’s 18th team in the next broadcast cycle. The decision follows the NRL’s proposal for an 18-team competition
Opinion: Global racial justice needs to be at the heart of Australian aid
The Greens’ vision for aid and development sees Australia not just contribute its fair share of Official Development Assistance (ODA), but also reimagines foreign aid, not simply as charity but as an issue of global
Fiji’s women journalists suffer verbal, physical and online harassment
Fiji: Up to two-thirds of Fijian female journalists have experienced some kind of sexual harassment, a survey released this week has revealed. The study, which was conducted by the University of the South Pacific (USP)
Pacific universities launch climate change partnership
The Fiji National University (FNU) and Monash University have today officially launched their partnership to establish the Monash-FNU Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC). The CCRC, which
Vanuatu volcano activity sparks warning
Volcanic activity at Vanuatu’s Mount Garet on Gaua Island has increased under Alert Level 2, which is the major level of unrest, reports the Vanuatu Daily Post. Observations confirmed current activity consists of
Fiji court rules U.S can seize Russian superyacht Amadea
Fiji’s high court has ruled that the U.S government can seize the ‘Amadea‘, a superyacht docked at the Fijian port of Lautoka since 13 April. The Amadea is believed to be owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a
PINA Statement to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2022
On 03 May every year, media workers here in the Pacific and across the globecome together to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics.This year, UNESCO set “Journalism Under Siege” as the theme of
Solomons tuna plant to create 5500 jobs
More than 5,500 jobs are set to be created with the construction of a major tuna processing plant in Solomon Islands says the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant, to be built
Samoa international borders to open in August
Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has announced the returning of students to school and resumption of international flights this month, although restricted to Samoan citizens travelling in for various
Former Tonga PM convicted for election bribery
Two Tonga MPs, one a former prime minister and the other a serving cabinet minister, have lost their seats in Parliament. Former PM, Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, and the minister for Internal Affairs, Sangster
Prime ministerial incumbency bias in PNG
Central to the selection of the prime minister in Papua New Guinea following a general election is Section 63 of PNG’s Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC), which was passed in 2001
World Press Freedom Day: Press freedom under digital seige
Journalists the world over face increasing digital surveillance used to hamper press freedom, promote misinformation or discredit their work. Press freedom, already in decline for 85% of the world’s population, is
Cook Islands tourism industry desperate for workers
Although travel restrictions are loosening, Cook Islands tourism operators are struggling to find staff. Pre-departure testing for international arrivals is no longer be required and direct flights from countries other
Australia election: Climate the most important security issue, say military and political leaders
As voters in Australia head to the polls on 21 May, there is increasing debate over the link between climate change and security. Capitalising on the heated debate around the China-Solomon Islands security agreement, a
Pacific Rugby League resumes Test matches
After a long spell away from the international scene, Pacific rugby league teams are set to return this June in what is planned to be a huge comeback for the international game. The confirmation comes after an agreement
Felled by its own Failures – How Australia’s inaction to reform logging in the Solomon Islands has let China in
We have watched these past few weeks as the evolving situation surrounding the Solomon Islands/China security pact has unfolded. It appears that every journalist and political commentator is suddenly an expert in the
