Tonga unprepared for deportee crisis, lacks legislation says ministry leader
Tonga is unprepared for the increasing number of deportees arriving from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, says Reverend Semisi Kava, Chaplain for the Tonga Prison Service, warning that the lack of
Coalition parties remain solid prior to Vanuatu Parliament’s first sitting
The alliance of five political parties that signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to form the next Vanuatu government remains solid, with more than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs)-elect on their side. A source
Trump directive halts Guam’s ocean wind farm initiative
President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing offshore and onshore wind development projects will put the brakes on Guam‘s renewable energy initiative proposed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Sir Julius Chan, former Papua New Guinea PM and founding father, dies at 85
One of the last of Papua New Guinea’s founding fathers and one of the country’s longest serving politicians, Sir Julius Chan, has died. Sir Julius passed away at his home in Huris, New Ireland province,
Kiribati President concludes Fiji visit
President Taneti Maamau of Kiribati left Fiji last night after a three-day state visit that saw him meet Fiji government officials and ministers, the President and visit the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. President
Questions about deadly Samoan measles outbreak raised as Kennedy faces US Senate
The deadly Samoan measles outbreak in 2019 has been raised during the confirmation hearings for Robert F Kennedy Jr in the U.S senate. Kennedy is US President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to lead the
Hundreds of Fijians, Tongans among 1.4 million facing deportation from US
A total of 151 Tongans is currently among the estimated 1.4 million people in the United States who are at risk of deportation, reports said. It comes after President Donald Trump held firm to his campaign promise of
Federal judge blocks President’s freeze, depts awaits info
American Samoa Government departments and non-profit organisations receiving federal grants are scrambling to get information from their federal grantors about how the freeze ordered by President Trump will impact local
Winston Peters regrets publicity surrounding cancelled Kiribati visit
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister regrets the publicity surrounding his cancelled diplomatic meeting in Kiribati but insists they made strong efforts to ensure it took place. Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign
2025 Vanuatu official election results: Solitary woman elected to 52-member parliament
Against all odds one woman has secured a seat in Vanuatu’s 52-member parliament. Marie Louis Paulette Milne, one of only seven women among 216 election candidates, secured 1227 votes to pip her closest rival Tony
Opinion: Deadline needed to end foreign exchange shortages in PNG
Businesses, individuals and governments have faced difficulties obtaining foreign exchange (FX) in PNG over the last decade. Over this period, businesses have frequently listed this as the top constraint they are
New Tonga PM unveils Cabinet
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, has announced a new Cabinet which includes four unelected representatives. According to the constitution, the Prime Minister can nominate no more than four unelected
Trump’s strict foreign funding freeze sparks panic among international aid groups
Internal communications reviewed by ABC News show that the Trump administration plans to strictly implement an executive order from the president mandating a 90-day freeze on almost all U.S foreign aid amid a review, a
PX, PNG Air ‘owe K150 million’
Papua New Guinea Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt says Air Niugini owes the National Airports Corporation (NAC) more than K120 million (US$29.92 million), and PNG Air owes K30 million (US$7.38
PNG Media Policy ready for enactment
The cabinet has officially given the green light to the PNG media policy, which will soon be presented to Parliament for formal enactment. Minister for Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Timothy Masiu,
Five political parties sign agreement to form the next government
Leaders of five major political parties in Vanuatu — the Leaders Party, Graon mo Jastis Party (GJP), Vanua’aku Party (VP), Iauko Group, and the Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) have come together to sign an
Reviving indigenous foodways to combat health issues in the Pacific
A discussion on Indigenous foodways and community-based approaches to healthy eating solutions has heard of the need for more significant research into the composition of local foods. Experts convened at the University
Fuel removed from Manawanui as government declares no backup for stricken ship
The initial phase of fuel removal from the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel Manawanui, which sank off the southwestern coast of Upolu in Sāmoa in October, has been completed. The HMNZS Manawanui (A09) ran aground on the
No changes to Tonga cabinet – PM
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Dr Aisake Eke, has announced that his new Cabinet will comprise the same ministers from the previous administration until his new ministers are officially appointed. Eke was officially
Vanuatu: public frustrated over political situation as after-shocks continue
Frustration is growing in Vanuatu over the snap election, with claims the government has put politics before people. Radio New Zealand reports that ballot boxes are still arriving in Port Vila and official counting is
Health and education important, not aircraft: Samoa’s PM
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has reiterated that the idea of Samoa operating its national carrier is not a government priority right now. In a statement made during Parliament deliberations on Wednesday,
Solomon Airlines to start Australia-NZ flights
Solomon Islands national carrier – Solomon Airlines – will begin operating an Auckland -Brisbane route from 21 February 2025. The airline will use an A320-200 to operate the weekly roundtrip. “While we expect
Vanuatu faces possible return to all-male parliament after snap election
Vanuatu’s only incumbent female parliamentarian has lost her seat in a snap election leaving only one-woman candidate in contention after an unofficial vote count. The unofficial counting at polling locations