K100 million allocated for PNG NRL bid support programme

The Papua New Guinea Government has allocated K100 million (US$25 million) in the 2025 National Budget to rugby league. The budget was handed down last Friday in the National Parliament. Under Volume 3A document of the

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New Zealand navy ship sank off Samoa because autopilot was left on, inquiry finds

A series of human errors caused a New Zealand navy ship HMNZS Manawanui to plough into a reef off the coast of Samoa, where it caught fire and sank, according to the preliminary findings of a military court of inquiry

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Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin to remain in mainland France jail

Pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin will remain in mainland France jail for the time being, a Court of Appeal ruled in Nouméa on Friday. This followed an earlier ruling on 22 October from the Court

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Speaker grants Tonga PM request to postpone reply to no confidence motion

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has postponed the session to table the motion for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni from 3 December to 9 December, 2024. TALANOAOTONGA reports that the

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Australia and Fiji win HSBC SVNS in Dubai

International rugby sevens returned to thrill the huge crowds at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai as Fiji men and Australia women ran out winners to take an early lead in the HSBC SVNS standings. Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift

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Opinion: Passports for sale – Lessons for Nauru and Solomon Islands from Vanuatu’s EU rebuke

Vanuatu becomes first country to ever lose EU visa-free access after golden passport scheme poses security threat. Earlier this month Vanuatu received a stinging rebuke from the European Parliament, becoming the first

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WCPFC head urges action on climate change and human rights

Rhea Moss-Christian, the executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has called for urgent action to address the impacts of climate change and human rights abuses in the fishing

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Fiji PM Rabuka urges Pacific unity, Proposes regional Tuna management bloc

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka called for a united front among Western and Central Pacific nations to manage their tuna resources, even suggesting the formation of a “tuna OPEC” to wield greater influence

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Olympic stars and fresh faces ready to kick-off HSBC SVNS in Dubai

Following the sensational, record-breaking Olympic Games competitions, the wait is over for rugby sevens fans as HSBC SVNS 2025 kicks off with the Emirates Dubai 7s on 30 November – 1 December. With interest and

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World record 225 tonnes of cocaine seized, and new Australia trafficking route uncovered

Colombian authorities working with dozens of other countries have seized 225 tonnes of cocaine in the space of six weeks, a global record for any single anti-narcotics operation, finding some of that haul on a “narco

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Cook Islands Immigration to launch new online visa and permit system

Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) has announced the upcoming launch of its new online visa and permit application system, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation of

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Climate change’s invisible toll on LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities in Fiji

“At Daulomani Safe Home, we’re fighting not just the climate but society’s prejudice,” says founder Edwina Biyau, a trans advocate and survivor of homelessness. As Fiji faces the intensifying effects of climate

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Vanuatu to launch ICJ hearings on climate and human right

It began five years ago, as an exercise amongst law students at the Emalus campus of the University of the South Pacific in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Now, in the Netherlands, the Republic of Vanuatu will open presentations

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USP’s application for interim injunction refused

The University of the South Pacific’s application for an interim injunction to halt any further action for strike by the staff unions has been refused by the Civil High Court in Suva. This is in relation to a strike

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NZ citizenship: Samoans flock to NZ High Commission

Beach Road, Apia transformed into a bustling hive of anticipation on Tuesday with an estimated 300 people visiting the New Zealand High Commission Office for the application for NZ Citizenship for Samoans born before

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Chinese trade exhibition aimed to strengthen bilateral ties with Fiji

The Chinese Embassy in Fiji hosted its first-ever trade exhibition recently, with the aim of encouraging more Chinese investors to look at business opportunities in Fiji, establish factories, establish channels of

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PNG census almost completed

Most of the counting for the Papua New Guinea National Census 2024 has been completed, according to Administrative Services Minister Richard Masere. “We have completed well over 333 local level governments (LLGs),

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Sevens a golden opportunity for Solomon Islands sport tourism

As the Solomon Islands begins final preparations for its hosting of next month’s 2024 Oceania Rugby Sevens Tournament, Tourism Solomons has described the event as yet another major opportunity for the country to show

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Opinion: How Vanuatu can return to sustainable growth after Airline bankruptcy

Vanuatu, the Pacific archipelago nation of about 350,000 people between Australia and Fiji, finds itself at a crucial crossroads. The IMF’s recent staff report on Vanuatu reveals an economy grappling with a series of

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Moment of truth for plastic treaty talks

Talks began in Busan, South Korea, on Monday aiming to clinch a legally binding deal on plastics pollution. The meeting follows two years of intergovernmental negotiations to develop a legally binding global instrument

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The Australia-Pacific COP31 bid is in limbo. What now?

Australia and Pacific Island nations had hoped to leave this year’s global climate talks in Azerbaijan having won a bid to host the COP31 summit in 2026. Instead, that decision on who will host the 31st “conference

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Zane Yoshida elected President of Australia Fiji Business Council

The Australia Fiji Business Council has elected Zane Yoshida, Founder of The Calmer Co, as it’s 15th President. His appointment, effective immediately, was confirmed at the Council’s 38th Annual General Meeting

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Taiwan says President Lai to visit Pacific allies

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit three Pacific Island nation allies from the end of this month in his first overseas trip since taking office, the presidential office said Friday. Presidential spokeswoman Karen

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COP29 climate talks end with $300 billion annual pledge, Guterres calls deal a ‘base to build on’

Rich nations pledged to contribute at least US$300 billion annually to the global fight against climate change as UN climate talks came to a contentious end early Sunday morning in Baku. UN News Center reports that

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