O.U.R. Party unveils five key policy priorities: Solomon Islands Caretaker PM Sogavare
Solomon Islands Parliamentary leader of O.U.R. Party and caretaker Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has unveiled the five key policy priorities of the party during the launching of the party’s manifesto. The
PNG PM Marape addresses Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion with confidence
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has openly welcomed the Opposition’s motion for a vote-of-no-confidence against him. This announcement came after the Acting Speaker, Konie Iguan, briefed Parliament
Complaints mount at PNG ‘care centers’ for volcano displaced
Several thousand people remain in limbo three months after the eruption of Papua New Guinea’s Mt Ulawun, living at muddy camps euphemistically named “care centres” by authorities, and increasingly unhappy about
Russian oligarch’s seized yacht costs $7 million a year to maintain, U.S says
The U.S government said it is spending more than US$7 million a year to maintain a superyacht it seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, and urged a judge to let it auction the vessel before a dispute over its
Huge pay rise for Solomons politicians
Members of Parliament in Solomon Islands are due to receive a huge pay rise this year despite the nation’s precarious state of the economy and poor government service delivery. The pay increase was published in a
PNG PM Marape describes challenge as ‘frivolous’ and ‘opportunistic’
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has described planned attempts to challenge his government in a vote of no confidence motion as “frivolous and opportunistic”. The traditional 18-month grace period that
Japan Foreign Minister assures Pacific nations of ALPS treated water discharge compliance
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has reassured her Pacific counterparts the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean last year
Cook Islands Foreign Minister urges global recognition of regional priorities
Cook Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, Tingika Elikana, Monday highlighted the need to drive discussions on regional priorities and forge inter-regional cooperation essential for global acknowledgment of these
Joseph Lelang resigns as PNG Opposition Leader
Joseph Lelang has resigned as Papua New Guinea Leader of the Opposition and also as a member of the People’s National Congress party. This shocking announcement comes after Lelang received huge backlash from the
Pacific Islands push for more university students in Australia
Going to university in Australia could become simpler for Pacific Islanders if they are considered domestic students. The high commissioner for Samoa, Hinauri Petana, told federal politicians the crippling cost of
Niue facing more power rationing
The Niue government says in recent weeks, power use has surged by up a third and more rationing is possible. Issues with the generators which left the island without power for a week were fully overcome by last
Disciplinary charges for 50 PNG Police officers involved in black Wednesday civil unrest
Fifty police personnel allegedly involved in the 10 January civil unrest in Port Moresby will be facing disciplinary charges, says Papua New Guinea police commissioner David Manning. The decision was based on an
Fiji Outsourcing conference set for June
Hopes for expansion of FJ$216m industry Fiji is gearing up to host its first in-country outsourcing event, the Exploring Outsourcing in Fiji conference (EXO Fiji) in June. While Outsource Fiji has previously
Fiji Business Briefs: Ministry name change, medicinal cannabis movement, Down to Earth deal
Name Change for Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications The Ministry responsible for small businesses will have a name change, to acknowledge micro enterprises and their role in
Three PNG MPs defect government amidst vote of no confidence agenda
Three members of Papua New Guinea parliament have defected from the government to join the opposition as moves aimed at throwing out the Pangu-led government. The vote of no confidence agenda is high on the table as
Micronesian leaders warn ‘competitive political actors’ exploiting delays in U.S. funding
Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, which occupy a militarily strategic expanse of the western Pacific, have warned that delays to U.S. financial assistance have created opportunities for “competitive
Winston Peters and Shane Reti make Cook Islands climate change announcement
Tackling the impacts of climate change is a key focus for New Zealand, with a total of $16.5 million (US$10 million) to go to the Cook Islands to help fight the crisis. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs
PNG PM Marape urges Australia to not ‘give up’ on his country in historic parliament address
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape has urged Australia to not “give up” on his country during an historic address to the federal parliament. On Thursday morning, Marape became the first Pacific
PM Albanese extends warm welcome and solidarity to PNG PM Marape in Australian Parliament
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Thursday extended a warm welcome to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at the Australian Parliament in Canberra – the first leader of another nation to address
Fijian feminists launch new booklet in a call to action against poverty
Many tears and heartfelt stories were shared in Suva this week at the launch of a new booklet that highlights the socio-economic challenges that Fijian women, girls, and gender-diverse people face on a daily basis.
No government yet: Tuvalu MPs still trapped in outer islands
Tuvalu is yet to form a new government two weeks after their general elections because elected representatives from the outer islands are still stuck and can not make it to the capital Funafuti. Senior electoral officer
Tonga government to ‘talanoa’ with King about “unconstitutional” directive
Tonga’s Acting Prime Minister, Samiuela Vaipulu says the government will resolve its differences with the King “the Pacific Way”. This comes after the government rejected a directive from the Privy Council,
Former PNG PM worried about laws to curb media, freedom of speech
The Papua New Guinea Government plans to introduce laws to curb free speech and freedom of the press, former prime minister Peter O’Neill says. In a statement, O’Neill said the same law would jail any journalist or
Kabui: Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption, a tiger without teeth
Chairman of the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC), Sir Frank Kabui has described the Anti-Corruption Commission as a tiger without teeth in the battle against corruption. “The SIICAC