Travellers urged to prevent dengue fever in Samoa
Samoa’s Ministry of Health has urged travellers entering Samoa to take precautionary measures during the duration of their stay due to reports of a dengue fever outbreak. The Ministry had declared a dengue fever
President Whipps sued in the U.S courts for alleged violation of the Compact Treaty
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. was sued in Sherman, Texas, USA and was served the court summons earlier this month while campaigning in Texas. The lawsuit was filed by Christa NafstadToribiong, the current wife of
Government considering issuing Starlink a licence in Tonga
The Tonga Government is considering issuing Starlink a licence to offer broadband internet services in Tonga. The Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni told a media briefing last week that Starlink had
Air Vanuatu grounds flights after reportedly going into administration, Board dissolved
Air Vanuatu has cancelled or adjusted some 20 flights to and from New Zealand, Australia and Nouméa after reportedly being placed into administration. Cancelled flights include services from Port Vila to Auckland on
Fiji’s Bainimarama gets one year in jail
Suspended Police Commissioner gets 2-year sentence Former Fiji Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Samoa Airport launches initial start of construction for $25 million regional terminal and apron aircraft parking
The construction of two pivotal infrastructure projects for the Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) was officially launched this morning at Faleolo, with a ground-breaking ceremony. These two projects are the Regional
Proposed law on tainted cryptocurrency ‘terrible’ for human rights, says Cook Islands expert
A Cook Islands cryptocurrency expert is critical of a proposed law targeting tainted cryptocurrency, arguing it undermines human rights and doesn’t address the real channels of money laundering. In the rapidly
Australian Foreign minister Wong to lead bipartisan trip to Tuvalu
Australian Foreign minister Penny Wong and opposition counterpart Simon Birmingham will travel to Tuvalu for talks on security and climate change. The foreign minister will lead the second bipartisan Pacific visit of
Bougainville may use other means to gain independence
The Autonomous Bougainville Government(ABG) is warning it might use other avenues to gain its independence should the PNG government continue to be mischievous in dealing with the Bougainville Independence agenda. The
Australian officials scrambled to halt China-PNG policing deal
China’s top diplomat pushed for Papua New Guinea to sign a policing agreement with Beijing during a trip to Port Moresby last month, forcing Australian and PNG officials to scramble to prevent an embarrassment for
Nine more Solomon Islands Ministers sworn-in
Nine more Solomon Islands ministers have been sworn-in Monday formalising their appointments to their respective Ministerial portfolios, almost completing the lineup of cabinet ministers this week. The eleven
Fiji tourism looks to India, China
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka’s busy schedule last week included a brief meeting with Indian actress, Rakul Preet Singh and her new husband, film producer Jackky Bhagnani. The couple were in Fiji for
Palau hoping for more things to come
Palau may not have been able to bag everything it hoped for under the renegotiated terms of the Compact of Free Association, but at some point, a deal had to be closed and the nation had to settle for a compromise,
New flight route between Australia and Palau
A new non-stop flight service between Australia and Palau is being launched with the support of both countries’ governments. The Palau Paradise Express, operated by Nauru Airlines, will fly between Brisbane and
Scientific shark study resumes in New Caledonia
A scientific study on shark presence and behaviour is to resume shortly in New Caledonia’s Southern Province, where two incidents in February last year prompted an indiscriminate culling campaign. A similar
Vanuatu celebrates top ranking in Happy Planet Index
Vanuatu is proud to announce its achievement of ranking number one out of over 150 countries worldwide on the Happy Planet Index (HPI), for the second time since the index was first published in 2006. Two Government
Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) appoints new chairperson and deputy chairperson
The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adela Issachar Aru as its new Board Chairperson. The SPTO Board of Directors endorsed the announcement of Aru as the new Chairperson at
Spartan Fiji aims to double participants, economic impact in 2024
Spartan Race CEO Russell Nelms hopes to double the number of people participating in the Fiji event this year, and its value to the local economy. Russell Helms says the event injected FJ$6.2 million into the economy in
Fiji and Rabuka’s Peacemaking Ambitions
The prime minister is promoting his “Ocean of Peace” concept, despite significant dissonance within Fiji’s foreign policy. Speaking to a rapt audience, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared an account
Solomon Airlines considers supporting Air Vanuatu
THE new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solomon Airlines, Sean Te’o, said they are considering a collaboration with Air Vanuatu to train Air Vanuatu’s cabin crew members to work on Solomon Airlines A320 aircraft.
Papua New Guinea has ‘human capital crisis’, says World Bank
The World Bank has urged the largest Pacific Island nation, Papua New Guinea, to address a “human capital crisis” and invest more in educating children, who suffer high rates of stunted growth and illiteracy, as a
U.S. sanctions Cook Islands-flagged ships aiding Iranian drone shipment to Russia
Three Cook Islands-flagged vessels have been sanctioned by the United States for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moeroa Mamanu-Matheson,
Kiribati’s Sir Ieremia Tabai scathing about decision to deport Australian-born judge
Kiribati’s first president Sir Ieremia Tabai says the decision by the government to deport Australian-born Judge David Lambourne from the country is “a farce”. The opposition MP said there is no doubt, in
