PNG MP’s bid to bar media fails
An application in court to stop the Papua New Guinea media from reporting on an alleged sexual offence incident involving Goroka MP Aiye Tambua was thrown out Thursday. Magistrate Paul Puri Nii, sitting in the Waigani
News
Power crisis continues in Majuro
Announced and emergency power outages, and power rationing have governed life in the capital of the Marshall Islands since late last year. The problem reached an all-time low in January when various areas of Majuro
More demonstrations expected in Noumea as New Caledonia voting rules change
Demonstrations have been held in New Caledonia – with more protests expected – from both pro- and anti-independence supporters after the French Senate endorsed a constitutional amendment bill to
Tonga PM announces minor reshuffle, resignations as ‘Utoikamanu moves to Communication
Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has confirmed his resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He also confirmed the resignation of Fekita ‘Utoikamanu as Minister of Tourism and
Maara Vaiimene appointed new director of Cook Islands Meterological Service
Former senior meteorological observer Maara Vaiimene has been appointed the new director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Service. Vaiimene commenced the top role on 25 March. Secretary for Ministry of Transport John
2024 joint ballot papers arrived safely in Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands official ballot papers for the 2024 Joint Election are printed and have now arrived in the country on Tuesday this week. The ballot papers totaling a record of 1 million, cater to voter numbers in a
Small Singapore company to monopolise all gold trading in PNG, says industry
The proposed National Gold Corporation Bill 2022 will effectively create a Gold Monopoly which will be disastrous for PNG’s mining sector and the economy of Papua New Guinea. That’s the stern implications
Samoan broadcaster and social advocate Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong dies
Samoan broadcaster, TV personality and MC Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong is being remembered as a vibrant voice in the Pacific community. Tofilau died last week after a long battle with cancer. She was laid to rest yesterday
“We’re used to it” – Fa’alogo Tana Umaga on Moana Pasifika’s struggles to find a new home
Moana Pasifika are no strangers to when it comes to hiccups in the start of the season. In 2022 – their maiden year – the newly established club went through four match postponements, resulting in them having to
Pope’s visit to PNG deferred to September
Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church visit to Papua New Guinea is now pushed back to September this year. According to Cardinal Sir John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby, the Pope’s visit previously proposed for
Maōri king and other indigenous Pacific leaders sign up to granting whales legal personhood
Pacific indigenous leaders, including the Māori King, has urged the legal recognition of whales as persons with inherent rights. Māori leaders spearheading the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative joined forces with Kīngi
PNG Women cricket make history, beat Zimbabwe
In a historic T20I showdown, Papua New Guinea’s women secured their maiden victory against a Full Member team, triumphing over Zimbabwe in a thrilling Super Over clash held in Harare. The heroics of all-rounder Sibona
Palau scrambles after cyberattack cripples financial systems
Palau’s financial management system was crippled last week after a cyberattack, forcing the Ministry of Finance to temporarily revert to manual payroll processing. This marked the first major cyberattack and the
Palau receives Ancestral remains in repatriation ceremony
In a ceremony on 25 March the University of Göttingen and the State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony in Germany repatriated human remains of 10 individuals to Palau. The remains originated from the Hamburg South
Fijian Drua brave the elements for strong win over Western Force, Blues thump Moana Pasifika at Eden Park
Fijian Drua brave the elements for strong win over Western Force The Fijian Drua have managed the horrific conditions to take a 31-13 victory over the Western Force in Laukota. There were puddles aplenty as
Fiji Business Briefs: RBF on Fiji’s outlook, Aviation school to expand
RBF says inflation, job vacancies up The Reserve Bank of Fiji says indications are Fiji’s economy will grow in 2024. In a recent statement, RBF Governor, Ariff Ali said while consumption spending was positive—due to
Crisis brewing as France seeks changes to New Caledonia’s electoral rolls
As the French National Assembly and Senate debate changes to New Caledonia’s electoral laws, there are protests in the streets of Noumea from both supporters and opponents of independence. Backed by local
Absolute discharge for Bainimarama, fine without record of conviction for Qiliho
Suva, Fiji: When Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau took her seat in court this morning to deliver her sentence against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, she warned
Australian-born judge challenges deportation from Kiribati amid long-running judicial crisis
David Lambourne, an Australian-born high court judge whose attempted deportation two years ago from Kiribati sparked a judicial crisis in the Pacific nation, appeared in court in a case closely watched by the United
Australia and Tuvalu deal back on track, as Falepili Union gets ratification green light
Australia’s Pacific Minister Pat Conroy says Tuvalu’s new government has formally agreed to begin ratifying the landmark Falepili Union with Australia, delivering the federal government a significant foreign policy
Reports Tonga PM has resigned from Defence to ‘appease’ king says government source
The Tongan Independent has reported that Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni and Minister Utoikamanu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had resigned from the portfolios. Senior sources within the Tongan
State of Emergency declared in East Sepik Province
Papua New Guinea’s East Sepik Provincial Administration has declared a state of emergency, effective Monday, until further notice. Mother nature in the last few days had caused flooding and destruction in Middle-Sepik
Marshall Islands launches public engagement on new Compact deal
While both Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have endorsed their new Compacts of Free Association with Washington, the Marshall Islands just launched its review process Thursday with the first of a
