Exams in doubt after Solomon Islands Government cuts entire funding allocation
All examination classes face the possibility of not sitting their exams as the Solomon Islands Government has cut the entire budget allocation of more than $70 million (US$8.41 million) for this year’s national
Medicinal cannabis now permitted in Cook Islands with prescription
Islanders and visitors can now bring in medicinal cannabis into the Cook Islands from New Zealand and Australia provided they meet certain requirements, says Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry for Health. Minister for Health
Vanuatu prime minister visits Huawei, views policing technology
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai visited technology company Huawei in Shenzhen and viewed surveillance technology used to enhance policing and reduce criminal activity, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.
ANZ says in talks with Australian govt about shoring up Pacific Islands business
ANZ bank is in talks with the Australian government about ways to make its business in the Pacific Islands more viable as an exodus of Western financial services fuels concern about rising Chinese influence, its CEO
No one is above the law, says Fiji’s Attorney General
“No one, including the elected Government of the day, is above the law”, says Fiji’s Attorney General, Graham Leung. While delivering his maiden speech in Parliament this week, Leung said that the rule of law was
Funding injection to help keep banks in Pacific
An extra $6.3 million (US$4.24 million) in Commonwealth funds will go toward bolstering banking infrastructure in the Pacific, the federal treasurer will announce at a forum in Brisbane. The talks are focused on banking
Rugby sevens match schedule confirmed for Olympic Games Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 Olympic rugby sevens match schedule has been unveiled by World Rugby and Paris 2024 today, with just 16 days to go until the sport has the honour of kicking off the Games on 24 July, two days ahead of the
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo to represent American Samoa in Paris Olympics
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo, who is from the CNMI and American Samoa, left Saipan on Saturday with Paris as her final destination. She will compete in the 100 meters event of the Olympic Games in the French capital on 02
Superannuation is sitting in Australia as PALM workers report barriers, delays in claiming their money
Tevita Kofutu’a has plans for the $10,000 in superannuation he earned over five years of seasonal work in Australia. He’ll use it to buy a vehicle and pay a deposit on some land in Tonga where he and his
Tjibaou and Metzdorf win New Caledonia’s seats in French National Assembly
In New Caledonia, Emmanuel Tjibaou has won a seat in the French National Assembly – the first time in 38 years that a pro-independence Kanak leader will serve in the French legislature in Paris. Emmanuel is the son of
Pacific journalists’ resilience shines through at historic conference
Despite the many challenges faced by Pacific journalists in recent years, the Pacific International Media Conference highlighted the incredible strength and courage of the region’s reporters. The three-day event
Four-try hero Miller, Wallaroos blow away Fijiana in Sydney
Desiree Miller crossed for four tries in the weekend as the Wallaroos thumped Fijiana 64-5 at Allianz Stadium. It was a repeat of the Super Rugby Final as Miller proved unstoppable in space, scoring a hat-trick in just
PNG minister steps down after woman’s alleged assault in Bondi
One of Papua New Guinea’s most senior ministers have stepped down from his post after being arrested for the alleged assault of a 31-year-old woman in Bondi. Jimmy Maladina, who was the country’s Minister for
Samoa produce comeback upset victory over Italy
Samoa recovered from a 10-point deficit to beat Italy 33-25 in a sweltering Test in Apia on Friday. The home side scored four tries to three in a successful start to the tenure of new coach Mahonri Schwalger and newly
Budget cuts would be ‘devastating’ and ‘deadly’, say U.S. diplomats
Cuts to the U.S. State Department’s 2025 budget proposed by the House of Representatives would be “deadly” and “devastating” to American efforts to counter China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region,
Australia to strike new funding deal with PNG to manage transferred asylum seekers
The Albanese government will strike a new funding deal with Papua New Guinea to support asylum seekers after the country threatened to send them back to Australia unless a fresh agreement was signed. In December 2021
‘Very early stages’ of talks on viability of Nauru Airlines’ direct Australia-Guam route
Visiting Nauru Airline officials on Tuesday met with Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and other local officials on the possibility of adding Guam to Nauru Airlines’ route, as it once did in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Future of New Zealand’s Nauru resettlement deal unclear
New Zealand is unlikely to resettle its full quota of refugees from Nauru under its 2022 agreement with Australia, and faces choices on the future of the pact. A deal struck by previous governments on both sides of the
Tarere, Vele to join Team PNG for Paris Olympics
Papua New Guinea Swimming Inc this week confirmed that two of its swimmers, Josh Tarere and Georgia-Leigh Vele are bound for the Paris Olympic Games after their universality slots were approved by World Aquatics. This
Cyclone risks for Pacific Island hospitals modelled
Cyclone and extreme weather risks for individual hospitals across Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tonga are being modelled in a study led out of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Climate models with
‘Talanoa’ key to Forum’s seabed mining approach
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the Pacific Islands Forum outgoing chair, told the media in May that one of the outcomes of the Leaders meeting in Rarotonga last year on the issue was a “talanoa” (a Pacific
Theo McFarland to captain Manu Samoa
Theo McFarland has been given the Manu Samoa captain’s armband for the July Tests against Italy and Spain, and according to management, the lock deserves the leadership role. The 28-year-old was one of the
Air Niugini increase flights to Hong Kong
Air Niugini has increased its direct flights between Port Moresby and Hong Kong from three to four flights per week, effective Monday 01st July 2024. The additional service operates every Monday, adding to the
