U.S. will resume Peace Corps programme in Palau

The United States will resume a long-suspended Peace Corps programme in the North Pacific island of Palau as the Biden administration continues moves to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. The Peace Corps

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Allies ‘have to compete aggressively’ with China for Pacific security, U.S. warns

The U.S. has urged Papua New Guinea to turn down China’s offer of a security pact, increasing pressure on the prime minister of Australia’s nearest neighbour as he prepares to address parliament in Canberra this

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Cook Islands Deputy PM and two former Govt officials found guilty in corruption case

Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, former National Environment Service (NES) director Nga Puna, and his wife and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI), Diane Charlie-Puna have been found

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PNG MP coy on security talks with China

Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko Tuesday avoided questions about a potential security and policing deal with China, and instead extolled security relationships between PNG and Australia.

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Fiji Business Briefs: Pine harvesting, Nabouwalu development, Kinetic Growth updates

RBF gives insurers time to implement new standards The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) says licensed insurers will only have to reflect new reporting standards in their prudential reporting from 1 January 2026. This follows

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$2 billion drug bust, 13 charged in Fiji

Thirteen people have been charged in relation to the seizure of more than four tonnes of methamphetamine in Nadi, Fiji, following consultation with the Office of the Director

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China-born businesswoman charged over meth flight built a web of influence in PNG

Mei Lin is a prominent member of Papua New Guinea’s business community, with ties to influential locals. She’s also allegedly a key player in an audacious drug trafficking plot. Key Findings Chinese-born

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Calls for confidence vote in PM Marape after deadly riots in PNG

The political fallout from the deadly riots in Papua New Guinea continues, including calls for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister, James Marape. Six MPs in Marape’s government have resigned following

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PNG counts cost of riots as PM vows Cabinet reshuffle

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has promised a cabinet reshuffle as businesses reckon with the cost of looting and rioting last week that inflicted heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific Island country’s

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Death toll in PNG riots jumps to 22

The national death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has climbed to 22, with the remains of six people found in Port Moresby yesterday. It’s understood the remains of the six people were found at two

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Opinion: One year down, a mixed bag of results for Fiji’s coalition

When Sitiveni Rabuka narrowly won the parliamentary vote to become Fiji Prime Minister a year ago on Christmas Eve 2022, his position looked extremely precarious. With only a one-seat majority, the new coalition

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Whispers

Which way after Tuvalu?So, what’s next for Australia’s strategy in the region, after the Falepili agreement with Tuvalu? There are noises there could be another such agreement in the works with Fiji, while the

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