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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The 2024 Pacific Forecast: A Turn for the Worse?

It’s 2024. Heading towards the halfway mark of this decade, the Pacific’s landscape is vastly different from four years ago, gripped in a steadily escalating set of challenges that may well define what the next

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Westpac stays, so what’s next?

Westpac’s October announcement that it no longer planned to sell its remaining businesses in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, and its statement to the Australian Stock Exchange that it would increase investment in its

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Fiji Business Briefs: ANZ survey, Drua sponsorship deal, Raine & Horne reopens

ANZ business survey: Turnover up, profitability down ANZ’s Fiji Business Survey for Q3 2023 has reported a positive upturn in turnover, with 42% of surveyed firms noting higher demand compared to the previous quarter.

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ADB approves financing package to boost Solomon Islands’ education

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it has approved a financing package of US$45.7 million to boost senior secondary education and climate resilience in the Solomon Islands. “The Solomon Islands Senior

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Nations can look elsewhere: Micronesia ex-leader urges U.S. to keep funds pledge

Months after exiting office, the former president of the Federated States of Micronesia has urged American lawmakers to keep their promise of approving funds for the Compact of Free Association (Cofa) pact, warning that

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Porgera will fix FX, economy: PNG PM Marape

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape says once the Porgera gold mine comes on next year, it will help fix the country’s economy, especially the shortage of foreign exchange (forex). “Our people need the

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New Caledonia passes first sugar tax bill

New Caledonia’s Congress has endorsed, for the first time, a new “flexible” tax on sugar products. The tax, in its initial stages, targets a first list of sugary food products. During the Congress

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K27.3 billion budget tabled in PNG

The Papua New Guinea Government Tuesday handed down a whopping K27.3 billion (US$7.3 billion) 2024 Budget. Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey when presenting the Budget in Parliament described it as a responsible budget that is

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CNMI tourism is in ‘desperate mode’

The Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI)‘s only industry, tourism, is in a “desperate mode,” according to the officers of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association of NMI. In a meeting with members

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Alii Palau Airline’s inaugural flight opens a new gateway to Palau

After several delays, the Alii Palau Airline’s first flight to Palau became a reality Thursday last week.  At 6:40 AM on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November  2023, Drukair, a Royal Bhutan Airline, chartered by Alii Palau

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Opinion: Australia should listen to PNG not the IMF

In late 2021, following the first phase of a review of the 2000 Central Banking Act (CBA) by an independent advisory group, the Papua New Guinea parliament unanimously amended the CBA. Among other things, the amendments

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