Solomon Water removed from SOE Standing
The Government today announced the removal of the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA), which is trading as Solomon Water from its position as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). The Cabinet decision became effective on
Arkansas lawmakers approve emergency rule to grant SNAP benefits to Marshallese migrants
A legislative subcommittee on Thursday approved an emergency rule to comply with a new U.S federal law that extends certain public assistance programme benefits to migrants from the Marshall Islands. Arkansas is home to
Rural electrification is still a challenge in Papua New Guinea
The establishment of rural electrification around Papua New Guinea is hindered by various challenges, putting a halt in its progress as stated in a research paper in the 2024 PNG Update. The challenges range from
Kiribati closes border to diplomats until 2025
Kiribati has banned foreign diplomatic visits until 2025 due to national elections in a move that has left officials scrambling for more information. A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration sent to
Kiribati elections results: 58 percent turnout and a record five women elected into 45-seat parliament
A record five female MPs have been elected into the Kiribati parliament, the Maneaba ni Maungatabo, which is one more than the last polls, while 14 sitting MPs have lost their seats in this year’s election. The
Kiribati elections: Voters wait for final results
Voters in Kiribati are awaiting the final results of the runoff round of elections on Monday. Twenty-five of the 45 parliamentary seats were confirmed in the first round on Wednesday last week, with those candidates
Kiribati poll results show Maamau retains parliamentary seat
Kiribati’s President retained his parliamentary seat in a landslide, according to the first results on Thursday of an election that hinged on worries about the cost of living, rising sea levels and closer ties
Kiribati elections 2024 – what we know
The I-Kiribati people will go to the polls for the first round of voting today. The Kiribati Electoral Commission is responsible to conduct the election with the support of the Ministry for Culture and Internal Affairs.
Federated States of Micronesia eyes wider access to global market for tuna
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is seeking to expand its tuna industry by securing broader access to the international market and reforming its foreign investment policies. At the Second National Fisheries
Opinion: Is the time ripe for constitutional change in Fiji?
The liquidation of the former governing party, FijiFirst, has opened up debate about an amendment to the 2013 constitution or its complete replacement. FijiFirst was the party led by former military commander and 2006
PM Salwai reaffirms Government’s commitment to resolving Air Vanuatu’s future
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the future of Air Vanuatu and its employees on Independence Day, acknowledging the challenges and criticism along the way. He
114 candidates to contest Kiribati election, including 18 women
A hundred and fourteen candidates are to contest the Kiribati elections, starting on 14 August. A second round of voting for the 44-seat parliament, Maneaba ni Maungatabu, is scheduled for 19 August. Four
PNG’s Economic Outlook remains positive, says IMF report
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has welcomed an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report indicating that Papua New Guinea’s economic outlook remains positive. The IMF report, released Saturday,
Eyes wide shut
Eighteen months after the end of 16 years of Fiji’s notorious two-man rule, the country’s political landscape is in the middle of another seismic shift. The former ruling FijiFirst Party (FFP), relegated to the
‘Wall of shame’ faces mounting protests in Guam
Guam’s attorney general is facing a wave of backlash over his billboard campaign to deport convicted aliens, which critics described as “dehumanising.” Douglas Moylan, however, defended his “Deport Air
Papua New Guinea’s growing need for more residential land
A Papua New Guinea (PNG) think tank says the government must ensure that land is available for people to legitimately live on. It is a feature of life in PNG that tens of thousands of people live illegally as squatters
PNG minister facing domestic assault charge steps down. Opposition demands resignation
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales said in a statement Saturday that a 58-year-old man was arrested and charged after a domestic dispute in Sydney after a 31-year-old woman known to him had injuries to
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.
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
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
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,
Cook Islands new minimum wage comes into effect, employers told to adhere
Employers in the Cook Islands are required to adhere to the new minimum wage rate that comes into effect today. The new minimum wage increases by 50 cents $9.00 to $9.50 per hour (US$5.47 – $5.77) from today,
Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit Director’s contract terminated
The Office of the Attorney General in Vanuatu has confirmed that Floyd Ray Mera’s contract as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been terminated. This follows his suspension on 16 October,
