Fiji receives Cook Islands’ new high commissioner
COOK Islands High Commissioner Michael Henry presented his credentials to Fiji President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu - a posting both governments say aims to deepen a growing Pacific partnership.
Government
PNG government takes $16.3 million stake in lime project
PAPUA New Guinea’s government has exercised equity participation rights to take a 13 per cent stake in Pacific Lime and Cement’s Central Lime Project for $US16.3 million.
81 PNG public bodies miss reports, exposing deep compliance failure
EIGHTY-one of Papua New Guinea’s 145 government agencies and provincial administrations failed to submit mandatory 2025 annual performance reports.
PM Wale holds bilateral talks with Japan’s Prime Minister
SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening ties with Japan during bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo.
Calls to revoke Solomons MPs pay rise
A CIVIL society organisation in Solomon Islands has called for a pay rise for Members of Parliament to be revoked.
Naoero’s diplomatic leap towards Israel
THE Republic of Naoero (Nauru) plans to establish an embassy in Israel and has approved a scoping mission to examine the diplomatic, operational and logistical steps needed to open an embassy.
PNG and Solomon Islands expand economic ties
PAPUA New Guinea and the Solomon Islands will deepen cooperation in mining, fisheries, trade and investment after talks between Prime Ministers James Marape and Matthew Wale in Honiara.
The Tongan way
KING Tupou VI’s increased involvement in governance, framed as a political regression, rests on a narrow interpretation of democracy and a misreading of Tonga’s cultural and political landscape.
PNG LNG landowner stakes will not be diluted, Marape says
PAPUA New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has sought to calm concerns over the PNG LNG project, saying the government will not dilute landowners’ and provincial governments’ equity stakes.
Samoa caretaker PM not surprised with illegal move to nominate a new government
Samoa caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says an attempt by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly to nominate a new government was legally flawed and did not surprise
Samoa PM addresses parliament amid political turmoil
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has apologised to the country for the division within the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party with confidence in her leadership central to the divisions. Her apology was
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
