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
Government
‘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,
Yap to begin canvassing votes for 31 May political status referendum
The Yap Election Commission in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on Friday will begin tabulating the ballots cast during the 31 May referendum related to the island state’s political status. Yap voters were
Palau considers expanding fishing zone in marine sanctuary
The Palau government, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment (MAFE), is proposing changes to the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) that would significantly increase the area allowed for
Tonga Government appeals to public to rent out homes for PIF visitors
On the streets of Nuku’alofa, the rush is on to complete two hundred container houses to provide much needed accommodation for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, to be held in August. Prime
Slow start to PNG Census
Despite a slow start and the expected initial hiccups to contend with, national statistician John Igitoi is confident that National Census 2024 will be completed successfully. “It’s just the start, so we expect to
Papua New Guinea head count begins amid census preparation concerns
Counting is underway in a highly anticipated national census in Papua New Guinea that is hoped will dispel wildly diverging population estimates ranging from 9.6 million to nearly twice the number. Just after midnight
Samoa Anti-corruption body soon
An entity to look into corrupt practices in the Samoa government will be set up soon as the first National Anti-corruption Policy and Strategy was officially launched last Thursday at Tanoa Hotel. The policy marks the
Tonga’s $899.2 million budget for 2024-25
A draft budget of TOP$899.2 million (US$381 million) for the year 2024/25 was announced by the Government of Tonga, stating that it is the first balanced budget proposed by government to parliament since 2019/2020. The
King Charles aims to defy health challenges to attend crucial Commonwealth meeting
King Charles will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa on October 21 and embark on a tour of Australia later this year. According to the Daily Express, Buckingham Palace officials are
Vanuatu voters support constitutional change to end political instability
Vanuatu has voted to change its constitution in a bid to end years of political instability, results of the Pacific nation’s first national referendum showed on Wednesday. A grassroots push to alter the
Solomon Islands Finance Minister Sogavare identifies revenue leakages
Solomon Islands Minister of Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare, has emphasised the ministry’s commitment to addressing significant revenue leakages within various government departments. Sogavare candidly
Census ready to roll-out after 13 years
The 2024 Papua New Guinea National Population Census is on track and ready to kick-off next week Monday, 17 June 2024. The minister for Administrative Services Richard Masere and the stakeholders of the National
New Zealand PM Luxon heads to Niue and Fiji this week
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Niue and Fiji this week (04-07 June) as New Zealand continues to sharpen its focus and engagement in the Pacific. It will be Luxon’s first visit to the
The tragedy of New Caledonia
On the night of Monday 13 May, Noumea exploded. Across many parts of New Caledonia’s capital, young people took to the streets, stoning French riot police, looting and burning shops, car yards and factories. The next
