Solomon Islands loses USD$15.1 million in productivity due to violence
A UN Women costing study shows that Solomon Islands has lost approximately USD$15.1 million in the annual productivity of women in the formal sector due to violence in 2021. This accounts for 1% of the country’s gross
Gunmen kill seven with more than a dozen missing after PNG bus shooting
At least seven people were killed, and more than a dozen remain missing after gunmen ambushed a public bus and shot passengers in Papua New Guinea’s Enga
Deaths at Saint Louis overshadow anniversary of French colonisation
Tuesday 24 September marks the 171st anniversary of the French annexation of New Caledonia. By order of Napoleon III, Rear-Admiral Février-Despointes officially took possession of the main island Grande Terre in 1853,
National emergency declared Porgera-Paiela, Kompiam-Ambum and Wapenamanda in Enga
The Papua New Guinea Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae, acting on the advice of the National Executive Council, has declared a National Emergency in the electorates of Porgera-Paiela, Kompiam-Ambum and Wapenamanda in Enga
Two Kanaks shot dead by French police in New Caledonia decried as ‘assassinations’
French police shot and killed two men in New Caledonia on Thursday, stoking tensions with pro-independence groups days ahead of a public holiday marking France’s annexation of the Pacific archipelago. The
PNG authorises lethal force to quell deadly violence near Porgera mine
Papua New Guinea security personnel have been authorised to use “lethal force” to quell violence between illegal miners and traditional landowners near the economically important Porgera gold mine. Fighting in the
New Caledonia requests Australian aid for riot rebuild
New Caledonia is looking to Australia for aid to help rebuild its capital city after deadly riots. The French territory was marred by civil unrest and riots that left 10 dead in May after controversial voting reforms
Papua independence protestors seek papal intervention after clashes with Indonesian forces
Indonesian security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protestors marking the 62nd anniversary of a UN agreement that paved the way for Jakarta’s annexation of the Papua region. At least one
Maprik town burns
Maprik town in East Sepik was set ablaze over two days, beginning Monday between 3pm and 4pm and spilling into early Tuesday morning. Police have confirmed the arrest of at least 189 suspects. A special court hearing
ULMWP condemns killing of NZ pilot, blames Indonesia for danger
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned the reported killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama, Mimika Regency “If true, I condemn this killing in the
Pacific Women Leaders call for action to end ‘epidemic’ of gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive and devastating crisis for women and girls in the region with Pacific women ministers urging governments and communities to urgently address the issue through prevention
UN Rights chief ‘horrified’ at deadly PNG violence
Recent attacks on three villages in East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea, resulted in at least 26 deaths – including 16 children – an event that has left UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
UN shocked over Sepik atrocities
The United Nations Papua New Guinea office has strongly condemned the recent brutal rapes and killings of women and children in East Sepik’s Angoram. The UN, in a statement called on the local authorities to, without
Opinion: Mixing oil and water
As protests erupt across New Caledonia, a leading Loyalist politician claims indigenous Kanak and the West are like ‘oil and water’ Sonia Backès, the leading conservative anti-independence politician of her
Samoa Police killed on duty
A police officer has been shot and killed in Samoa while attempting to carry out an arrest. Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite died at the scene in the village of Fasitoo-Uta on Monday. Perite was in the middle
‘No place for political violence in the U.S.’
Guam leaders today joined the nation in condemning the shooting at former president Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania. “There is no room for violence in politics–no matter where you stand on the
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
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
‘Stop the violence and killing against Kanaky people’: Vanuatu MPs from Tafea Province
Eight Members of Vanuatu Parliament from Tafea Province have made a bold and powerful call to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to stop the violence and killing being committed against the Kanaky
Nine dead since start of New Caledonia unrest
A man in his thirties who was shot amongst the New Caledonia rioting has died of his wounds. He was allegedly shot by a gendarme who responded after being targeted, according to initial investigations, the public
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
Award-winning playwright Sia Figiel on murder charge in Samoa
Details are emerging after a well-known Samoa playwright was charged with murder on Monday for allegedly stabbing a woman in Vaivase-uta last Saturday. Award-winning playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was earlier
France lifts state of emergency in New Caledonia, maintains curfew
France on Tuesday lifted a state of emergency in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia but is maintaining a curfew and sending hundreds of paramilitary reinforcements after two weeks of unrest in which seven people
