Regional
Vanuatu Department of Correctional Services under review
PORT VILA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu’s Department of Correctional Services is undergoing a major review. “An amendment to the Correctional Services Act, which will ensure rapists and murderers are locked up...
Malietoa and Malie chiefs plead not guilty to contempt
APIA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli and 15 other chiefs from Malie have pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of court. The others include Maualaivao Pepe; Maualaivao Pat Ah Him; Auimatagi Sa’oloto; Auimatagi Fa’afetati; Auimatagi Afi Fa’amausili; Fa’amausili Siona; Fa’amausili Chris; Muagututi’a Peter; Muagututi’a Fa’alafi; Tulasunu’i Umutaua; Tulasunu’i Ulaese;...
Attempted PNG media censor irks Pruaitch
PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch has expressed dismay over attempts to block the live talkback show over the Maserati luxury car deal. Pruaitch said he is dismayed to learn that the O’Neill government has effectively censored the PNG media and threatened one of the pillars...
Cook Islands could become GCF implementing agency
RAROTONGA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RADIO COOK ISLANDS) – The Cook Islands could be on its way to become an implementing agency for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown has just returned from a meeting with the GCF in Korea. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management could get the thumbs up...
PNG to deploy fighter jets and foreign military as it plans major security operation for APEC
PORT MORESBY (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will deploy foreign fighter jets and special forces to protect world leaders attending a major Asia-Pacific forum next month in the crime-plagued capital Port Moresby, officials have said. The government is planning a massive security operation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from November 17, which will...
Wallis and Futuna public sector strike widens
MATAU’TU, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – Reports from Wallis and Futuna say the territorial guards have gone on strike after deferring their action by two days. Local television reported that they want to be integrated into the French public service. Their action comes as senior public sector staff are in their fifth week of...
Air Niugini to operate first flight to China
PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – National airline, Air Niugini, will operate its first direct commercial flight between Port Moresby and Shanghai, China on Tuesday, Oct 23, next week. The Port Moresby/Shanghai flight will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Flights depart Port Moresby at 7:30pm and arrive in Shanghai at 1am,...
NZ addresses UN on Tokelau self-governance
NEW YORK, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – New Zealand has told a United Nations committee on decolonisation that it’s committed to helping Tokelau become self-governing. At a meeting last week, New Zealand’s representative to the UN, Craig Hawke, said the relationship with Tokelau had been scaled up this year. Over the next four years,...
MSG raises concerns about New Caledonia voter registration
NEW YORK, 18 OCTOBER (RNZ PACIFIC) – A Papua New Guinea diplomat at the UN has expressed concern that not all Kanaks have been enrolled for New Caledonia’s referendum on independence from France. Max Rai was speaking at the UN decolonisation committee meeting in New York on behalf of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Rai told...
Tanangada sworn in as new Minister for Women, Youth, Children Affairs
HONIARA,18 OCTOBER 2018 (SIG) – Solomon Islands member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara Constituency Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada has been sworn in as the new Minister for Women, Youth and Children Affairs. Tanangada was sworn in at the Government House by the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui. The swearing in ceremony Wednesday was witnessed by the Prime...
‘For the Pacific it’s always about cash’: Environment Minister in diplomatic incident over climate change
CANBERRA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SMH) – Australian Environment Minister Melissa Price has been accused of offending a key Pacific leader by declaring the region was “always” seeking cash from Australia, in a disputed remark that has triggered a new storm over government policy on climate change. Price is said to have told former Kiribati president...
Australia vs Tonga Test sold out
FOX SPORTS – AUSTRALIA’S historic first rugby league Test against Tonga will attract a sellout crowd, with the final tickets for the match being sold on Wednesday morning. After less than 13,000 fans attended New Zealand’s defeat of the Kangaroos last weekend, the NRL has confirmed the same 30,000-seat stadium is already booked out. “The...
Tonga Test value outweighs financial cost for Kangaroos after pay cut
AUCKLAND, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SMH) – Kangaroos players have placed more value in the Test against Tonga than the $17,000 pay cut they’ve taken to ensure Saturday’s historic match proceeds. One of Australia’s stars even declared he would have happily played for free. After pocketing the standard $20,000 for last Saturday’s match against New Zealand...
Why APEC cars bought
PORT MORESBY, 17 OCTOBER 2018 (THE NATIONAL) – The Papua New Guinea Government has reiterated that cars acquired for use during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings next month are similar to the ones other host nations had acquired for the regional event. Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko, in response to public comments on the Government’s purchase...
Tongan Parliament protocol in question after Members’ travel at taxpayers’ expense revealed
NUKU’ALOFA, 17 OCTOBER 2018 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS) – Tongan Parliament’s protocol has been questioned after revelations that about TP$200,000 (US$142,000) of taxpayers’ money would be used to pay non-Cabinet MPs and Parliament staff to travel to New Zealand to watch Mate Ma’a test play the Kangaroos. Some Ministers believed the procedure which was used to...
Call to tackle climate change to save our fisheries
SUVA (FAO) – There needs to be quick and dramatic actions to address climate change to safeguard Pacific fisheries. Speaking at the opening of the Pacific Fisheries and Green Climate Fund workshop in Nadi today , Fiji Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau said the impacts of climate change would continue to be felt in our communities,...
MOG pays courtesy call to Fiji PM
THE Multinational Observer Group (MOG) yesterday paid a courtesy call on Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Benyamin Scott Carnadi attended on behalf of the MOG’s co-lead countries and Observer Coordinator Alice Cawte represented the MOG Secretariat. Indonesia is one of the MOG’s three co-lead countries, along with India and Australia and...
Visa ban eased to give tourists room to enter
PORT MORESBY, 17 OCTOBER 2018 (THE NATIONAL) – Tourists from certain countries will not be affected by the visa-on-arrival suspension from Oct 30 to Nov 30 planned by the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority. The decision was reached at a meeting yesterday between the authority and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. The suspension announced on...
Climate resilience in universities
A CONFERENCE will be held next week with discussions focused on both enhancing climate resilience of universities in Fiji and their contribution to resilience of communities, businesses including government. The Fiji National University (FNU) in conjunction with the Commonwealth Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) will host a conference, convened by the Association of Commonwealth Universities...
Emotional start to nurses’ forum in Cook Islands
RAROTONGA (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) – There was plenty of vibrant colours, and an equal amount of emotion at the opening of the 19th South Pacific Nurses’ Forum in Rarotonga. The forum was opened by Health minister Rose Toki-Brown who told participants, “This is your day; this is about you. We are one; we are the...
