WELLINGTON, 26 AUGUST 2019 (NEWSROOM)—With concerns over violence in West Papua escalating, New Zealand officials appear reluctant to wade in more significantly – despite the Green Party calling for action. As Indonesia cracks down on protests in the disputed West Papua territory, the Government has declined to condemn the violence. Indonesia has deployed a thousand […]
Category: Pacific News
Posted inPacific News
Fiji welcomed back to the Pacific Islands Forum
FUNAFUTI, 12 AUGUST 2019 (PACNEWS) — Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga has welcomed the return of Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama to the Pacific Island Forum meeting in Tuvalu this week. Fiji will be represented by the Prime Minister for the first time since it was re-admitted in 2015 after six years of suspension from […]
Posted inPacific News
World War II Pacific battlegrounds now site of US-China tug of war
MAJURO,12 AUGUST 2019(AFP)— Pacific islands that were key World War II battlegrounds but largely neglected for the past 30 years are now back in the spotlight as China challenges traditional US supremacy in the region. Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, whose territories stretch thousands of kilometres across the Pacific, have […]
Posted inPacific News
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to attend Pacific Islands Forum
WELLINGTON,12 AUGUST 2019 (NZ GOVT)—New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio will attend the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu this week, the foremost annual meeting of Pacific leaders. “The Government is lifting New Zealand’s strategic ambition and investment in the Pacific, through our Pacific Reset, and the […]
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PNG’s debt overture to Beijing rings alarm bells
CANBERRA, 08 AUGUST 2019 (THE AUSTRALIAN) — On a cold Canberra morning 18 days ago, Scott Morrison stood alongside Prime Minister James Marape at Parliament House, declaring Australia had “no truer friend” than Papua New Guinea. Marape, on an official visit with full red carpet treatment, said he came to Australia as “friend and family”, […]
Posted inPacific News
Marshall Islands declares health emergency over dengue outbreak
MAJURO, 08 AUGUST 2019 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The Marshall Islands has declared a health emergency after a dengue outbreak was confirmed. President Hilda Heine signed the emergency declaration on Tuesday, freeing up extra resources to fighting the disease. Daily safety broadcasts have begun, as has clearance of mosquito breeding sites. The first case of type […]