Regional
O'Neill rejects Oil Search allegations
Thursday 15 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT MORESBY – Papua New Guinea’s prime minister Peter O’Neill has rejected allegations that proper process was not followed to take out a $1.3 billion loan to buy shares in the nation’s biggest company, Oil Search.
Foreign press have no access into Nauru
Thursday 15 October 2015 | Published in Regional
YAREN – No foreign journalist has been in Nauru for more than a year and none appears like to be able to enter soon.
The Northern Marianas Government is closely monitoring two tropical disturbances in the region.
Thursday 15 October 2015 | Published in Regional
One storm system is about 1800 kilometres east of Guam and is expected to approach the Marianas over the next few days.
Accused of 'leaking' information
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
Yaren – The raid on the offices of Save The Children on Nauru appears to be a major escalation of the Nauruan government’s attacks on whistleblowers at the refugee detention centre.
Nauru police raid children's charity
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
YAREN – Police in Nauru have raided the offices of the charity Save The Children, removing staff members’ computers and mobile phones.
World experiencing major coral bleaching event
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
WASHINGTON – The world is experiencing a global coral bleaching event, say NOAA scientists.
Press release of rape claim 'extraordinary'
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
YAREN – The release by the Nauruan government and its Australian public relations company of the identity of a sexual assault complainant on Nauru along with graphic details of the alleged attack, has been criticised as an “extraordinary” breach of privacy. On Monday, the government’s publicity handlers, Mercer PR, distributed a press release outlining that a police investigation had found insufficient evidence over serious allegations of a sexual assault made by a female Somali refugee who was previously detained in the Australian-run detention centre on Nauru.
Immunity for 'whistleblowers'
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
CANBERRA – The Australia Federal Government’s controversial Border Force Act has been undermined by the extension of a Senate investigation into offshore detention facilities.
Kilman silent on MPs' pardons
Wednesday 14 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT VILA – Five days since 15 of his MPs were convicted of bribery charges, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Sato Kilman is yet to say anything about the controversial pardoning of 14 of them by an acting president.
Pardons appear to be legal
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
MELBOURNE – Professor Cheryl Saunders, from Melbourne University’s law school, said that while controversial pardoning of 14 convicted MPs in Vanuatu the pardon appears to be constitutional, it remains to be seen whether the decision can be overturned by a court.
President expresses shame
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT VILA – A visibly shaken president of Vanuatu has addressed the nation expressing “shame and sorrow” after his acting president used interim executive powers to issue pardons to recently-convicted MPs, including himself, on Sunday.
Pacific rugby undergoes RWC post mortem
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
The Rugby World Cup tournament has ended for all three Pacific Island nations with pre-tournament hopes of making the play-offs fading into familiar frustrations of fighting against the odds, Radio New Zealand reports.
Asylum seeker near death after six month hunger strike
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
LORENGAU – An Iraqi asylum seeker detained on Manus Island is marking six months since he began a hunger strike in protest at his treatment by centre staff.
PNG's 'grand chief' resigns from his party
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT MORESBY – Papua New Guinea’s former and founding prime minister Sir Michael Somare has resigned from the National Alliance Party – a party he founded 20 years ago.
Fiji president has no chiefly links
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
SUVA – For the first time the president of Fiji will be a non-iTaukei man with no chiefly links now that Jioji Konrote has been elected.
Ombudsman won't accept sacking
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT VILA – Vanuatu’s ombudsman has been suspended by the government, in a move he says is illegal and invalid.
Convicted MPs off the hook
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PORT VILA – Vanuatu’s acting president has used his interim executive powers to pardon himself and 13 other MPs convicted of bribery.
UN head vows to push island issues
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has promised Pacific island states that he will continue to call on industrialised nations to raise their level of ambition and prioritise the needs of the Pacific.
French Pacific prisons unsatisfactory
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
PAPEETE – France has been accused of having a neo-colonial view in the way it treats prisoners in its overseas territories.
Freedom dangerous for asylum seekers
Tuesday 13 October 2015 | Published in Regional
Just days out from a High Court hearing on the constitutionality of Australia funding the detention of asylum seekers offshore, Nauru announced on Monday it was offering complete freedom of movement for the 650 asylum seekers sent there by Australia.
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