Regional
60 Minutes interview leaves bad taste
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – New Zealanders have criticised an interview with their prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, as “creepy” and “sexist”.
Mould problem at Nauro RPC of 'epic proportions'
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – A microbiologist contracted to assess the mould in the Nauru immigration centre says the contamination was “of epic proportions” and presented a serious health hazard to those in the camp.
Aftershocks continue to shake central PNG
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – People in central Papua New Guinea remain on edge with more than 20 powerful aftershocks rattling the region since Monday’s magnitude-7.5 earthquake.
Much of PNG isolated after quake
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – More than 30 people are believed to have been killed and whole villages buried by landslides in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck yesterday.
Mayor wants more from Australia
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PNG – The acting mayor of Lorengau says Australia should do more for the Manus Island town that’s hosting refugees it has detained in Papua New Guinea.
Refugees told to 'return with dignity'
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Refugees in Port Moresby have been told to voluntarily return to Manus Island with dignity – or be “compelled” to go back.
Valls favours staying French
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW CALEDONIA – A former French prime minister Manuel Valls says the French government should say before New Caledonia’s referendum what its preferred outcome is. Valls, who was in Noumea last week as the head of a French National Assembly delegation, was speaking at a public debate.
Corrupt officials making Tonga dysfunctional
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Some senior government officials in Tonga have abused foreign-funded projects, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has claimed.
Mould-infested tents a health hazard
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – Four years after the Australian government was repeatedly warned the mould growing throughout Nauru’s regional processing centres was making people sick, refugee families, including young children, are still being forced to live under rotting canvas in Nauru.
More refugees sent back
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Thirteen more refugees detained in Papua New Guinea by Australia have been returned to Manus Island from Port Moresby.
Case dropped against unionist
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
fiji – A prominent trade unionist in Fiji said he’s not surprised the public prosecutor has decided not to push ahead with charges against him. Felix Anthony, who is the head of the Trade Unions Congress, was arrested at the end of January over comments he made in support of striking airport workers in Nadi.
Pohiva expects Tonga to bounce back
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga’s prime minister said Pacific people are resilient and he expects his country to bounce back from the devastation caused by last week’s Cyclone Gita.
Sea level rise likely to be double what's predicted
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – A prominent New Zealand research scientist said sea level rise from the Antarctic ice sheet may be twice that of previous estimates.
Fiji's traffic woes impacting the economy
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – Auckland may have a traffic problem – but so does Suva.
Clinic open around the clock
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
AMERICAN SAMOA – A doctor in American Samoan says a free 24 hour clinic operating after Cyclone Gita has seen a steady flow of patients.
Entrepreneur urges more support, less jealousy
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Businesses in Samoa are being urged to support and collaborate with other entrepreneurs around the region.
Missing fishermen rescued
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
MICRONESIA – Three fishermen have been rescued in the Federated States of Micronesia after they spent eight days stranded at sea.
Schools-in-a-box sent to Tonga
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Emergency educational supplies from UNICEF have been flown to Tonga this week.
'Resettled' refugees sent back to Manus
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Nine Manus Island refugees who tried to resettle in Papua New Guinea are reportedly being returned to the island.