Regional
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.
New claims of police brutality in Fiji
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – New accusations of police brutality with claims of torture and rape have surfaced in Fiji.
Targets won't halt seas rising
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – New research shows targets set out in the Paris climate change agreement may not be enough to offset sea level rise in the next 300 years. The research, published this week in the journal Nature Communications, says the world will experience sea level rise of between 0.7 and 1.2 metres even if the targets are met.
New images reveal cyclone's wrath
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – New photographs taken just yesterday around the eastern area of Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu show extensive damage to homes, vegetation and schools caused by the category four Cyclone Gita.
Newborn baby deaths a 'serious concern'
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – UNICEF says the rate of newborn deaths in Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia remains alarmingly high.
Refusing medical help
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – A female asylum seeker on Nauru with a life-threatening heart condition is refusing an offer to be transferred overseas for medical treatment, saying she will not go without her son.
Tongan schools in post-cyclone crisis
Tuesday 20 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – As Cyclone Gita roared across Tonga last week it destroyed government buildings, churches and private homes – it also smashed the island’s schools and has sabotaged the immediate education prospects of hundreds of Tongan children.