Regional
Numbers down amid tight security
Wednesday 26 April 2017 | Published in Regional
ANZAC DAY – Assessments from Anzac Day dawn services in Australia suggest crowds were well down, especially at Sydney’s Martin Place, amid tightened security by New South Wales Police.
Charged protesters seek stay
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
NAURU – The 19 Nauruans charged in connection with an anti-government protest nearly two years ago are seeking a temporary stay on their trial.
Call for restorative justice
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – With Tonga police continuing a crackdown on alcohol related crime, there is a call for the country to consider restorative justice for first time offenders.
Premier to review festival
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
NIUE – Niue’s Premier wants to review the island’s Arts and Cultural Festival next year if he wins his seat in next month’s election. Sir Toke Talagi admitted the festival, which takes place every two years, had deviated from what he originally thought it should be.
Writs see PNG elections get underway
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Writs for Papua New Guinea’s 2017 National Election were signed yesterday, kicking off the official period for the country’s five-yearly polls.
Runaway Tongans sent home
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Two more Tongan labourers have absconded from their New Zealand workplaces, triggering calls for a review of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
Pacific trade deal ready for signing
Friday 21 April 2017 | Published in Regional
Pacific – Negotiations for the Pacific regional trade agreement Pacer Plus have concluded in Australia after eight years of planning.
Death of newborn baby sparks angry debate
Thursday 20 April 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – The Fiji Labour Party says the recent death of a newborn baby at the Lautoka Hospital questions the state of Fiji’s health care facilities.
Former minister explains opposition move
Thursday 20 April 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – A former senior member of the Fiji government Pio Tikoduadua – who this week announced he is joining an opposition party – says he had concerns about the Fiji First Party’s direction before the landmark elections in 2014.
Large snake alarms villagers
Thursday 20 April 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – The discovery of a 2.5-metre-long long snake in Cuvu, Sigatoka, has sparked concern and fear among residents.
Four dead in sorcery revenge
Thursday 20 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Four men have been killed and another four are in intensive care in Papua New Guinea after a sorcery related attack in Eastern Highlands province during the Easter weekend.
Runaway refugee faces new charges
Thursday 20 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A young Iranian refugee who fled Papua New Guinea to seek asylum in Fiji has had charges against him thrown out of court in Port Moresby.
Pacific a testing ground for next world war
Wednesday 19 April 2017 | Published in Regional
MARSHALL ISLANDS – The vast Pacific Ocean has become a tactical arena in the preparations for a future world war, according to a veteran journalist and documentary filmmaker.
Drunk sailors went on rampage
Wednesday 19 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Refugees have challenged Australian government claims that shots fired during an outbreak of violence at the Manus Island detention centre were discharged by PNG military personnel into the air.
'No-one safe at detention centre'
Wednesday 19 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – An asylum seeker detained by Australia on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island says he thought he was going to die during the Good Friday attack on the detention centre by officers in the PNG navy.
Dismissal of clergy sex abuse charges sought
Tuesday 18 April 2017 | Published in Regional
GUAM – The Archdiocese of Agana in Guam has asked the US Federal Court to dismiss dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits, based on a challenge to a seven-month-old law that lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases.
And call for preservation of their language
Tuesday 18 April 2017 | Published in Regional
NIUE – Niuean leaders are calling for locals and Niueans living abroad to fight for the preservation of the Niuean language.
Niueans celebrate their art and culture
Tuesday 18 April 2017 | Published in Regional
NIUE – Niue’s fifth Arts and Cultural Festival is now underway with hundreds of participants and visitors taking part in the week-long event.
Right hand man joins opposition
Tuesday 18 April 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – A former right hand man to Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has joined the opposition, complaining of a climate of fear and intolerance of dissent within the governing party.
Shots fired in Manus Island melee
Tuesday 18 April 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force is investigating an incident in which military personnel fired shots at Australia’s refugee detention centre on Manus Island.