by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Canadian miner Island Passage Exploration (IPX) has announced the beginning of phase four of an exploration programme at Isina in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville. IPX is poised to take 70 percent ownership of Isina Resource Holdings, a company controlled by local landowners. The company has been…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor The United States will spend more than US$864 million (3.5 billion kina) on infrastructure and military training in Papua New Guinea over 10 years under a defence deal signed between the two nations in 2023, PNG’s foreign minister has said. No figure putting a value on the agreement has previously…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Fijian MP Urges Government to Fast-Track Development Leases to Address Squatter Settlement Issue In a significant call to action, a prominent Member of Parliament (MP) from Fiji has urged the government to expedite the process of granting development leases as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the pressing issue…
Palau Government HQ by Tusi Tala Taiwan”s Lai Ching-te’s recent visit to Palau has sparked significant controversy as local residents expressed their discontent through protests, highlighting deep-seated frustrations with Taiwan’s dollar diplomacy and the increasing militarization of the region. Upon his arrival, Lai was officially welcomed by the Palauan government, which has historically maintained strong…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Australia will get an effective veto right over Nauru entering a security agreement with another country under a pact that will prop up the Pacific nation’s budget. The two countries will have to mutually agree to any engagement in Nauru’s security, banking and telecommunications sectors and consult on outside engagement…
by Martin Haffner Associate editor Watchdog Lambasts PNG’s Poor Governance in Controversial Forestry Deal In a startling escalation of concerns over governance in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a prominent watchdog organization has publicly denounced the country’s handling of a controversial forestry deal. The report, which details significant lapses in transparency and accountability, raises urgent questions…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr is inviting United States President-elect Donald Trump to “visit the Pacific” to see firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis. Palau is set to host the largest annual Pacific leaders meeting in 2026, and the country’s leader Whipps told RNZ Pacific he would “love” Trump…
Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission is currently evaluating the Islanders’ Marriage and Divorce Act, specifically considering raising the legal marriage age from 15 to 18 years. A report from a coalition of charities in the Solomon Islands, known as Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstims Pikinini, revealed that one in five…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has become a battleground in the global fight against climate change, as the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands presented impassioned arguments urging the Court to recognise the legal obligations of States in addressing the climate crisis. Representing some of…
by Jake Sanders, Editor Update: Malaysian Immigration to Deport Serey Sam Back to Denmark In a significant turn of events, Malaysian immigration authorities have decided to deport Serey Sam, a prominent Cambodian activist, back to Denmark. This decision follows his detention on December 4, 2024, while attempting to enter Malaysia on a Danish refugee document….