by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Preliminary election results in Kiribati indicate tight races for constituencies in and around the capital Tarawa, while the situation is different in the outer island electorates. Radio Kiribati has reported that some incumbent politicians, such as President Taneti Maamau in Onotoa and opposition leader Tessie Eria Lambourne in Abemama, appear…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer Indonesian security forces utilized tear gas and rubber bullets during clashes with demonstrators commemorating the 62nd anniversary of a UN accord that facilitated Jakarta’s absorption of the Papua region. According to Kimot Mote, a protest organizer, at least one protester sustained injuries from a rubber bullet, and 95 individuals were…
By Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The outgoing leader of the French Pacific fleet, Commodore Geoffroy d’Andigné, is raising concerns about growing tensions in the Pacific Ocean and the importance of being prepared. Reflecting on his tenure as the head of the French Pacific fleet in Papeete over the past two years, Commodore d’Andigné mentioned that…
by Francis Tuschek, Associate Editor Bougainville’s President, Ishmael Toroama, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of MP Father Simon Dumarinu, describing it as a significant loss for the region. The member of parliament for Central Bougainville in the Papua New Guinea National Parliament passed away last Friday. Toroama highlighted that Father Simon, a Catholic priest,…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer The people of Kiribati have participated in the initial phase of voting today. The Kiribati Electoral Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry for Culture and Internal Affairs, is overseeing the election process. There is limited information available online regarding the elections, with the primary official updates being posted on the…
Staff Wrtiters In August of last year, Japan initiated the release of water that had been collected from the Fukushima nuclear plant following a meltdown caused by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The response from Pacific leaders was varied, with some expressing support for the move and others strongly opposing it, particularly advocates for…
By Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Tonga has secured the support of Pacific economic ministers to be the host of the regional community resilience financing facility. The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have approved the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) to facilitate easier access to climate financing for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and early…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Business owners in New Caledonia’s capital, Nouméa, are noticing a concerning trend where individuals or newly established entities are increasingly providing “protection” services, as per a report by local public broadcaster NC la Première. These “protection fees” are being imposed on businesses that have not yet been destroyed by fire…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer France has authorized a significant Pacific “fact-finding mission” to New Caledonia to gather information from all involved parties amid the ongoing crisis. In an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific on Friday evening, Véronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador to the Pacific, announced the approval of a troika mission for fact-finding in…
by Francis Tuschek, Staff Writer The Chamorros, the native inhabitants of the Mariana Islands in Micronesia, are split between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands politically. Presently, Chamorro heritage is upheld through language sharing and education provided by The Guam Museum. Despite this, asserting themselves and having a voice as a US territory remains an…