Angola reaffirms commitment to host OACPS Summit in 2022
The head of Angolan diplomacy, Téte António has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to host the 10th summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in 2022.
In a statement, Minister Téte António said that holding the summit in Luanda is one of the priorities of the presidency of the Council of...
Post-election government formation in Tonga stretches out
It will now be the third week of December at the earliest before Tongans find out who their new leader will be.
Voters went to the polls on 18 November to elect 17 People's Representatives with the nobles choosing nine from their cohort.
Ever since there has been a period of intense horse-trading, from which the caretaker prime minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa,...
WCPFC tuna fishery needs better management: Pew
By Iliesa Tora
The Pew Charitable Trusts has called for better management of the tuna fisheries of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
In a statement released to the 18th regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission(WCPFC), which is being held virtually from 29 November to 07 December, Pew called for improvements across the board in major areas...
Former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark wants more focus on development amid unrest in Solomon Islands
New Zealand is sending another contingent of 50 military and police to Solomon Islands this weekend to help maintain the peace in the capital Honiara.
The deployment announced earlier this week will join an initial group of 15 peacekeepers who have already arrived from New Zealand, and more than 150 others from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Former New Zealand...
Minister Payne arrives in Palau to advance an open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marisa Payne said her visit to Palau is to advance” an open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.”
Payne will be in Koror from 02 - 04 December 2021.
In her speech, she said she will also formally open Australia’s Embassy in Palau.
Minister Payne said her visit build upon her recent in-person visits to partners in the Indo-Pacific region...
Honiara Riots: Local Journalists share stories of harassments
By Mike Tua
Face to face with angry rioters threatening physical attacks, local mainstream and freelance journalists and photographers in the Solomon Islands were confronted with an unsettling reality during the three days of rioting in Honiara.
Local journalists in the country equipped with their cameras and limited protection were working solo on assignments for their respective newsrooms when the event...
Solomon Islands PM looks forward to beat vote of no confidence
The ruling Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Government Advancement (DCGA) government has the numerical strength of 35 members ahead of the motion of no confidence on Monday, 06 December.
Only 49 members are eligible to vote during the motion of no confidence after Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology and MP for West Kwaio, Titus Fika died...
An expanding membership and new vision for the future for the Pacific Community
The 51st Meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA 51) and 12th Conference of the Pacific Community (SPC) concluded this week with the adoption of the organisation’s new 10-year strategic plan and the return of the United Kingdom as a full SPC member.
CRGA 51 was chaired by French Polynesia, while Vanuatu was host for the...
Solomons unrest fuels Pacific island concerns over U.S-China rivalry
The civil unrest suffered by the Solomon Islands in the past week raised alarm among leaders of other Pacific island nations that rivalry between China, Taiwan and the United States risked aggravating their region's social and economic problems.
"I think what is happening in the Solomons is something we all should be paying serious attention to, because it can happen...
Solomon Islands PM calls on Opposition Leader to resign, warns Premier Suidani
Solomon Islands Prime Minister has called on the Member for Aoke Langalanga to resign from Parliament, in line with section 50(b) of the Constitution.
The call follows allegations that Matthew Wale was involved in the recent riots and was communicating with the rioters. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare revealed this in his opening statement on Tuesday during the debate to adjourn...