New Zealand PM says no intelligence linking Sri Lanka attacks to Christchurch

Former Fiji national to be sentenced for swindling Ports of Auckland

A FORMER Fiji national will be sentenced later this year by the Auckland District Court having been found guilty by a jury of 50 charges of dishonestly using a document. Litia Vuniduvu was caught alongside her lover, former senior Ports of Auckland manager-turned fraudster Paul Wayne Bainbridge, for swindling the Auckland Council-owned company out of...

Water shortages could affect 5bn people by 2050, UN report warns

LONDON, 22 APRIL 2019 (THE GUARDIAN) – More than 5 billion people could suffer water shortages by 2050 due to climate change, increased demand and polluted supplies, according to a UN report on the state of the world’s water. The comprehensive annual study warns of conflict and civilisational threats unless actions are taken to reduce...

Fiji Government continues efforts to reduce fruit imports

SUVA, 22 APRIL 2019 (FIJI GOVT) – Reducing the trade deficit through the importation of fruits and vegetables remains a key priority of the Fijian Government through the Ministry of Agriculture. This was highlighted by the Ministry’s Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Development, Jone Sovalawa at the launch of Fiji’s Fruit Tree Orchards initiative at Volivoli...

Online debates monitored in Solomon Islands

HONIARA, 22 APRIL 2019 (SOLOMON STAR) – The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is monitoring online forums for any unlawful conduct as the country prepares to elect a new Prime Minister on Wednesday. Police Commissioner Matthew Varley made the warning following security concerns about posts on social media inciting protests. “RSIPF monitors social media...

Chinese company to build new Vanuatu finance ministry

PORT VILA, 22 APRIL 2019 (RNZ PACIFIC) – A Chinese company has won the tender to build Vanuatu’s new Ministry of Finance. The Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company will build the ministry on the site of the The Condominium Building which will be demolished. From 1906 to 1979, the building complex had been used by...

Queen celebrates 93rd birthday at Easter service

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the world’s oldest and longest reigning living monarch, celebrated her 93rd birthday on Sunday by attending the traditional Easter service at Windsor Castle. Elizabeth was accompanied by members of her family, including grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry, and William’s wife Catherine, at the Easter Mattins service in St...

China to show new warships as Beijing flexes military muscle on navy anniversary

BEIJING, 22 APRIL 2019 (REUTERS) – China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since its navy’s founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle. President Xi Jinping is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People’s...

Call for end to offshore detention after typhoid outbreak

ADELAIDE, 22 APRIL 2019 (PACIFIC SCOOP) – The outbreak of typhoid among refugees on Manus underscores the case for all to be removed from Manus and Nauru say advocates. The outbreak of Typhoid among refugees on Manus underscores the case for all to be removed from Manus and Nauru say advocates. Refugees have provided evidence...

Samoan shares spotlight with Greta Thunberg as leading global climate activists

APIA, 22 APRIL 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Twenty-year-old Samoan Brianna Fruean has been named one of the top 12 female climate activists fighting to save the planet. The list has been compiled by Global Citizen. Fruean shares the spotlight with names like Greta Thunberg of Sweden. “For the past 30 years, environmental activists have been...

NZ Super Fund invests in North America data centres

AUCKLAND, 22 APRIL 2019 (RNZ) – New Zealand Super Fund is investing up to $US115 million in North American data centres. The investment arm of New Zealand’s government-run pension will invest with the North American real estate and infrastructure owner/operator CIM Group. CIM Group has an existing portfolio of six data centres at various stages...

Air Kiribati introduces e-tickets for travellers

TARAWA, 22 APRIL 2019 (RADIO KIRIBATI) – Air Kiribati has introduced new e-tickets for travellers across the network. Air Kiribati CEO Tarataake Teannaki said the airline will introduce printed paper tickets in many of its ports instead of the manual coupon-style tickets. Teannaki said the new ticketing system will be rolled out fully across the network...

Waikiki flood concerns spur push for Hawaii shore protection

HONOLULU, 22 APRIL 2019 (AP) — Hawaii’s iconic Waikiki Beach could soon be underwater as rising sea levels caused by climate change overtake its white sand beaches and bustling city streets. Predicting Honolulu will start experiencing frequent flooding within the next 15 to 20 years, state lawmakers are trying to pass legislation that would spend...

Western welcomes Singapore court ruling

PORT MORESBY, 22 APRIL 2019 (THE NATIONAL) – Papua New Guinea’s North Fly MP James Donald says the people of Western welcome the ruling by the High Court in Singapore favouring the PNG Sustainable Development Programme (PNGSDP). The case was about a bid by the Government to have control over the PNG Sustainable Development Programme...

Facebook post puts man in trouble with the court

PORT MORESBY, 22 APRIL 2019 (THE NATIONAL) – A Papua New Guinea man has appeared in the Waigani District Court in Port Moresby charged with defamatory publication, cyber harassment and cyber bullying through postings made on Facebook against a public figure. It was alleged that on March 25 between 11.30am and noon, Turi Kuruwa, 47,...

NZ Prime Minister named in Time magazine’s most influential people list

AUCKLAND, 22 APRIL 2019 (RNZ) – New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has been featured in Time magazine’s list of most influential people for 2019 after her leadership in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks. Ardern is featured among leaders such as Pope Francis and U.S President Donald Trump in this year’s list. The...

Guam base commander: Competition with China ‘is real’

HAGATNA, 22 APRIL 2019 (GUAM DAILY POST) – “We are in a competition, and the competition is real,” Naval Base Guam commander Capt. Jeffrey Grimes declared, and the competition is with China. Grimes spoke about the growing regional influence of China in remarks to the Rotary Club of Guam on Thursday at the Outrigger Guam...

Legality of Sogavare’s candidacy for PM questioned

HONIARA, 22 APRIL 2019 (SOLOMON STAR) – The fate of Manasseh Sogavare as Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement’s (DCGA) candidate for Prime Minister of Solomon Islands will be made known on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday this week. Governor General Sir Frank Kabui will declare whether Sogavare is eligible to contest the post or...

Environment emerges as major issue for Australian voters

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The environment has emerged as a major issue for Australian voters, a poll showed on Sunday, but healthcare and the cost of living are the top concerns ahead of next month’s elections. For 32 percent of Australians, access to affordable health services is the biggest worry, followed by the cost of living...

Navua man’s role in Game of Thrones

GROWING up in rural Navua, Sireli Mcgoon did not enjoy the same comforts as other children. His home had no power and water, he walked and swam his way to school every day, and his family relied on fishing to make ends meet. These struggles are a far cry from the sets of the world’s...

Fiji imports $21.4m of fresh fruits annually

FIJI annually imports $21.4million worth of fresh fruits and $0.33million of processed fruits, the Agriculture Statistics 2018 Trade Data reveals. However, Ministry of Agriculture deputy secretary for agriculture development Jone Sovalawa during the launching of the Establishment of Fruit Tree Orchards initiative Volivoli Village in Sigatoka this week said reducing the trade deficit caused by the importation...

Filipino devotees nailed to crosses to re-enact crucifixion

CUTUD, Philippines (Reuters) – Hundreds of tourists watched in shock as actors dressed as Roman soldiers hammered four-inch nails through the hands and feet of a Filipino into a wooden cross for the 33rd time in a Good Friday re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The gory display of devotion, which the Roman Catholic Church in...

Wale and Sogavare the two candidates confirmed for Solomon Islands prime ministerial election

HONIARA, 19 APRIL 2019 (SIBC) – The Government House has received two candidates for the Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s post after the closure of nomination at 4pm Thursday. The two candidates for the post are Manasseh Damukana Sogavare Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) and Mathew Wale for the Solomon Islands Democratic Party’s grand Coalition....

PNG PM O’Neill accepts resignation of Attorney General Davis Stevens

PORT MORESBY, 19 APRIL 2019 (POST COURIER) – Papua New Guinea Attorney General and Justice Minister Davis Stevens has resigned as the country’s legal advisor. In a press conference late Thursday, Minister Stevens said he wanted to concentrate in his electorate because for too long he has neglected his people. He said he is still...

Regional

25th April