Independent Analysis and Reportage
By Lomanai Kenny in Port Moresby Misinformation on social media is the biggest challenge for journalists, says Belinda Kora, secretary of the Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) and founder of Women in Media (WIM). She gave her address at the closing ceremony of an Election Integrity Workshop for media last week. The week-long
Democracy Now! AMY GOODMAN: A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration has violated the constitutional rights of international students in seeking to deport them for their pro-Palestinian activism and criticism of Israel. In her ruling, US District Judge Noël Wise wrote, “In the United States, free speech, including the freedom to criticise the government
ANALYSIS: By Ali Mirin The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau, last week has pushed West Papua back to the centre of Pacific diplomacy. At an Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) caucus held on the margins of the Forum, leaders reaffirmed their longstanding call for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner
RNZ Pacific The motion of no confidence filed against the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands has been withdrawn. The motion against Prime Minister Matthew Wale, who has only been in the top job for more than three months, was set for debate in Parliament today. Manasseh Maelanga, who lodged the motion against Wale a week
Asia Pacific Report Pro-Palestine activists made strong pleas for stronger boycotts of Israeli products and from illegal Israeli settlements on indigenous lands today and again demanded that the New Zealand government sanction Tel Aviv over its Gaza genocide. In the 152nd week of continuous protests, the activists themed the global BDS – boycott-divestment-sanctions — campaign
By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced more financial assistance for New Caledonia to assist the financially-embattled French Pacific territory. The announcement follows a three-hour meeting with a bipartisan delegation led by New Caledonia’s President Milakulo Tukumuli this week. Lecornu said this was to serve as a lifebuoy to
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific Indonesia’s government has indicated that a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua is on track. This comes as Melanesian Sperarhead Group (MSG) countries agreed to push Jakarta to facilitate the visit, after years of apparent inaction. A request for the visit was made
By Lillian Hanly of RNZ Leaders in the Pacific have registered their concern over a nuclear-capable missile test conducted by China in July, calling on all states to provide advance warning ahead of any testing. Nauru – one of the 18 Pacific Island Forum (PIF) members – noted its dissent from the statement. Partners to
By Kaya Selby of RNZ Pacific Sacked Solomon Islands Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says further resignations from Cabinet are imminent, as Prime Minister Matthew Wale gears up to fight a no-confidence motion. The motion of no confidence is expected to be tabled on Monday, September 7. Lilo — who shares a political party with
Asia Pacific Report Israel has plans ready to forcibly remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip but is waiting for the United States to figure out where to take them, the Defence Minister has boasted, reports The New Arab and news agencies. Forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is considered a war crime under the
By Teuila Fuatai of RNZ Pacific in Koror, Palau The Solomon Islands is asking its fellow Pacific Island Forum (PIF) members to reconsider the presence of dialogue partners at the regional body’s annual leaders meeting, RNZ Pacific understands. The issue was raised at a closed meeting of the PIF on Wednesday morning in Palau, with
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific Melanesian countries are pushing Indonesia to facilitate a long-requested visit to West Papua by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights or have its membership in their regional bloc reviewed. A request for the visit was made by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries back in 2019, but it has