Author: ngewakl
The number of visitors to Papua New Guinea rebounded strongly in 2022 and 2023, largely driven by the reopening of international borders following COVID-19 travel restrictions. This recovery reflected pent-up travel demand, resumed airline operations and the gradual return of business and leisure travel. By 2023, total air arrivals had reached 70% of their 2019 pre-COVID level. However, in 2024, total air arrivals declined by approximately 11%, interrupting the recovery trend. Arrivals data for 2025 have not yet been released, but first-half-year data indicates a slight recovery from 2024, with a 10% increase in the first six months of 2025…
PALAU President Surangel Whipps Jr says their government puts God at the centre of climate policy because they believe they own none of it – “everything on this planet belongs to God”. Palau is a tiny Pacific island nation of about 18,000 people across 340 coral and volcanic islands in Micronesia. It boasts barrier reefs, lagoons, world-class diving, rich marine biodiversity, ancient culture and strong environmental protections to maintain it all. “(God) has entrusted us with the responsibility to be good stewards,” Mr Whipps said in an interview with Enrique Ramirez, a senior policy performance and improvement officer at Brisbane Catholic Education. “When it comes to climate, caring for our common home is simply part of that responsibility.” Pacific island nations like…
Overview: A construction worker who fell into the water at the Minatobashi Bridge project site in Koror has been found, a day after he was reported missing. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which adds to a growing number of fatal workplace accidents involving foreign laborers in Palau. KOROR, Palau (April 21, 2026) — The body of a construction worker who fell into the water at the Minatobashi Bridge project site was recovered Friday, a day after he was reported missing. The current Minatobashi bridge connects Malakal Island and the Malakal port to the rest of Koror State.…
[Source: Reuters] A worker died on Sunday after being injured during the assembly of a stage for a public concert featuring Colombian pop star Shakira in Rio de Janeiro, the state fire brigade said in a statement. The victim suffered severe crushing injuries to his lower limbs after becoming trapped in a lifting system, the brigade said, citing witness accounts. Shakira is set to perform on Saturday at what has become a major event in Rio de Janeiro, that has previously attracted millions of tourists to watch famous performers present free concerts on Brazil’s iconic Copacabana beach. Source link
Fiji’s Environment Ministry says a decision on the waste-to-energy proposal can only be issued following the completion of the full technical and regulatory review. Photo: Faeboo / Fiji Ministry of Environment and Climate Change The Fijian prime minister has thrown his government’s support behind a controversial waste-to-energy project at Vuda Point in the country’s Western Division, despite “a delay”. The multi-million-dollar ‘Fiji Energy from Waste Project’, backed by Australian billionaire Ian Malouf and Fiji-born businessman Robert Cromb’s company The Next Generation (TNG) Fiji, has been making headlines across local and Australian media. The proposed development in the Vuda-Saweni area between…
In July 2024, a group of students from the Australian National University attended an in-country field school in Papua New Guinea, funded by a New Colombo Plan Mobility grant. The field school focused on the political economy of service delivery and included meetings with stakeholders from the private, government and non-government sectors. We also met with students from the University of Papua New Guinea and Divine Word University. In this testimony, we reflect on our experiences in PNG and the lasting impact this opportunity has had on us as participating students. The field school involved travel across metropolitan and regional…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will meet with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. when he visits this week for what will be the first visit to New Zealand by a Palauan president. The visit comes as Palau prepares to host this year’s Pacific Islands Forum, with New Zealand set to host in 2027. “I look forward to discussing how New Zealand and Palau can continue to work together closely on the key issues facing the region, particularly ahead of our respective Forum hosting responsibilities,” Mr Luxon says. “As consecutive Forum hosts, we want to make the most of the next two…
Overview: A fast-rising number of tuberculosis cases in Palau has triggered a public health alert, with officials urging residents to recognize symptoms, take precautions and get tested early. Officials warn public to watch symptoms and follow prevention measures By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau (April 20, 2026) — An unusually rapid rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases has prompted Palau’s Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHHS) to issue a public notice, urging the public to remain vigilant, recognize symptoms and follow preventive measures. As of April 17, health officials confirmed eight TB cases in the first four months of 2026…
[Photo Credit: Reuters] U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the suspect accused of trying to attack administration officials at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner had an anti-Christian manifesto and “a lot of hatred in his heart” but was stopped well short of the hotel ballroom hosting the event. Trump told Fox News that the suspect was “a sick guy” and that his family previously expressed concerns about him to law enforcement officials. The suspect, whom an official identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, was arrested at the scene of the event in Washington,…
This article draws on peer-reviewed research informed by analysis of Samoan media coverage. It reflects on Starlink’s entry into Samoa and what it reveals about public communication, policy and regulation during the entry of new technologies. Internet access varies across the Pacific Islands region. Data is more expensive in some countries than in others. Internet speeds differ between locations. Reliability of signal varies. Some communities remain without network coverage. In just the last few years, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet service has entered the Pacific. Regulatory responses have varied, meaning that Starlink status differs between Pacific countries. We recently published…