PNG & Pacific News

Financial Review based in the Canberra bureau. Nicola SmithCanberra bureau chiefNicola Smith is The Australian Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief. She was formerly a foreign correspondent covering Asia and the European Union and joined the Financial Review in 2025. Reach Nicola securely on Signal @niccijsmith.03. Five-year plan endorsed for Pacific seismic network that warns communities […]

BA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (OFC)—Rewa FC came from 1-0 down to defeat Lae City FC and book their place in the semi-finals of the OFC Men’s Champions League, in an entertaining tussle in Ba. By virtue of their superior goal difference, the Papua New Guinea side knew a draw would be enough for them to

PORT VILA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —The United States (U.S) Embassy in Port Moresby, which handles U.S interests in Vanuatu, has defended the decision to permanently include Vanuatu in the U.S Visa Bond Programme, saying the measure is aimed at enforcing immigration laws and reducing visa overstays. The Embassy told the Daily Post

fishing HONIARA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (FFA)—Sixteen vessels of interest (VOIs) were identified during Operation Island Chief 2026 (OPIC26), one of the higher numbers recorded in recent FFA coordinated regional surveillance operations, as Members and partners stepped up fisheries monitoring activities across the region. The two-week long operation, coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency

PORT MORESBY, 14 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Papua New Guinea Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) officers will continue to investigate corruption allegations against public servants, politicians and others despite threats and intimidation against them, says acting commissioner Don Sawong. “Icac will treat any threats, harassment and intimidation to its officials with utmost seriousness,” he said. “I

decade in charge of FIFA with funding increasing from US$2 to US$3 million over a four-year cycle to US$8 million in the last round. Infantino inaugurated a new national soccer center in Papua New Guinea, funded by FIFA Forward money in 2023, and another has opened in the Solomon Islands. Vanuatu has a new stadium.

PORT MORESBY, 14 AUGUST 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —Papua New Guinea Rugby is worried more union players might be lured to rugby league, as it continues to be suspended by World Rugby. The interim president of the PNG Rugby Union, Vince Karawa, told RNZ Pacific from Port Moresby that the Australian government’s large financial investments in

SUVA, 14 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers are backing new regional principles for artificial intelligence and a safer digital environment as the Pacific enters a new phase of connectivity, with all Forum Members now connected to undersea telecommunications cables. Ministers supported the Pacific Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology Principles for consideration by Forum

PORT MORESBY, 14 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —About 4,000 to 4,500 jobs awaits for the Papua LNG project downstream operations, says ExxonMobil PNG national content manager Sam Koyama. Koyama said during the Papua LNG development forum in Port Moresby that ExxonMobil’s national content plan for Papua LNG downstream had three pillars. “For workforce development, the

PORT MORESBY, 14 AUGUST 2026 (EU- STREIT PNG)—Papua New Guinea has expanded its capacity to process cocoa locally with the inauguration of a US$2.8 million upgrade at Queen Emma Chocolate in Port Moresby. The new equipment is expected to double the factory’s output and allow more Papua New Guinean cocoa to be turned into higher-value