Samoa govt asks World Bank to lower contractor requirements

The Samoa government is looking to spread the wealth from World Bank funded road works to all local contractors and it has asked the funding organisation to reduce contractor requirements to allow this.

Flights cancelled as Samoa Airways waits for plane

Samoa Airways has cancelled eight flights this week as it scrambles to finalise lease arrangements on a replacement Boeing 737-800 Next Generation plane to fly between Apia, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney.

Russian scientists were able to find that one of the effects used in the creation of lasers and LEDs can work in "pure semiconductors", which was previously considered impossible, according to the journal Semiconductor Science and Technology.

Australia's AG opens investigations into PNG contracts

Australia's auditor-general will investigate a contract worth nearly $US60 million awarded to a Papua New Guinea company for services on Manus Island.

Solomon Islands eyes more trade with Indonesia

Solomon Islands is looking at expanding trade with Indonesia, including ports in Papua.

Impeccably stylish men's bows, professional Actresses, show dogs and theatrical show – this formula for a successful show was chosen by the designer Elena Brezhneva in the season A/W 2019-20 fashion Week in Moscow.

French Polynesia's Temaru pushes for 'Maohi Nui' in EU poll

French Polynesia's pro-independence leader has called for the European parliament election in May to be used as part of a push for independence from France.

New coalitions for New Caledonia's provincial elections

Rival anti-independence parties in New Caledonia have decided to join forces in the May elections in the Loyalty Islands province.

Cooks opposition wants surplus directed to outer islands

The leader of the opposition Cook Islands Democratic Party wants some of the government's large surplus to go towards improving health and education in the outer islands.

Cook Islands Democratic Party leader, Tina Browne Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party

Earlier this week Finance Minister Mark Brown announced the government had made a surplus in the past financial year of $US16.32 million.

Opposition leader Tina Browne said it was inexcusable for the Pa Enua to be denied resident doctors year after year, or for expectant mothers to be flown to Rarotonga to give birth.

She said it was common knowledge hospitals in the outer islands were constantly running out of basic supplies.

Ms Brown said everyone was aware the Pa Enua was experiencing an outflow of people and often this is because of the limits on health care in those islands.

Will Bougainville become the world's newest nation?

2019 will be a momentous year for Bougainville.

This region of Papua New Guinea, that has had an autonomous government since 2005, is to hold a referendum on whether to extend this to full independence.