Record number of women candidates hope to make inroads in Bougainville polls
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThomson Reuters Foundation A record number of women candidates are contesting polls in the South Pacific archipelago of Bougainville this month, government officials and analysts said, hoping to build on a “milestone” election for women’s political representation in 2015. The general election is the first since Bougainville, which has a 250,000 population, voted […]
Bougainville’s youth pursue break from bloody past at presidential vote
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Young people in the South Pacific islands of Bougainville are seizing the opportunity to help reshape the future of the autonomous region of Papua New Guinea as they head to the polls this month to elect a new leader. The general election is the first since Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua […]
Pacific nations stay vigilant against coronavirus in cyclone’s aftermath
Reuters A powerful cyclone that hit the Pacific Island nations this week bringing death, injuries and destruction cannot be allowed to disrupt containment efforts against the spread of the coronavirus, officials in the region said. Cyclone Harold, a Category 5 storm with winds in excess of 251 kph passed through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji […]
Political chaos results in fall of Papua New Guinea PM
Updated at 5.20pmSydney, AustraliaReuters Prime Minister Peter O’Neill quit on Wednesday after losing the confidence of parliament during weeks of political turmoil in the South Pacific nation, but government supporters in parliament hoped to be able to retain power. O’Neill was met with applause when he announced to parliament in Port Moresby that he had […]
FIJI: FOR UPROOTED SURVIVORS OF A DEADLY CYCLONE, MENTAL SCARS LINGER
LAURIE GOERING, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on who Fijians are coping in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston – the first Category 5 storm to hit the South Pacific – which devastated parts of the island nation in 2016…