Proposed law on tainted cryptocurrency ‘terrible’ for human rights, says Cook Islands expert

A Cook Islands cryptocurrency expert is critical of a proposed law targeting tainted cryptocurrency, arguing it undermines human rights and doesn’t address the real channels of money laundering.  In the rapidly

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Four funds to get Marshall Islands’ cryptocurrency

By Dionisia Tabureguci The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) government has released the names of four funds that will receive a certain percentage of the country’s soon to be released government backed digital

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Coalition looms: Partnership key to next government

A coalition might be the option for Samoa’s leaders at the end of the August polls. Three parties seem certain to command the majority of votes – HRPP, FAST, and SUP. If winning comes down to forming a coalition,

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Brazil asks UN to ditch proposed levy on global shipping

Brazil has asked the UN to throw out plans for a new levy on global shipping that would raise funds to fight the climate crisis, despite playing host to the next UN climate summit. The proposed levy on carbon dioxide

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Fiji Business Briefs

Fiji Cabinet approves review of national minimum wage Fiji’s Cabinet has given the greenlight to a review of the national minimum wage and will also assess job classifications. The review will include a number of

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Government insists on value of crypto bill despite criticism

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Cook Islands has hit back at the critics of the draft Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023, saying the media did not highlight positive aspects of the Bill. The Bill,

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Briefs

American Samoa American Samoa’s government has passed a bill that will prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers, with fines of up to US$1000 for its importing, sale, and use. In 2019, a bill was drafted to

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Samoa wanted Chinese tourists – it got a dreamer and grifters instead

When the first direct tourist flight from China to Samoa landed in the Pacific Island country in late May, it was the culmination of years of effort to tap into the potentially lucrative Chinese market.  Top Samoan

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Chinese grifters tie up UN, Marshalls in scam

The stakes could scarcely have been higher for Hilda Heine, the former president of the Marshall Islands. For years, her remote archipelago nation of just 40,000 people was best known to the world — if known at all

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Niue Launches Ocean Protection Funding Initiative

Niue, a small island nation in the South Pacific, is taking a bold step towards its ambitious conservation goals with a first-of-its-kind sustainable funding initiative to safeguard its sovereign waters: Ocean

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Whispers

Trouble in the air (1) A Pacific airline is flying through a rough patch with its CEO receiving orders to leave by the end of the month. Earlier this year he dismissed two Fijian executives who promptly sued the

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Whipps responds to concerns over Chinese interests

Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr has responded to an investigative report that has revealed activity in Palau by “organised criminals with links to the Chinese Communist Party”, by stating that there is

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