First aircraft in Air Niugini’s new fleet arrives
Air Niugini Boeing 737-800 next generation series aircraft will service the airline’s domestic and international operations, says acting chief executive officer Gary Seddon. “We are exceptionally proud to welcome
MSG meeting in Rarotonga appoints special envoy on West Papua
Meeting in Rarotonga in the lead up to the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has agreed to appoint a special envoy to engage in talks with Indonesia on the issue of West Papua. Following a
29 signatories on vote of no confidence motion against Vanuatu PM
A total of 29 Members of Parliament have signed and lodged a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tuesday evening, marking a month and one day since he assumed the role as Vanuatu’s 27th PM. This
The long, hard road to climate finance
It’s the classic Catch-22. Pacific and other small island developing states desperately need to access climate finance to survive the growing impacts of climate change. That much is well known. And the
Two-headed Monster, or Myth?
As the United States of America’s westernmost territory, Guam employs the unofficial but frequently used motto, "Where America's Day Begins", referring to the island's proximity to the International Date Line. A
Whose rule is it?
One month short of its first anniversary, Fiji’s three-party governing coalition is in disarray. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has topped off a series of bungled appointments by recanting on a major Cabinet reshuffle
Strengthening the Pacific’s nukes-free zone
A challenge for leaders in Rarotonga In August 1985, the Pacific Islands Forum held its annual summit in Cook Islands and adopted the Treaty of Rarotonga for a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ). Created at the
Whispers
DJ Albo On his recent trip to the United States, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was hosted at a state dinner in the White House. Some bright spark proposed that the 1970s band, The B-52s, perform at the
Pacific prepares for El Niño
As the Pacific approaches its cyclone season, Pacific Island countries are also preparing themselves for warmer and wetter conditions caused by an El Niño. In July, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Water shocks impact the food chain
“We often think of buckets for food security. But in the Pacific, it means water security,” said Dave Hebblethwaite, the Pacific Community’s Water Security and Governance Coordinator. To illustrate his
Tuvalu’s floating solar panels
In Funafuti, a small pond bordered by pig pens is now home to an innovative renewable energy pilot program, floating solar panels. Tuvalu Energy Corporation General Manager, Mafalu Lotolua says the project is a response
OTEC: Challenging the status quo
The proponents of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) are hoping that the technology will finally get a foothold in the Pacific, following their recent mission to Fiji. A Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’
Trends in food and beverage manufacturing
A global view Consumer concerns over cost, health and environmental sustainability are driving innovation in the global food and beverage manufacturing sector. Supply chains are being influenced by shortages of raw
From Samoa with alofa
“Our vision is to take Samoa products to the world,” says Nathan Wilson, Director of Wilex Samoa. “That was the founder, my father Tangaloa Eddie Wilson’s vision, to create a gateway for the Samoan people to get
Supporting Pacific cacao farmers
“We are chocolate and cacao manufacturers, but we call ourselves community cultural development practitioners which is what we all studied, none study chocolate making. The more beans we move, the more money goes into
Briefs
American Samoa American Samoa's new entry system for Samoan citizens went into effect on October 19. In September, the American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs proposed a change allowing Samoan citizens to travel to
Movers and Shakers
Tonga’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala has been nominated as the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. His candidacy was successful at the WHO Regional Committee
Ana Ellison-Lupena: Showing up for her heritage
In this second part of Islands Business’ preview of the Pacific Games in Honiara later this month, correspondent Alipate Pareti focuses on Ana Ellison-Lupena, who, at 16, is the youngest athlete representing the Cook
Kava exports are multi-million Kina commodity, says PNG Minister
Papua New Guinea has the potential to surpass Fiji and Vanuatu in kava exports, which is becoming a multi-million Kina commodity, said International Trade and Investment Minister, Richard Maru. Maru said that kava was
Opinion: A long-term fund to lift the Porgera mining curse
The last three decades of gold mining in Porgera (1989-2019) have been wasted, with little to show in terms of the socio-economic conditions of the landowners and people of Porgera-Paiela district in Enga Province,
COP28: German envoy has urged Australia to support an EU push to phase out fossil fuels
Germany’s international envoy on climate has called on Australia to support a push by Germany and the European Union for a phase-out of fossil fuels at the next UN climate summit, saying the world does not “have the
UN climate fund battle looms over U.S. stance on financing
A fight over a global fund to help countries deal with climate change is set to play out at a UN climate summit this month, after the U.S. objected to taking a greater role in the financing of it in a tentative
Guam has highest rates of lung cancer per capita in the world
Guam has the highest incidence of lung cancer per capita in the world and among the U.S. Asian Pacific islands, or USAPI. Why, is a question health providers who are part of the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer
First war cry for Team Fiji, CNMI swimmers looking to make big splash at Pacific Games
For the first time in Team Fiji history, they’ll have a war cry. Fans will witness it for the first time at the upcoming Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Team Fiji athletes and officials will present the war cry to
