Call for a review of the ‘regional architecture’ to address the needs of Forum Members
With so many regional plans, strategies, frameworks – and now the 2050 Strategy, some Pacific countries are concerned with how benefits are flowing to member countries. There are now calls to review the ‘regional
Artists set sail for Marshall Islands hoping for Climate wake-up call
A group of artists will set sail for the remote Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean hoping their trip through one of the world’s most vulnerable regions will draw attention to the impact of climate change and
Palau Finance Minister welcomes audit of stablecoin project
Palau’s Minister of Finance Kaleb Udui Jr said he welcomes the audit by the Public Auditor of Palau’s stablecoin project as requested by the Senate. “We have nothing to hide. We have been working with
Q&A: U.S. considering security guarantees for three Pacific Island nations
U.S. Congress is reviewing a proposal from President Joe Biden to create new security guarantees for three Pacific Island states: the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. If Congress passes the Compacts of Free
Aimeliik Legislature calls for investigation of Rengulbai for alleged misconduct in office
The 12th Aimeliik State Legislature passed a resolution requesting Aimeliik Governor Browny Simer to investigate allegations of misconduct in office made against Aimeliik State Public Land Authority (AIMSPLA) Chairman
2023 Va’a World Distance Championship officially opened
Hundreds of participants from close to 30 countries marched in the early hours of Saturday in Samoa to mark the official opening of the International Va’a Federation World Distance Championship 2023. The parade
Inflation, interest rates cloud post-pandemic Pacific growth: World Bank
The resumption of tourism, higher public investment and construction have fuelled the Pacific region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 but a combination of persistently high imported inflation and interest rate hikes
PNG resource boom to last 30 years: Trade Minister Maru
Papua New Guinea is expecting a resource boom from next year because of at least five multi-billion kina projects in the pipeline, says International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru. “We don’t have just
PNG Power broke
Papua New Guinea State Enterprises Minister William Duma says PNG Power Limited has reached a critical point where all financial indications show that it is in danger of insolvency. “Major contributing factors over
Klaemet Save: Vanuatu’s new climate brand for a resilient future
Vanuatu has a new brand identity for climate information – Klaemet Save. The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme reports the new brand has been developed to focus attention on information products that
At least 36 people died in wildfires in Hawaii
A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll reached at least 36 and
Solomon Islands Opposition leader outlines weaknesses in Truth and Reconciliation Commission report
Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has revealed weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament in Honiara this week, Wale said firstly there is a lack of a
FEMM endorsed re-designed Pacific Resilience Facility
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting later this year in Rarotonga is expected to adopt and approve the redesigned Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) after it was endorsed by the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting
University of the South Pacific leans into AI
While many universities are discouraging the use of ChatGPT, the new AI tool, others are leaning into its use and offering courses dedicated solely to navigating the new technology. Professor Maurizio Cirrincione, Head
Can Women’s World Cup have spin-offs across the Pacific?
The Women’s World Cup being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia is showcasing the two countries to the world. With games played in excellent stadiums with the world’s best players on show, there are clear
Forum Chair calls for urgent rethinking of sustainable growth worries
The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown, says there is an urgent need for Pacific leaders to relook at how they have been handling sustainable growth in their
Pentagon eyes missile testing role for Australia
Australia could be a testing ground for U.S. hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said
Motion of no confidence against Vanuatu PM moved to next week
A motion of no confidence against Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau will now be debated next Wednesday, after the government didn’t appear at Parliament today. Twenty-five members of the Opposition camp attended
Petition for Tongan electoral reform
A petition calling for reform of Tonga’s electoral system so that the Prime Minister may be chosen by a popular vote (and not by the Members of Parliament in the House) has engaged the House this week. On Monday
Minimum wage rise increases private sector burden: Vanuatu Opposition
The newly introduced VT300 (US$2.49) minimum wage has increased the burden of the private sector, especially the small medium sized enterprises. This is one of the arguments that the Opposition bloc has cited in the
PNG Parliament Committee wants 40 doctors reinstated
A law passed by the Papua New Guinea Parliament to prevent public servants who contested general elections from re-entering the public service for five years is causing a severe shortage in a province’s health
ICJ extends submission deadline for Advisory Opinion on climate change
A new timeline has been approved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for written statements and comments on the landmark Advisory Opinion on the legal responsibilities of countries fighting climate change.
PNG’s foreign reps irk governor
Papua New Guinea’s Northern Governor Gary Juffa has raised concerns over foreigners representing Papua New Guinea to address the issue of climate change. “At a recent United Nations Framework Convention on
