Movers and Shakers
The Pacific Community (SPC)'s Land Resources Division Director, Karen Mapusua, has been recognised with the Global Moana Agriculture and Community-Based Development Award during the recent Stars of Oceania awards
Kite Pareti
Briefs
American Samoa A new interactive tool allowing stakeholders to assess the vulnerability to sea-level rise in American Samoa was launched on September 25. Samoa News reported The American Samoa Relative Sea Level Rise
Opinion: 29 years of independence: Palau at a crossroads
Every year on the first of October, the US government marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, and so does the Palau government. But what appears to be a lost detail, yet historically significant, event marks the
SPBD businesswomen lauded at annual awards
The Vodafone Arena in Suva last week was full-packed with radiant businesswomen celebrating their efforts at the 12th annual South Pacific Business Development awards. SPBD Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Greg
COVID19 a wake-up call for Pacific countries to strengthen social security systems
The COVID19 crisis was a wake-up call for many Pacific Island Countries to enhance their social security systems. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its 14 Pacific Developing Member Countries (PMDCs) were
French criticism of nuclear ban treaty highlights Canberra’s dilemma
Can Australia rebuild a strategic military partnership with France at the same time as independence movements claim Pacific support? On 28 September, the Assembly of French Polynesia unanimously passed a resolution
Vanuatu PM Kilman no longer commands majority
Power transitioned from the Vanuatu Government to the Opposition in Parliament during the Fifth Extraordinary Session convened to debate the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Monday. The
Labour mobility a ‘double-edged word’: Samoa Chamber of Commerce President Seulupe
Samoa’s private sector members are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to take on the added expense of a minimum wage increase while navigating multiple challenges. That is the view of
U.S. groping for contingency plan amid expiration of COFA’s economic provisions
The U.S. economic provisions for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Marshall Islands under the Compacts of Free Association expired on 30 September without being renewed as the U.S. Congress continued to
Tuvalu, Kiribati climate migrants ‘need immigration pathway’
Immigration reforms are urgently needed to create a pathway for climate migration to Aotearoa New Zealand from the low-lying atoll countries of Tuvalu and Kiribati, a researcher says. “There are currently no formal
Australia says it has no duty to asylum seekers in PNG
The Australian government says it is not responsible for 70 asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea who have been evicted from temporary accommodation. The asylum seekers have been in limbo since the 2017 closure of the
History three-peats itself as Cleary masterclass guides Panthers to glory
Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary has produced the finest performance of his career to lead the premiers to a remarkable 26-24 triumph over the Broncos in an epic decider at Accor Stadium. Trailing by 16 points after an
‘Thankful’ Fiji edge Georgia to push Australia toward Rugby World Cup exit
Anxious and error-prone Fiji fought back to beat fading Georgia 17-12 on Saturday and remain on course for the World Cup quarter-finals, pushing Australia to the brink of elimination. Fiji scored two second-half tries
Springboks beat feisty Tonga 49-18 as they await knockout fate
Defending champions South Africa scored seven tries and moved a step closer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a bruising 49-18 victory over impressive Tonga in their Pool B clash on Sunday. Many of the 60,387
Opinion: Government shutdown threatens key U.S. effort to counter China in Pacific
A looming government shutdown threatens to upend a major multibillion-dollar diplomatic initiative between the United States and three Pacific Island nations that the Biden administration views as a cornerstone of its
Opinion: U.S. under pressure to conclude compact agreements in the North Pacific
Little information has emerged about how negotiations for the renewal of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the United States are progressing. The United States
Nauru Airlines set to secure U.S. foreign air carrier permit
Nauru Airlines has tentatively secured a foreign air carrier permit from the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT), allowing it to operate scheduled passenger and cargo flights between Nauru and Guam
U.S. weighs stationing Patriot air defence systems in Palau
The U.S. and Palau are discussing the permanent deployment of advanced missile defense systems in the Pacific island nation, Palau President Surangel Whipps said part of Washington’s efforts to check China’s
Fiji National Provident Fund acquires popular Garden City Complex
Fiji’s National Provident Fund has acquired the popular Garden City complex at Carpenter Street in Raiwai. The property, which sits on a freehold land area of 3 acres and 1.7 perches, is located just 2.5
Unprecedented victory for FLNKS in French Senate race
In a major electoral upset, Kanak independence politician Robert Xowie has won one of New Caledonia’s two seats in the French Senate in Paris. His second-round electoral victory over Loyalist leader Sonia Backès came
Federal programmes in Guam facing uncertainties amid looming shutdowns
Federally funded programmes on Guam are facing uncertainties as the U.S. government heads toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services nationwide by 01 October. “At this point there are no real clarifications of
Hundreds of tourists stranded as Air Vanuatu cancels flights
Hundreds of tourists have been stranded after Air Vanuatu cancelled a week’s worth of flights right as school holidays kicked off in New Zealand and Australia. The airline’s only Boeing 737 aircraft – which
Ok Tedi life extension approved
The OK Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) in Papua New Guinea has had its mine life extension approved from 2023 to 2050, with an expected dividends payments in excess of K30 billion (US$8.2 billion), says chief executive
