Embattled Pacific Island States build heft for climate push
Legal and scientific experts, government officials and representatives from civil society organisations from across the Pacific came together in Fiji recently to begin the momentous task of mounting a first-of-its-kind
Pacific judiciaries ill-equipped against technology, says Judge
Rapid global advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies have left judiciaries in the Pacific outdated and ill-equipped to tackle emerging challenges, “particularly when it comes to dealing
Movers and Shakers
Dr Filimon Manoni has assumed his new role as the Pacific Ocean Commissioner after serving the Pacific region as Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum since May 2020. Vanuatu's Minister of Climate
Fukushima discharge begins
Pacific remains divided As Pacific Ocean experts gathered in Fiji in August to discuss the role of the Pacific Ocean Commission, Japan begun discharging more than one million tonnes of treated radioactive water from the
Kiribati’s fuel crisis
Part of a financial crisis? Residents of Kiribati’s most populous island, South Tarawa, were welcomed to August by a fuel crisis that persisted for six days, disrupting the capital’s ‘business-as-usual’ mode and
Opinion: Seabed mining rules lapse is window for Pacific regulations
In late July, after weeks of fierce debate at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in Jamaica, deep-sea mining proponents failed to get an agreement for the immediate licensing of deep sea mining operations.
Power in the Pacific
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, Samantha Power’s final engagement for her August Pacific visit saw her don shorts and trainers to join some of Fiji’s most promising women
Opinion: What happens now that MEPC80 is behind us?
Next year the delegates of the 6PAC Plus will be back in London to determine the basket of measures that will accompany the newly adopted strategy to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of international shipping. The
Port investments and container safety
A regional wrap In Papua New Guinea, Steamships recently acquired Motukea North, a significant milestone in its plans to develop a 38-hectare site to the north-west of Motukea Wharf into Portside Business Park. “We
Where do I go to tell my story?
“There's a nation of men who were abused as little boys, who are walking around and are hurting,” says Letitia Shelton. Shelton is the author of Disruptive Voices of Pacific Men, an idea birthed during the
Whispers
WHO will be next regional health leader? Why is the Pacific Islands region fielding two candidates for the position of World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific? Tonga has
Briefs
American SamoaGovernor Lemanu P. S. Mauga said, “the livelihoods of over 2000 workers at the canneries are at stake” over a proposed Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Fowler: more than a star Matilda
Matilda’s forward Mary Fowler says she's a better player for her first Women's World Cup experience. "I have definitely improved. I've been fortunate to play so many minutes at this tournament," Fowler told
MSG Secretariat condemns Japan’s discharge of ALPS water
The Government of Japan has been criticised by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat for using the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report to justify what it calls the ‘mischievous and at worst,
Vanuatu elects Sato Kilman as prime minister, names new Cabinet
Vanuatu’s parliament elected Sato Kilman as the nation’s new prime minister Monday after a court upheld a vote of no-confidence in the nation’s former leader and amid China-U.S. rivalry in Pacific Islands.
China’s Shandong Province expands its footprint to the Pacific
While Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated waters into the Pacific from its Fukushima nuclear plant was drawing flak right across the Pacific, a high-powered delegation of Chinese ocean and marine scientists and
Solomon Islands opposition MP calls for investigation after U.S. cable says ‘replica’ Chinese guns were likely real
The Solomon Islands opposition is calling for an independent investigation into a contentious shipment of “replica weapons” brought into the Pacific Island country by China after publicly released U.S.
Pacific region vastly underserved by climate finance: Coral Pasisi
The Pacific region remains vastly underserved by access to climate finance, according to the Pacific Community’s (SPC) director of climate change and sustainability, Coral Pasisi. By her estimation, the region
FFA to try again in PNG for U.S. treaty money distribution plan
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency member countries have been unable to conclude an agreement for distribution of US$60 million a year that the United States government has promised for fishing access by the
Solomon Airlines inks partnership agreement with Air Vanuatu
The flag carrier of the Solomon Islands, Solomon Airlines has confirmed that it has inked its partnership with Air Vanuatu from Monday 30 October 2023 to further expand their mutual support. This shows why cooperation
Cook Islands elected to Executive Council of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
The Cook Islands has been elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission (IOC) for 2023 – 2025, securing 76
Australian police to stay in Solomon Islands until 2024 election
Australian police will stay in the Solomon Islands to provide security for a regional sporting event in November and national elections in 2024, the Pacific Island nation’s government has said. The number of
Kilman elected as new Vanuatu PM
Vanuatu’s parliament elected Sato Kilman as the nation’s new Prime Minister on Monday after a court upheld a vote of no-confidence in his predecessor, who had sought closer ties with U.S. allies amid
