WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency
The head of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. “Last
Guam to compete with other states for Compact impact funds
The distribution of migrants from the freely associated states has shifted since 2003, with more than half of the total number now spread out across the mainland U.S., the Department of the Interior said in a bid to
PIF secretariat rues being left out of regional dialogue
The Pacific’s premier regional body, the Pacific Islands Forum, is concerned that it is being left on the sidelines of a regional dialogue between India and Pacific island countries in Papua New Guinea later this
Moana Pasifika denied upset by last-second Blues penalty try
Moana Pasifka were denied their biggest scalp in Super Rugby Pacific after the Blues scored a late penalty try to win 31-30 in a dramatic finish at Eden Park. Following nine straight losses, Moana Pasifika were pipped
Fijiana Drua claim back-to-back Super W titles after defeating Reds
The Fijiana Drua have claimed back-to-back Super W titles with a 38-30 win over the Queensland Reds in Townsville. The Reds had claimed their previous match-up a fortnight ago with a second-half blitz. However, the Drua
Death of a newspaper
The closure of New Caledonia’s only daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes highlights the commercial and political challenges facing media across the Pacific. The death of a newspaper strikes hard — and not
Drua tame the Hurricanes at home
It was another Super Rugby Pacific thriller this weekend as the Fijian Drua tamed the Wellington Hurricanes at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, winning 27 – 24. Driven by the loud cheers of their home crowd, the Drua
Grants to drive change
Less than one per cent of direct funding reaches women rights organisations in the Pacific and this is just one of the reasons why a stand-alone Pacific Feminist Fund has been established to address the chronic
Heleina Young, the track sprinter turned try express in Super W
The flying feet of the Queensland Reds’ instant star Heleina Young had lived a lifetime in rugby but never a proper game of 15-a-side until 12 months ago. The astonishing rise of the former track sprinter from Suva
Australia to increase funding in the Pacific
A wide-ranging Pacific assistance package covering environmental, military, and economic support for Australia’s closest neighbours will be unveiled in Tuesday’s budget, as the Albanese government moves to
PNG Trade office in China eyed
China will be one of eight countries where Papua New Guinea will establish trade missions, Papua New Guinea’s Trade minister says. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said this following a recent
Shipping lobby group advises caution on climate targets
An influential shipping industry group has quietly warned shippers to think carefully before they sign up for a new plan to reduce pollution and eventually eliminate their contribution to climate change. The
Samoa in press freedom’s top 20
Samoa has jumped into the top 20 in the latest press freedom index released by the global group Reporters Without Borders out of 180 countries and territories assessed. It is one of only two Pacific nations in the top
Trade fragmentation risks 5% GDP reduction, WTO warns
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) warns members, including Fiji and the Pacific, of the risks of trade fragmentation. The WTO forecasts that fragmentation will likely reduce long-term global Gross Domestic Product
Marine sanctuary expansion alarms Pacific governors
The prospect of expanding a marine sanctuary has alarmed CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios, Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero and American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga. In their joint letter to President Joseph
Fukushima seafood businesses adapt as treated water release looms
With the release of treated water from the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture looming, embattled seafood businesses in the region fear fresh reputational damage to their products, Takaki Tominaga writes. By
Brown is first Vanuatu Female High Commissioner to Fiji
Women continue to make progress in diverse fields, as the First Secretary to the Vanuatu High Commission in Fiji was appointed High Commissioner, making her the first woman to be assigned to this high level position.
World Press Freedom Day: Media under threat and MIDA
The move by some countries across the region to introduce laws and policies to limit media freedom is a direct breach of their legal obligations under the UN human rights treaties to protect and promote freedom of
World Press Freedom Day: Advancing Pacific anti-corruption efforts through Teieniwa Vision
Being an anti-corruption partner is a long-time commitment, just like the Teieniwa Vision, says Kiribati investigative journalist Rimon Rimon. In February 2020, the inaugural Pacific Leaders Regional Anti-Corruption
How Tonga strikes a balance between king and democracy
The Pacific’s last remaining monarchy has taken a unique approach to balancing executive powers between the king and the parliament, Mele Tupou Vaitohi reveals. Tonga knows how to do coronations. When the current
World Press Freedom Day: Fiji success leads celebrations in 2023
The human rights context of journalism is essential for realising all other rights, and is a timely theme for the WPFD annual celebrations, says Pacific watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF). Speaking on this
Suidani ousted from post ‘after turning down Chinese bribes’
Daniel Suidani, an outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands’ closer ties with China, was ousted as premier of Malaita in early February after refusing “huge” bribes from Chinese businesses who threatened to have
75 percent of overdrawn BSP accounts settled in PNG
BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) group chief executive officer Mark Robinson, says as of Mondays the bank has recouped 75 percent of funds that were overdrawn in April, with an outstanding balance of less than K2
