Briefs
American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Commerce Department has awarded Rescue Plan Act funds to support preparations for future public health emergencies. The American Samoa Telecommunications Authority was awarded US$2.8m
Kite Pareti
DMP puts Solomon Islands music on the map
Island Reggae, ragga and dancehall band DMP (Doorman’s Project) is preparing to tour the United States for the first time, after a year that has seen it release a new album and receive international recognition.
Are Marine Protected Areas effective for tuna conservation?
The first-ever quantitative evaluation of the contribution of no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to the conservation of tropical tunas in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has been published in Frontiers
Movers and Shakers
Fijian national, jurist and lawyer Imrana Jalal is the first woman from the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands region to be awarded the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honour by the World Jurists Association.
U.S. considers Solomon Islands tuna plant investment
The United States is considering investing in a tuna-canning facility under construction in the Solomon Islands. The United States, Australia, and New Zealand have been competing with China for influence in the Pacific.
PNG Govt announces inquiry into elections
The Papua New Guinea government has announced an in-house inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 National General Elections. This will be spearheaded by the PNG Special Parliamentary Committee on the 2022 General
PNG’s Kina Bank K30m venture faces tax threat
Kina Bank’s plan of a K30 million (US$8.5 million) investments to extend operations across Papua New Guinea is now threatened by the 50 percent tax on commercial banks in the country. Kina Bank chief executive
U.S. opens embassy in Solomon Islands
The United States has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to
Underwater volcano erupts in Vanuatu, residents alarmed
Vanuatu’s East Epi underwater volcano erupted Wednesday, hurtling ash into the sky and leading authorities to warn ships and aircraft to avoid the area. “We are telling locals to watch out for any strong
Vineyard manager worried about PNG workers’ pay, jury hears
Pay and visa details that weren’t adding up got a vineyard manager worried about a group of Papua New Guinea workers. The Hawke’s Bay vineyard thought it was getting Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from a
Tonga star supports Test series against England
Tonga and St Helens star Konrad Hurrell has thrown his support behind Kristian Woolf’s side putting their hands up to play England in a Test series to continue the growth of the two nations. England’s plans
Emerging leaders take concerns to Canberra
Ongoing issues of overpopulation, economic inequality, domestic violence, climate change, geopolitics, illiteracy, and many health challenges are worrying to many Pacific Islanders. For young emerging leaders from the
FSM president negotiates US$7 billion assistance for next 20 years
A month before national elections in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), President David W. Panuelo has visited Washington to lobby and secure top-line funding support for the FSM under the Compact of Free
Superfunds to host investment forum in PNG
Nasfund and Nambawan Super will be co-hosting the Pacific Island Investment Forum on behalf of the PNG Superannuation Industry in Port Moresby from 27-31 March, 2023. The Pacific Islands Investment Forum (PIIF) is an
PNG a ‘highly corrupt country’, report shows
Papua New Guinea has maintained its place as a highly corrupt country on the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Report, this time dropping one point down to a low 30 out of 180 countries. Apart from this one-point drop, PNG
Two FSM nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering
The Federated States of Micronesia’s Supreme Court has found two of its nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conflict of interest, in a case involving an unlawful international shipping
EU allows 18 months extension to Vanuatu
The European Union (EU) has given a further 18 months’ extension to allow time for the Vanuatu Government to complete reforming its Citizenship Programme. This follows a letter from Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau
Cook Islands tourists stranded as backlog of flights continues
A backlog of flights is likely to remain for at least another week in Rarotonga, as the Auckland floods disrupt travel plans for thousands of visitors, with some people having to rebook for the end of the week. Cook
A New Era of Island Leadership: Samoa is AOSIS Chair
Samoa will now lead the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) as Chair. The announcement was made at a special Plenary meeting on Monday featuring the official handover from the outgoing Chair, Antigua and Barbuda.
Oceania NOCs back IOC’s solidarity with Ukraine
The 17 members of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), its President Dr Robin Mitchell, Vice President Baklai Temengil-Chilton, Secretary-General Ricardo Blas and the ONOC Executive Board support the
Micronesian nations sign communique to advance cable project
After a series of high level discussions in Honolulu between senior officials from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Kiribati and representatives from Australia, Japan, and the United States, the group
Air Vanuatu to sue former Chairman and CEO
Air Vanuatu is currently taking steps to sue its former Chairman of the Board of Directors (BoD), Sam Firi, and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Atu Finau, for their outstanding VT8 million (US$ 68,844) debts to
Vanuatu Council of Chiefs headquarters burns to the ground
The headquarters of the Malvatumauri of National Council of Chiefs of Vanuatu has burned down. The fire broke out about 1am Monday local time. Police are investigating the cause of the fire in Port Vila. The