China firm wins Solomon Islands port project
The Solomon Islands has awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to a Chinese state company to upgrade an international port in Honiara in a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an official of the island
Kilner appointed new FASANOC CEO
The Fiji Association of Sports And National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has appointed Vanessa Kilner as its new Chief Executive Officer. Kilner who replaces Lorraine Mar takes up the position from her previous role as
U.S. envoy slams disinformation over Solomons ‘plot’
A White House envoy on Tuesday decried “disinformation and smears” about the United States’ motives in the Solomon Islands, after his meeting with the country’s pro-China leader was overshadowed by
Tonga heads to PacificAus Netball Series in April
Tala, Tonga’s National Netball Team will head into the 2023 PacificAus Sports Netball Series in Gold Coast, Australia from 24-29 April, as reigning champions. In 2022, the national netball team finished both the
Immigration detention in Nauru is harmful for children, study shows
A sample of asylum seeking children and young people (CYP) held on Nauru were found to have high rates of physical and mental health problems around the time of transfer from Nauru, according to new research. The study
Vessels registered to the Cook Islands, Palau targeted in shipping crackdown
Up to 1,000 ships flagged to the Cook Islands, Palau, Sierra Leone, and Togo will be targeted for safety, maintenance and seafarer welfare inspections across the Mediterranean Sea in the coming eight weeks by an army of
Air Vanuatu’s new fleet of eight airplanes
Air Vanuatu’s new fleet will consist of two Boeing aircraft, two additional ATR aircraft, and four Twin Otter planes, to service the country both internationally and domestically. Prime Minister Ishmael
Virgin Australia makes its long-awaited return to Samoa
Samoa’s harbourside capital of Apia is once again on the departures board for Virgin Australia, as the airline’s twice-weekly flight from Sydney returns to the sky from today, with Brisbane primed to restart on
Solomons to send 80 athletes to China for Pacific Games training
Dozens of athletes from the Solomon Islands will train in China for three months to sharpen their competitiveness for the Pacific Games in November, underlining the intention of both countries to make the sporting event
PNG Lewas crowned Pacific cricket champions
The PNG Lewas Women’s team have been crowned champions of the inaugural Pacific Islands Cricket Challenge 2023. PNG beat Vanuatu by 100 runs to 32 in the grand final in Suva Fiji, co-hosted by Cricket Fiji and the
Panuelo gears up for leadership transfer, candidates for FSM president named
After losing his bid for another term, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President David Panuelo has begun preparing for the leadership turnover to his successor, who will be elected by the 23rd FSM Congress on May
UN climate report an emergency siren: Greenpeace Pacific
The final report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Cycle is the final-hour warning before the clock runs out on 1.5°C, and we must pull every lever to achieve
Samoa PM pushes for Pacific voices to be better heard
Samoa’s prime minister says small Pacific nations need to be listened to and consulted more over regional security issues as bigger players crowd the region. In her first official visit to Australia, Fiamē Naomi
Asiana to launch weekly flights to Saipan
Less than two weeks after ending service to the destination, Asiana Airlines has announced they will be re-launching direct flights from Seoul to the Marianas next month. According to the airlines official
Fuel problems results in cancellation of Air Kiribati flights
The Kiribati Oil Company Limited (KOIL) has said it has plenty of JetA1 fuel but it has not been approved or passed for use by aircraft. KOIL made the comments regarding the cancellation of Air Kiribati flights. The
Power up renewables, power down fossil fuels: Boeve
May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org, says the latest IPCC report, released Monday, urgently demands a phase out of fossil fuels and a just transition to publicly and community-centered renewable energy and it
Micronesian Games delayed due to issues with facilities
The Micronesian Games Council said it’s delaying the 10th Micronesian Games in Majuro, Marshall Islands due to the unreadiness of the host islands’ sports facilities. It’s the second time the Games
Former Tonga PM Tu’ionetoa passes away
Former Tongan Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu’ionetoa has passed away at the weekend. He had been receiving medical assistance in the United States. Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Paula
Leader of International Seabed Mining Agency admonished by diplomats
Michael Lodge, the head of the United Nations-affiliated agency with jurisdiction over international ocean waters, has pushed diplomats to accelerate the start of industrial-scale mining at the bottom of the Pacific
Nations approve key UN science report on climate change
Governments gave their blessing on Sunday to a major new UN report on climate change, after approval was held up by a battle between rich and developing countries over emissions targets and financial aid to vulnerable
Senior U.S. official underscores Solomons-China concerns
A senior White House official on Sunday underlined U.S. concerns about China’s close ties with the Solomon Islands as he began a weeklong tour of Pacific island countries. Kurt Campbell, the U.S. National Security
Pacific ministers call for fossil fuel free Pacific
An ambitious and historical call to action for a fossil fuel free Pacific was endorsed Friday in Port Vila – demanding a phase out of fossil fuel production from major economies that continue to produce coal, oil and
US$1.7 million to support Vanuatu’s cyclone recovery: CERF
The United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has approved US$1.7 million funding for recovery efforts in Vanuatu following twin Category-4 cyclones Judy and Kevin earlier this month. The funding, the
