Severe coastal flooding hits American Samoa and the Cook Islands
The full impact of huge sea swells across American Samoa and the Cook Islands is only starting to come to light. Severe weather conditions in American Samoa have resulted in damage to roads, infrastructure, property and
Vote buying is expected in PNG: Sinai
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has told media that vote buying and other corruption related offences are expected in any election in PNG. He said the 2022 National General Election is no exception,
Promising future for Pacific exporters: PTI Australia
Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia says despite half of the businesses responding to its export survey noting a decline in export orders over the past year, businesses are optimistic about the future. The most recent
Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative rides roughshod over established regional processes
On June 24, the White House announced the establishment of the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP), an initiative by Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States “for more effective and
Pacific Sustainable Tourism Criteria in the works: SPTO
The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will be working with TRC Tourism to develop the PacificSustainable Tourism Criteria. “Sustainable tourism development is now more important than ever as we begin to plan tourism
PNG elections and the economy: Marape vs O’Neill
It is often said that PNG elections are fought on local issues, and this is no doubt the case. However, national issues have certainly featured prominently in this year’s election campaign in the run-up to voting,
Access to finance ocean projects ‘very challenging’: Solomons MP Manele
While there are huge commitments being made and offered to assist countries to conserve, protect and manage their ocean resources, accessing finance for ocean projects is still a major obstacle for many Small Island
The future of Pacific ocean science
The Pacific can learn from the Indian Ocean when it comes to ocean science. Last week’s UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon devoted a full day to the role of the scientific community. Strong engagement of stakeholders
Nauru first COVID death; 10 active cases in Niue
Nauru has recorded its first death of COVID-19 as the country experiences its first community outbreak, while there are now 10 community cases in Niue. Nauru President Lionel Aingimea has expressed his condolences and
‘Welkam’ Back! – Vanuatu reopens international borders
The first international visitors who set foot in Vanuatu Friday after more than two years were given a warm welcome by excited tourism officers at the Port Vila Airport. String band songs greeted them as they arrived.
Six candidates want to be PM in PNG
Former deputy prime minister Charles Abel is the latest politician to announce ambitions to be Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s 9th prime minister in the 11th Parliament after General Election 2022 (GE22). The others who have
Community Bank of American Samoa proposes buying Territorial Bank of Samoa
A local group of investors is proposing they buy the Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS), the government-owned bank that started operating when Bank of Hawaii departed American Samoa four years ago. In a letter to
Samoa to host next CHOGM forum in 2024
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has ended in Rwanda with Samoa confirmed as the next host of the meeting. Samoa’s hosting of the 2024 event will be the first time a Pacific member country will
Tuvalu Foreign Minister cancels conference trip due to China protest
Tuvalu’s foreign minister landed in Brisbane on Monday after withdrawing from an international forum in protest against alleged Chinese coercion. Simon Kofe was due to arrive in Portugal for the UN’s Ocean
Nauru reports over 800 COVID cases
Nauru has reported an increase of 861 active cases of COVID-19 with 191 new cases and 4,597 tests conducted as of Wednesday June 22, 2022. In a statement released Thursday, Nauru health authorities have confirmed
Pacific fishery council recommends tuna catch limit
The Western and Central Pacific Fishery Council has recommended setting a 2023 catch limit of 2,000 metric tons of bigeye tuna each for Guam, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa. “Each U.S participating territory
PNG foreign exchange dilemma
As the Papua New Guinea 2022 General Election is well underway, the International Monetary Fund and leading banks say PNG has failed to manage its foreign exchange problems well. IMF joins BSP Financial Limited
Pacific Mini Games Update
The action continues at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games as athletes and competitors come together to compete under the clear Northern Marianas skies. The game’s organisers have strongly urged participants to maintain
Guam’s ‘resurgent economy’: Guerrero
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero on Wednesday painted a buoyant picture of Guam after four years of her tenure that was tested by the COVID-19 pandemic and sustained by an unprecedented stream of federal aid. Despite the
Vanuatu court sentence Bangladesh nationals for trafficking
Four Bangladesh nationals implicated in what has been dubbed the biggest human trafficking case in Vanuatu were sentenced this week, after a four-year court battle. Sekdah Somon, was sentenced to 14 years’
Foreign ministers discuss health, gender violence in Rwanda
Commonwealth foreign ministers have met in-person for the first time in almost three years in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Saturday. They considered multifaceted issues
Politics blocking U.S influence on ocean laws, warns military
American and Australian national security is at risk because the U.S. Congress has blocked the Biden administration from signing up to a convention on the world’s oceans that covers seabed mining, say experts
Pacific Mini Games Update
Toea Wisil ignite PNG track and field dominance Reigning pacific sprint queen, Papua New Guinea’s Toea Wisil has won the 100 metres finals once more at the Pacific Mini Games 2022. The 34-year-old sprinter clocked
