Is the Pacific moving fast enough on Kava protection?
Pacific Island nations are considering implementing Geographical Indication (GI) protections for kava to safeguard its reputation and uniqueness. This move aims to capitalise on the growing global demand for kava and
Pacific Islands eye medicinal cannabis cultivation
But social concerns remain Pacific governments are grappling with balancing the potential economic benefits of legalising medicinal cannabis cultivation with social concerns, as they eye the potentially lucrative new
Whispers
Nauru-Fiji-TuvaluWhen Nauru did the flip on Taiwan in February, it sent the temperature soaring in Canberra as all eyes turned towards the upcoming election in Tuvalu, to see whether a pro- or anti-Taiwan candidate
“When are we going back?” – Nuclear Displacement in the Marshall Islands
Gina Langinbelik Anuntak is a student at the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI). She is President of the CMI Nuclear Club, a student association that unites Marshallese students to understand the legacies of the 20th
Drua drive sports tourism upsurge in Fiji
Two years after the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika joined Australian and New Zealand teams in the Super Rugby Pacific, the Drua’s fortunes on the field are driving a noticeable impact on the Fijian economy, adding to
Human Rights Defenders build regional protection strategy
Pacific human rights defenders are building a regional protection strategy in the face of challenges ranging from inadequate judicial systems to colonial-era laws and heavy-handed law enforcement. Office of the United
Briefs
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas A special committee has been formed to look into the unpaid utility bills of the government of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, which has now ballooned to a whopping
FFA launches new electronic systems to strengthen Pacific fisheries monitoring
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has launched two new electronic systems built for vessel registrations and Port State Measures. FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen introduced the Electronic Vessel
Josh Tatofi’s Aloha for Hawaiian Mele
Hawaiian artist - Hoku Award winner and Grammy nominee, Josh Tatofi - picked up the Best International Pacific Artist award at New Zealand’s Pacific Music Awards in 2023, adding to his growing international profile
Movers and Shakers
The Pacific Community (SPC) has appointed Elsie Fukofuka as its Regional Director, Polynesia, stationed at its regional office in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tuvalu’s new Prime Minister, Feleti Teo has named key ministerial
Fiji Business Briefs: Chequing-out, Pacific Green growth, Movers and Shakers
Bank cheques phase out While the phasing out of cheques by Fiji’s banks is inevitable, indications from the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) are that there is still flexibility around the timeline. RBF Governor Arrif Ali
Opinion: Communities worry anew as PNG revives seabed mining plans
Chris Malgan sits in his outrigger canoe, singing and shaking a ring of coconut shells in the water next to the boat. The inky skies backdropping the reef portend a late-morning storm that will bring a deluge of rain
Opinion: Tonga MP Piukaka’s rhetoric about the King hand picking Noble MPs is a serious threat to our half-cooked democracy
Member of Parliament Piveni Piukala’s proposal to revoke Tonga’s current nobility electoral system to allow the king to hand pick them for Parliament would be a fatal blow to Tonga’s fragile democracy. It flies in
Internet cost cheap says Samoa regulator
Samoa Telecommunication regulator, Lematua Gisa Purcell has maintained that the current internet price is cheaper compared to previous years and the network cost will drop again before the end of the year. Lematua
Fiji Cabinet approves bid for NRL license
Fiji’s Cabinet has agreed that Rugby League Bid (Fiji) Limited facilitate the bid to secure a licence to enter the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) premiership competition with men and women rugby league
Economist outlines six problems affecting PNG
Westpac economist Justin Smirk says there are six problems affecting the national economy and businesses in Papua New Guinea which are: shortage of expertise and skills, foreign exchange, security, unreliable utilities,
Bendigo Bank delays exit from Nauru as Chinese state-owned bank emerges as replacement
Bendigo has temporarily delayed its plan to pull out of Nauru and close the Pacific Island country’s only bank after a Chinese state-owned bank signalled it might be willing to fill the void, setting alarm bells
Opinion: Mobile internet prices falling in Papua New Guinea
After years of high prices for mobile data in Papua New Guinea, consumers are now able to access lower prices that represent better value. We have been monitoring mobile internet prices in PNG since the start of 2020.
China Southern Airlines to increase flights to PNG
China Southern Airlines is considering the possibility of increasing the number of its flights to PNG. Last December, the Chinese airline company landed for the first time in PNG opening a direct route between
IMO to open regional office in Fiji to serve the Pacific
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will open its seventh Regional Presence Office, in Suva, Fiji, to serve countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and
Pressure builds at IMO meet for charge on global shipping sector’s CO2 emissions
The European Union, Canada, Japan, and climate-vulnerable Pacific Island states are among 47 countries rallying support for a charge on the international shipping sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, documents reviewed
Blas: CIFA doesn’t clear out outstanding tabs for Compact impact owed to Guam
The U.S. federal government still owes Guam for the costs incurred by the territory on services provided to migrants from the freely associated states over the past 20 years, Senator Frank Blas Jr. said. According to
CNMI seeks to address fiscal crisis
CNMI leaders on Sunday announced plans to revise the government’s current budget to address the “urgent fiscal challenges” facing the commonwealth. “While it’s not easy to share this news, I believe we