U.S. negotiator expects to sign new deal with Marshall Islands this week
The United States has finalised a 20-year extension to its agreement on ties with the strategic Marshall Islands and expects to sign the US$2.3 billion deal on Monday, chief U.S. negotiator with the Pacific island
WHO vote today: 2 Pacific Islanders in the mix
Western Pacific members of the World Health Organization are meeting this week, and today they will be voting to nominate the next WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. There are two Pacific Island nominees in
Black mist across the desert
Yami Lester was ten years old when a British atomic weapon, codenamed Totem 1, was detonated at Emu Field on 15 October 1953. The isolated test site in the desert of South Australia was downwind from his home at
Tonga charters flight to evacuate Tongans from Israel to London
Thirty Tongan nationals have been safely evacuated from Israel, including some from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, on a 61 passengers flight to London, chartered by the Tongan Government. The flight departed at 1:38pm
Fiji Airways says Israel charter was a commercial decision
Fiji Airways says its decision to operate a charter flight to Israel was based on purely commercial considerations. Amidst the chaos of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, Fiji Airways safely retrieved more than 200 Fijians
Iroga optimistic on Solomon Islands media sector
A veteran Solomon Islands journalist says the country’s media industry is vibrant and amongst the most independent in the region. Robert Iroga, founder and publisher of Solomons Business Magazine recently told
Youth at the heart of building resilience
Advocating for the availability of financial aid from the government has become one of the key strategies for Pacific youth working towards community resilience. Sotiana Sorovakatini of the Bua Urban Youth Group said
Fiji’s low youth vote due to address records
A drastic drop in the voter turn-out for young people is of concern for the Fiji Elections Office. Only 58.46% of eligible voters aged 18 to 20 years voted in the 2022 general election. The Acting Supervisor of
Joint feasibility study set for a possible free trade agreement between PNG and China
A joint feasibility study is set to begin next week for a possible free trade agreement between Papua New Guinea and China. According to The National, International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the cost of the
New York man caught smuggling butterflies from Solomon Islands
A New York man from Long Island was charged Tuesday with smuggling more than US$200,000 worth of wildlife in and out of the Solomon Islands. This included deceased butterflies known as “birdwings,” which are known
Commonwealth Finance Ministers meet in Marrakesh to tackle overlapping global crises
Commonwealth Finance Ministers met this week in Marrakesh, Morocco to discuss the reform of the global financial architecture, with particular attention to two pivotal areas, scaling up development finance and
World Bank targets dirty subsidies to fund climate action
The World Bank is seeking to persuade governments to take money away from subsidies for fossil fuels and invest it in good causes like climate change. Governments around the world currently spend over half a trillion
Fijian fishermen lost at sea for nine days ‘found’
Three Fijian fishermen have been found by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, nine days after they were reported missing aboard their boat. The fishermen, aboard the Lewa, left Lautoka planning to go fishing at Nanuya
Will Smith sails into PNG’s Rabaul Harbour
Many anticipated the arrival of Hollywood actor Will Smith to Kokopo would be via a private plane, however, with all eyes peeled towards Tokua, the Fresh Prince of Belair opted to cruise into Rabaul Harbour on Tuesday
PNG eyes China for more ‘cheaper’ loans
Cheaper loans will be a key agenda for PNG officials when Prime Minister James Marape leads a delegation of government and business leaders to China for bilateral talks next week. The Post Courier said Treasurer Ian
Pacific Small Island States ramp up efforts for COP28
Less than two months ahead of the upcoming COP28 meeting in Dubai, leaders and officials from Pacific Small Islands States (PSIDS) are meeting in Samoa to consolidate their positions ahead of the annual, global climate
Typhoon Bolaven passes Northern Marianas without major damage
Typhoon Bolaven missed directly hitting any of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) travelling between Rota and Tinian. Typhoon Bolaven was upgraded to a Category 1 typhoon before passing through the CNMI, bringing
Vanuatu Opposition labelled Salwai Government as unconstitutional, MP Gracia Shadrack suspended
Vanuatu Opposition bloc of former Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, has raised concerns over the election of Charlot Salwai, Member of Parliament of Pentecost and President of the Reunification Movement of Change (RMC), as
Indonesia cancels West Papua rights meeting with Melanesian nations, delegate says
Indonesia cancelled a regional meeting this week on the human rights situation in its Papuan provinces on the grounds that the leaders of Melanesian nations weren’t attending it, a member of Papua New Guinea’s
Patriot missile plan stirs debate in Palau
Stationing a U.S. missile system in Palau would be for security not aggression as the Pacific island country’s close relationship with the United States means it is already a target of possible attack, President
Tonga bow out with World Cup win over Romania
Solomone Kata scored two tries as Tonga gave retiring coach Toutai Kefu a winning send-off with a seven-try 45-24 victory over Romania as the two canon-fodder teams of the Group of Death served up a cracker after
Quarterfinals for RWC 2023 confirmed, Portugal secure historic win over Fiji
The fixtures for the quarterfinals of Rugby World Cup 2023 have been confirmed with Fiji just squeaking through to meet England. Host nation France will play reigning and three-time champions South Africa and the
Charlot Salwai elected prime minister of Vanuatu
Vanuatu’s prime minister Sato Kilman has been voted out through a motion-of-no-confidence in the country’s parliament Friday in Port Vila. Radio New Zealand reports that the motion was carried by a show of
