US$50 million Vanuatu twin cyclone disaster cost
The initial estimate of the recovery cost following Vanuatu’s twin cyclone disaster is estimated at six billion vatu (US$50 million). Cyclones Judy and Kevin caused extensive damage and plunged parts of Vanuatu
High Seas Treaty exempts deep-sea mining from stricter rules
Deep-sea mining will be exempted from environmental impact assessment (EIA) measures established under a landmark international oceans treaty, a move campaigners fear could undermine protection for the seabed. The High
Forum Chair calls for adoption and ratification of high seas treaty to be fast tracked
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown has welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the key substantive issues that will frame a new International Treaty on the conservation and
Komaitai sees bright future for Fiji female rugby players
Growing up on Bau island, Fijiana Drua Manager Alisi Komaitai says rugby was not something for women. But Komaitai bucked the status quo and braved getting a ‘smack’ for the love of rugby. Komaitai reminisced about
Australia Foreign Minister Wong backing Waqa as PIF secretary general
Australia will stand behind Baron Waqa, the controversial pick as Pacific Islands Forum leader, despite his chequered record as Nauru president. The 63-year-old has been nominated by Micronesian nations to be the next
Australian Coalition to oppose Pacific visa lottery
The Australian federal opposition has ruled out backing a new Pacific visa lottery scheme, labelling it as arbitrary and patronising to the Pacific community at home and abroad. Last month, the government announced
Marape: Chinese stability ensures global economy has a stable outlook
Beijing’s newly appointed special envoy to the Pacific has underlined China’s investment in infrastructure during his first official trip to the region, as Australia and the United States step up efforts to keep
PNG Pacific Games venues deteriorating
Termites are slowly and surely going about their usual daily business of rotting out the K54 million (US$15 million) worth state of the art Rita Flynn Indoor complex. The venue known to be the home of PNG netball as
Marape orders corruption watchdog to investigate PNG Ports
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape says the country’s corruption watchdog will investigate the state-owned PNG Ports Corporation in response to revelations by the ABC. Last week the ABC’s
Compact impact aid expiring this year but discussion remains in the air
Washington has completed its negotiations with the freely associated states, pledging the renewal of U.S. economic provisions under the Compacts of Free Association. Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the
American legal expert: Marshall Islands voters must approve Compact
In what amounts to a bombshell legal opinion, one of the top American constitutional law experts who also was the legal advisor to the Marshall Islands constitutional convention that wrote the nation’s constitution in
