Hiring of new Bangladesh workers now allowed in Palau
The ban on hiring new workers from Bangladesh in Palau has been lifted under Executive Order No. 478. In 2009, EO 274 prohibited persons from Excluded Countries, including Bangladesh, from entering Palau without a visa.
Australia to build Vanuatu’s national security centre
Australia will build a new national security hub for Vanuatu and beef up its economic support for the Pacific island nation’s key sectors. In a joint statement released after a meeting in Canberra, Vanuatu Prime
PNG PM to launch “constitutional review”
The constitutional law review of the forms and system of Papua New Guinea government for the election of the prime minister by the people will be launched by Prime Minister James Marape. The government has directed the
Moana Pasifika aim for playoffs in second season of Super Rugby
A year wiser and no longer rookies, Moana Pasifika are realistically expecting to finish higher up in Super Rugby Pacific 2023. The Pacific team finished bottom of the table in their debut season in 2022 with two wins
Pacific Island leaders expect Biden visit in near future
The leaders of five Pacific island nations said on Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden would soon visit their region for a leaders’ summit, in what experts said would be a significant move in U.S. efforts to push
Nauru passes Micronesian Summit chairmanship to FSM
Nauru President Russ Kun has passed over the chairmanship of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS) from Nauru to the Federated States of Micronesia at the 21st meeting of the MPS in Pohnpei this week. President
USP welcomes home Vice Chancellor with prayers, standing ovations…and soon, FJ$10million
The two-year exile of the University of the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia from the university’s Suva campus ended with a thanksgiving ceremony last night. Professor Ahluwalia told regional
MSG responds to “misrepresentation”
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat says there are no Indonesians recruited at the Secretariat, nor has it made any decision nor an official announcement to this effect. The Secretariat has 30 positions on
NZ visa process ‘heartbreaking’: Samoa Minister of Police
The processing of New Zealand visa applications lodged by Samoans keen on visiting family is in the spotlight again, with a Cabinet Minister describing it as “embarrassing and heartbreaking”. Samoa’s Minister
Fiji to host Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat
The Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat will be held in Nadi, Fiji on 24 February 2023. The retreat will be preceded by a traditional welcome ceremony and a welcome dinner on 23 February 2023. The meeting
Micronesian fishing boat sinks off Majuro
Twenty-two fishermen and one fisheries observer narrowly escaped with only the clothes they were wearing when a purse seine vessel sank off the coast of the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro Atoll Friday morning.
Cook Islands carry out consultations on seabed minerals
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals (SBM) Authority have confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Brown recently visited Aitutaki to carry out consultations on the seabed minerals (SBM) sector. The consultations are part of
PNG and Solomon Islands seal policing deal
Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have signed an agreement to formalise the deployment of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) members for policing duties there. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko
NFL star Jordan Mailata shows Pacific kids ‘anything’s possible’
Samoan league player-turned-NFL star Jordan Mailata has overcome the odds to play in Monday’s Super Bowl, but his rise to the sport’s pinnacle shows kids across the Pacific what’s possible, a Kiwi gridiron pioneer
French Senate committee questions Indo-Pacific Strategy
The French Senate in Paris has issued a report sharply critiquing France’s official Indo-Pacific Strategy, highlighting the lack of capacity of French military forces deployed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The
Pacific PhD candidates receive Norway scholarships
Ten PhD candidates from the Pacific have been named as recipients of the Norway Pacific Ocean Scholarship Programme (N-POC). This first cohort of the N-POC scholarship includes Peter Emberson (Fiji), Laura Williams
Biden administration to reduce financial burden on U.S territories
The Biden administration has announced new efforts to reduce the financial burden on the U.S territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and U.S Virgin Islands. The U.S.
Palau President Whipps to join Micronesian Presidents this month
President Surangel Whipps Jr is meeting other four Micronesian Presidents on 13-17 February for the first face-to-face Micronesian Presidents Summit meeting since the one held in Palau in 2020 where the Mekreos
Minister Conroy wants AusAID to regain prominence within DFAT
Australia’s International Development Minister Pat Conroy says he wants development specialists to “take over” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), in another sign he’s intent on
Palau Senate bill eyes changes in labour law
The Palau Senate is eyeing amendments in the existing labour law to allow for a more “progressive labor workforce.” Senate Bill No. 11-82, which was on first reading and referred to a Senate Committee for further
USP Vice Chancellor Professor Ahluwalia back in Fiji
University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia is back in Fiji. Professor Ahluwalia was welcomed at the Nadi Airport this morning by students and staff from USP. He
Tui Kamikamica inks new deal with Melbourne Storm
Fijian forward Tui Kamikamica has re-signed with the Melbourne Storm on a two-year deal until the end of 2025. The 17-Test veteran has played 71 NRL games for the Storm since making his debut in 2017.
New Zealand pilot taken hostage by Papuan rebels
A New Zealand pilot has been taken hostage while flying in the Papua province of Indonesia. Phillip Mark Mehrtens, was abducted by separatist fighters when they stormed his small commercial plane and set it alight after