Pacific Islands increasingly used as crime transit point, experts say
The Pacific islands are increasingly being used as a transit point for transnational crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering, experts say. Criminal organisations from Asia and the Americas are exploiting
Pacific nations double down on their green demands
As is customary in the run up to any gathering of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), predicable fault lines are emerging. Oil producing nations tend to
MSC extends Pacific tuna certification
Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and Tokelau have welcomed the decision of the Marine Stewardship Council’s Independent Adjudicator to extend the scope of the MSC certification of the PNA tuna fishery to
Tonga’s first large-scale battery systems to achieve climate targets
The first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Tonga was officially opened at an event attended by Prime Minister Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni. Prime Minister Sovaleni, known also by
Australia boosts defence, Pacific diplomacy spending in budget
Australia on Tuesday pledged increased defence spending and efforts to firm up diplomatic ties with neighbouring Southeast Asian and Pacific nations as it seeks to counter China’s growing economic and strategic
Nauru Airlines resumes biweekly flights to the FSM
The government of Australia is subsidising biweekly flights on Nauru Airlines to help connect the North and South Pacific, said President David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia. The inaugural
Vanuatu: New Coalition Govt in the making
The official results of the Snap Election has reconfirmed the unofficial results — none of the country’s major political parties who contested the snap elections on October 13 have secured the simple majority of
PNG economy forecast to pass K110 billion in 2022
The PNG economy is estimated to go pass a K110 billion (US$31 billion) in 2022. Prime Minister James Marape speaking at the 2022 PNG Update hosted by the University of PNG in Partnership with the Australia National
World’s largest ocean reserve off Hawaii has spillover benefits, study finds
Six years ago, the then U.S. president, Barack Obama, created the world’s largest fully protected ocean reserve by expanding the existing Papahānaumokuākea marine national monument in Hawaii, a world heritage site
Samoa and Fiji secure big wins at RLWC 2022
Samoa and Fiji have secured big wins against their Mediterranean opponents at the Rugby League World Cup 2022 in England. Premiership-winning Panthers Jarome Luai and Brian To’o carved Greece to bits as Samoa
Human rights and climate change are interlinked: Ian Fry
“Human-induced climate change is the largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and societies the world has ever experienced, and the poorest countries are paying the heaviest price”, says Ian Fry,
‘If only we had learned from our ancestors’
(Natori, Japan) When a magnitude-9 earthquake hit northern Japan on March 11, 2011, businessman Naomitsu Kakui was driving in Sendai City. The shaking was so intense, he stopped where he was, got out of his car
Albanese government to pour $1 billion more into Pacific
The Australian government will pour an extra $1 billion (US$628 million) into aid and security assistance in the Pacific – almost double what Labor promised at the election. – as it urgently tries to counter
Fiji’s Mitchell is ONOC President
Oceania National Olympic Committee President (ONOC) Dr Robin Mitchell has been elected unopposed as President of the Association of National Olympic Committees following a vote at the organisation’s General Assembly
Blas shares Oceania Continent highlights in report to ANOC Executive Council
There are numerous reasons to celebrate life and sport, and more so for ONOC and its members, delivering sports in one of the world’s most challenging geographical spaces. This was evident in ONOC Secretary-General
Bougainville open for business: President Toroama
Bougainville is open for business. This was the undertaking given to potential investors by the Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama when opening the 2022 Bougainville Trade and Investment
Second political pact signed in Vanuatu
The signing of another agreement by representatives of the political parties who were excluded from the new Vanuatu Government formation took place Thursday night. The parties involved are Vanua’aku Pati (VP),
New $1.5M social scheme to help Tonga tsunami-affected families
The Tonga Government will distribute Humanitarian Cash Transfers of $1.5 million pa’anga (US$614,000), to support 3,000 beneficiaries from affected areas in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai, to recover from
Kaua’i, first county to regulate devt on sea level rise forecast
Kaua ‘i, the fourth largest island of Hawaii, became one of the first counties to enact proactive development regulations based on scientific modeling projections of sea level rise. “Today is truly a historic day as
Vanuatu: Pact signed to form new government
The formation of Vanuatu’s new Government is in the works, after a pact signing between 31 candidates of the snap election who have secured seats in their respective constituencies, according to unofficial
Collective action is necessary for Pacific security: Sovaleni
Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni welcomed Tuesday, senior defence delegates from the region to discuss Pacific security challenges and build collective Pacific responses. Attending the 7th South
Samoa opposition MPs suspended for two years
Samoa Opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi are officially suspended from Parliament for a record two years. The House voted 29 – 19
Journey to COP27: Pacific Women negotiators state their case for 1.5 world
Pacific women negotiators at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) are adamant about what they want to come from COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.