Offshore processing of PNG asylum seekers to end
The Australian federal government is ending offshore processing in Papua New Guinea for asylum seekers detained after trying to reach Australia by boat. The arrangement was set up in 2013 under the then-Labour
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea: the silent dead
Although only 65,000 suspect COVID-19 cases have been reported in Papua New Guinea over the last year, PNG’s own administrative health data show 2.6 million cases of flu- and pneumonia-like symptoms over the same
Milestone book features the Marshall Islands fishing story
How the Marshall Islands went from being a bystander in commercial fishing in the Pacific to operating the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port, two fish processing facilities, a purse seine vessel net repair
Tokelau gets high-speed internet access, as security concerns edge China edged out of laying undersea cables throughout Asia Pacific
Tokelau, whose nearest neighbour is 500 kilometres away, has become that much closer to the rest of the world, after a new submarine cable landed on its shores, bringing high-speed reliable internet access. The
Opinion: Does disallowing diversity data create an equitable Fiji?
The release of Fiji poverty data desegregated by ethnicity and religion by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in its 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), resulted in the firing of its CEO last week.
Pacific island leaders at the UN General Assembly call for solidarity on COVID-19 and climate change
Pacific Island leaders at the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development.
COVID behind Fiji economy’s ‘severe recession’, but ratings agency predicts economy to start recovering next year
COVID-related restrictions and a relatively large fiscal deficit has prompted S&P Global to lower its rating of the Fiji economy from BB-minus to B+, although it expects the Fiji economy to recover next year.
Former Fiji Stats Chief clarifies controversial Household Income and Expenditure Survey
I note that there has been much debate since the release of the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey on the Fiji Bureau of Statistics Website www.statsfiji.gov.fj. The Minister of Economy, Aiyaz Sayed
Fiji Kava recovering
ASX-listed Fiji Kava recorded a net loss after tax of A$3.39 million (US$2.4 million) the company’s FJ21 Annual Report reveals. It’s an improvement on Fiji Kava’s FY20 result and follows growth in revenue of 52%.
Guam-born astronaut joins SpaceX’s Inspiration4
Space has always been part of Dr Sian Proctor’s life since birth. Her father, the late Edward Langley Proctor Jr, was a contractor for NASA’s remote ground terminal in Guam, where she was born during the Apollo
Kina’s acquisition of Westpac Pacific operations thwarted
Papua New Guinea’s Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has rejected Kina Securities Limited’s proposal to buy out Westpac Bank’s PNG operations. The ICCC’s decision reflects its concerns about
Nawadra to lead SPREP
Fiji’s Sefanaia Nawadra is the new Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Nawadra takes up the role next April, and will succeed Samoa’s Kosi Latu, who has served
The Pacific looks to Glasgow
What will the Pacific islands region be prioritising at the COP26 climate talks? By Dr Ian Fry As wildfires take lives and ravage property around the Mediterranean and North America and floods destroy lives and property
Aingimea: USP ‘thriving’, won’t be drawn on Fiji parliamentary criticism
*This news item was updated at 5:20pm (Fiji time) Nauru’s President, Lionel Aingimea says the University of the South Pacific is thriving, despite Fiji not providing grant funding. When Islands Business asked
U.S funding tapped for Pacific undersea cable after China rebuffed
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will tap a U.S funding facility to construct a Pacific undersea communications cable, two sources told Reuters, after rejecting a Chinese company-led proposal that was deemed a
Pacific events this week
What’s on in the Pacific Islands region this week: Pacific Internet Governance Forum 2021 The Pacific Internet Governance Forum 2021 (PacIGF) is a regional event that brings together stakeholders from around the
FIji Business Briefs: SPX, Fiji Airways, Thunderstruck
It is reporting season at the South Pacific Stock Exchange, with ATH, Communications Fiji, Kontiki Growth Fund and FijiCare all reporting profits. Plus Fiji Airways celebrates 70 years and exploration is underway at
World Rugby welcomes Pacific teams to Super Pacific Rugby 2022
The Super Pacific Rugby format for 2022 has been confirmed with Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua making up an exciting 12-team line-up. The decision was made following a detailed financial, performance and commercial
Bainimarama condemns nuclear testing “atrocities”
Commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has spoken out about the health and environmental legacies of Cold War nuclear testing in the Pacific. As Pacific Islands
Impact Investment: Taking ownership to future-proof the Pacific post-COVID
COVID-19 has been a stark reminder of how our economic, social and environmental systems are closely intertwined and dependent on each other. The pandemic has deeply affected the economies of many Pacific nations. How
Australian Agricultural Visa: an end to the PLS?
Yesterday the Australian government announced that a new Australian Agriculture visa is to be created in addition to the Pacific Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme. The new announcement is significant,
Pacific islands: Economic outlook
COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the region’s economies- but what is the Pacific islands’ economic outlook for the remainder 2021? ANZ economists Kishti Sen & Tom Kenny have this overview. The