Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
Chuuk independence referendum delayed again
(Pacnews) A closely watched independence vote in the Pacific state of Chuuk, part of the U.S.-aligned Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), scheduled for next month has been postponed until 2022, the
Fiji mourns loss of retired UN diplomat
Fiji mourns a trail-blazing diplomat today. Ambassador Satya N Nandan died at his New York home on Tuesday. Nandan chaired the drafting of the United Nations Convention of the Sea that gave Fiji and other islands of the
Transnational crime, climate change, trade feature in NZ-Fiji talks
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shared more details of how her country plans to support Fiji in fighting transnational crime. In a statement to media during her official visit to Fiji today, Ardern
Building together: Civil society a key partner in delivering Pacific infrastructure
Building quality infrastructure in the Pacific means going beyond a narrow focus on hard assets, to thinking about the ways that new infrastructure, and accompanying services, will contribute to lasting development
Israel wants Pacific’s backing at ‘biased’ UN rights council
Times of Israel/Pacnews: Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has told Pacific Island leaders in Fiji that he hopes they will stand with Israel against what he claims is a strong anti-Israel bias on the United
Israel’s President to meet Pacific leaders in Fiji next week
Pacific leaders will meet Israel’s President, Reuven Rivlin, in Fiji on 20 February, 2020. Israel’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Tibor Schlosser has told Pacnews that the visit builds on the deep relations Israel
Making every dollar of development aid worthwhile
By Sadhana Sen Is the Pacific an aid-dependent region making endless requests for development assistance but with little care for how effectively and successfully this aid is used? What should be done by Pacific
No “Ocean Super-Year” without marine regions
This new decade starts at a critical moment for the future of the ocean. There is strong agreement among experts that decisions taken in the next ten years will be critical for the future of the ocean. The current
What has trade protection done for PNG manufacturing?
2019 was meant to mark the end of the PNG government’s 20-year Tariff Reduction Program (TRP), introduced in 1999 and designed to reduce tariffs gradually to a uniform 10% across the different tariff categories. In
“We are the niche”: Tourism Solomons CEO
Late last month, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare praised Tourism Solomons for its “relentless effort” to consistently grow visitor arrivals. PM Sogavare also expressed optimism about the
Fiji on Cloud 9 at the Sydney 7s
Fiji has won the Sydney 7s for the first time ever, defeating old rivals South Africa in a thrilling match last night. Both teams were out for redemption having not progressed past the pool stages last week. It was a
Fiji upsets All Blacks in Sydney
By Alipate Pareti Fiji has had a tremendous start to the Sydney 7s, winning against Kenya and surprising the All Blacks. Fiji beat Kenya 28 – 14 then went on to tumble last week champions New Zealand 26 – 5.
Kokomo resort lays off staff
Reports have emerged from Kokomo Island resort that 60 staff have been laid off. Kokomo General Manager Martin Persson says the workforce had been at an augmented (enlarged) level to support “development, construction
Coronavirus: a Pacific wrap-up
An outbreak of a new coronavirus has killed at least 106 people in China, and has spread to some of the Pacific’s close neighbours, including Australia (with five cases) and Malaysia (with four). The United States,
Disappointment for Fiji in Hamilton 7s
The Fiji 7s Men’s team was disappointed yesterday in Hamilton despite its strong performance in day one of the competition, but is now looking to the Sydney leg of the competition. While disappointed with their
Fijiana create history despite not progressing in Hamilton 7s
The Fijiana 7s team created history by defeated England in their first pool match at the Hamilton 7s tournament yesterday. The English women were caught napping on most occasions as the Pacific Island players
Fiji makes a good start in Hamilton
Pacific Island teams hope to make the crowd go wild again at the Hamilton 7s this weekend. It’s that time of the year when New Zealand rugby fans, especially Pacific Islanders, cram the stands of FMG
Tuvalu to declare state of emergency
Tuvalu looks set to declare a state of emergency due to the level of destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Tino last week. A full assessment of the extent of damage is still unclear, however reports emerged as TC Tino
The Batlow bushfire and Pacific seasonal workers
In January at the height of the Australian bushfires, I received a message from James Walau, a ni-Vanuatu Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) team leader, informing me that he and his team of 47 had left Batlow due to the
Pacific predictions: 2020
As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, there is much to anticipate in the Pacific islands region. Elections and domestic politics A number of countries in the region will have elections during 2020: Kiribati,
Tropical depression moves toward Fiji
Rotuma can expect damaging winds and heavy rain from tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as a Tropical Depression moves slowly east towards Fiji. Located about 1000 km west of Rotuma at 6am today, TDF04 has winds of between
Vanuatu on watch for floods
Vanuatu’s northern and central regions have been warned to expect heavy rain and flash flooding as a severe weather system closes in from the north-west. Isolated heavy rainfall with thunder and winds of up to 46