Samoa PM Fiame Mata’afa calls to prioritise Pacific security
Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa sounded a warning to the heads of Pacific’s maritime forces to be mindful of the current geo-political interest and attention towards the blue Pacific region. She
Vanuatu PM Kalsakau survive no-confidence vote
Vanuatu narrowly avoided a political crisis as Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Vote of no confidence against PM Kalsakau was defeated as opposition failed to
Samoa claims gold at paddling World Champs
Anne Cairns has won Samoa’s first gold medal at the International Va’a Federation World Distance Championship 2023 while Nu’u Muliaga claimed Samoa’s first medal, a bronze on Wednesday. The
Fijian Drua 2024 fixtures released
Fans can expect another action-packed Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season as 2024 fixtures for the Fijian Drua have been released this week. For the first time, Fijian Drua will host NSW Waratahs and Western Force on
Drought warning in PNG
A severe drought similar to the 1997 drought is projected to worsen the situation in Papua New Guinea. Provinces currently under high risk drought watch include; Southern Highlands, Hela, Chimbu and lately some parts of
Hainan Airlines to start flying next month to Samoa
A Chinese Airline based in Haikou, Hainan Airlines is expected to recommence its services next month as Samoa’s Civil Aviation Division is finalising the application from the airline to continue direct flights to
Logging tax killed industry: PNG MP Namah
Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah says raising the logging export tax has “killed the logging industry” in Papua New Guinea. “The Treasurer (Ian Ling-Stuckey) has literally killed the logging industry,” Namah said.
Military leaders convene for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence meeting in Fiji
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the Chiefs of Defence from the Asia-Pacific region meeting provided an opportunity for participants to strengthen people to people relationships, share ideas, learn from
BSP facing more system issues than expected
Bank South Pacific (BSP) has come out with an apology and explanation on the current technical difficulties experienced in Papua New Guinea since the implementation of the new Information Technology core banking system
Call for a review of the ‘regional architecture’ to address the needs of Forum Members
With so many regional plans, strategies, frameworks – and now the 2050 Strategy, some Pacific countries are concerned with how benefits are flowing to member countries. There are now calls to review the ‘regional
Artists set sail for Marshall Islands hoping for Climate wake-up call
A group of artists will set sail for the remote Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean hoping their trip through one of the world’s most vulnerable regions will draw attention to the impact of climate change and
Palau Finance Minister welcomes audit of stablecoin project
Palau’s Minister of Finance Kaleb Udui Jr said he welcomes the audit by the Public Auditor of Palau’s stablecoin project as requested by the Senate. “We have nothing to hide. We have been working with
Q&A: U.S. considering security guarantees for three Pacific Island nations
U.S. Congress is reviewing a proposal from President Joe Biden to create new security guarantees for three Pacific Island states: the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. If Congress passes the Compacts of Free
Aimeliik Legislature calls for investigation of Rengulbai for alleged misconduct in office
The 12th Aimeliik State Legislature passed a resolution requesting Aimeliik Governor Browny Simer to investigate allegations of misconduct in office made against Aimeliik State Public Land Authority (AIMSPLA) Chairman
2023 Va’a World Distance Championship officially opened
Hundreds of participants from close to 30 countries marched in the early hours of Saturday in Samoa to mark the official opening of the International Va’a Federation World Distance Championship 2023. The parade
Inflation, interest rates cloud post-pandemic Pacific growth: World Bank
The resumption of tourism, higher public investment and construction have fuelled the Pacific region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 but a combination of persistently high imported inflation and interest rate hikes
PNG resource boom to last 30 years: Trade Minister Maru
Papua New Guinea is expecting a resource boom from next year because of at least five multi-billion kina projects in the pipeline, says International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru. “We don’t have just
PNG Power broke
Papua New Guinea State Enterprises Minister William Duma says PNG Power Limited has reached a critical point where all financial indications show that it is in danger of insolvency. “Major contributing factors over
Klaemet Save: Vanuatu’s new climate brand for a resilient future
Vanuatu has a new brand identity for climate information – Klaemet Save. The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme reports the new brand has been developed to focus attention on information products that
At least 36 people died in wildfires in Hawaii
A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll reached at least 36 and
Solomon Islands Opposition leader outlines weaknesses in Truth and Reconciliation Commission report
Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has revealed weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament in Honiara this week, Wale said firstly there is a lack of a
FEMM endorsed re-designed Pacific Resilience Facility
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting later this year in Rarotonga is expected to adopt and approve the redesigned Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) after it was endorsed by the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting
University of the South Pacific leans into AI
While many universities are discouraging the use of ChatGPT, the new AI tool, others are leaning into its use and offering courses dedicated solely to navigating the new technology. Professor Maurizio Cirrincione, Head
