Climate concerns grow amongst Mariana Islands locals as U.S. military expands in region
The Mariana Islands have been under foreign occupation for centuries, and while they’re now a self-governing commonwealth, locals are becoming increasingly concerned about the U.S. military’s presence in the
Alii Palau Airline’s inaugural flight opens a new gateway to Palau
After several delays, the Alii Palau Airline’s first flight to Palau became a reality Thursday last week. At 6:40 AM on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November 2023, Drukair, a Royal Bhutan Airline, chartered by Alii Palau
Palau senate expresses disapproval of Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive water
The Senate of the Republic of Palau has passed a joint resolution expressing disapproval of Japan’s decision to release over a million tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the
Marshall Islands election show big shakeup in parliament
The Marshall Islands domestic election result shows that as many as one-third of all members of parliament are likely to change when the body is sworn in during early January. But the Marshall Islands domestic vote
Pacific Games: Netball preview
Netballers take to the courts at the Pacific Games in Honiara today. Meet two of the top contenders. The Tongan Tala The Tongan Tala are the team to look out for at this year’s Pacific Games. While they finished
House welcomes first Bougainville woman MP
The people of Bougainville have set a record when they for the first time in the 48 years’ political history of this country voted a women leader to the National Parliament, newly elected Member for North Bougainville
21 countries agree to assist Samoa police in providing security during CHOGM
Over 20 countries including New Zealand and Australia have given the green light to lend a hand to the Samoan police in providing security for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024. This was
SOL23: New Caledonia leads medal tally
New Caledonia continues to lead the medal tally at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands with 23 gold medals, and 60 medals in total. Australia holds second place with 21 gold medals, with Samoa in third with 10
Vanuatu politics: MPs make compromises to avoid dissolution of parliament
Politically the mood eased slightly Wednesday in Vanuatu after the President Nikenike Vurobaravu had ordered MPs to sort themselves out or he would dissolve the parliament. At a short, extraordinary session MPs voted to
RBF ups Fiji economic growth projection
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has upwardly revised Fiji’s 2023 economic growth forecast to 8.2%. The RBF had earlier said Fiji’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would grow by 8%. RBF Governor and Chair of the
Thousands evacuated, flights cancelled as Mt Ulawun in PNG erupts
The Mt Ulawun volcano in Papua New Guinea erupted Monday, forcing the evacuation of more than 5,000 persons, cancellation of flights into and out of Hoskins, and ashfall affecting a wide area. Air Niugini suspended all
Sovereign rights not enough, regional cooperation needed for deep-sea mining: TIS
There needs to be a regional approach to deep-sea mining, as opposed to relying solely on the sovereign rights of individual nations, given the transboundary risks such activities can pose to the Pacific Ocean, says a
Pacific Games highlights
New Caledonia leads the medal tally at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands with 17 gold medals, and 47 medals in total. Australia is currently in second place with 12 gold medals, with Samoa in third with eight
Pacific churches discuss self-determination for Kanaky
“You belong to the family and the household of the Pacific more than you belong to Europe. We do not need to invite you in order to welcome you. You have been a Pacific people right from the beginning.” Reverend Dr.
First PNG woman for peacekeeping duties
Major Jacqueline Lilih has been posted to the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Sudan, the first female PNG military officer to be deployed sent on such a tour of duty. Major Lilih departs for South Sudan today (21
PNG Government to probe refugee bills
Local businesses which provided services for refugees under the PNG Humanitarian Programme (PHP) must be paid, says Prime Minister James Marape. Under the PHP, refugees have been living in apartments and receiving
Dr Sivendra Michael is Fiji’s new PS for Environment and Climate Change
Fiji’s Dr Sivendra Michael has become the country’s newly-appointed Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change. Dr Michael has spent the last 10 years working in the climate change adaptation (CCA) and
Third release of treated water from Fukushima nuclear plant ends safely, TEPCO says
The release of a third batch of treated radioactive wastewater from Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean ended safely as planned, its operator said Monday, as the country’s seafood
Tonga did not sign the Samoa Agreement
Tonga did not sign the Samoa Agreement, that took place in Samoa last week. Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, said that there is a requirement in order to formalise Tonga’s
Tonga wins 2023 Pacific Invasive Species Battler of the Year Award
National Invasive Species Coordinator of the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Viliami Hakaumotu has been honoured as the
Pacific Games update: Day 4 highlights
New Caledonia is leading the medal tally after the fourth day of competition at the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. New Caledonia took the lead after dominating the pool with eight gold medals, seven silver and eight
Mixed signs of agreement, warnings mark end of latest treaty talks
The third round of the plastics treaty negotiations concluded 19 November on a very mixed note, with countries agreeing to move forward but with environmental groups delivering sharp warnings that the talks risk failure
Raise PNG wage rate, says CPL founder
A prominent businessman has urged the PNG Government to increase the minimum wage to enable grassroots people to survive in these tough economic times. City Pharmacy Ltd Group founder, Sir Mahesh Patel, said the base
