Pacific communities placed on El Niño alert
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Programme has advised Pacific communities to prepare for the potential impacts of an El Niño. SPREP says there is approximately a 70 percent chance of El Niño forming in 2023,
Lethal force to be used by PNG Police
Papua New Guinea police will be able to use lethal force to deal with crimes that come under Domestic Terrorism through the amendments to the Criminal Code Act. Police Commissioner David Manning said this as the
World Bank to suspend debt repayments for disaster-hit countries
The World Bank will start offering a pause in loan repayments to the “most vulnerable” countries when they are hit by catastrophic events including climate-related disasters. The bank’s new chief Ajay Banga
Largest solar and storage project in western Pacific online in Palau
The largest solar and battery storage project in the Western Pacific has been installed in Palau, a 15.3 MW solar system combined with a 13.2 MWh battery. The US$29 million installation will meet more than 25% of the
Overseas medical cost a concern: Samoa PM Fiame
Samoa’s Government remains concerned about the affordability of overseas treatment for non-communicable diseases, says Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. The Prime Minister made the comments when she
Japan’s Fukushima wastewater plan is safe, says expert on Pacific islands panel
Fish that swim in treated wastewater from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant would be safe to eat, according to an expert who is part of the Pacific islands scientific panel that criticised Japan’s plan to
Pay our nurses, says Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) has called on Fiji’s Government to place more emphasis on the appropriate allowances and pay for nurses and midwives. For several years, nurses and midwives in Fiji
PNG payroll blowout
The Papua New Guinea Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery is concerned about what the country gets in return for employing 132,898 public servants. Committee chairman Gary Juffa
PNG National Fisheries Authority clarifies tuna supply issues
Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority (NFA) says tuna supply issues facing the processors in Lae have nothing to do with the lack of fish stocks in the waters. It added that the issues resulted from supply
Tonga PM urges Pacific partners to properly manage seabed minerals
A fifth Pacific-SIDS regional and capacity development workshop and a high level panel for sustainable management of seabed minerals of the Blue Pacific continent is being held this week in Nuku’alofa.
New website to monitor PNG government funds
Community advocacy organisation ACT NOW has launched a new website to promote transparency and accountability in how government funds are used across all 94 Districts in Papua New Guinea. The website –
World leaders headed to Paris summit in push for global debt, climate reform
World leaders will gather in Paris this week with ambitions to reimagine global financing for a new era shaped by climate change, as a cascade of crises swamps debt-burdened countries. French President Emmanuel Macron
Samoa Government takes over $30 million Aggie Greys hotel shares
The Samoa Government now holds 30 percent preference shares in the Aggie Greys Hotel Limited which owns the Sheraton Samoa and Aggies Greys Hotel & Bungalows in Apia. This was confirmed by the Minister for the
Pacific calls for immediate ratification of Highseas Treaty
As the global community embrace the adoption of the new Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty, the Pacific are calling on the international community to seize this milestone momentum and rally
Palau President Whipps supports Japan’s plan to release treated wastewater into Pacific Ocean
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr is the first Pacific Island country leader to publicly express support for Japan’s plan to release treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific. After meeting with Japan’s
France not seeking to ‘fuel competition’ in region
France’s Ambassador for the Indo-Pacific says the Indo-Pacific Strategy should not fuel further strategic competition in the region. During a recent visit to Fiji, Ambassador Marc Abensour said while there is great
PNG cannery closes, 5000 out of work
Majestic Seafood, makers of canned tuna products in Lae, Papua New Guinea has shut down operations as a result of a shortfall in fish supply. Over 5,000 staff of the company are now redundant. Emmanuel Pari, speaking on
Opinion: Australia should support minimum terms and conditions for Pacific seabed mining
The extraction of deep seabed mining resources on an industrial scale at incredible depths is a new frontier with many unknowns. But the potential gains are immense. Deep sea deposits contain manganese, cobalt, nickel,
PNG Marape details Defence pact with U.S.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape defended in Parliament last week that the PNG and the U.S. Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) will help develop and maintain several agreed facilities in Port Moresby, Lae
PNG’s Sir Kostas Constantinou passes away
A prominent leader in Papua New Guinea, Sir Kostas Constantinou, passed away in Brisbane on Saturday, after battling heart complications, according to the family. Sir Kostas, 66, is a father of Constantia, George,
‘Proposed Samoa National Provident Fund changes to do more harm’: economist
Former Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) auditor and senior manager, Peniamina Muliaina has urged the SNPF Chair and Board to reconsider proposed changes to the fund’s small loans and short-term loans policy.
Palau’s 2nd Submarine Cable to activate in 2025
The 2nd Submarine Cable connecting Palau to the rest of the world is now projected to be ready for service by the first quarter of 2025, according to Robin Russell, CEO of Belau Submarine Cable Corporation. The
‘Nuclear not allowed’: PNG’s Marape backtracks on comments
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has backtracked on his position regarding Japan’s proposed dumping of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Marape indicated support for the
New Zealand Rugby League working on unique World Cup bid that includes Pacific Islands
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is in talks with the Government on a bid for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, which will include co-hosting with Pacific Island nations, but not Australia. It would be a fully inclusive
