USP Cook Islands director welcomes Fiji funding
University of the South Pacific (USP) Cook Islands Director Dr Debi Futter-Puati is pleased to hear the newly elected Fiji Government will release funds to the institution. Dr Futter-Puati said the impact of the
Fijian Drua centre signs premiership rugby deal
Premiership rugby club Bristol Bears has signed Fijian Drua centre Kalaveti Ravouvou ahead of the 2023/24 season. Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam has secured the signature of one of Super Rugby Pacific’s
Pacific leaders address wastewater plan in Japan this week
Pacific leaders are in Japan this week meeting with their Japanese counterparts on the Fukushima wastewater plans. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Marshall
Transparency has eased Fukushima water concerns: Panuelo
Micronesian President David Panuelo said Friday that Japan’s “transparency” over its intention to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has helped ease the Pacific
Military exercises to take place in Pacific amid security concerns
Approximately 1,000 U.S. airmen, marines and sailors will train alongside 1,000 combined Japan Air Self-Defence Force, Royal Australian Air Force and French Air and Space Force service members in Cope North 2023, which
Greens push for immediate evacuation of refugees in Nauru and PNG
The Greens will use the first day of Australian parliament to introduce a bill that would offer immediate evacuation to asylum seekers and refugees who remain in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The bill would offer roughly
Cook Islands PM welcomes Kiribati back into the Forum
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is welcoming Kiribati back into the fold of the Pacific Islands Forum. The Micronesian nation pulled out of the Forum in Fiji last year in protest of the appointment of former Cook
Tongans have a place to call home after volcanic eruption
After the Tongan volcanic eruption and tsunami of January 2022, Mango Island was destroyed, making it uninhabitable for the residents. A new community has been established in ‘Eua, south-east of Tonga’s main
Samoa’s RSE Scheme resumes with 1,200 workers this month
Samoa Cabinet has endorsed new policy guidelines for the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme and 1,200 workers will depart to work in New Zealand and Australia at the end of this month. The New Samoa National
Prioritise recruitment of skilled Melanesians: Vanuatu PM
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who is also chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has stressed any future employment within the MSG Secretariat must be sourced from MSG member countries.
Australia funds athletes’ accommodation for Pacific Games 2023
Work is underway to create accommodation for athletes competing at this year’s Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands thanks to financial support from the Australian Government. The Solomon Islands 2023 Steering
West Papua delegation seeks support on MSG membership
A West Papua Delegation led by United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) Interim President, Benny Wenda has had discussions with the Leader of Opposition, Bob Loughman, on the ULMWP Application to Vanuatu as the
Workers to head overseas after Samoa lifts labour ban
Samoa’s Cabinet is set to resume sending off workers to the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme, which was suspended for all of January. This was confirmed by Acting Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio,
Vanuatu’s new foreign policy in 100-day work plan: Napat
Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Jotham Napat has announced a new and revised National Foreign Policy framework is his department’s priority for the 100-day
Are Marine Protected Areas effective for tuna conservation?
The first-ever quantitative evaluation of the contribution of no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to the conservation of tropical tunas in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has been published in Frontiers
U.S. considers Solomon Islands tuna plant investment
The United States is considering investing in a tuna-canning facility under construction in the Solomon Islands. The United States, Australia, and New Zealand have been competing with China for influence in the Pacific.
PNG Govt announces inquiry into elections
The Papua New Guinea government has announced an in-house inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 National General Elections. This will be spearheaded by the PNG Special Parliamentary Committee on the 2022 General
PNG’s Kina Bank K30m venture faces tax threat
Kina Bank’s plan of a K30 million (US$8.5 million) investments to extend operations across Papua New Guinea is now threatened by the 50 percent tax on commercial banks in the country. Kina Bank chief executive
U.S. opens embassy in Solomon Islands
The United States has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to
Underwater volcano erupts in Vanuatu, residents alarmed
Vanuatu’s East Epi underwater volcano erupted Wednesday, hurtling ash into the sky and leading authorities to warn ships and aircraft to avoid the area. “We are telling locals to watch out for any strong
Vineyard manager worried about PNG workers’ pay, jury hears
Pay and visa details that weren’t adding up got a vineyard manager worried about a group of Papua New Guinea workers. The Hawke’s Bay vineyard thought it was getting Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from a
Tonga star supports Test series against England
Tonga and St Helens star Konrad Hurrell has thrown his support behind Kristian Woolf’s side putting their hands up to play England in a Test series to continue the growth of the two nations. England’s plans
Emerging leaders take concerns to Canberra
Ongoing issues of overpopulation, economic inequality, domestic violence, climate change, geopolitics, illiteracy, and many health challenges are worrying to many Pacific Islanders. For young emerging leaders from the
Fiji cabinet wrap: Kiribati relations, MSG sports, NZ defence cooperation and local elections
Bilateral relations with Kiribati was one of the key issues discussed by Fiji cabinet ministers in their meeting this week, including deeper cooperation on fisheries. Fiji Prime Minister noted: “Kiribati is also
