UN appoints Tuvalu national as climate change expert
Ian Fry, a Tuvaluan national, has been selected as the first Special Rapporteur on Climate Change by top UN rights body for three
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Nauru records first COVID cases
Nauru's President Lionel Aingimea has announced the first two COVID-19 cases in Nauru, and says there is no cause for
Australia to provide $258k for Fiji General Election
Australia will contribute $258k to Fiji’s Electoral Commission to support an independent audit of the National Register of
ANZ to close American Samoa, sell Guam businesses
ANZ is closing its banking operations in American Samoa and is looking for buyers for its Guam business. ANZ Country Head, American Territories, Clarke Schaumann, said: “This was not a decision we made lightly but we
FSM President appeals to Sogavare
The Federated States of Micronesia leader has spoken out against the proposed security deal between Solomon Islands and China. President David W. Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) wrote to Solomon
Tonga lockdown restrictions eased
Lockdown restrictions in Tonga will be eased with businesses able to operate for three days starting on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday, said the Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siasoi Sovaleni. This means businesses
$5m for PNG PM’s one-day state visit to Jakarta
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape this week leads a 71-member delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia today in what could be his last state visit. Marape and his large delegation will spend 24-hours in Indonesia, in
Palau President seeks $100k for fintech projects
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr requests US$100,000 for financial technology projects including the Digital Residency
Melanesian Spearhead Group receives US$100,000 from Indonesia police
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has received a contribution of US$100,000 from the Indonesian National Police (INP), for the formulation of the MSG Regional Security Strategy (RSS). At a virtual
Wallis and Futuna elects new assembly president
Wallis and Futuna has a new Assembly President, Munipoese Muli’aka’aka. As the only candidate for the role, Muli’aka’aka was elected unanimously by the 20 member assembly. Previous assembly
Additional COVID funding postpones aid cuts
Faced with the prospect of another cut to aid while the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and in some ways intensifies in our region – the government has again reached for the “temporary and targeted” lever to avoid
Tonga health ministry confirms six COVID-19 deaths
Six deaths from COVID-19 in Tonga have been confirmed, while another five people with the virus died from underlying illnesses, Tonga’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Piukala said. The confirmation comes after
Solomon Islands PM says China security deal ‘ready for signing’
Solomon Islands' PM says a contentious security agreement with Beijing was “ready for
Regional e-commerce negotiators training begins
Pacific officials have started a four-week training course to help them engage with negotiations and implementation of e-commerce rules. Currently, many Pacific countries require support to negotiate and implement rules
Solomons: Putting a draft security deal with China in local context
A draft MOU between Honiara and Beijing on security related issues has sparked international headlines and worried response from
Fijian businesses sought for U.S. investment Summit
The United States embassy in Suva is recruiting companies to join a Fijian business delegation to the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit in June in the Washington, D.C. area. The Investment Summit promotes
Pacific sports weekend update
SOCCER: Solomon Is. and NZ in World Cup qualifiers Grand Final The stage is set for one last epic showdown in Qatar as Solomon Islands looks to take on the star laced New Zealand side. Both are coming off impressive
Wrong call on PNG tax for goods and services
Papua New Guinea businesses were taken off guard last week following Government’s announcement on the 10% removal of Good and Services Tax on selected basic goods in the country by April. PNG Manufacturer Council CEO
Cyber attack disrupts Marshall Islands internet service
When internet systems in the Marshall Islands went on the blink in mid-March, it wasn’t immediately clear what was causing the rolling outages. Home, business and government DSL and dedicated lines as well as mobile
New Zealand Foreign Minister visits Fiji this week
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for Fiji this week, her first trip to the Pacific since announcing New Zealand’s Pacific Resilience approach last year. “This visit is an important step in
Marshall Islands president calls for Forum ‘peace’
The President of Marshall Islands says not only does he not want the Micronesia area nations to pull out of the Forum, he wants current Secretary General Henry Puna to stay on the job. In a 17 February letter to Nauru
Lessons from Volcanoes in Predicting the Next Pandemic
COVID-19 alerts and warnings can be better developed by bringing together lessons learned from natural hazards like
PNG Company tax approved
The contentious PNG company tax or ‘super tax’ on the country’s big players in the banking and telecommunication sectors finally got the green light from Parliament Wednesday, now making it a law. While the tax