India snubs French territories for regional summit
The third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) will be held in Papua New Guinea on 22 May – but the full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum has not been invited. New Caledonia and French Polynesia
Call for Pacific Energy Commissioner
The 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers meeting has recommended the establishment of a Pacific Energy Commissioner for a Just and Equitable Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific. Chairperson of the
Recycle metals instead of seabed mining, says PNG anti-mining activist
An anti-mining group in Papua New Guinea is calling on its government to explore opportunities in precious metals recycling instead of courting armageddon by allowing seabed mining to happen. “We are calling for a
Pacific leaders’ role critical for a more resilient tourism sector
Pacific tourism leaders have a critical role to play for a more resilient future Pacific tourism sector. Tourism in the Pacific is about relationship building, economic development, growth, and connectivity. These
Refine gold here: PNG PM Marape
All gold produced in the country must be sold to the Bank of Papua New Guinea to be refined into bullion, says Prime Minister James Marape. The National reports that he made this comment during the launching of the PNG
U.S. and Micronesia agree to renew strategic pact, U.S. envoy says
The U.S. and the Federated States of Micronesia have agreed to renew a key strategic pact, U.S. presidential envoy Joseph Yun said, adding he hopes for similar progress with Palau, as the U.S. shores up support among
Micronesia’s new president takes over from Taiwan-leaning predecessor
The Pacific island nation of Micronesia picked Wesley W. Simina as its new president Thursday in a changing of the guard from a predecessor who had warmed up to Taiwan. Nikkei reports that the nation’s congress
Solomon Islands PM lost key political fixer
The Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister’s nephew and political fixer has died, in a development that could destabilise the Pacific’s most pro-China government. Indepth Solomons reports that Prime Minister Manasseh
Solomon Islands leads the Pacific on SOE profitability: ADB report
Solomon Islands’ robust legal framework for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has contributed to the financial success of its largest SOEs and generated the highest portfolio returns among nine Pacific island countries,
Naivilaca Peace Village cements its place in history
Yesterday marked a special day for the descendants of the Girmityas in Fiji as they commemorated not only the shared pain of their history, but also the deep friendship that they share with indigenous Fijians. In a
Wesley Simina sworn in as new FSM president
Former Speaker Wesley W. Simina on Thursday took his oath as the 10th president of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), succeeding David Panuelo whose term officially expired on the same day. Pacific Island Times
Six political parties suspended in Solomon Islands
Six political parties in Solomon Islands have been suspended last month over their failure to comply with requirements of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014, reports Indepth Solomons. That’s according to Acting
Professor Aqorau inspired by the level of support for SINU
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor’s Professor Transform Aqorau is pleased with the level of ongoing support for the University. He made the statement when making his first speech as the new
Tuvalu joins forces with Sea Shepherd Global to combat illegal fishing
The Government of Tuvalu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sea Shepherd Global, a marine conservation organisation based in the Netherlands, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
U.S. President Biden to sign defence pact in PNG, with eyes on China
U.S. President Joe Biden will sign defence and surveillance agreements with Papua New Guinea, the island nation’s foreign minister said, on a visit that renews the strategic importance of the nation where
Dalton Tagelagi re-elected premier of Niue
Dalton Tagelagi has been re-elected premier of Niue beating opposition leader O’love Jacobsen by 16 votes to 4 during the first sitting of the new assembly in Alofi. During the meeting, Niue’s 20 assembly
A lasting legacy: Tui Kamikamica’s ultimate gift to family
To the untrained eye they are just hills, but to Tui Kamikamica they are the ticket to building generational wealth for his family. It’s here in the place the Storm front-rower was raised, on an island made up of
U.S. opens Embassy in Tonga in new pushback against China in Pacific
The United States has opened a new Embassy in Tonga, the State Department said on Wednesday, part of efforts to step up the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China. The United States
Expert explains why Special Economic Zone in PNG fails
No one knew what Special Economic Zone (SEZ) were and accordingly, what must be done to enable them to succeed, writes the Post Courier. The Japanese Development Institute (JDI), a think tank with more than 40 years of
New forex strategy promises gradual return to a floating currency in PNG: IMF
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team will be in Port Moresby over the next few months to help the PNG government develop a jointly-agreed comprehensive reform roadmap for the country’s foreign exchange (FX)
Australia invests to counter China’s influence in the Pacific
Australia will spend almost $2 billion(US$1.3 million) on improving relations with Pacific island nations as it seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the region. As well as spending $1.4 billion(US$947
The Dixmude visits Suva port
It has been 22 years since France did a circumnavigation training around the world, and yesterday a vessel undertaking this exercise docked at the Suva harbour with the aim of strengthening regional partnerships and
Papua LNG project: potential economic contribution, says ANZ
The ANZ bank says the proposed Papua New Guinea LNG project will deliver PGK18bn (US$5bn) in new spending (in constant prices or in real terms) during its construction phase. This is equivalent to 27.3% of PNG’s
