COVID on the rise in Nauru
Nauru, one of the world’s last COVID-free nations, reported its first COVID community transmission case last Thursday. And President Lionel Aingimea in a statement yesterday said the total number of positive cases
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Pacific tourism workers resilient in adversity
Pacific researchers assessing the wellbeing of tourism-reliant communities in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands amid the COVID-19 pandemic have found these communities are mainly resilient in the face of
PNG ready for polling, coalition govt in the making
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says all election materials for the 2022 General Election have been shipped to the provinces to prepare for polling. He said his office had started sending materials
Pohnpei officials arrested for breaching quarantine rules
Five Pohnpei officials, including the acting governor, were arrested last week after being criminally charged for allegedly bungling the quarantine protocols that resulted in an extended stay of repatriated passengers
International travel to resume in Kiribati this August
All international travel to and from Kiribati will return to normal on August 1st this year, reports Radio Kiribati. Incoming passengers are required to have a valid COVID-19 test 24hrs before departure. The number of
Stunning electoral victory for independence party in French Polynesia
In an unprecedented electoral victory, the independence party Tavini Huira’atira has won all three seats allocated to French Polynesia in the French National Assembly. Voters across French Polynesia turned out on
U.S., Marshalls aim for Compact wrap-up by year end
United States and Marshall Islands leaders say they hope to complete negotiations to renew provisions of an economic and security treaty by the end of this year. They completed the first round of talks last week.
Pacific Mini Games Update
A Successful Opening Ceremony The official opening ceremony of the Pacific Mini Games 2022 was a huge success on Friday night with over 3000 spectators attending the opening ceremony at the Oleai Sports Complex in the
Opinion: Australia’s international health funding: commitments and challenges
by Cameron Hill and Huiyuan Liu While commentators have remarked on how little attention Australia’s domestic COVID-19 situation received in the 2022 federal election campaign, discussion of the global pandemic was
Australia recommits to Nauru ‘regional processing centre’
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has recommitted to maintaining the regional processing centre on Nauru, which accounts for more than half of the island country’s budget. Revenue from the processing centre
Opinion: This year’s Pacific elections marginalise and isolate too many
As 2022 Pacific elections unfold, it is evident that a global decline in democracy is disadvantaging the most vulnerable. By Mere Nailatikau Election season is in the air. With Australia’s ballots counted,
Pacific states push for TPNW assistance to nuclear survivors
Pacific delegates will play a key role at a major nuclear disarmament conference this week in Austria, as governments discuss the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons and implementation of the new Treaty on the
World Bank may include ICT in Vanua Levu tourism initiative
The success of boosting tourism demand in Vanua Levu will depend on its ability to manage essential tourism-related services, of which ICT is an important element, said the World Bank as work gets underway to develop
Additional US$20m for Disaster Recovery in Tonga
Five months on from January’s volcanic eruption and COVID-19 outbreaks, an additional US$20 million (approximately TOP46 million) will help strengthen Tonga’s fiscal, disaster and social resilience, the World Bank
Binance wants to make the “Palauan Dream” come true
Palau is hoping its new partnership with the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange company Binance will create the “Palauan Dream” to help curb the brain drain among its young people. Binance
Mate Ma’a Tonga stacked for the Pacific Test Series
Tonga Rugby League coach Kristian Woolf named a 25-man squad to play against the New Zealand Kiwis ahead of the June 25 Test in Auckland. The team will feature the likes of hard running forwards Jason Taumalolo, Addin
Northern Marianas aim high at Pacific Mini Games
Members of the CNMI National Athletics Team will have their work cut out for them with the region’s titans of track and field competing in the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022. CNMI will be hoping to provide
Australia’s submits more ambitious climate targets
Australia has submitted more ambitious climate targets to the United Nations, with the government declaring the country had turned a corner on the issue. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed an updated version of the
Tonga Parliament passes largest annual budget
Tonga’s Parliament passed the 2022-2023 annual budget this week, reports Tonga Wires. Totalling $764.7 million pa’anga (US$328.36 million), it is the Kingdom’s largest ever annual budget. According to the Tonga
U.S-Marshalls resume long-stalled talks
Nearly three years after the first in-person preliminary discussions were held between the United States and the Marshall Islands for a third funding agreement in the Compact of Free Association treaty, negotiations
5000 Pacific Islanders offered NZ residence visa
Up to 5000 Pacific Islanders will be offered New Zealand residence visas under a government policy aimed at addressing a pandemic shortfall. Over 1700 places a year offered to Pacific Islanders were canned when COVID-19
Fiji: tidal flooding to abate today
The heavy swells that affected several communities around Fiji early yesterday morning were triggered by a king tide coupled with moderate to heavy swells, according to the Fiji Meteorological Service. The phenomena
Seasonal workers scheme needs balance: Samoa PM Mata’afa
Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says there needs to be a circular process for the seasonal workers scheme to ensure human resource constraints in Samoa are dealt with in a balanced manner. Mata’afa
