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
PNG PM appeals for peaceful election
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has appealed to Papua New Guineans, especially those in Tari-Pori and Hela, to help ensure a peaceful General Election 2022 (GE22). “All have the right to campaign
Air Vanuatu to focus on domestic fleet expansion
Vanuatu’s national carrier Air Vanuatu has decided to cancel its order for Airbus A220s and instead plans to add more regional turboprop aircraft. “Air Vanuatu will not be proceeding with its order for
ACT elects David Pocock as first independent senator
Former Australian rugby union star David Pocock has made history, becoming the first independent senator for a territory. This morning, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed he had unseated former ACT
Rugby League star Justin Olam re-commits with Storm
Papua New Guinea international Justin Olam has extended his contract with renowned NRL club, theMelbourne Storm. The re-signing is for the next 4 years, keeping him in Melbourne until at least the end of the 2026
Sovereignty talks at Defence Summit in Singapore
Country leaders present at a defence summit in Singapore on Monday have made their stance clear on sovereignty. Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing highlighted that Fiji values
Cook Islands election set for August 1st
Cook Islands elections will be held on August 1st. Queen’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters dissolved Parliament yesterday, and announced the polling date. Prime Minister Mark Brown will lead Cook Islands Party
We have no choice but to fight for our future
“The threat of nuclear weapons is an existential crisis and we feel the weight that this places on us for our future,” says Bedi Racule. “It can be really hard to face these things, but we have no choice but to
Internet society wary of “splinternet”
An Internet advocacy organisation has warned that any fragmentation of the Internet will undermine decades of successful global Internet connectivity and has called on stakeholders in the Pacific to rally against it.
Tongan MP Hingano dies in NZ
Tongan Cabinet Minister, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, passed away Friday, at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand, the Tonga Prime Minister’s Office has announced. Hingano travelled to New Zealand on 30
Opinion: Penny Wong dives deep into the audacity of the Oceanic Pacific
Nurturing relationships is paramount to break down unequal power dynamics – especially in working for women rights. By ‘Ofa-ki-Levuka (‘Ofa) Guttenbeil-Likiliki From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Oceanic writer
Qantas Airways renews license to fly to Samoa
Qantas Airways Limited has applied to Samoa’s Ministry for Works Transport and Infrastructure to fly two routes between two Australian east coast cities and Samoa. The interest shown by one of the
A call for more collaborative, science and grassroot involvement in oceans management
World Oceans Day saw a flurry of activity in Fiji’s capital, Suva, as people gathered to celebrate the ocean as an integral part of their lives. It coincided with a two-day Pacific Oceans Alliance meeting that
