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
Kiribati cancer patient returns home as border reopen
A Kiribati teenager has safely returned to his home country on Monday after being stranded in Taiwan for over two and a half years due to strict COVID-19 border controls, the Taipei-based MacKay Memorial Hospital said.
Pacific women thrive in world of sports
Champion Cikamatana carry Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton The Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay has completed its brief visit to Australia after following an itinerary from March 17-20 which paid
$50m drug bust, COVID eases in French Polynesia
Police in French Polynesia have seized almost US$50 million worth of methamphetamine (‘ice’) on a cruise ship from the United States. A 27-year-old Tahitian passenger has been arrested after the discovery of
CNMI Customs confiscate $700K ‘ice’ at post office
The Division of Customs and Biosecurity confiscated 4.9 pounds of crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) with a street value of US$700,000 at the post office in Chalan Kanoa on Saturday, the largest drug haul in
Changes proposed to PNG super tax
Papua New Guinea's Parliament may consider some changes to the market concentration levy, or so-called 'super tax' this
2022 UN Ocean Conference: Thomson on SDG14 Commitments
Despite environmental challenges, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson believes there are viable solutions to reverse the decline in ocean health. The 2022 UN Ocean Conference which
Fiji outclassed, PNG victory at FIFA Oceania qualifiers
Fiji outclassed by strong New Zealand side After a 2 – 1 win over New Caledonia in the first round, Fiji has suffered a devastating 4 – 0 loss to New Zealand in their second outing at the FIFA Oceania qualifying
Fiji and Tonga record first win at Pacific Netball series
Fiji and Tonga won their first matches in the PacificAus Sports Netball Series in Sydney, Monday afternoon. Fiji defeated Samoa 55-44 whilst Tonga thrashed Papua New Guinea 85-42. Outstanding players on Fiji’s team,
Palau to host Our Ocean Conference next month
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr said that Our Ocean Conference next month will be an opportunity for the Pacific region to highlight the role of Pacific Islanders as stewards of the oceans. In a virtual Our Ocean
High seas treaty talks fail to reach a deal
The clock ran out Friday at UN talks to forge a legally binding treaty to protect open oceans beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ), with no schedule set for prolonging the discussions. This fourth round of negotiations
