Fiji, PNG fail to secure UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces
No progress has been made in sending a UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces despite the appointment of Fiji and Papua New Guinea’s prime ministers to negotiate the visit. Pacific Island leaders
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorse high-level mission to New Caledonia
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders have endorsed a high-level mission to New Caledonia. This is in response to the request from New Caledonia to support a long-lasting resolution to the ongoing political
Rugby Sevens set to kick-off Olympic Games Paris 2024 in style
Captains from the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams gathered at the Olympic Village on Monday ahead of what promises to be the most hotly-contested and highly-anticipated rugby sevens event in history. Following rugby
Pacific Islands welcome development partnerships amid rising regional tensions
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair Mark Brown has emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts with various development partners in supporting Pacific Island countries. Speaking last week in Tokyo, PM
Pacific children left behind and vulnerable due to regional labour mobility schemes
Pacific Islands children are being left behind by their parents, who are taking up opportunities presented by regional labour mobility schemes, increasing concerns about child abuse. This was a key issue brought up at
India to apply for licences to scout Pacific Ocean for critical minerals
India will apply for licences to explore for deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean as it competes to secure supplies of minerals critical for energy transition technologies, a top government scientist said. The
Cook Islands Health Ministry approves nearly 90 percent of tobacco vendor applications
Cook Islands Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health has approved 37 out of the 43 applications received for selling tobacco in the Cook Islands. The successful applicant can start selling tobacco from 01 August 2024, under
Samoa Police killed on duty
A police officer has been shot and killed in Samoa while attempting to carry out an arrest. Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite died at the scene in the village of Fasitoo-Uta on Monday. Perite was in the middle
Tonga grants Starlink “provisional temporary permit” to offer local services
Starlink has been granted a “provisional temporary permit” to operate in Tonga, MEIDECC announced Friday, 19 July. This was in response to a “significant amount” of public concern after the Tonga government
Air Niugini’s Boeing 737 resume flights to Melanesian countries
Air Niugini’s Boeing 737 aircraft will resume flights to Port Vila in Vanuatu from 03 August. Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon said that this would provide an opportunity to reconnect
Japan’s nuclear wastewater discharge not a breach of Rarotonga Treaty, says Cook Islands PM
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chairman Mark says that Japan’s discharge of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean does not violate the Rarotonga Treaty. During his visit to Tokyo last week, PM Brown