Elon Musk invited to Pacific Island Leaders meeting amid Tonga’s internet crisis
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, has been invited to attend the 53rd Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, scheduled from 26-30 August, 2024. The invitation reportedly comes from the Tongan government,
USP Fiji staff vote to go on strike for the second time in 5 months
University of the South Pacific staff in Fiji, where the University is headquartered, have voted to go on strike for the second time in five months, this time demanding to have Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia
Fijian writers launch new book on equality
Emerging Fijian writers, Stephanie Datt Wise and Asish Vinay Prasad, have launched a new chapbook to further conversations around the topic of equality. ‘The After’ is 23 pages of poems and short
New Zealand refugee resettlement deal likely to wind up
New Zealand is set to walk away from its agreement to resettle refugees from Australia, with about half the places on offer unfilled. In 2022, the governments agreed a deal for 450 people in Australian offshore
Some Islanders don’t want to leave homelands despite climate closing in – research
A Tongan researcher from the University of Waikato found that in the Pacific region, particularly in Tonga and Samoa, people don’t want to move despite what she calls the “stigma” associated with
Fiji Cabinet removes duties on EU goods under iEPA
Fiji’s cabinet has approved the implementation of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union (EU) and decided to remove duties on certain goods from EU countries. This move is part of
Fiji reinstated to World Rugby Council after governance overhaul
World Rugby has reinstated Fiji to the World Rugby Council, effective immediately. This decision comes after the Executive Board approved the recommendation from the Fiji Oversight Committee, following the adoption of a
PNG jolts donors over power grid roll-out as China sale dismissed
The chairman of Papua New Guinea’s national power provider has called for a faster U.S. and foreign donor roll-out of promised electricity infrastructure while saying there is absolutely no plan to sell critical grid
Kiribati elections 2024 – what we know
The I-Kiribati people will go to the polls for the first round of voting today. The Kiribati Electoral Commission is responsible to conduct the election with the support of the Ministry for Culture and Internal Affairs.
Federated States of Micronesia eyes wider access to global market for tuna
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is seeking to expand its tuna industry by securing broader access to the international market and reforming its foreign investment policies. At the Second National Fisheries
Tonga’s fibre optic cable repair underway despite ‘data glitch’
The Cable Ship Lodbrog located the northern end of Tonga’s damaged domestic fibre optic cable on Sunday and is now searching for the southern end attached to Tongatapu. The repair is expected to be completed by this
“India and Fiji share a close bond”: Rugby legend Serevi proud to take charge as Head Coach
Despite the soaring humidity, World Rugby Hall of Fame legend turned coach, Waisale Serevi, is thoroughly enjoying his time at India’s Rugby Sevens camp in Kolkata, West Bengal. Serevi, affectionately known as the
Jet fuel import facility to be online by 2025: Kumul Petroleum Holdings
Kumul Petroleum Holdings (KPHL) expects its new jet fuel import facility at Motukea Port to come into operation by the first quarter of 2025, KPHL Managing Director Wapu Sonk told the 2024 Business Advantage PNG
Migrant workers feeling the impact of New Zealand’s economic crisis
Hundreds of jobs in the New Zealand meat sector have been “discreetly” lost over the last 18 months and this is due to a decline in livestock breeding numbers, industry officials say. In January last year, the
More gold to be mined, says PM Marape
Papua New Guinea has an estimated 100 million ounces of gold that is yet to be mined, says Prime Minister James Marape. Marape said this when closing the three-day Geoscience, Exploration and Extraction Conference 2024
Guam and American Samoa poised for Forum Associate membership
The Pacific Islands Forum is set to welcome Guam and American Samoa as Associate Members, following a strong recommendation from the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting Friday. Incumbent Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime
Mercury spill on Air Niugini aircraft investigated
The PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) is probing a mercury spill from a package aboard an Air Niugini aircraft at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby last month. AIC Chief Commissioner Maryanne
Forum Troika set for high-stakes New Caledonia mission
Incumbent Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed that a high-level Troika delegation will visit New Caledonia before the end of August. The mission, which has received
Weightlifter Cikamatana in tears after finishing fourth
Eileen Cikamatana was in tears and her coach Paul Coffa is reconsidering retirement after she fell short of their lofty Olympic weightlifting goals. Coffa had confidently predicted the 24-year-old would win a medal, but
Key UN report lends weight to Pacific plan for shipping emissions levy
Pacific governments say an official UN report shows their push for a levy on all shipping emissions – with the revenues redistributed to poorer nations – is fairer, cheaper and more effective than other green
Pacific resilience fund needs US$380m in two years’ to reach half-billion goal
Tonga has the backing of Pacific economic ministers to host the regional community resilience financing facility. The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) was endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders to
Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meet in Tonga, sharing knowledge for security
The South West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces (SWPHMF) met Wednesday in an exclusive meeting in Nuku’alofa, held at the Leadership Centre, Masefield Naval Base. “This meeting is a chance for the heads of
Maprik town burns
Maprik town in East Sepik was set ablaze over two days, beginning Monday between 3pm and 4pm and spilling into early Tuesday morning. Police have confirmed the arrest of at least 189 suspects. A special court hearing
