PNG expands Visa on Arrival to all Pacific Islands
Papua New Guinea has announced the extension of Visa on Arrival (VOA) privileges to all Pacific Island States and Territories. Loop PNG reports Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau, as making the official
A virtual solution to the environmental controversy of surfing in Tahiti
The International Surfing Association (ISA) has proposed Olympic events without a physical judge tower but with remote judges for the upcoming Olympic Games, aiming to appease local ecological resistance. Back and
Six refugees relocated
Six of the 64 refugees and asylum seekers housed in Papua New Guinea by Australia have been relocated from their current accommodation because of unpaid bills. The National reports that according to Pakistani refugee
Seabed regulations: Public input ends, future updates planned
Cook Islands has concluded public consultation for seabed mineral exploration guidelines, while the Prime Minister emphasises exploration’s potential for future prosperity and responsible resource
Forget the past, says Puna
“I don’t want to live in the past and I’m sure the leaders don’t want to live in the past. We’ve moved on from that and we want to move forward,” said outgoing Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum
Bougainville anniversary
The fourth anniversary of the historic referendum on Bougainville was on 11 December. Ninety-eight per cent of Bougainvilleans voted for Independence in the non-binding Bougainville Referendum – Post Courier
Hotel groups want unique visa for Chinese tourists
The two largest businesses groups in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) are pleading for the administration of Governor Arnold I. Palacios and other local officials to support the creation and implementation
U.S. Air Force plans to host 12 Singapore fighter jets on Guam
The U.S. Department of Air Force is proposing the beddown of up to a dozen Singapore Air Force F-15 fighter jets, which forms part of a 2019 agreement with the Asian ally to establish a permanent training detachment at
Cook Islands Parliament passes medicinal cannabis import bill
Cook Islanders who require medicinal cannabis for their health’s wellbeing can now import or bring the item into the country, provided the product is being prescribed by an overseas medical practitioner. This comes
National Referendum in six months: Vanuatu PM
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced in Parliament Tuesday that a national referendum is expected to happen within the next six months. This announcement followed the unanimous approval of the
Moana Pasifika to host first Super Rugby game in Tonga
Moana Pasifika will stage a Super Rugby match in Tonga for the first time in history next year in a bid to grow the sport on the island, the club said Wednesday. Nineteen of the team’s 38-man playing squad are
COP28 adopts ‘UAE consensus’ paving the way for fossil fuel transition
The President of COP28 Sultan Al Jaber has announced that participating parties have endorsed the ‘UAE Consensus’ Wednesday in the climate change negotiations in Dubai. The consensus, supported by representatives
Negotiations at COP28 hit roadblock as fossil fuel phase-out language faces opposition
On the last day of negotiations at COP28, Karlos Moresi Lee, the Pacific Islands Forum Programme Adviser for Resilient Development Finance, discussed the challenges faced by negotiators from the Alliance of Small Island
New tuna harvest strategy
A new Tropical Tuna Measure was adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 20th meeting which concluded early Saturday morning in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The measure will guide fishing controls for
COP28 draft agreement calls for fossil fuel cuts but avoids ‘phase-out’
Oil-exporting countries will be called upon to reduce their production drastically in the coming decades, if a draft agreement published at the COP28 UN summit on Monday is accepted. The text avoids highly contentious
Sir Collin Tukuitonga resigns from NZ government roles, citing ‘no confidence’
One of New Zealand’s most prominent Pacific health leaders says he has “no confidence” in the Government after stepping down from almost every advisory role. Long-standing champion for health Sir Collin Tukuitonga
AOSIS Ministers express serious concerns over COP28 Global Stocktake draft text
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Chairs Minister, Cedric Schuster of Samoa, Monday voiced deep worries regarding the process and content of the document in reaction to the COP28 Presidency’s draft text on
Japan’s large Pacific bluefin tuna catch limit to be raised in 2024
An international commission responsible for managing Pacific bluefin tuna stocks has decided to allow Japan to effectively increase its catch limit for larger sizes in 2024, reflecting a recovery in their population,
Marshall Islands climate envoy Tina Stege stands firm against weakening of SIDS’s voice at COP28
The climate envoy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Tina Stege, Saturday expressed grave concerns about attempts by certain countries to weaken the emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the
Ministers demand action, not words at COP28
In a panel discussion at COP28 Saturday, government ministers emphasized their priorities and the urgency of addressing critical issues such as climate change adaptation, loss and damage and climate finance. The
‘Hold the line’: Pacific climate activists at COP28
Pacific climate champions chanted ‘hold the line’ at COP28 late last week amid concerns about the direction of the climate talks. Pacific climate activist Drue Slatter told Islands Business the presence of 2456
Pacific fights for climate finance at COP28
In the final days of the global climate negotiations in Dubai, countries continue to argue over the “phase out” or “phase down” of fossil fuels. United Arab Emirates, the host nation of the 28th Conference of
Australia, PNG announce security deal
Australia clinched a security deal with Papua New Guinea on Thursday, bolstering ties to a key Pacific neighbour that has been courted persistently by China. Canberra pushed for a more substantive treaty earlier this
Urgent calls for proactive measures at WCPFC to safeguard future of Pacific fisheries
The 20th session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission currently meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands must put in measures that would ensure the sustainability of our fisheries, says WWF Western and