U.S., FSM begin exploring military training opportunities in Yap
Washington and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have reaffirmed their defence and security ties, toasting a fresh economic package under the newly signed Compact of Free Association that cemented the United
Kiribati judge hopes to finally have day in court
An expatriate judge in Kiribati hopes he will get a chance to make his case on Tuesday over his controversial suspension three years ago. David Lambourne, who is the husband of the opposition leader Tessie Lambourne,
Nauruan president starts six-day China visit
Nauru President David Adeang arrived in Beijing on Sunday, embarking on a six-day state visit to China from Sunday to 29 March. It marks the first visit by a Nauruan president after the two countries resumed
Former Cook Islands Deputy PM jailed on fraud and corruption charges
Former Cook Islands deputy Prime Minister Robert Tepaitau and two other former high-ranking Government officials were handed jail terms Friday for fraud and corruption charges. Tepaitau has been jailed for two years and
Chinese Communist Party-Backed Businessman in Fiji is a Top Australian Criminal Target
Prominent Fiji-based businessman Zhao Fugang is a trusted advocate for China’s interests in the Pacific. But Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies suspect he plays another part: as a senior organized
FFA launches new electronic systems to strengthen Pacific fisheries monitoring
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has launched two new electronic systems built for vessel registrations and Port State Measures. FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen introduced the Electronic Vessel
Fiji Business Briefs: Chequing-out, Pacific Green growth, Movers and Shakers
Bank cheques phase out While the phasing out of cheques by Fiji’s banks is inevitable, indications from the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) are that there is still flexibility around the timeline. RBF Governor Arrif Ali
Internet cost cheap says Samoa regulator
Samoa Telecommunication regulator, Lematua Gisa Purcell has maintained that the current internet price is cheaper compared to previous years and the network cost will drop again before the end of the year. Lematua
Fiji Cabinet approves bid for NRL license
Fiji’s Cabinet has agreed that Rugby League Bid (Fiji) Limited facilitate the bid to secure a licence to enter the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) premiership competition with men and women rugby league
Economist outlines six problems affecting PNG
Westpac economist Justin Smirk says there are six problems affecting the national economy and businesses in Papua New Guinea which are: shortage of expertise and skills, foreign exchange, security, unreliable utilities,
Bendigo Bank delays exit from Nauru as Chinese state-owned bank emerges as replacement
Bendigo has temporarily delayed its plan to pull out of Nauru and close the Pacific Island country’s only bank after a Chinese state-owned bank signalled it might be willing to fill the void, setting alarm bells
China Southern Airlines to increase flights to PNG
China Southern Airlines is considering the possibility of increasing the number of its flights to PNG. Last December, the Chinese airline company landed for the first time in PNG opening a direct route between
IMO to open regional office in Fiji to serve the Pacific
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will open its seventh Regional Presence Office, in Suva, Fiji, to serve countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and
Pressure builds at IMO meet for charge on global shipping sector’s CO2 emissions
The European Union, Canada, Japan, and climate-vulnerable Pacific Island states are among 47 countries rallying support for a charge on the international shipping sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, documents reviewed
Blas: CIFA doesn’t clear out outstanding tabs for Compact impact owed to Guam
The U.S. federal government still owes Guam for the costs incurred by the territory on services provided to migrants from the freely associated states over the past 20 years, Senator Frank Blas Jr. said. According to
CNMI seeks to address fiscal crisis
CNMI leaders on Sunday announced plans to revise the government’s current budget to address the “urgent fiscal challenges” facing the commonwealth. “While it’s not easy to share this news, I believe we
Cook Islands migrant workers welcome High Court ruling on residency threshold
The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country’s immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is “invalid”. New Zealand passport holders only
Brave Reds fall to Fijian flourish in Super Rugby Women’s, Moana Pasifika fight their way to victory over Western Force
Brave Reds fall to Fijian flourish in Super Rugby Women’s The brave Queensland Reds dug deep before bowing 32-21 to the two-time champions from Fiji when Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s launched at Ballymore Stadium
Severe weather kills 23 in PNG
Twenty three persons, including a pregnant woman and seven children, died as flash floods and landslips wreaked havoc across Chimbu in Papua New Guinea last week. The tragedies, resulting from continuous heavy rains,
Corruption watchdog to probe whistleblowers’ claims
Claims whistleblowers were targeted for speaking out about a remote tuberculosis unit’s patient care have been referred to Queensland’s corruption watchdog. Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on
Former Fiji PM, suspended police commissioner found guilty
Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama was found guilty Thursday of illegally shutting down a sensitive police investigation, local media and a court official said. Bainimarama, a former military commander who
Women make up just six percent of candidates for Solomon Islands election
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has revealed the number of women candidates running at the 2024 national election will be just six percent of the total number of candidates contesting, lower than the previous
No rain for three months in some of the Marshall Islands
A humanitarian operation supported by the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund was getting underway late last week in the Marshall Islands, some of whose atolls and islands are said to have had no rain this year.
