New Australian Pacific visa scheme gets green light
Thousands of Pacific islanders will be offered a path to Australian life after a government effort to boost regional employment and address shortages was given the green light. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles secured
Abandon fossil fuels: UN SG told world leaders
UN Secretary General António Guterres has urged leaders “to ensure that projects deliver the green, sustainable infrastructure countries need to support people and ecosystems alike, while breaking free of failed
Samoa Minister says no to ‘marijuana export’
Samoan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries is opposed to any moves to promote the medicinal use of marijuana, saying it will not happen any time. The views of La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt were sought on
NIWA warns of stronger cyclones in the Pacific
Stronger tropical cyclones and more of them are forecast for the upcoming South Pacific season which runs from November to April. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand expects
Pacific leaders disappointed over Australia’s Voice referendum outcome
Pacific leaders have expressed disappointment after Australia voted against altering its constitution to create an Indigenous voice to Parliament over the weekend. Had it won, the referendum would have established a
China’s Xi supports stronger international role for Papua New Guinea
China’s President Xi Jinping said the country supports Papua New Guinea in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to strengthen ties. Xi made the comments in a meeting with
13 Samoan pilgrims safely evacuated from Israel
The last group of Samoans in Israel were safely evacuated from Jerusalem to Dubai, Tuesday. The Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a media statement that 13 Samoans boarded the Australian air force flight
U.S., Marshall Islands sign security deal that will limit China’s access to Western Pacific
The Republic of the Marshall Islands and the U.S. signed agreements Monday that will give Washington a stronger presence in the Western Pacific and the right to deny China and other nations access to the islands’
Tonga’s Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala nominated to lead WHO Western Pacific Region
Tonga’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala has been nominated as the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. His candidacy was successful at the WHO Regional
Run for your life, Fiji NDMO Director tells students
Siren sounds blared across the Suva harbour today which prompted civilians of all ages to head to higher ground. Students and teachers from six nearby schools held hands and swiftly made their way to one of the
Australia’s PM Albanese takes share of blame for Indigenous referendum failure
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he accepted his share of blame for the failure of a referendum question on Indigenous recognition that could weaken his authority. More than 60 percent of
IAEA team joined by China takes samples after Fukushima water release
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and experts from China, South Korea and Canada on Monday collected seawater samples near the crippled Fukushima nuclear complex in northeastern Japan following the release
Chinese premier holds talks with PNG PM Marape
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday held talks with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to
Resolution filed to express Guam’s solidarity with Israel
Senator Jesse Lujan has introduced a resolution expressing solidarity with Jewish communities around the world and showing support for Israel, following an unprecedented airstrike by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group
U.S. negotiator expects to sign new deal with Marshall Islands this week
The United States has finalised a 20-year extension to its agreement on ties with the strategic Marshall Islands and expects to sign the US$2.3 billion deal on Monday, chief U.S. negotiator with the Pacific island
WHO vote today: 2 Pacific Islanders in the mix
Western Pacific members of the World Health Organization are meeting this week, and today they will be voting to nominate the next WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. There are two Pacific Island nominees in
Black mist across the desert
Yami Lester was ten years old when a British atomic weapon, codenamed Totem 1, was detonated at Emu Field on 15 October 1953. The isolated test site in the desert of South Australia was downwind from his home at
Tonga charters flight to evacuate Tongans from Israel to London
Thirty Tongan nationals have been safely evacuated from Israel, including some from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, on a 61 passengers flight to London, chartered by the Tongan Government. The flight departed at 1:38pm
Fiji Airways says Israel charter was a commercial decision
Fiji Airways says its decision to operate a charter flight to Israel was based on purely commercial considerations. Amidst the chaos of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, Fiji Airways safely retrieved more than 200 Fijians
Iroga optimistic on Solomon Islands media sector
A veteran Solomon Islands journalist says the country’s media industry is vibrant and amongst the most independent in the region. Robert Iroga, founder and publisher of Solomons Business Magazine recently told
Youth at the heart of building resilience
Advocating for the availability of financial aid from the government has become one of the key strategies for Pacific youth working towards community resilience. Sotiana Sorovakatini of the Bua Urban Youth Group said
Fiji’s low youth vote due to address records
A drastic drop in the voter turn-out for young people is of concern for the Fiji Elections Office. Only 58.46% of eligible voters aged 18 to 20 years voted in the 2022 general election. The Acting Supervisor of
Joint feasibility study set for a possible free trade agreement between PNG and China
A joint feasibility study is set to begin next week for a possible free trade agreement between Papua New Guinea and China. According to The National, International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the cost of the
