Amata, Kilili named co-chairs of bipartisan task force combatting Chinese government influence in Indo-Pacific

U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa and U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the CNMI have been named co-chairs of a bipartisan task force officially announced Wednesday at the U.S.

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Japan’s decision to discharge radioactive waste water into Pacific ‘unconscionable’

Japan’s plan to discharge radioactive waste water into the Pacific has been described by Acting Forum Secretary General Dr Filimon Manoni ‘unconscionable’. Dr Manoni made the remarks at the World Ocean Day

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Widen tax base, spend more efficiently

World Bank's Advice to 9 Pacific Economies The World Bank says six Pacific Island countries are at high risk of debt distress, and that gradual cuts to government spending are vital for balancing budgets and avoiding

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa wants associate member status of the Pacific Islands Forum, after being an observer since 2011. Governor Lemanu Peleti Maunga said it was crucial for American Samoa to push for greater

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Movers and Shakers

Miriam Kataunati of the Kiribati Meteorological Service (KMS) is the country’s first female Oceanographer. A graduate of the University of Fiji in Environmental Science, she started work at KMS as an Acting Assistant

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa has issued a public health emergency after an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory.  Dr Scott Anesi, the department’s lead epidemiologist, said 31 suspected cases

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EU highlights commitment to improving regional trade at Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry

Nadi, Fiji The EU SAFE Pacific (Safe Agricultural Trade and Facilitation through Economic Integration) project played an integral role in the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) held from 6 – 10 March in

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Big picture vision conversations missing in the Pacific

Big picture conversations about the future of the Pacific islands should be happening, but they are not, said one of the region’s foremost commentators in an interview published this week in the Marshall Islands

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South Pacific eyes China trade deal

China and a group of South Pacific island countries could start talks this year toward their first formal trade agreement, according to an official from a regional network of nations.  But while such talks could

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New Pacific air route lands in Palau

There is excitement in the air in Palau as the first flight of a weekly service from Australia kicks off. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr said flights connecting Brisbane to Palau through PNG began on

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Nauru passes Micronesian Summit chairmanship to FSM

Nauru President Russ Kun has passed over the chairmanship of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS) from Nauru to the Federated States of Micronesia at the 21st meeting of the MPS in Pohnpei this week. President

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The next sin: Drug trade on the rise

Between Mexico and Australia is 165 million square kilometers of ocean. In that vast expanse of sea, travelling west and far from the eyes of police, navy and other law enforcement agencies, a precious cargo finds its

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