Solomon Islands leads the Pacific on SOE profitability: ADB report

Solomon Islands’ robust legal framework for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has contributed to the financial success of its largest SOEs and generated the highest portfolio returns among nine Pacific island countries,

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Researcher examines criminal deportations to the Cook Islands

Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) last week hosted assisting researcher Henrietta McNeill, a PhD Candidate with the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU)

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Marshalls air cargo crisis: search is on for alternative

The Marshall Islands government has been forced into making alternative air delivery options for everything from mail and medicines to fresh tuna and equipment for essential public services due to the mounting air cargo

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U.S. opens embassy in Solomon Islands

The United States has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to

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Kiribati to return to Pacific Islands Forum

Kiribati will return to the Pacific Islands Forum. Forum Chair, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says his office has now received a letter confirming this intention from Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau. Rabuka

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Solomon Islands ratifies Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Solomon Islands has ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) last Friday, 20 January 2023 – the 14th Pacific Island nation to join. The ratification was marked with a ceremony at United

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U.S. urges Pacific islands to set example on methane emissions

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry urged Pacific island states last week to join global efforts to cut methane emissions in hopes it would sway major emitters China and India to follow suit. Speaking at the UN’s COP27

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Pacific Islands increasingly used as crime transit point, experts say 

The Pacific islands are increasingly being used as a transit point for transnational crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering, experts say. Criminal organisations from Asia and the Americas are exploiting

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U.S. extradites naturalised Marshallese citizens in alleged bribery scheme

The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment Saturday against two naturalised Marshall Islands citizens accused of bribing numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain

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Cook Islands: “Uphold the decision making process of our Forum leaders”

The Cook Islands representative to the Pacific Islands Forum, Tepaeru Herrmann says they respect Kiribati’s decision to withdraw from the Forum, but that upholding the decision to appoint former Henry Puna to the

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U.S., Marshalls aim for Compact wrap-up by year end

United States and Marshall Islands leaders say they hope to complete negotiations to renew provisions of an economic and security treaty by the end of this year. They completed the first round of talks last week.

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U.S-Marshalls resume long-stalled talks

Nearly three years after the first in-person preliminary discussions were held between the United States and the Marshall Islands for a third funding agreement in the Compact of Free Association treaty, negotiations

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