Amata co-sponsors legislation to counter Chinese cybersecurity threats
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting the House passage of the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act or HR 1149, which she co-led with sponsor Rep Susan Wild, D-Pennsylvania. Their
Palau to establish digital residency programme physical office
Palau’s Ministry of Finance has announced its latest regulation pertaining to the digital residency programme. In a letter to President Surangel Whipps Jr, The Ministry of Finance said the new regulation
BSP customers in PNG told to repay money after ‘glitch’
A “technical issue” has allowed some customers with Papua New Guinea’s largest bank to overdraw money from their accounts, while others have watched their bank balances drop. In a statement posted to Facebook,
Blockchain technology a game changer for Vanuatu, report shows
A recently released report by Pacific Advisory, funded by Oxfam International and Australian Aid, has identified blockchain technology as a game-changer for Vanuatu. The report provides a path forward to achieve the
BPNG to discontinue private sector cheques in December
The Bank of PNG will discontinue the use of private sector cheques by 31 December 2023. The National Payments Council (NPC), chaired by the acting Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), has announced that
Use of automated systems boosts revenue in Tuvalu
Tuvalu has increased revenue by 20% after automating its customs management systems. Paperless customs procedures have really made it simpler for traders in Tuvalu, says Sania Teisini, Director of Tuvalu’s Revenue
Underwater critical infrastructure needs protection
According to recent reports, a Russian spy ship was part of a sabotage operation targeting underwater cables, gas pipelines and wind farms in the North Sea. The vessel was spotted entering Belgian and Dutch
Micronesian nations sign communique to advance cable project
After a series of high level discussions in Honolulu between senior officials from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Kiribati and representatives from Australia, Japan, and the United States, the group
Five months of Vanuatu court data lost in ransomware attack
2022 was a solid year for the Vanuatu Courts, but the unexpected ransomware attack on the Vanuatu Government network impacted the courts and other government agencies, preventing access to their systems over two months
Cyber attack risks will remain, says Vanuatu PM
The risks of cyber-attacks on the Government network will remain. Hacking the system is “bread and butter” for hackers around the world. But hopefully, a new system is in place to build security mechanisms to detect
70 percent of Govt servers recovered: PM Kalsakau
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau confirmed Wednesday afternoon that 70 percent of the Government servers have been recovered. Partial access to government systems have been restored and that includes; government
Bi-partisan Parliament committee to better PNG electoral process
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape wants a bi-partisan parliamentary committee to work immediately on a submission to go before cabinet next year 2023, on how to improve the country’s electoral process. With
U.S., Japan back Australia’s Digicel Pacific purchase
The U.S. and Japan have announced they will back the Australian government’s unprecedented move to fund Telstra’s purchase of the Pacific’s largest telco, stumping up around $150 million (US$100
Tuvalu to protect maritime boundaries despite rising seas
In another first for the world, the island nation of Tuvalu has embarked on a national contingency plan to preserve and protect its statehood and sovereignty, in the event it becomes uninhabitable by 2050. It’s not
Vanuatu Govt network paralysed by cyber attack
The Office of the Vanuatu Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has confirmed the Government’s Broadband Network has been compromised since Sunday, November 6, 2022. A statement from the OGCIO relayed that
PACIFICi Portal to assist investigative anti-corruption efforts
With the Pacific Island region increasingly impacted by organised transnational crime, international drug and people smuggling, money laundering and corruption, a new web-based investigative tool, PACIFICi, is set to
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
PNG to share vessel tracking data in new partnership
In a new partnership with Global Fishing Watch, Papua New Guinea has committed to sharing vessel tracking data from its Fishing Industry Association on the organisation’s public map. Through this agreement, PNG is
Expanding financial inclusion in Fiji
To make everyday bank transactions easier, Fiji has published its National Payment System Act 2021 and Regulations 2022 in the National Gazette, becoming effective September 30. This marks a critical milestone in
Telikom PNG makes K28million profit
Telikom PNG Limited, in which the two major superannuation funds are planning to own more than 50 per cent shares, has recorded a K28 million (US$7.9 million) profit in the last financial year. Telikom paid shareholder
From terrestrial to satellites: Fong’s career reaches new heights
It was a keen "interest in technical things" very early on in life that drew Ivan Fong to the field of engineering. "Taking things apart, putting them back together and seeing if you can do something yourself" came as
Palau to launch stablecoin in October
Setting a digital currency trend in the region, Palau is slated to launch a dry run of its stablecoin in October, according to Kaleb Udui Jr., the country’s finance minister. “Initially, we are starting a very small
Bridging the digital divide in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands’ Avaroa Cable Limited (ACL) has revealed its selection of Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP to further improve the nation’s ICT via turnkey provision from Samoa to Australia. The state-owned enterprise
