China’s declining aid to Pacific islands increasingly goes to allies, think tank reports

China’s declining aid to the South Pacific is increasingly targeted toward its political allies in the region as appetite there for Chinese credit declines and competition grows with the U.S. for influence, an

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Google to run internet cables to Pacific islands in Australia-U.S. deal

Alphabet’s Google will run undersea cables powering internet access to at least eight far-flung Pacific Ocean nations under a joint U.S.-Australian deal set to be announced on Wednesday, according to a U.S.

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Tuvalu, Kiribati climate migrants ‘need immigration pathway’

Immigration reforms are urgently needed to create a pathway for climate migration to Aotearoa New Zealand from the low-lying atoll countries of Tuvalu and Kiribati, a researcher says. “There are currently no formal

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Kiribati’s fuel crisis

Part of a financial crisis? Residents of Kiribati’s most populous island, South Tarawa, were welcomed to August by a fuel crisis that persisted for six days, disrupting the capital’s ‘business-as-usual’ mode and

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USP graduates share their aspirations

Years of hard work came to fruition last week after more than 1000 students received their certificates at the University of the South Pacific graduation ceremony in Suva, with 65% of them women. “As you step out of

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Gulf oil states on a Pacific charm offensive

Gulf oil states are using their vast wealth to build influence across the far-flung South Pacific, experts have told AFP, tearing a page straight out of China’s Belt and Road playbook. Saudi Arabia and the United

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$8M to support Kiribati’s drought relief efforts

An $8 million grant has been disbursed by the Asian Development Bank to the Government of Kiribati to help fund drought relief efforts. ADB says the support comes after a state of emergency was declared last month in

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Japan, Australia, U.S to fund undersea cable connection in Micronesia to counter China’s influence

Japan announced Tuesday that it joined the United States and Australia in signing a US$95 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations to improve networks in the Indo-Pacific region

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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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Six Pacific countries at high risk of debt distress: World Bank

Six Pacific countries are at a high risk of debt distress in part due to government spending to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the World Bank said in a report on Thursday. The report, titled Raising Pasifika, said

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Boatbuilding in the very central Pacific with KiriCraft Central Pacific

KiriCraft Central Pacific is a high-quality boatbuilding factory [covering over 1000sqm] based in the Republic of Kiribati; a small island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. Established in 1997 under the name

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New data reveal links between Korean vessels and illegal fishing in Pacific

A fish carrier sailing under the flag of South Korea was recently denied permission to unload a tuna catch of over 4,000 kgs, estimated to be worth 250 million baht (US$7.2 million), in Bangkok.  However,

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