COVID-free Pacific island nations to open borders
Two of the last four remaining COVID-free nations in the world are preparing to open their borders. The Federated States of Micronesia has announced its plan to open its borders without quarantine beginning August
Skyrocketing prices hit Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands fuel prices hit the US$7.00 per gallon milestone this past week, adding an exclamation point to the prices for imported goods that have skyrocketed since last year. Food, vehicle fuel, transportation
Cyber attack disrupts Marshall Islands internet service
When internet systems in the Marshall Islands went on the blink in mid-March, it wasn’t immediately clear what was causing the rolling outages. Home, business and government DSL and dedicated lines as well as mobile
Marshall Islands president calls for Forum ‘peace’
The President of Marshall Islands says not only does he not want the Micronesia area nations to pull out of the Forum, he wants current Secretary General Henry Puna to stay on the job. In a 17 February letter to Nauru
“Our ocean is not a nuclear dumpster” – USP students call for a nuclear free Pacific
Hundreds of students at the University of the South Pacific in Suva rallied to remember nuclear survivors around the region on 1 March, the anniversary of the US Bravo nuclear test on Bikini Atoll. Marching through
Marshall Islands pushes back on ship registry criticism
A Marshall Islands ship registry official has pushed back at criticism a U.S organisation lobbed its way as part of the announcement that the United States government is going to launch an “open” ship registry. The
From Aspirations to Inspirations: The Marshall Islands Fishing Story
The story of how the Marshall Islands went from being a bystander in commercial fishing in the Pacific to operating the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port, two fish processing facilities, a purse seine vessel net
Our Ocean’s Promise
From Aspirations to Inspirations: The Marshall Islands Fishing Story By Giff Johnson The story of how the Marshall Islands went from being a bystander in commercial fishing in the Pacific to operating the world’s
Milestone book features the Marshall Islands fishing story
How the Marshall Islands went from being a bystander in commercial fishing in the Pacific to operating the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port, two fish processing facilities, a purse seine vessel net repair
Bainimarama condemns nuclear testing “atrocities”
Commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has spoken out about the health and environmental legacies of Cold War nuclear testing in the Pacific. As Pacific Islands
Marshall Islands adapting to a changing world
Marshall Islands' Hilda Heine and Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner on climate change and
RMI, Solomons make a ‘lonely case’ for carbon price on shipping
Pacific island nations made the case for a carbon price to tackle shipping’s climate impact at the UN body responsible for seaborne transport on Wednesday, but found only tepid support. At a environmental committee
Marshalls vaccinates fishermen in Majuro
The Marshall Islands has launched Covid-19 vaccinations for commercial fishermen temporarily in port Majuro — possibly the first Pacific island to vaccinate foreign fishermen. With the country vaccination programme
Green shipping boost: China Navigation supports Marshall Islands’ carbon tax proposal
(SPLASH)China Navigation is to sign for a revolutionary sail-assisted newbuild this month as part of a package of green measures announced today. The Swire subsidiary has also come out in favour of the proposal put
Connected by the ocean and history
The University of the South Pacific has a proud history of student activism. ATOM (Against Testing on Moruroa) formed in Fiji in 1970, and many of its founding members were USP students and academics. In 1975,
Sailing into the future: the decarbonisation agenda
Pacific Island nations risk being left behind in the race to decarbonise the shipping industry, despite leading the way on this issue at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Dr Peter Nuttall, who is the
UN Human rights role impasse continues
A vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council this week could resolve a stalemate over the body’s Presidency between candidates from Fiji, Bahrain and Uzbekistan. Russia and China continue to oppose the candidacy
UN Human rights role impasse continues
A vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council this week could resolve a stalemate over the body’s Presidency between candidates from Fiji, Bahrain and Uzbekistan. Russia and China continue to oppose the candidacy
Remember Hiroshima…and the Pacific
In Japan, they’re called hibakusha – the survivors of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, and the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Seventy-five years on, the survivors remember those days, and
Pacific countries will access future COVID-19 vaccine through funding mechanism
Pacific island countries will be able to access a future COVID-19 vaccine through a new funding mechanism announced by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, at the Global Vaccine Summit last week. Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States
Dengue fever another blow for PICs
The Red Cross says a dengue outbreak continues to threaten a number of Pacific island nations, even as they rebuild after Tropical Cyclone Harold and struggle with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. More
Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
Coronavirus: a Pacific wrap-up
An outbreak of a new coronavirus has killed at least 106 people in China, and has spread to some of the Pacific’s close neighbours, including Australia (with five cases) and Malaysia (with four). The United States,
