Deep-sea mining meeting closes without consensus
As meetings to oversee deep-sea mining on the high seas draw to a close, it remains unclear whether regulators will allow it to commence in the near future. At the 07-31 March meetings in Kingston, Jamaica, of the
‘Health crisis’ amongst children from Nauru offshore camp
Nearly nine in 10 children brought from offshore processing on Nauru to Australia were suffering physical health conditions, including malnutrition and dental disease, while almost 80 percent reported one or more mental
Australia Foreign Minister Wong backing Waqa as PIF secretary general
Australia will stand behind Baron Waqa, the controversial pick as Pacific Islands Forum leader, despite his chequered record as Nauru president. The 63-year-old has been nominated by Micronesian nations to be the next
Micronesian nations join UN’s demand for Russia to leave Ukraine
Micronesian nations have joined the international community in demanding Russia’s immediate retreat from Ukraine, one year after Moscow’s invasion which resulted in a protracted war that left tens of
Why has a Canadian company partnered with Nauru to fast-track deep sea mining?
Brown-black discharge gushed out of a pipe from a hulking ship, dispersing murky clouds of sediment into the international waters of the Pacific Ocean. The scene, captured in a video that’s garnered international
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
USP welcomes home Vice Chancellor with prayers, standing ovations…and soon, FJ$10million
The two-year exile of the University of the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia from the university’s Suva campus ended with a thanksgiving ceremony last night. Professor Ahluwalia told regional
Palau President Whipps to join Micronesian Presidents this month
President Surangel Whipps Jr is meeting other four Micronesian Presidents on 13-17 February for the first face-to-face Micronesian Presidents Summit meeting since the one held in Palau in 2020 where the Mekreos
Greens push for immediate evacuation of refugees in Nauru and PNG
The Greens will use the first day of Australian parliament to introduce a bill that would offer immediate evacuation to asylum seekers and refugees who remain in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The bill would offer roughly
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
Nauru’s Dame caught in alleged corruption in Bangkok
The Bangkok home of a former Nauru diplomat, Onassis Dame has been raised by Thai police in connection with an alleged scheme to forge Chinese and Nauru passports. According to media reports, the residence was used as a
First refugees from offshore camps arrive in New Zealand
The first refugees to come to New Zealand after spending years in offshore Australian detention camps have arrived. The group landed in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, with the Government confirming the first six
Ocean miner completes controversial Pacific trials
The Canadian miner, the Metals Company, has announced the completion of a controversial deep sea bed mining trial in the Pacific. The trial was approved by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in September much to
Nauru laments failure from “those with real power”
Nauru, one of the Pacific countries at the forefront of the climate crisis, has lamented the failure of what they describe as “people with real power” to avert the climate crisis. Speaking during the resumed
Pacific groups welcome call to ban deep sea mining
The Pacific Blue Line collective has welcomed the call by France for a ban on deep sea mining, a call that Pacific civil society groups and movements have been pushing for since 2012. French President Emmanuel Macron
Journey to COP27: Pacific Women negotiators state their case for 1.5 world
Pacific women negotiators at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) are adamant about what they want to come from COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Australia, NZ ministers visiting Pacific neighbours this week
It has been another big week for high level visits from Australia and New Zealand into the region, with PNG, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Cook Islands all receiving ministerial-level visits. Australia’s deputy Prime
Major powers question Marshall Islands nuclear legacy bid
Nuclear powers have criticised an effort led by the Marshall Islands at the United Nations to seek help on dealing with the consequences of nuclear testing, sources following the talks involving countries including the
Nauru cabinet sworn into office
Nauru’s newly-elected cabinet ministers have been sworn into office for the next three years. Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony today, Russ Joseph Kun, Nauru’s new president who gained his seat unopposed,
Deep Sea Mining pilot gets go ahead
Piloting of deep sea mining by the Metals Company has been given the green light by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). This follows the ISA’s review of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental
Russ Kun elected unopposed as Nauru president
Russ Kun is the newly elected president of Nauru, nominated unopposed in the inaugural sitting of the 24th Parliament, Wednesday. Marcus Stephen was re-elected as the Speaker of Parliament and former president Lionel
Nauru elects new parliament
Nauru president Lionel Aingimea is among the members of parliament who have been re-elected in the weekend poll. However, declared results show that two former presidents, Baron Waqa and Ludwig Scotty, failed to win any
Oceania mourns passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Pacific leaders to attend state funeral Oceania is mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch at age 96. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna said: “Her impact
