Nauru disappointed with ISA failure to adopt deepsea mining rules
Nauru President Russ Kun says Nauru is “extremely disappointed” at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council’s failure to adopt rules, regulations and procedures that will enable seabed exploration in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, also known as the Area.
In 2021, Nauru formally requested the Council to complete this work within two years. This deadline has expired and “we are extremely disappointed,”...
Macron plans a new political statute for New Caledonia
By Nic Maclellan in Noumea
In a major speech in Noumea, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed he would forge ahead to seek changes to the French Constitution in early 2024, to reform voting rights and create a new statute for New Caledonia within the French Republic.
Speaking before thousands of supporters in Noumea’s central square – many waving the bleu-blanc-rouge French...
France’s Macron announces initiative to preserve primary forests of PNG
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday a partnership to "remunerate" Papua New Guinea for its efforts to preserve the primary forest.
The first of its kind, the deal is an environmental model that France wants to see reproduced elsewhere.
The French president was given a tour of Varirata National Park, near Port-Moresby, in the company of Papua New Guinea's Prime...
International talks end without go-ahead for deep-sea mining
An international meeting in Jamaica to negotiate rules over deep-sea mining has ended with no green light to start industrial-scale mining and with an 11th-hour agreement to hold formal discussions next year on the protection of the marine environment.
The agreement ended intense week-long negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an intergovernmental body based in Kingston that regulates sea-bed...
Taiwan sends vessels to South Pacific allies to repel illegal fishing boats
Taiwan on Friday donated two multipurpose Coast Guard patrol vessels to Tuvalu, its diplomatic ally in the South Pacific.
The agreement inking ceremony was attended by Tuvalu Ambassador Bikenibeu Paeniu, Taiwan’s deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang and a representative of Karmin International Co., a local manufacturer of boats for public use.
According to Tien, the aid will help Tuvalu protect its...
Manu Samoa stick to RWC plan, Japan holds off Tonga in Pacific Nations Cup
It was a tough loss for the Manu Samoa on Saturday as they went down to the Flying Fijians in the build up to the Rugby World Cup but according to the head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua this is the learning process before they reach France.
Manu Samoa head back to the training pitch and are preparing to face Tonga...
Flying Fijians secure second win against Samoa
Flying Fijians proved out to be the strongest opponent when they defeated their arch-rivals Manu Samoa 33-19 at Apia Park Saturday.
With 12 changes after a win over Tonga and four debutants in the run-on team, the Flying Fijians made a perfect start in their first away match.
Flying Fijians looked more organized and focused from the beginning as they gained...
New Zealand’s first rugby league participation at Pacific Games hailed as “great opportunity”
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chief executive Greg Peters has claimed the country fielding a women's under-23 team at the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games for the first time represents a “great opportunity” for selected players.
Men's rugby league has featured at the Pacific Games since 2007, with a first women's tournament held in Samoa four years ago.
The nines format...
U.S to bolster PNG security
Papua New Guinea’s leadership is promising “cascading” benefits from growing military and security cooperation with the United States following the first visit by a sitting U.S defense secretary, while downplaying any risk to the country’s close economic ties to China.
Prime Minister James Marape Thursday praised the PNG-U.S Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in May, agreeing with assessments by senior U.S...
Nanaia Mahuta shuts door on NZ joining AUKUS after U.S says it’s ‘very much open’
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has shut the door on joining the AUKUS alliance, a military pact that's basing nuclear submarines in Australia.
Mahuta has been hosting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called into the Beehive ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup U.S-Netherlands game at Wellington Stadium.
Parliament's brand new pou carvings were on display as...