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Australia can take USAID’s place in the Pacific islands

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By Nicholas Weising One of the first aims of the United States’ new Department of Government Efficiency was shutting down USAID. By 6 February, the agency was functionally dissolved, its seal missing from its Washington headquarters. Amid the sudden shutdown, Australia must increase its developmental aid to Pacific islands before China fills in. The most aid-dependent countries—the Freely Associated States, including Marshall...

Olympic lifters elected at the head of Cook Islands and Samoa NOCs

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Great news coming from Oceania, where two prominent Olympic lifters were elected to the presidency of their respective National Olympic Committees: in Cook Islands, Luisa Peters is the new NOC leader, while in Samoa Jerry Wallwork will be at the helm of the country’s Olympic body. Luisa Peters is a member of the IWF Athletes Commission and is also sitting...

‘Playing gods with the cradle of life’: French Polynesia’s president issues warning over deep-sea mining

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French Polynesia’s president has issued a stark warning over the risks of deep-sea mining, saying it will be allowed in his territory “over my dead body” as he argues the potential for environmental damage outweighs any benefits. Moetai Brotherson’s comments to the Guardian come as countries in the Pacific and elsewhere grapple with whether to extract minerals from the sea...

Pacific Islands prepare for UN BBNJ Treaty talks in Palau

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Pacific Island representatives are meeting in Palau this week to coordinate their approach ahead of the first United Nations Preparatory Meeting on the Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, set for April in New York. Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment Steven Victor urged Pacific nations to stand together and ensure their priorities are reflected...

Papua New Guinea’s Peter to Rot to be canonised as first Melanesian saint

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Pope Francis has passed a decree clearing the way for Papua New Guinea to get its first saint. The late Peter To Rot from East New Britain is to be canonised, making him the first Melanesian saint. The announcement comes four months after Pope Francis visited PNG and held a service in the rural town of Vanimo. Peter To Rot was executed...

French minister Valls pushes for deal on New Caledonia’s future

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France's Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, is on a four-day New Caledonia to support efforts to shape the archipelago’s future, as fresh negotiations aim to bridge political divides and foster stability. Valls took a significant step towards shaping the Pacific territory’s institutional future when he presented a draft agreement to both pro-independence and loyalist political delegations on Sunday. His visit...

Bougainville impasse: PNG PM warns of ‘dangerous precedent’

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Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has not committed to backing Bougainville's independence — saying it could set a "dangerous precedent in a nation of so much diversity" and that a proper process must be followed. It comes six months after former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae was sent in to try and resolve a stalemate between the leaders of...

PNG Supreme Court orders Parliament recalled to deliberate Vote of No Confidence motion

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Papua New Guinea Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has ruled that Parliament’s decision to disallow a second motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister was unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Salika, cantered on a motion filed by deputy Opposition Leader and Chuave MP, James Nomane. The court declared: *The Private Business Committee’s decision...

Compensation for household electricity damages under Samoa State of Emergency

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Compensation for households and businesses with proven damages due to the power outages is one of the issues now open under the Samoa State of Emergency declared Mondayu for 30 days. Tax and import duties will also be lifted for generators and other electricity-related equipment, including renewable energy systems procured by EPC, households, businesses and organisations for electricity generation. Prime Minister...

Embassy of Nauru officially inaugurated in Beijing

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The Embassy of Nauru in the People's Republic of China was officially inaugurated in Beijing on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations. Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Nauru resumed its diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the...

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Trump slaps higher tariffs on Fiji and Pacific nations in response to unfair trade...

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Fiji and other Pacific countries will now face higher export charges to the US under newly introduced reciprocal tariffs. Under the new policy, Fiji will...

BenarNews bids farewell after 10 years of pioneering reporting in Asia Pacific

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In a heartfelt farewell, BenarNews, a trailblazer in independent journalism across the Asia-Pacific, has announced a pause in operations due to funding challenges. After a...

PNGDF will never set foot on Bougainville again, says PM Marape

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Members of the PNG Defence Force and police will never set foot on Bougainville again, says Prime Minister James Marape. He was asked by TVNZ...