Australia should rejoin UN climate fund to prove commitment to Pacific neighbours, thinktank argues
Australia must move on from a “crisis mentality” as it seeks to reset its relationship with Pacific island countries, including by rejoining a key UN climate fund, a thinktank says.
Australia must do more than simply position itself as a first responder to natural disasters if it is to become “an effective climate ally with the Pacific”, according to a...
Nauru records first community Covid-19 cases
Nauru is now battling its first Covid-19 outbreak in the community.
337 people have tested positive for Covid-19 so far on Nauru.
Government information office director Joanna Olsson said there have only been 13 other cases detected at the border so far.
They were detected in hotel quarantine from incoming travellers on 31 March, but test results came on 01 April. They...
12 milion PNG ballot papers for distribution
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says 12 million ballot papers will be distributed in the provinces before polling begins on 04 July.
“The distribution of ballot papers will be supervised by the police and the defence force, working with the Australian Defence Force (ADF),” he said.
“So we will have teams from each (force) accompanying the papers for safety...
Hundreds of workers flown home to Pacific despite NZ fishing firms’ pleas
Tongan, Samoan and ni-Vanuatu horticulture workers have been redeployed or flown home, to the disappointment of the country's biggest fishing companies who had asked for help filling hundreds of jobs in their processing plants.
Between 200 and 500 workers still had time left on their Recognised Seasonal Employer visas, at the end of fruit-picking season in Nelson and Marlborough. Sealord...
Pacific labour mobility and the existential threat of climate change
Australia needs to walk the walk on emissions, migration targets and resettlements to make itself a good neighbour.
By Peter Hooton
The consolidation of Australia’s identity as an Asia-Pacific nation is a work in progress. It is as a consistently attentive and engaged Asia-Pacific nation – rather than as a U.S ally or a European outpost – that Australia will...
CNMI’s Ray Santos wins 4 gold medals in weightlifting
The CNMI is number three in the medal count thanks to the outstanding performance of Ray Santos who won three gold medals in the ongoing 2022 Pacific Mini Games, and another in the Oceania Weightlifting Championships on Monday.
Santos was nearly unmatched in the 55kg weight class.
He set the tone early by starting with 88kg in the snatch portion which...
Triathlon, weightlifting and va’a medals decided at Pacific Mini Games
Multiple nations picked up a share of the medals on offer across three sports at the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan.
In the women's 49 kilograms category, Papua New Guinea's Dika Toua and Thelma Toua bagged gold and silver respectively with 266.071 and 220.895 points respectively.
With 214.835, Rowene Eddie Donga of the Solomon Islands bagged bronze.
Jenly Tegu Wini's effort of...
Hall of Famer Dika Toua of PNG: Age doesn’t make a difference
Papua New Guinea’s Dika Toua was inducted into the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame Monday after winning three gold medals in the 49kg weight class of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games at the Marianas High School gym.
Toua, 38, said she “was shocked — everyone saw my reaction. It’s been more than 20 years since I’ve been doing this...
Athletes encouraged to participate in VOA programme this week
The Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) through its Athletes’ Commission has activated the “Voices of the Athletes’ Programme” for the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan this week.
“Voices of the Athletes (VOA) is a flagship programme using athletes for advocacy and action surrounding social issues,” said ONOC staff Matelita Buadromo.
Buadromo says the VOA team will be at the Pacific Islands...
International travel to and from Kiribati to resume 01 August 2022
All international travel to and from Kiribati will return to normal on 01 August this year.
Incoming passengers are required to have a valid Covid-19 test 24hrs before departure and the number of days spent in quarantine centres in the country has been reduced to three days.
Those tested positive will spend a week in quarantine until the test returns a...