by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Tuvalu’s first international underwater communications cable landed in the tiny island nation’s capital Funafuti this week. The Tuvalu Vaka Cable is jointly funded by the Australian, Taiwan, United States, Japan, and New Zealand governments. Tuvalu’s Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation Minister Simon Kofe said that the subsea cable connection “is more than…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Cook Islands has highlighted the impact of climate change on cultural heritage, particularly for women, during its historic participation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings in a landmark climate change case. The hearings which began earlier this month is examining what countries worldwide are legally required to do…
Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Tuvalu’s first international underwater communications cable arrived in the capital, Funafuti, this week. The Tuvalu Vaka Cable is financed collaboratively by the governments of Australia, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication, and Innovation, emphasized that this subsea cable represents more than…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Canadian miner Island Passage Exploration (IPX) has announced the beginning of phase four of an exploration programme at Isina in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville. IPX is poised to take 70 percent ownership of Isina Resource Holdings, a company controlled by local landowners. The company has been…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor The United States will spend more than US$864 million (3.5 billion kina) on infrastructure and military training in Papua New Guinea over 10 years under a defence deal signed between the two nations in 2023, PNG’s foreign minister has said. No figure putting a value on the agreement has previously…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Fijian MP Urges Government to Fast-Track Development Leases to Address Squatter Settlement Issue In a significant call to action, a prominent Member of Parliament (MP) from Fiji has urged the government to expedite the process of granting development leases as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the pressing issue…
Palau Government HQ by Tusi Tala Taiwan”s Lai Ching-te’s recent visit to Palau has sparked significant controversy as local residents expressed their discontent through protests, highlighting deep-seated frustrations with Taiwan’s dollar diplomacy and the increasing militarization of the region. Upon his arrival, Lai was officially welcomed by the Palauan government, which has historically maintained strong…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Australia will get an effective veto right over Nauru entering a security agreement with another country under a pact that will prop up the Pacific nation’s budget. The two countries will have to mutually agree to any engagement in Nauru’s security, banking and telecommunications sectors and consult on outside engagement…
by Martin Haffner Associate editor Watchdog Lambasts PNG’s Poor Governance in Controversial Forestry Deal In a startling escalation of concerns over governance in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a prominent watchdog organization has publicly denounced the country’s handling of a controversial forestry deal. The report, which details significant lapses in transparency and accountability, raises urgent questions…
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr is inviting United States President-elect Donald Trump to “visit the Pacific” to see firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis. Palau is set to host the largest annual Pacific leaders meeting in 2026, and the country’s leader Whipps told RNZ Pacific he would “love” Trump…