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Pacific news in brief for 7 July
Artisanal miners search for gold in the waters downstream from the Panguna mine in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Photo: OCCRP / Aubrey Belford Bougainville - mining The Bougainville House of Representatives amended the Mining Act last week. The...

Data center projects facing local pushback
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Cook Islands Pocket Guide Launches Major Update Following Latest Research Trip
Cook Islands Pocket Guide, the leading online travel guide for the Cook Islands, has released a major update to its content following an in-depth research trip across Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu. The trip, carried out in March 2025, was made...

From tuna to treaty: Pacific powers push ocean agenda
Pacific leaders continue to push for more investment, stronger political will, and recognition of traditional knowledge to protect the region’s ocean future. The United Nations’ Ocean Conference (UNOC), held every three years, reviews...

Australia-Tuvalu mobility pathway: does it address the climate crisis?
Tuvalu/Photo courtesy of Jess Marinaccio On June 11, the Tuvaluan and Australian governments issued press releases announcing that the inaugural ballot for the Falepili Mobility Pathway would open on June 16. Part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili...

Pacific News Briefs: Award-Winning Māori Short Film
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An award-winning short film, which honors the resilience of Māori youth, has been named a finalist at the New Zealand International Film Festival. Written and directed by Aroha Awarau (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Porou, Niue,...
Aust-Tuvalu mobility pathway: Does it address climate crisis?
On June 11, the Tuvaluan and Australian governments issued press releases announcing that the inaugural ballot for the Falepili Mobility Pathway would open on June 16. Part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty, the mobility pathway falls...

PCRIC engages Tiueti
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) has engaged Tonga’s former Finance Minister Tiofilusi Tiueti to lead the development of a national contingency plan aimed at strengthening Tonga’s financial preparedness for natural disasters....

Powerful Māori short film Puti named NZIFF finalist
An award-winning short film, which honours the resilience of Māori youth, has been named a finalist at the New Zealand International Film Festival. Written and directed by Aroha Awarau (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Porou, Niue, Samoa), Puti has already...

The 10 countries with the most time zones in the world
At first glance, it seems obvious that Russia or the United States would dominate the time zone count, given their sheer size. But the rankings tell a more layered story, one shaped not just by continental spread, but by colonial history and the...

Pacific Island countries celebrate civil registration achievements
Surami Turaga, Fiji's minister of justice, speaks at the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific on June 26, 2025. Photo courtesy of UN ESCAP Bangkok – “Cheehoo! Praise God, oue tulou!” Sonya...

Pacific Ocean Commissioner: Op -ED – Ripples to Waves:
By Dr Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner KOROR, 30 JUNE 2025 (PIFS) — It’s been two weeks since the curtains fell on the third UN Ocean Conference. At this largest ever ocean summit, the Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for...

Tjibaou on New Caledonia talks in Paris: “We want to resolve this now”
Koror, Palau-It’s been two weeks since the curtains fell on the third UN Ocean Conference. At this largest ever ocean summit, the Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for more global ocean accountability, and offering transformational...

Pacific Mini Games 2025 draws regional viewership, offers wide access to sports coverage
By: Eustoria Marie Borja KOROR, Palau (July 1, 2025) — The Pacific Mini Games 2025 opened with vibrant color, traditional dances, and a dazzling fireworks display on Sunday, marking the Games’ return to Palau after 20 years. Despite a rain shower,...

Ranked 100th – Celebrate Like #1
After a year of economic turbulence, Pakistan’s economy seems to have crawled out of intensive care. Inflation has cooled. The current account is no longer haemorrhaging. The rupee has stopped fainting. The doctors in charge—whoever and wherever...

Women in Media Fiji holds first conference
By Katalina Siasau The Women in Media (WiM) Fiji inaugural media conference this week in Suva, is bringing together participants from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Niue, and Kiribati. With the theme, "Resilience in a Rapidly...

Cook Islands Cabinet approves significant increase in tobacco tax
Cook Islands Cabinet has approved a significant increase in tobacco tax, aiming to reduce smoking rates and combat non-communicable diseases. The Cabinet has recently approved the initiative set by Ministry of Health to increase the tobacco tax by...

Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list Close Pakistan’s passport now ranks 100th, it marks an improvement from its 113th position in 2021 Updated On: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:37:34 PKT ISLAMABAD...

Pakistan passport rises to 100th; visa-free travel now possible to 32 countries
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani passport holders can now travel visa-free or get visa on arrival in 32 countries, following a rise in Pakistan’s passport ranking in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. This marks a notable improvement from the 113th position...

Pakistan's passport improves ranking with 100th spot worldwide
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan's passport improves ranking with 100th spot worldwide Close In 2021, it was ranked at 113th Published On: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:46:41 PKT (Web Desk) - Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 32 countries either...