PM Marape said withdrawing the US - one of the largest emitters of CO2 - from the Paris Agreement without implementing measures to curtail coal power production is "totally irresponsible". Photo: IAN STRACHAN / EYOS / AFP
Papua New Guinea - climate
Papua New Guinea's prime minister James Marape has called on US president Donald Trump to rethink his decision to leave the Paris Agreement.
The Post-Courier reports Marape saying it is Trump's prerogative to put American interests first.
But he said withdrawing the US - one of the largest emitters of CO2 - from the Paris Agreement without implementing measures to curtail coal power production is "totally irresponsible".
Marape said for Papua New Guinea and other vulnerable Pacific Island nations, the effects of climate change are not just theoretical.
Meanwhile, the Samoa Observer reports the country's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster saying the US pulling out of the Paris Agreement is their right and not a concern to Samoa.
Fiji - tourism
Tourism Fiji chief executive says there is still room to increase the number of tourists entering the country.
Fiji reached a new visitor record in 2024, with more than 980,000.
In 2023, there were 930,000 international visitors to country, and in 2019, pre-Covid, there were around 900,000.
Brent Hill said Australia and New Zealand remain the biggest markets but US numbers have seen substantial growth.
He said more visitors are making the long trip from the UK and Europe.
He added that India was a sleeping giant that he hopes the country can tap into with with increased investment.
Guam - order
Guam delegate James Moylan has asked US President Donald Trump to include Guam in his price relief order.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order called 'Delivering emergency price relief for American families and defeating the cost-of-living crisis'.
Moylan has written to Trump asking for his assistance in including Guam in this order, "so that all Americans - in the 50 states and US territories - have a reduced cost of living".
Moylan pointed to the Jones Act, a federal law blamed for increasing the cost of goods on Guam, other US territories and Hawaii by mandating that all cargo shipping between U.S. ports occur only on US-flagged vessels.
The Guam Daily Post reports that when asked about the Trump orders, the Office of the Governor said it was reviewing them.
Niue - portfolios
Niue's Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi took ministerial responsibility of Taoga Niue in a reshuffle of portfolios at the end of 2024.
TV Niue reports the changes came into effect several months after the unsuccessful attempt to change the constitution to increase the number of the members of Cabinet from four to six.
Prime Minister Tagelagi, as well as his Central Agencies portfolios, will assist as associate minister of health, fnance and planning, community/internal affairs; fisheries; Niue Power and Renewable Energy, and associate minister of the public service commission.
Mase Mahonri Schwalger has resigned from his position as head coach of Manu Samoa Photo: Lakapi Samoa
Lakapi Samoa - coach
Lakapi Samoa has advertised for the position of Manu Samoa head coach.
It follows the resignation of Mase Mahonri Schwalger earlier this month.
Mase was suspended by the Lakapi Samoa Board last year after criminal charges were filed against him.
Pacific Darts - gold
Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands claimed the gold medals at the 3rd South Pacific Darts Championships finals in Suva on Saturday.
PNG won the the men's title, defeating defending champions Cook Islands in the final.
The Cook Islands women's team retained their title they won in 2022, beating Tonga for the gold medal.
Cook Islands will host the next championship in 2027, with more teams expected to be competing at that event.
