- The US and several Pacific nations have extended the South Pacific Tuna Treaty for another six years. This comes amongst warnings that overfishing is endangering the Pacific Blue Fin tuna, and calls for a two year ban on commercial fishing of this species of tuna.
- The ABC’s shortwave radio transmission service, which broadcasts Radio Australia to the Pacific, will be shut down in January.
- The PNG National Court has found that the National Executive Council had the right to abolish the corruption watchdog Taskforce Sweep.
- Landowners in PNG are threatening to 'create chaos' if the PNG government does not honour a promise to finance equity purchases in PNG’s largest LNG project.
- Fiji's deportation of a US citizen who has permanent residency, and denying her access to the US embassy, has been labelled illegal.
- The Fijian government has called an Amnesty International report, which alleges there is a culture of police brutality and torture, 'biased and selective'. The leader of the opposition, however, welcomed the report and encouraged authorities to review it.
- A UN Special Rapporteur is investigating racism in Fiji, and will present a report to the UN Human Rights Council in June next year.
- The Solomon Islands Professional Women’s Network has launched, aiming to provide equal opportunities, drive economic growth, and reduce poverty.
- Papua New Guinean Paul Pavol’s six year struggle to end logging around his home won him the Alexander Soros Foundation Award, recognising human rights and environmental advocates, and giving him the opportunity to lobby the US government for help.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Tom Puchner
