Nauru

PM softens language on meeting with refugees on Nauru

It comes as pressure is mounting on the Australian government to accept New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Nauru and Manus Island.

An Iranian man detained on Nauru wrote to Jacinda Ardern earlier this month asking if he could meet with her when she visits Nauru.

He was told by her office that would not be possible as she will be focussed on the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' meeting.

Nauru takes over former South Korean purse seiners

President Baron Waqa said Nauru was blessed with vast tuna resources but, until now, hadn't been able to develop its own fleet.

The vessels are the result of a joint venture agreement with the South Korean fishing company Silla.

Nauru's two new vessels have previously carried the Korean flag.

 

     

Nauru takes another major international step forward

Finance minister David Adeang said Nauru was the only country at the seminar to qualify for this rating, and that the government will work with international authorities to combat terrorist financing, tax evasion and money laundering.

Nauru was previously on “monitored” status which effectively meant it was blacklisted like many other Pacific countries from being able to fully participate in many global financial areas by both the EU and OECD.

Pacific Forum focus at summit on regionalism

The slogan for the meeting on Nauru is "Building a Strong Pacific: Our People, Our Islands, Our Will."

The Forum said the region was hampered by its lack of resources; its geography, isolation and vulnerability to disasters, while it copes with global economic system that doesn't favour small Pacific states.

It said these factors have profound impacts on the safety and well-being of its people.

Government launches Nauru Superannuation Fund

The fund is for Nauru citizens residing in Nauru or posted overseas by the Government.

From July 1 2018 both the Government (including SOE’s whose payrolls are managed by the government) and employees are required to contribute five per cent of wages to superannuation.

The Government has simultaneously increased wages by the same amount, ensuring a smooth transition with no change to take-home pay on the commencement of the Fund.

Nauru in talks on how to strengthen Pacific’s resilience to impacts of climate change

Nauru President and Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States, Baron Waqa said the intention is to provide Pacific SIDS with a high level political platform to share with new and traditional partners their specific needs for taking climate action.  

President Waqa made the comments at the 2nd Climate Action Pacific Partnership meeting in Suva, Fiji on Thursday.

Speaking to more than 200 delegates from the Pacific and around the world, Waqa highlighted some of the challenges faced by PSIDS.

Team Nauru quits Games, but one athlete arrived and won 5 medals

“I wish to inform everyone that Team Nauru unfortunately will not be participating at the 2018 Micro Games,” Stephen wrote. “It is a big disappointment for us, as we had ordered all our uniforms and paid for them, but due to the travel costs … it is simply not feasible for us.”

But that didn’t stop Jonah Harris from boarding a plane in Europe and heading to Yap. “I was in Finland, just about to board my plane, when I got a message from my family saying that Nauru had pulled out from the Games.”

Nauru announces Court of Appeal

The constitutional amendment which gave rise to the creation of the court which sits at the apex of Nauru’s judicial system came into effect in May this year. 

New rules governing the conduct of appeals were published last week by the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice of Nauru, Hon. Filimone Jitoko.

Other members of the court who remain to be sworn into office include Sir Albert Palmer (Chief Justice of Solomon Islands), Sir John Muria (Chief Justice of Kiribati) and Hon. Vincent Lunabek (Chief Justice of Vanuatu).

Nauru partners with deep sea mining company on quest for sustainable future

President Baron Waqa said he believes plans to explore the seafloor in partnership with DeepGreen Resources will bring great benefits.

“My government continues to look for other revenue sources for Nauru. Not just now, for the future. This venture with DeepGreen will ensure that our revenue will be well diversified for our children and their children well into the future,” he said.

Two die in chopper crash near Nauru

Killed in the accident were American pilot Jeffery Lynn, who was 40, and his Chinese passenger Zhang Youhai, who was 41.

Zhang was a crewmember on the fishing vessel, Jih Yu 868, according to an official with Kendall Micronesia Inc., the fishing company's agent in Majuro.

The helicopter was owned by Vertol Systems, U.S based company that supplies helicopters for fishing vessels in the region.

Vertol runs a maintenance operation for its helicopters at Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro.