HAGATNA, 18 MARCH 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Raising suspicion about a gas cartel on Guam, Attorney General Douglas Moylan will launch an investigation into the purportedly premature spike in prices at local pumps amid the Middle East crisis that has been threatening global oil supply. While acknowledging that national emergencies may trigger legitimate price adjustments, Moylan […]
Category: Pacific News
Posted inPacific News
Marshall Islands digital currency debuts this month in limited form
MAJURO, 16 MARCH 2026 (MARSHALL ISLANDS JOURNAL/RNZ PACIFIC) — The new digital currency established with the backing of the Marshall Islands government will debut later this month to assist distribution of the country’s quarterly universal basic income (UBI) programme. But due to restrictions placed on the United States funding underwriting this year’s US$26 million payment […]
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Trump administration considering Jones Act waiver amid rising fuel prices
WASHINGTON/HAGATNA, 16 MARCH 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The Trump administration is looking into easing restrictions imposed by the Jones Act amid escalating war in Iran that threatens the global fuel supply. The 100-year-old statute requires goods shipped between U.S ports to be carried on ships that are U.S-built, U.S-flagged and U.S-crewed. It limits the […]
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Pacific broadcasters rethink news delivery in digital age
AUCKLAND, 16 MARCH 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Pacific broadcasters say the future of storytelling will depend on how well traditional media adapts to the fast-moving world of social media. This topic is front, and centre of a conference organised by PCBL/Pasifika TV, which brought together broadcasters, producers and media leaders from across the region to […]
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Australian Government doubles graduate visa fee, but Pacific Island countries exempt
CANBERRA, 12 MARCH 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) — On an autumn Sunday, as the world was gripped by the news of the Middle East war, the Australian government quietly changed one of its visas. Overnight, it doubled the application fee for the Temporary Graduate Visa, a lifeline for those trying to transition from study to work. […]
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How will the conflict in the Middle East affect economies in Asia and Pacific?
By Albert Park and Matteo Lanzafame MANILA, 12 MARCH 2026 (ADB) — Geopolitical risk is again at the centre of the global economic outlook. While Asia and the Pacific has limited direct trade exposure to Iran and neighboring countries, it could still face significant adverse economic consequences. Disruptions in the Middle East can ripple out […]