Fijian pastor deported from Vanuatu
A Fijian Pastor has been deported Tuesday through a joint operation by the Vanuatu Immigration Services and Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), through the Vanuatu Interpol Unit, for violating COVID-19 protocols. Pastor Jone
Don’t saddle Pacific Islands with disaster debt
Pacific Islands are facing a serious debt crisis that has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown of the tourism industry. Research based on International Monetary Fund country reports shows
The next NRL team should come from Papua New Guinea
For all the focus in the Australian media on recent developments throughout the Pacific, it’s strange that the potential addition of a Papua New Guinea team to the Australian National Rugby League appears to have
PNG economic outlook gives businesses hope: BSP
The Standards and Poor (S&P) Global ratings has revised its outlook on Papua New Guinea from negative to stable reaffirming the trajectory of the country’s economic recovery post-Coronavirus (Covid-19). And Bank
Data, skills and a ‘shared vision’ needed to better manage risk
The Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says to better manage risk, access to robust and contextualised data that can be used to make decisions is needed. Speaking at this week’s
Farmers need to be part of disaster risk talks
At risk of ‘unintended effects’ of climate policies: World Farmers Organisation Farmers could be hurt by the very actions that are meant to help them if they are not in the room when disaster risk reduction
Disaster risk support needs better alignment with national priorities: Seruiratu
Fiji’s Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu has been urging Fiji’s development partners to better align their support with the priorities of the national government in meetings in Indonesia this week.
Citizens’ voices needed on disaster risk reduction
Nauru’s delegate to this week’s Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction meeting says the needs of citizens needs to be heard in such gatherings. Roy Denton Harris, who is Nauru’s Secretary for National
Fiji writer Rokonadravu wins Pacific category of the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Fiji writer, Mary Rokonadravu has won the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific) for her story, The Nightwatch. Rokonadravu described the win as affirming. “Stories are bridges to connect us with each other,
Albanese victory welcomed by Fiji PM
Pacific Islands leaders will be hoping that the swearing in of Australia’s new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese tomorrow morning will herald a new era in climate action from Australia. Fiji Prime Minister, Frank
Australia, NZ and the PICs: a new era for PACER?
By Dr Wadan Narsey Australia has been jolted out of its self-declared “vuvale” (family) complacency in its relations to the Pacific. Following the recent political fall-out in Australia because of the
Krishneel Nair: Professional Baker
Fiji baker Krishneel Nair baked his first cake at the age of nine over a wood fire. The Cuvu baker, who has worked in resort and hotel kitchens for more than seven years, has long dreamt of running his own business. His
Australia and next steps in the Pacific
Dr Anthony Bergin and Jeffrey Wall The Solomon Islands security agreement with China is a significant setback for Australia and the region. In barely three years Solomon Islands has gone from supporting Taiwan
PNG PM Marape calls for full investigation into deputy PM fatal accident
Papua New Guinea Police have been tasked to furnish a full investigation report on the death of Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil and his bodyguard, first constable Neil Maino. Prime Minister James Marape told Basil’s
Gomes concerned about China’s advance in Melanesia
New Caledonia’s outgoing member of the French National Assembly, Philippe Gomes, has expressed concern about China’s position in the Pacific, saying Beijing has already colonised Vanuatu. Philippe Gomes, who
New era for women’s representation in Samoa
A new era has dawned in Samoa with the swearing-in of three women MPs, taking the number of women in the Legislative Assembly to seven. The swearing-in follows a court ruling issued by Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa
PNG deputy PM dies in car accident
Papua New Guinea deputy Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo Open, Samuel Basil has passed away in a car accident at Wau-Bulolo Highway Wednesday night. “It is confirmed that Samuel Basil the Deputy Prime Minister,
Fiji Tourism Expo: ‘the eyes of the world are on this industry like never before’ says President
“Is it a wedding,” asked two curious guests as they watched several hundred people walk through the grounds of the Sheraton Resort to the beachfront last night. It was not nuptials, but the opening of the Fiji
2022: The Year to Stop the Decline of Ocean Health
OP-ED by Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean NEW YORK, 10 MAY 2022 (UNRCO)— With every breath we take, we are connected to the ocean. The ocean gives us oxygen, provides
Porgera violence ongoing, 17 dead
Seventeen people have been killed, hundreds of families were made homeless, dozens of houses razed and Papua New Guinea government services ground to a halt in Enga Province’s Porgera district as warring clans took up
Opinion: The world doesn’t care about swings in marginal seats. Climate action must spearhead a new Australian foreign policy
Late last year, more than 100 former diplomats and officials called for a new Australian foreign policy — with climate action at the centre — to help cement Australia’s future in a world rapidly shifting
Tonga: the scientific response
When the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15 this year, there were no sirens to alert the people of Tonga to the impending tsunami. Tonga disaster reduction risk expert Ana I’K M ‘Ake
Amadea seizure shows Russian oligarchs you ‘cannot hide’ says U.S. authorities
The U.S. Justice Department says the seizure of the Russian luxury yacht, the Amadea in Fiji is a lesson to anyone trying to violate U.S. laws, and that they cannot hide “even in the remotest part of the world”. The
