The U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy
Too anodyne to be utilitarian Early this year, the White House released America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. It is dated February 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden had referred to it earlier, at the 24 September 2021 QUAD
Kaliopate Tavola
Commercial kava pilot off to a flying start
When the Australian government gave the green light for a two-year commercial kava pilot program in December last year, “the excitement was palpable,” Australia's Minister for International Development and Pacific,
Pharmaceutical market now ‘risky’
Geographical indicators to be developed for kava A leading kava scientist in the Pacific has labelled as "risky" any kava comeback in the pharmaceutical market, stressing that success of the crop as an export commodity
Coffee, cakes and kava
It’s an ordinary afternoon in Suva city, with school students flooding towards the bus stand and window shopping. Car horns honk as drivers speed through the city or are stuck in traffic. Shop owners prepare to
Tuvalu’s Future Now
Tuvalu’s Minister for Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs has laid out a vision for Tuvalu in the event the country is “fully submerged or people are forced to relocate”. “Following the outcomes from
COVID-19, climate change and non communicable diseases
Pacific health ministers respond to health crises COVID-19 is a big opportunity for Pacific countries to transform their health systems, the region’s health ministers have heard. COVID-19, non communicable diseases
MPs seek regional dialogue on deep sea mining
A new alliance of parliamentarians from across the Pacific has called for a regional dialogue on the potential impacts of deep sea mining. The public launch of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining
Whispers
Private superyacht tour Amidst the drama over Fiji’s detention of the Amadea superyacht at Lautoka port this month, questions are making the rounds as to how a constitutionally-appointed official used his official car
Connecting communities to opportunities
Commonwealth Youth Award winner Thompson Auri Softly-spoken and humble, Papua New Guinean Thompson Auri exudes a quiet confidence and an ease in village life. So the news of his selection as the Pacific's
All hail the Vude Queen
A matriarch of music, the Queen of Vude, supporter of many charities, and a diva who comes home and cooks for her family every night. Laisa Vulakoro has an in-depth talanoa with Islands Business’ Rowena Singh
Briefs
American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has signed a Bill into law which will establish a Samoan Language Commission and recognise both Samoan and English as the official languages in the Territory to “preserve our
Movers and Shakers
Tuvalu national Ian Fry is the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change for the next three years. Fiji’s Sefanaia Nawadra has commenced his new role as Director-General (D-G) at SPREP
Fiji street food: Vasaqa Productions
Vasaqa Productions at Namaka market in Nadi offers street food with a Fijian twist. “We brought in the concepts of street food that we only see online and made it accessible to anyone and everyone. The food that you
World Press Freedom Day: Press freedom under digital seige
Journalists the world over face increasing digital surveillance used to hamper press freedom, promote misinformation or discredit their work. Press freedom, already in decline for 85% of the world’s population, is
Australia election: Climate the most important security issue, say military and political leaders
As voters in Australia head to the polls on 21 May, there is increasing debate over the link between climate change and security. Capitalising on the heated debate around the China-Solomon Islands security agreement, a
Fiji: tourism up, but so is inflation
The Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor says despite uncertain prospects for the global economy, the recovery of Fiji’s tourism industry is providing momentum for domestic economic growth. However he has also flagged that
Two women tortured over sorcery claims in PNG
PNG: Shocking. The young Papua New Guinea cop was lost for words. On his first raid with his unit, the unfolding scene of disgust hit him hard in his guts and reverberated through his body. “This is shocking,” he
Fijian Drua ready for home game
The Fijian Drua play the Otago Highlanders in a widely anticipated match at the National Stadium in Suva this weekend. Coach Mick Byrne talks about the team’s preparation and future plans. “One of the key
FSM files continental shelf claim
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has filed with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf a claim of an extended continental shelf covering a high-sea area of approximately 188,000
BSP pays K190million extra tax
The Bank South Pacific Financial Group Limited (BSP) has declared a substantially lower net profit of K69 million (US$19 million) from K259 million (US$73 million) due to a controversial levy imposed by the Government.
Tuvalu confident of Commonwealth nomination
Tuvalu is confident in the prospects of its former Governor General Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli being named the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. Sir Iakoba is Tuvalu’s nominee to head the eminent body, whose members
Fiji, PNG writers shortlisted for short story prize
Fijian and Papua New Guinean writers have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Mary Rokodravu, who won the 2015 Pacific prize, has been shortlisted for her work ‘The
