Samoa PM addresses parliament amid political turmoil
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has apologised to the country for the division within the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party with confidence in her leadership central to the divisions. Her apology was
Samoa political saga: Challenge to party removal reported
Samoa’s prime minister and the five other ousted members of the ruling FAST Party are reportedly challenging their removal. FAST chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt on Wednesday announced the removal of the
Coalition government likely in Vanuatu
Unofficial results in the Vanuatu election show another rainbow coalition is likely, with voters again sending a potpourri of parties to parliament. AAP reports that Vanuatu went to the polls on Thursday in a snap
Historic gains for women as Palau’s 12th National Government takes office
The 12th Palau National Government has been officially installed, marking a peaceful transition of power with a mix of returning and new leaders signaling potential shifts from the past four years. In the Senate,
US provides seed fund to establish Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat in Palau
The US Department of the Interior has announced a grant to fund the establishment of the Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) Secretariat office in Palau. Carmen Cantor, assistant secretary for Insular and International
Time to decolonise international development
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is being held at one of the most difficult moments in recent history. At no time in post-Second World War history has the international environment been
Tonga’s new Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke
Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke was elected Prime Minister of Tonga on 24 December 2024, defeating Dr Viliami Uasike Latu, the other candidate, by 16 votes to 8 in a secret ballot. The election resulted from the shock
Alcide Ponga elected as President of New Caledonia
Alcide Ponga, president of the anti-independence party Rassemblement-Les Républicains, has been elected as the new President of New Caledonia. Ponga replaces outgoing President Louis Mapou of the Parti de Libération
A new era for Levuka: University of Fiji opens office and Peace Garden
The University of Fiji has officially opened its office in Nasova, Levuka, in an effort to offer high-quality higher education to Fiji’s maritime regions. This move not only makes education more accessible to maritime
Pacific Person of the year: Emmanuel Tjibaou
For Kanak cultural and political leader Emmanuel Tjibaou, 2024 has been quite the year. On 13 May, after months of peaceful protest, New Caledonia erupted in violence as young people rioted across the capital Noumea and
Hope Lives: Leaders behind the scenes
In every Pacific nation, people contribute in meaningful ways to the lives of their people. We have highlighted some of that work in the pages of Islands Business, our sister publication, Fiji Traveller, or through
Taking climate activism to the ICJ
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has heard the largest case in its history: to clarify what countries are legally required to do to combat climate change. The case saw 96 countries and 11 international
We say: Religious Tolerance
Misinformation, disinformation and ignorance are what you might describe as the unholy trinity of religious intolerance. They are the keys to religious fundamentalism around the world. The conflict between Palestinians
Indo-Pacific Trumps Blue Pacific
On 20 January, US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. The US Republican leader has pledged engagement with island states, particularly in the northern Pacific. But at a time of heightened US-China
Indigenous knowledge overlooked in climate resilience talks
“Indigenous people have been practicing sustainability and resilience for thousands of years, but this knowledge is often overlooked.” These were the words of Simione Sevudrere, a prominent advocate for indigenous
Saving the village one root at a time
Deep in the Rewa Delta on Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu, the river gradually clawed away at the banks, finding its way into the villages, destroying food gardens and threatening local homes. For the villagers of
USP Leader signals plan to resign
University of the South Pacific (USP) Council members meeting in Cook Islands in late November heard Vice Chancellor and President (VCP) Pal Ahluwalia state his intention to resign, and that he wanted to negotiate the
Nauru’s new citizenship program is leading the world
Generating revenue has always been a challenge for Pacific Island nations, but the amount of funding required has dramatically increased with the need for large-scale climate resilience solutions, including expensive
Fruitful Ambitions: Juice Fiji fights NCDs with visionary business model
For a nation blessed with bountiful fresh produce, Fiji is puzzlingly wrestling with a severe epidemic of non- communicable diseases (NCDs). This is a paradox that continues to frustrate health stakeholders in the
Navigating Representation: Disney’s Moana and the Pacific
As millions of children around the world rush to cinemas to catch the much-awaited sequel to Disney’s Moana, some adults from islands represented in the film have paused to question its impact. Ethnic and cultural
Movers and Shakers
Alex Herman, the Seabed Minerals Commissioner at the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has resigned. Herman will take up a regional role with the Pacific Community (SPC) in early 2025. Under Herman’s five-year
Samoan teen photographer captures his culture on camera
William Sauaso-Rasch is an extraordinary young photographer who is already making waves in the art world with his powerful work, deeply rooted in his Samoan culture. At just 16 years old, he’s not only a talented
Vanuatu update: World Bank fast tracks emergency response
The World Bank has fast-tracked US$12 million to the Government of Vanuatu for emergency response and recovery, following a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake on December 17. This support comes through a Rapid