Forum stabilises, but hard problems remain

It was a busy time in Suva this month, as Presidents and Prime Ministers arrived in the Fijian capital for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum. Well, most of them – the absence of key Micronesian leaders and the withdrawal

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Whispers

Communique semantics  New Caledonia's delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting was not impressed when Australian officials tried to water down a resolution at the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting,

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“We want to engage with our neighbours”

New Caledonia at the Pacific Islands Forum “The future of New Caledonia is not in Europe – the future of New Caledonia is in the Pacific region.” That’s President Louis Mapou, the first pro-independence Kanak

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PNG’s election woes

PNG: As Papua New Guineans followed the counting for the Port Moresby Northwest Seat this week, they were shocked to see a video of a machete-wielding mob attacking two men across the road from the counting centre.

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Pirate Queens

The Seaka II pioneers When the ‘Seaka Pirates’ all-female deck crew cast off on their first fishing trip on a tuna longline vessel last month, they were fulfilling the ambitions of a program devised by the Pacific

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A new chapter for tuna treaty

The United States has pledged to almost triple its funding to the region under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. “I feel excited,” said Forum Fisheries Agency Director General, Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen,

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Skilled workers shortage worry

A growing shortage of skilled workers in Fiji is causing concern among members of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), and they want Government to increase the number of countries covered under its

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No justice for West Papua at PIF

The plight of West Papuans received little focus at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting this year, however independence leader, Benny Wenda remains confident their time will come. London-based Wenda recently

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PICTA in the slow lane

My article published in this magazine in June 2021 was entitled ‘Fast-tracking PICTA’. This was a reference to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended for the Pacific

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Courage and impact

Lagipoiva honoured for climate coverage The editor of Pacific Environment Weekly in Samoa, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, became the first Pacific Island journalist to receive a ‘Journalists of Courage and

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Commonwealth Games chances

South Pacific islands will be proudly represented at this month’s Commonwealth Games in the city of Birmingham. Yes, we have the usual rugby stars from Fiji who are still targeting their first Commonwealth Games gold

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