The clock ticks: Five years on, Bougainville waits

Bougainville voted for independence from Papua New Guinea in an overwhelming referendum in 2019. Five years have passed, and little progress has been made towards severing ties with Port Moresby. Former freedom fighter,

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Eyes on the prize: Will Trump take Toroama’s bait?

Under the rich, black soil of Bougainville lie copper deposits worth close to US$60 billion. It’s enough copper to create over 4000 jobs in an economy desperate to be free of Papua New Guinea and propel the world’s

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Trump withdraws from Paris Agreement on day one

US President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on his first day in office on 20 January that will impact Pacific Island nations – including the planned deportation of irregular migrants from the United

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Trump and Pacific Island States: New possibilities

Leaders across the Pacific Island states are ready for the return to Oval Office by President Donald Trump. They are both anxious and hopeful. There is turbulence ahead in the Pacific Island States and the US

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Take them off: Concern over teen social media use

Australia’s bold move to ban social media for children under 16 years, a world-first law, has sparked a global debate. The policy is now a topic of conversation and consideration in many countries, including those in

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Information and Empathy

Cook Islands was the first Pacific nation to pass laws relating to right to information, but Ombudsman Niki Rattle says it may be time to review it and “have a look and see how we can do things better”. The Freedom

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It’s DO or DIE: Fiame fights for survival

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has fought all her life. That’s not surprising, given that she was born in 1957, on the cusp of Samoa regaining its independence from New Zealand in 1962, due in part to the efforts of freedom

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Whispers

Law and disorderSo, what happened to the Pacific police academy which was to have been built at Wainadoi on the road between Fiji’s capital, Suva, and its international airport in Nadi? Under the Bainimarama

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An uneasy crown: King Tupou VI seeks greater role

For 15 years, the Kingdom of Tonga has gone through a political experiment that was supposed to make the governance system “more democratic”. This was the declared will of the former Monarch, King George Tupou V,

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We say: Faith must find voice

When Mariann Budde, Episcopalian Bishop of Washington, addressed United States President, Donald Trump, about national unity, prayer, and action, she must have expected to be belittled, criticised andattacked. In a

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Guided by the stars: Kakala Tevi dares to save the ocean

The sun climbs gently into the sky as the ocean-going canoe Uto Ni Yalo ploughs towards Vava’u through a surging swell. About 200 metres to the stern, the first rays of the sun glint off the back of a large, black

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Fiji tourism’s rough patch

The warmth of Fijian hospitality is an important part of the tourism industry’s brand, a quality that sets it apart from many other destinations. But two incidents have rocked the industry over the busy Christmas and

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Department of Health has announced an increase in respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu. The Department of Health is urging people to

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Thanks Dad: Samoan thrower’s tribute

The 2024 Paris Olympics brought out some of the best sporting stories and accolades in the Pacific region. One in particular is the story of Alexander Rose who represented Samoa in the discus throw and became the first

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Movers and Shakers

Aisake Eke is Tonga’s new Prime Minister, after the shock resignation of Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku, just before the latter faced a discussion and ballot on a Vote of No Confidence in his government. Dr Eke is

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