French general reviews defence

Maritime border dispute between Vanuatu and New Caledonia is not for the French Navy or its Armed Forces to sort out, says Brigadier General Luc de Revel (pictured). He is the senior commander of the French Armed Forces

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Islander runs for top tuna job

A former deputy secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum is the only Pacific islander to be shortlisted for the top job at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Feleti Teo, who recently

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Bainimarama diplomacy

Fiji’s diplomatic relations with China and India began under the leadership of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara’s Alliance government as it carefully guided a newly independent nation into the world of global

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O’Neill faces fresh corruption allegations

Uproar over purchase of shares Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is undeterred by mounting high level corruption allegations against him with the latest being his referral for prosecution by a

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Troubled Momi project springs back to life

Fletcher to built Marriott resort The troubled Momi Bay Resort Development Project is making a comeback seven years after it fell apart due to financial turmoil which landed the Fiji National Provident Fund in hot

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Turbulent times for regional aviation

Parties hope for resolution

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Marshalls goes for top dollar

Tourism, airports key to island plan Marshall Islands’ revived investment agency is in search for new money aimed at boosting the island economy, its ailing aviation and tourism industries in particular. Chief

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SPC Fiji base to be gifted with US$28m Pacific Village

By the first quarter of 2015, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hopes the construction of its new base in Fiji would have started. Green light for this has been granted by the host government, and in

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Roads, water, education clear winners in Fiji’s US$1.7b Budget

Fiji’s government of Frank Bainimarama is continuing with its expansionary economic policy in the $3.3 billion (US$1.69 billion) budget for 2015 it handed down in Fiji’s Parliament on November 21st. Its

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The only sore spot all along was … media relations

From political pariah to the most sought after regional leader, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s transformation has few parallels in modern political history. More often than not, when a military leader

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Recast Regionalism: lofty ideals sink to the bottom of the ocean

The annual Forum leaders meeting in Palau this year released the Palau Oceans Declaration titled: “The Ocean: Life and Future: Charting a course to sustainability.” The declaration outlines lofty ideals

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Women’s welfare directly affects children

Pacific Island leaders are often given to wax eloquent on the respect that Pacific culture accords to women. Polynesian women have often gone on record saying that their culture “puts women on a pedestal”.

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