Melanesian delegations meet in Rarotonga
As this week’s program kicks off in Rarotonga, member states of the Pacific Island Forum have held sub-regional caucuses, to prepare for the week’s wide-ranging agenda. Leaders and delegates from Melanesia,
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Preaching partnership in the Pacific islands
As the Pacific Islands Forum holds its 52nd meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, leaders are eager for international delegations to focus on Pacific agendas and priorities, exemplified by the 2050 Strategy for a Blue
Forum wants action on climate finance and Loss and Damage
RAROTONGA/PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM 2023: As the region faces an El Nino summer and Vanuatu reels from the devastation of Cyclone Lola – the third Category 5 cyclone to hit the nation in seven months – it’s no
Challenging times for regionalism in Rarotonga
Pacific Islands Forum 2023: Every September, the opening of the United Nations General Assembly provides an opportunity for presidents, prime ministers and heads of states to highlight their views on global challenges.
Double earthquake hits Madang province
A double earthquake hit Madang last night, causing damage to lives and properties at a cost that would be confirmed this week. The epicentre was around the Bibi area near Saidor government station in Rai Coast district.
Biden declares state of emergency for Guam and CNMI
US President Joe Biden Monday has declared a state of emergency for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and ordered federal assistance to supplement local responses to the potential impact of Tropical Storm Bolaven.
Forum to develop regional strategy on labour mobility
The annual meeting of Trade Ministers from the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji has agreed on the need to develop a regional strategy on labour mobility in the Pacific, citing the welfare of workers from Pacific Island
More asylum seekers sent to Nauru
A group of asylum seekers who attempted to arrive in Australia by boat has been sent to Nauru just months after the last people were removed from immigration detention on the Pacific nation. Guardian Australia
Japan begins releasing second batch of treated Fukushima water into the Pacific ocean
Japan began releasing a second batch of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant on Thursday, the plant’s operator said, as tensions with neighbouring countries over the move
Westpac to maintain Pacific presence, cancels sale of PNG, Fiji banks
Westpac has decided to maintain a presence in the South Pacific after the federal government indicated it wants to see Australian companies maintain a role in the region. The Australian Financial Review reports the bank
Fukushima nuclear waste water issue to be a standing agenda item at next PALM meeting
As Japan will begin releasing a second batch of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant Thursday, the issue is expected to be a standing agenda item between the Pacific and Japan at the Pacific Islands
Tuvalu Parliament unanimously approves new amended Constitution
Tuvalu’s Parliament has unanimously approved the proposed Constitution of Tuvalu Bill 2023 – endorsing 26 amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Review Committee led by former foreign affairs minister, Simon
Polls vital to vote for leaders to fight for independence: says Bougainville AG
A total of 161,737 eligible voters in Bougainville are expected to participate in a by-election in October this year. The two electorates are North and South Bougainville. The poll in North Bougainville will be to elect
“Consensus Is the DNA of the Pacific Region”- Dr Prasad
On 18 – 19 September, former Fijian Ambassador to the UN and Carnegie nonresident senior fellow Satyendra Prasad will be joining the Indo-Pacific Islands Dialogue in New York. Dr Satyendra Prasad is a
Battling the stigma of mental health across the Pacific
Mental health remains a stigma in the Pacific, but there might be some good news out of the Cook Islands. About 600 doctors, nurses and health professionals have made the trip across the region to attend the Pasifika
Don’t capitulate to foreign interests, Puna tells Foreign Ministers
The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum has sounded a strongly worded call for greater regionalism in the Pacific by urging Foreign Ministers of the 18-member Forum meeting in Fiji today, not to capitulate to
Fijian wins regional Commonwealth Youth Award for recycling efforts
Fiji’s Raeed Roshan Ali has been awarded the regional prize at the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work in London overnight for his work on recycling efforts. He was amongst the young people
Rugby World Cup wrap
Fiji’s President and Minister for Youth and Sports have congratulated the Fiji Water Flying Fijians despite their devastating loss to Wales at the Rugby World Cup in France this week. President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili
IAEA says Fukushima discharge below ‘Japan’s operational limit’
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) first independent sampling and analysis of seawater near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) since discharges of ALPS treated water started on 24 August
Bi-partisan approval for WTO fisheries subsidies agreement in Fiji’s parliament
Fiji’s Parliament has unanimously endorsed the ratification of the World Trade Organisation’s fisheries subsidies agreement – in a historical bi-partisan move rarely seen in the Pacific nation. The agreement
Small islands slam ‘endless’ climate talks at landmark maritime court hearing
The heads of small island states most vulnerable to climate change have criticised “endless” climate change negotiations at the start of an unprecedented maritime court hearing. During the opening of a two-week
Australia-owned Pacific Telco likely exploited by private spies
An Australian-owned mobile phone operator in the Pacific Islands, Digicel Pacific, has likely been used by private spy firms to track people on the other side of the world and steal their data, according to an expert
USP welcomes new Chancellor
In a historic moment, Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi, Governor General of the Solomon Islands, was officially installed as the 30th Chancellor of The University of the South Pacific (USP). The installation ceremony took
