Where the buck stops: aid in Fiji

In the most aid-dependent region in the world, Fiji ranks consistently among the Pacific’s top five recipients of development financing. According to the newly released 2022 edition of the Lowy Institute Pacific Aid

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Overcoming suspicion: reconciliation for Australia and Bougainville

The angry reaction to Richard Marles’ comments should be a warning to Canberra about the need to settle past grievances.  During a visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month by Australia’s Deputy Prime

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Opinion: Labor reduces but does not eliminate Coalition aid cuts

This year’s aid budget (2022-23) has been increased from $4.55 billion under the Coalition to $4.65 billion under Labor. There are bigger increases in the forward estimate years (2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26),

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Opinion: The Pacific, emerging from COVID, slowly

The impact of COVID-19 on the economies of the Pacific island region has been much more severe than on any other region or group of countries. The Pacific contracted by 5.4% between 2019 and 2021; other regions or

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Opinion: A new climate for Australian aid

Australia has just been found to have failed to adequately protect the rights of Torres Strait Islanders from the impacts of climate change. In a landmark ruling, the UN Human Rights Committee heard arguments from

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Fijian Drua: Six home games confirmed, new forwards coach

The Fijian Drua will mount its second Super Rugby Pacific campaign with six home games locked in for Fiji in 2023. Coming to Fiji next year are 2022 champions Crusaders, 2022 finalists Blues, Melbourne Rebels,

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Opinion: The RSE scheme – raising standards to change the narrative

The annual Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) conference, this year held in Wellington under the banner ‘Voices of the Pacific’ (27-29 July), was likely the largest RSE conference to date. Over 400 attendees –

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Opinion: Benchmarking microfinance

In the last few years we have seen a notably bleaker narrative around our efforts to end global poverty. Severe impacts of climate change, lingering effects of an unprecedented pandemic, and a looming food insecurity

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Opinion: Shifting the dial on child malnutrition in the Pacific and Timor-Leste

As donors seeking to support development impact in the Pacific, the Australian government cannot afford to ignore the challenge of child undernutrition and its deep and long-lasting impacts on the Pacific region’s

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Fijian Warriors finishes the series in style

Fijian Warriors finished off the Fiji Rugby Invitational Series in style beating Manuma Samoa 39-22 in the final match at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Saturday. Captain Tetiva Ikanivere opened the scoresheet for the Fijian

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Opinion: Assessing Remittances Potential to Build Climate Resilience in the Pacific

While contributing very little to global warming, Pacific Island nations are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, already experiencing extreme climate-induced disasters such as tropical cyclones.

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Opinion: The Pacific Labour Scheme and the Royal Commission into Aged Care

In Suva, new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a smiling selfie with Fijian aged care workers, who are preparing to come to Australia to look after our elderly in a new pilot program. Raising the standard of aged

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More home games but more growth expected: Fijian Drua CEO

Fijian Drua will have more home games in their second year of Super Rugby in 2023 but may not see a big improvement in results, says new CEO Mark Evans on Tuesday. The Drua managed two wins to finish 11th in the 12-team

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Fiji at the FEMM: “We’re all about regionalism”

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu about their economic priorities and regional

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Tonga at FEMM: disaster risk financing the priority

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting about their economic priorities and regional opportunities. Here are

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Cook Islands at FEMM: tourism and crisis recovery finance

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu about their economic priorities and regional

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PNG at the FEMM: Supporting regional solidarity on climate finance

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu about their economic priorities and regional

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Opinion: Pacific aviation is struggling to take off after the pandemic – how can the ‘blue continent’ stay connected?

With Samoa fully reopening its borders on August 1, another Pacific country moved tentatively forwards after two years of border closures and little or no international tourism. But opening up is not as simple as

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Ocean Link upgrades 4G networks in Kiribati

A mobile phone company, Ocean Link Limited (OLL) has started a major mobile network 4G upgrade and coverage improvement on South Tarawa. A statement from Ocean-Link said the mobile network 4G upgrade started early this

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Opinion: What the U.S should do in Solomon Islands

American diplomats and dignitaries have assembled in Honiara for the 80th anniversary of the Guadalcanal Landings during World War II (WWII). Recent developments, including the China–Solomon Islands security agreement

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Opinion: What do Pacific workers think about Australia’s Engagement Visa?

The new Australia Pacific Engagement Visa has sparked great interest from Pacific workers in Australia, however there is a need for clarification around the details of the scheme, Akka Rimon writes. A major policy of

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Tuvalu Trust Fund appoints Mercer for consulting mandate

The Tuvalu Trust Fund has appointed Mercer for asset consulting, portfolio implementation services and investment implementation services, reports the Financial Standard. In a statement, Mercer says it will provide

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Humboldt cable to connect Oceania to Latin America

Desarrollo País and H2 Cable has announced they have issued a request for proposals to begin construction of the estimated 15,000 km Humboldt Cable, the first to connect Latin America, the Asia Pacific and

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PNG crowned Oceania champions

Papua New Guinea have won the OFC Women’s Nations Cup 2022 for the first time, after beating host nation Fiji 2-1 in the final in front of a boisterous crowd at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. After previously finishing

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