Spirit, vibrancy, art: Solomons singer dominates
Chris Kamu'ana Rohoimae, a talented artist from the Solomon Islands, has emerged victorious in the ABC Pacific Break 2024 competition. This achievement marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his unique
Taking Samoan cricket to new heights
Samoa had a successful outing at the Men’s T20 Cricket East-Asia/Pacific Sub-Regional Qualifiers in August, demonstrating the great potential and homegrown talent found in the islands. Amongst the highlights was
Music and politics: A Pacific story of power and passion
Since the dawn of time, music and politics have long held many things in common. Both rely on harmony and disharmony to create tension. In music, tension creates an atmosphere that yearns for resolution. And when the
We Say: When issues find voice
As an oral people, Pacific islanders often put their thoughts into words and later into song or chants. These cries from the soul speak to the issues which trouble indigenous people – colonisation, suppression of
Whispers
Priceless fence There’s a fence being built around a Pacific institute of learning. Students and staff raised FJ$170,000 to build the fence two years ago. Only last month did work on this barrier actually begin. News
Briefs
American Samoa A runoff election is set for the American Samoa gubernatorial race after no candidate secured the required 50% majority. The team of Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Pulu Ae Ae Jr led with 42.4% of votes (4284),
My missile is bigger than your missile
For the first time in more than 40 years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has fired an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile across the Pacific, to splash down in waters near French
COP29 – Action, Not Talk
PACIFIC leaders head for Azerbaijan and COP29 in November, buoyed by recognition at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa of the dangers of climate change to the region and the
You’re not alone: Church helps bear climate change burden
ON a remote, windswept coastline at Togoru on Fiji’s southern coast, Barney Dunn surveys the land his family has occupied for five
Where does climate change finance go?
IN 2020, the New Zealand government pledged NZ$150 million for Pacific-focused climate change
Whispers
Whispers: what's happening around the Pacific region in politics, business and other news featured on Islands Business October 2024
Last gasp efforts to save Air Vanuatu
As Vanuatu’s government seeks to revive Air Vanuatu, the World Bank has pointed to the airline’s collapse as a cautionary tale about the risks of “opaque State-Owned Enterprise
“A game-changer”: Fiji Airways launches new flight simulators
Fiji Airways has launched two advanced full-flight simulators for the Airbus A350 and ATR-72 aircraft at its Aviation Academy in
Kiribati’s US$60m airports project moves forward
Aviation provides vital regional and international connectivity for Kiribati, and is essential for the import and export of time-sensitive commodities and emergency
Briefs
News in brief from American Samoa, Fiji, and around the Pacific Islands region in the month of October
Disunity in USP strike
A special University of the South Pacific Council meeting to address rising tensions between staff and management appears to have failed in its attempt to quell a threat of a strike by USP staff
People and the sea: Tuvalu harnesses its resources
Since regaining independence in 1979, Tuvalu has placed an emphasis on its maritime training institute at Amatuku, to produce skilled workers for merchant fleets in the Pacific and around the
Protecting the children left behind
A report looking at the impact of labour mobility schemes on children in four Pacific nations has found that while the remittances they generate are critical in supporting families, the schemes are placing physical and
Green skills, wellness, and digital proficiency
As Pacific Island nations navigate rapid economic changes, the demand for “green skills” is on the
Pacific women coaches excel in world rugby
World Rugby in partnership with leading global insurance brokerage firm, Gallagher, selected two coaches from the Pacific for the Gallagher High Performance
Movers and Shakers
Sir Jerry Mateparae has been appointed as an independent moderator to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in resolving outstanding issues on Bougainville’s
Where are the women?
How much of the outcomes from Pacific women leaders' meetings were brought to the Forum Leaders table for discussion this
Forum debates French colonialism, China and climate change
As Presidents, Prime Ministers and Premiers assembled in the Kingdom of Tonga for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM), the region’s Blue Pacific agenda was overshadowed by geopolitical jousting and
