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
Latest Magazine Articles
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
USP Council summoned as dissent creeps into student body
Dissent has broken out between the USP Students’ Association and students supporting sacked academic Dr Tamara
Living costs take centre stage in Palau debate
Palau’s Presidential hopefuls debated this month before a live and online audience in Koror in a much more Pacific
Whispers
Dispatches from Tonga The ubiquity of mobile phones is a growing issue at the Pacific Islands Forum. At last month’s leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa, every ceremony and event was captured on phones, with selfies
Kava: Protecting our lifeblood
Kava is of immense cultural significance to peoples across the region: yaqona in Fiji, malogu in Vanuatu, 'ava in Samoa, 'awa in Hawai’i and sakau in the Federated States of
The “Palauan Dream”
Palau’s tourism industry may be slowly recovering, but there are concerns that its young people are not participating in the
Building for tomorrow
Local architects are exploring sustainable building methods to create climate-resilient communities.
Women driving change in Fiji’s construction industry
Women in Development and Trade Fiji’s initiatives are driving a significant shift in the traditionally male dominated Fijian construction
Palau’s ancient builders
A project to understand and map Palau’s ‘green pyramids’, is bringing attention to a largely unknown period of early
Pacific artists collective focuses on cultural recovery
Rako Pasefika, a collective of Pacific Island artists from the island of Rotuma, is emerging as a powerful force of cultural
Briefs
American Samoa American Samoa's Senate has passed a bill that will increase fees paid to jurors for the first time in 44 years. The bill acknowledges the “important role in the criminal legal system” jurors play and
Movers and Shakers
Pacific government, business and community appointments and in memorium from Islands Business' September 2024
The power of a ‘toothless tiger’
Pacific Island experts have welcomed a new international treaty that aims to prevent biopiracy as a major step forward in global efforts to protect indigenous intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional
Mounting discord at USP
Academics warn of 'toxic' atmosphere damaging the region's largest university Growing discord within the ranks of the University of the South Pacific ( USP ) escalated further this month with the summary dismissal of a