In the shadow of global challenges
Cybersecurity threats and governing generative AI are amongst the most pressing challenges facing telecommunications companies globally. While the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) characterises the
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USP problems fester behind veil of silence
One month after the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Council voted to move controversial Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia from Samoa to Fiji, the University’s two unions are demanding Ahluwalia’s
Opinion: A turnstile of bad debt
Buried beneath the big-ticket items in the Australian Government’s latest budget statement, a relatively small outlay to Papua New Guinea (PNG) barely rates a mention. But, while the commentariat hones in on Stage
SOGIESC activists rally for inclusivity and justice
Advocates for SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics) are rallying for inclusivity and justice in the Pacific, saying that their struggles intersect with broader issues such as
Whispers
Against independence – and each other As French President Macron flew into Noumea for 18 hours, there were sharp divisions between political leaders – and that’s just on the anti-independence side! Even though
Vanuatu women stump Zimbabwe in World Cricket Qualifier
A decade after its women’s cricket debut, Vanuatu’s women’s cricket team defeated 12th-ranked Zimbabwe in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi in April. It was the first for a Vanuatu team to
Briefs
American Samoa American Samoa is working to establish and record physical addresses. Talanei News reports that the absence of official physical addresses or location identifiers for streets, households, business,
Movers and Shakers
The Solomon Islands Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has sworn in 12 Members of Parliament as Ministers. They are:– Rex Annex Ramofafia, National Planning and DevelopmentCoordination.–
Jo Nata’s journey from the dark
'We let the genie out of the bottle' Emerging out of 24 years in prison, Josefa Nata is now convinced that the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000 was not justified and that all it did was let the
Opening Fiji’s can of worms
Josefa Nata knows he’s expected to tell all, having featured prominently in the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000. In the long history of Fiji’s coups since 1987, this was not only the
Prison ‘dark culture’
Josefa Nata claims Fiji’s prison system is perpetuating what he describes as a “dark culture” of cover ups of the abuse of prisoners’ rights, including uninvestigated deaths, and has met with Prime Minister
Reversing the tide of colonial anthropology
Doctor Tarisi Vunidilo has emerged as a leading voice in the growing movement across the Pacific in recent years to repatriate Pacific treasures, as well as human remains from museums across Europe and other parts of
Dealing with dengue: Pacific looks to new tools
Climate change and increased urbanisation are driving an increase in dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases and the Pacific is responding with a suite of new interventions and tactics. The World Health Organization
Pacific obesity rates continue to concern
Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and
Whispers
Quiet diplomacy While all the China watchers and US/Australian/NZ journos were focused on the Solomon Islands elections in mid-April, PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a quick visit to Papua New Guinea. Despite renewed
Protecting tourism’s biggest drawcard
Pacific Island nations have joined a landmark collaboration aimed at ensuring marine-based tourism adds to, rather than undermines, conservation efforts. The initiative to develop Pacific Marine Tourism Guidelines and
West Papuans still inspired by the heritage of Arnold Ap
In 1969, Indonesia annexed the western half of the island of New Guinea, through the so-called Act of Free Choice. As Indonesian authorities began to expand legal systems and education in Bahasa Indonesia, a generation
Opinion: What’s wrong with Vanuatu’s proposed party laws?
Vanuatu is holding its first ever referendum on 29th May on two constitutional amendments designed to lessen instability on the floor of parliament. The first amendment (17A) intends to tie members of parliament (MPs)
Vaka carries the torch for Tonga’s soccer aspirations
Except for 1991, when they didn’t qualify, the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tonga has participated at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987. Rugby is Tonga’s most popular sport, with
Briefs
American Samoa Concerns have been raised over conditions at Tafuna Prison. Samoa News reports that a hearing of the Senate Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee heard that the buildings are unfit for human
Movers and Shakers
Appointments Sri Lankan-born Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena is the first President of the Nauru Court of Appeal since its establishment in 2018. Samoa’s Cabinet has appointed Tuaopepe Dr Cam Wendt as the new Consul for