Pacific leaders join call for delay in New Caledonia referendum
In a significant intervention, former Pacific island presidents, prime ministers and senior officials have written to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to delay the next referendum on self-determination in
ANALYSIS: Challenges for Tonga as election looms
As Tongans lose faith in the major parties, the country’s election will likely see a rise in new independent members of parliament, Kalafi Moala writes. Tonga goes to the polls on 18 November to elect 26 members of
Tap into “environmentally conscious” tourists: Pacific report
A recently released report is recommending that Pacific destinations tap into environmentally conscious tourists when rebuilding their tourism sectors. This was part of recommendations in a recently released
Tonga election 2021 – missing the ‘Akilisi Pohiva election factor
Tonga election 2021: Tonga’s most prominent political group Paati Temokalati ‘Otumotu Anga’ofa (PTOA) is sorely missing its leader, the late prime minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva in this year’s general election.
New Caledonia referendum to proceed in December
France’s High Commissioner to New Caledonia, Patrice Faure, has announced that New Caledonia’s referendum on self-determination will proceed on 12 December, despite calls from independence parties for a delay until
COP26 Pacific voices, young and old, call for action at climate talks
COP26 Pacific voices: On one hand, the index finger is raised. On the other, five digits are displayed. One point five. 1.5 to stay alive. In the midst of the pandemic, Pacific islanders, young and old, are campaigning
“You might as well bomb us” Palau President tells World leaders at COP26
(PACNEWS) The inaction of world emitters to reach an agreement on the rapid reductions of fossil fuels has annoyed Pacific island nations on the front lines of climate change. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr,
FSM paving the way for the Pacific by depositing its maritime boundaries with the UN
(Pacnews) COP26: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the first country in the region to deposit its maritime boundaries baselines with the United Nations. Speaking at the ‘Implementing the ocean-climate nexus
Money for “our backyard” but not the Green Climate Fund
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a new pledge of A$500 million for climate finance for Asian and Pacific countries at the COP26 global climate negotiations in Glasgow. Morrison said this amount
We need a ‘COP of action’ Tuvalu PM tells the world
COP26/Tuvalu: Sinking islands are not the future result of climate change, but the reality Tuvalu’s people are living through right here, and right now. That was the impassioned plea from Tuvalu’s Prime Minister,
“You don’t need my pain or tears to know that we’re in a crisis”: Fruen
The COP26 climate conference is underway in Glasgow. Here are highlights from the opening day. Young Samoan climate change activist Brianna Fruen made a powerful statement on the opening day of the COP26 climate
Pacific states to benefit from new IRIS initiative
Small island states of the Pacific were very much in the forefront when the leaders of India, Britain and Australia launched IRIS, a new initiative aimed at providing infrastructure support to reinforce the resilience
Tonga facing lockdown
Tonga is expected to go into lockdown later today after the kingdom reported its first COVID-19 case. Preparations are underway with churches being mobilised to support medical authorities. Tonga had been COVID-free
Telstra seals Digicel Pacific deal
Australian telco, Telstra has partnered with the Australian government to buy Digicel’s South Pacific businesses for $US1.6 billion, finalising negotiations that have been underway for some months. Telstra will
Port Moresby General hospital on the verge of collapse
PNG COVID update: Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby General Hospital(PMGH) says it is reaching a crisis point, with services teetering on collapse unless they are immediately given more support. “We urgently need
Protect the Poor when fighting money laundering in the Pacific
The risk of “de-risking” – the process of international banks disassociating from financial partners, such as small remittance providers and local banks – is that it could push people out of the
To vote or not to vote? Debating a New Caledonia referendum delay
As France’s Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu visits Noumea, supporters and opponents of independence are debating whether the next New Caledonia referendum on self-determination should proceed in December. Key
Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone outlook
Weather authorities anticipate 9-12 named Tropical Cyclones (TC) could occur in the Southwest Pacific basin between November 2021 and April 2022. The seasonal outlook is for normal to slightly above normal activity in
Transformation of a Port Moresby settlement
Joyce Bay settlement, formerly known as Horse Camp, is a notorious settlement in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). It has been known for criminal activity, and as a place where many criminals live. The settlement is
Spain, Toulouse added to 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series circuit
As part of its new look, three European cities have been added to the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Starting with the traditional curtain-raising event in Dubai at the end of November followed by an additional
AUKUS disrupts “a very peaceful part of planet earth”
With anti-nuclear sentiment on the rise across the islands, the Morrison government’s nuclear submarine ambitions have undercut the prime minister’s claim to be part of the Pacific family. “The sense of a regional
International stats agencies concerned over Naiqama dismissal
Two international statistics organisations have written to Fiji’s Prime Minister to express their concern over the dismissal of the Fiji statistician, Kemueli Naiqama, as CEO of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics from
Fiji domestic tourists return to resorts
This past weekend, a number of resorts on Viti Levu opened to domestic tourists for the first time since the second wave of COVID-19 hit Fiji. It was a trial run before international borders reopen, with a small number