Forum marathon reveals tensions over climate policy
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu In a marathon leaders’ retreat that continued well into the night, with often heated debate, the Pacific Islands Forum has issued a joint communique and a new declaration on
Pacific leaders want action on West Papua human rights issues
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu Members of the Pacific Islands Forum have urged Indonesia to take action on human rights violations in West Papua, and strongly encouraged Jakarta to facilitate a long-mooted visit
PM Morrison denies being isolated as Forum ends
By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Funafuti After a marathon meeting, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have issued a communique and a climate change declaration with qualifications in Tuvalu Chairman of the Pacific
Poor governance in the Pacific: the forgotten issue
By Stephen Howes There was a time when the Australia lectured the Pacific. John Howard said in 2004 that Australia had a “special responsibility” to help the Pacific but that we sought “reforms and
Pacific seeks partnerships in climate finance
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu. Most Forum island countries have already accessed funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the global climate finance mechanism created under the UN Framework Convention for
RMI’s Heine asks Australia to reconsider coal
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu As leaders gather in Tuvalu for the 50th Pacific Islands Forum, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has criticised Australia’s reluctance to undertake a rapid transition
Port Denarau Marina lists on SPX, over 11 million shares traded in first day
Fiji’s superyacht marina, Port Denarau Marina Ltd (PDM) today listed its shares on the Suva-based South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) following an oversubscribed Initial Public Offer (IPO) that saw it sell down
Fiji calls for sea-bed mining moratorium as Nautilus restructures
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has again called for a 10-year moratorium on sea-bed mining, at a time that many Pacific island nations are preparing for new frontiers of
Island leaders says new climate funds don’t let Australia off the hook
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu As Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads to this week’s 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu, Australia has announced that it will commit new climate funding to the Pacific. Morrison
Swimming in rising waters
By Nic Maclellan (Islands Business magazine) in Funafuti, Tuvalu As Pacific leaders and officials begin arriving for the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu, they’re greeted by Tuvaluan children waving flags. But the
Pacific islands ramp up engagement with United Nations
By Nic Maclellan (Islands Business magazine) in Funafuti, Tuvalu Under “the New Pacific Diplomacy”, Pacific island governments are looking to international arenas to advance their regional agenda. Following
Tuvalu prepares for Forum meeting
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti A giant crane hoists the flagpoles into place outside Funafuti’s Sir Tomasi Puapua Convention Centre. Four go up, with another fourteen to go. Tuvalu is getting ready to host the 18 member
Kiwi expert to probe Fiji crash
By Samisoni Pareti New Zealand aviation expert Andrew McGregor gets into Savusavu today to begin investigations into the disappearance of a helicopter near the coastal town in northern Fiji last Friday. McGregor’s
Strong interest in Port Denarau Mariana IPO
There has been an overwhelming response to the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Port Denarau Marina Ltd currently open in Fiji. The IPO, which closes on Tuesday, sees 20 percent of the company, an equivalent
Fiji, New Caledonia to cooperate on agriculture
Fiji and New Caledonia have moved another step closer to working together on agricultural projects. This could see them working together to train young farmers, share knowledge about seed and plant materials, and
Focus on agriculture, World Bank tells PNG
Papua New Guinea has been advised to tweak its macroeconomic policy and throw more weight behind agriculture, as it has the potential to enable more diversified and inclusive development. The World Bank
Fiji says local Grace Road investigations continuing
BY: PENI KOMAISAVAI The Fiji Government says Fiji police investigations into Grace Road church are continuing.
Fiji stays mum on Taiwan office name change
BY: Samantha Magick The Fiji government says it will not be commenting on its decision to ask for a name change at Taiwan’s official office in Suva. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) says the
Nautilus Minerals looks to settle US$20m debt
BY: Dionisia Tabureguci Deep sea miner Nautilus Minerals Inc. will meet with its unsecured creditors this month – among them companies from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu – to discuss its plan to settle
ATH confident of retaining Cook Islands market position
BY: Dionisia Tabureguci Fiji’s telecommunications conglomerate Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) is confident of retaining a solid footing in the Cook Islands in light of the Cook Islands government’s
Grace Road founder jailed
The founder of the Grace Road Church has been sentenced to six years in jail for detaining her followers in Fiji and subjecting them to beatings and other forms of violence reports the South China Morning Post. Shin
Tuvalu court warns against airport closure
By: Samisoni Pareti Tuvalu’s Chief Justice has warned of heavy penalties and jail time for any new attempt by landowners to seize the country’s only airport in the capital, Funafuti. Justice Charles Sweeney has
