Bainimarama apologises
By Samisoni Pareti “My conscience is clear,” Fijian opposition parliamentarian Pio TIkoduadua told Fiji’s Parliament before the ruling party of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama used its majority to pass a motion
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Sayonara Flying Fijians
By Alipate J Pareti The hopes and blessings 900-thousand Fijians were pinned on the wings of the Fiji Airways’ Airbus 330 jet when it took off from Nadi International Airport for its non-stop flight to Japan
Pacific Rugby Warriors ready to depart for Japan
The Pacific nations are set to jet off to Japan with less than a month to go till the opening of the Rugby World Cup 2019. The entertainers of rugby, the South Sea Islanders are looking to once again set the Rugby World
USP Commission to look at HR, governance and finance policies in wake of BDO report
The Council of the University of the South Pacific has appointed a committee to implement the recommendations of BDO Auckland, which had been brought in to investigate allegations of mismanagement and abuse of
USP pro chancellor Thompson seeks VC suspension
Exclusive By Samisoni Pareti Winston Thompson, the besieged pro chancellor of the University of the South Pacific has sought the suspension of the USP vice chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia. Ambassador
Fiji’s AG attends USP meeting
By Samisoni Pareti Members of the University of the South Pacific Council have ended the first day of their two day meeting in Nadi, Fiji with still no official word on the outcome of their deliberations about the
USP Council meets on abuse report
By Samisoni Pareti The supreme body of the University of the South Pacific, the USP Council is meeting in Nadi, Fiji from today to discuss the report of the investigation into allegations of gross abuse and
Lionel Aingimea is Nauru’s new President
By Samisoni Pareti A junior minister in the previous government of Baron Waqa is the new President of Nauru. Lionel Aingimea won the presidential vote 12 to 6 against David Adeang when the island republic’s new
Nauru’s President out
Preliminary results are in for Nauru’s elections, and it appears President Baron Waqa has lost his seat. Nauruans went to the polls today and preliminary results are in for all but one electorate. Also to miss out are
Video on Fiji’s PM is out
By Netani Rika VIDEO footage has been released of Fiji’s Prime Minister, Rear-Admiral Frank Bainimarama, assaulting Opposition parliamentarian, Pio Tikoduadua. The footage – taken on a mobile phone outside
PNG journo reinstated
Two days after terminating his employment, Papua New Guinea’s EMTV has re-instated News and Current Affairs manager Neville Choi, and he says he will be back at work this morning. Choi was sacked for what EMTV
Vanuatu calls Fiji ‘recalcitrant’ over disputed islands
(Pacnews) Vanuatu is ready to meet with Fiji to discuss a long standing maritime border treaty agreement that Fiji signed with France just after Vanuatu gained independence in 1980. Foreign Affairs Minister Ralph
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
