Briefs
American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has signed a Bill into law which will establish a Samoan Language Commission and recognise both Samoan and English as the official languages in the Territory to “preserve our
Movers and Shakers
Tuvalu national Ian Fry is the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change for the next three years. Fiji’s Sefanaia Nawadra has commenced his new role as Director-General (D-G) at SPREP
Australia election: Climate the most important security issue, say military and political leaders
As voters in Australia head to the polls on 21 May, there is increasing debate over the link between climate change and security. Capitalising on the heated debate around the China-Solomon Islands security agreement, a
Movers and Shakers
Leonard Louma is the new Director General of the MSG Secretariat. Louma is a seasoned PNG diplomat, with postings to the UN, France and China, and was involved in several regional initiatives, including the Pacific
ONOC steps in to support Pacific sports programs, hosts
Oceania National Olympic Committees President, Guam’s Ricardo Blas is hosting colleagues from across the region this week to discuss delivery of sport funding and programs. Blas recently told Islands Business that
U.S eyes Yap for regional defence plans
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a component of America’s homeland defence and Yap will play a role in the U.S. military repositioning in the region, according to FSM President David Panuelo. While there
Pacific Elders call halt to seabed mining
Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) calls for a halt in seabed mining until “proper regulatory instruments can be put in place,” and recommends a regional expert body be created to provide expert advice to Pacific Island
The track to the Paris 2024 Olympics
Pacific athletes are on track for the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. They will be hoping it is an easier path than the one they took to the delayed Tokyo Games, although top officials have concerns about the
Outlook 2022: The year in Pacific politics
By Sadhana Sen For the third year running, COVID-19 is defining and disrupting life, leadership and governance in the Pacific. Compounded by climate change-related flooding and the devastating
Class dismissed? Keeping Pacific classrooms open in 2022
Will Pacific Island school children get an uninterrupted year of face-to-face learning in 2022? Governments and their partners are working hard to open classrooms, and keep them open, but the spread of the Omicron
Movers and Shakers
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reshuffled his cabinet with the return of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister Sam Basil and Defence Minister Solan Mirisim to full office. Basil