Movers and Shakers
Tonga’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala has been nominated as the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. His candidacy was successful at the WHO Regional Committee
Forum wants action on climate finance and Loss and Damage
RAROTONGA/PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM 2023: As the region faces an El Nino summer and Vanuatu reels from the devastation of Cyclone Lola – the third Category 5 cyclone to hit the nation in seven months – it’s no
Christopher Luxon won’t attend Pacific Islands Forum in order to form government
New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon will not attend next week’s Pacific Islands Forum because he will be busy forming the next Government. Luxon made the call during a media stand-up in Auckland today,
Chaos in Madang
Madang town in Papua New Guinea is in a state of lawlessness after policeman was killed on Wednesday, sparking a wave of violence and havoc which a senior police officer described as “chaotic”. Assistant
Fall of a Fijian trafficker exposes previous government’s blind eye to meth
The imprisonment of a prominent Fijian businessman on drug charges is just one sign of the Pacific island country’s increasing role as an international trafficking hub. Key Findings: Until recently, Aiyaz
Opinion: Pacific Engagement Visa legislation finally through
After months of uncertainty, yesterday the legislation required to implement the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) passed through the Australian Senate, with the Greens and other crossbenchers providing the numbers the
Iroga optimistic on Solomon Islands media sector
A veteran Solomon Islands journalist says the country’s media industry is vibrant and amongst the most independent in the region. Robert Iroga, founder and publisher of Solomons Business Magazine recently told
New York man caught smuggling butterflies from Solomon Islands
A New York man from Long Island was charged Tuesday with smuggling more than US$200,000 worth of wildlife in and out of the Solomon Islands. This included deceased butterflies known as “birdwings,” which are known
Tonga bow out with World Cup win over Romania
Solomone Kata scored two tries as Tonga gave retiring coach Toutai Kefu a winning send-off with a seven-try 45-24 victory over Romania as the two canon-fodder teams of the Group of Death served up a cracker after
Chinese grifters tie up UN, Marshalls in scam
The stakes could scarcely have been higher for Hilda Heine, the former president of the Marshall Islands. For years, her remote archipelago nation of just 40,000 people was best known to the world — if known at all
Chinese scientists point to indigenous knowledge
A group of marine scientists from China have used a high-level forum in Fiji to highlight years of research undertakings in the Pacific and to warn of the urgent need to take climate action, pointing to the value of
