Forum debates French colonialism, China and climate change

As Presidents, Prime Ministers and Premiers assembled in the Kingdom of Tonga for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM), the region’s Blue Pacific agenda was overshadowed by geopolitical jousting and

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Kava: Protecting our lifeblood

Kava is of immense cultural significance to peoples across the region: yaqona in Fiji, malogu in Vanuatu, 'ava in Samoa, 'awa in Hawai’i and sakau in the Federated States of

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Briefs

American Samoa American Samoa's Senate has passed a bill that will increase fees paid to jurors for the first time in 44 years. The bill acknowledges the “important role in the criminal legal system” jurors play and

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Movers and Shakers

Pacific government, business and community appointments and in memorium from Islands Business' September 2024

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Opinion: It’s not just police who police

Captured on camera chatting with American diplomat Kurt Campbell in Tonga last month, Anthony Albanese described Pacific leaders’ support for a new Australian-led policing initiative as a big win.   “We had a

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Samoa abstains on UN vote to end Israel’s ‘unlawful presence’ in Palestine

Samoa abstained from voting at the United Nations General Assembly earlier today on a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demanded “Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied

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Capital Insurance Group Ltd Announces Acquisition of Tower Insurance (Vanuatu) Limited

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – Capital Insurance Group Ltd announced that on 30 August 2024, it successfully completed its acquisition of Tower Insurance (Vanuatu) Ltd, now operating as Capital Insurance (Vanuatu) Ltd. Group

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Opinion: Not merely ‘exploration’: PNG deep-sea mining riles critics & surprises officials

A deep-sea mining operation that recently took place off the coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has raised alarm bells for environmentalists and called into question the validity of the country’s moratorium on such

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Opinion: Albanese government’s Pacific policing deal is a masterstroke of diplomacy

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may be attempting to backpedal from a “hot mic” moment at the Pacific Islands Forum this week in which he joked the United States “go halvies” on a new regional

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Recyclers deserve respect and recognition, not handouts:  PRA

In a significant shift for the local recycling sector, the Pacific Recyclers Alliance has recently gained formal recognition, marking a critical step forward for grassroots recycling advocates.  This acknowledgment

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Reinstatement of Fukushima expert panel to be discussed next year, Forum Leaders push U.S on nuclear testing and focus on regional peace

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will decide at the next Forum Leaders Meeting in Solomon Islands whether to reinstate the Forum Expert Panel on Fukushima, as concerns persist over Japan’s discharge of treated nuclear

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Opinion: Travel recovery in the Pacific: worrying signs

As the pandemic recedes and gradually fades from people’s memories, travel in the Pacific is rebounding. However, the Pacific’s travel recovery is highly variable. Comparing visitor arrivals in 2023 with those in

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