Forum Troika set for high-stakes New Caledonia mission
Incumbent Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed that a high-level Troika delegation will visit New Caledonia before the end of August. The mission, which has received
Economic diplomacy: Banking on the Pacific
Rebuilding regional banking is unlikely to pay dividends without an underlying business revival. Australia’s oldest bank changed its name from the Bank of New South Wales to Westpac in 1982, reflecting apparent
Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meet in Tonga, sharing knowledge for security
The South West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces (SWPHMF) met Wednesday in an exclusive meeting in Nuku’alofa, held at the Leadership Centre, Masefield Naval Base. “This meeting is a chance for the heads of
PM Salwai reaffirms Government’s commitment to resolving Air Vanuatu’s future
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the future of Air Vanuatu and its employees on Independence Day, acknowledging the challenges and criticism along the way. He
Vanuatu official calls for prioritising children’s welfare
Children must be at the centre of labour mobility policies. Arthur Faerua, Director General (DG) of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Justice and Community Services (MoJCS) stressed this when stakeholders from Fiji, Samoa,
Fiji, PNG fail to secure UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces
No progress has been made in sending a UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces despite the appointment of Fiji and Papua New Guinea’s prime ministers to negotiate the visit. Pacific Island leaders
Fiji replaces Vanuatu as top PALM sending country
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme has been transformed over the last five years. In June 2019, there were 5,886 PALM visa holders in Australia. Five years later, in May 2024, there were 32,513, an
Air Niugini’s Boeing 737 resume flights to Melanesian countries
Air Niugini’s Boeing 737 aircraft will resume flights to Port Vila in Vanuatu from 03 August. Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon said that this would provide an opportunity to reconnect
MSG calls on France to allow monitoring missions into New Caledonia
As New Caledonia reels after two months of clashes between protesters and police, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has called on France to allow independent monitoring missions to visit New Caledonia and assess
First Vanuatu female weightlifter to compete in Olympic Games
21-year-old Ajah Pritchard Lolo will be Vanuatu’s first female weightlifting athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris this month. Last month was a momentous one for Vanuatu as the nation celebrated World
Pacific nations stand firm on fisheries and oceans protection
For Pacific Island nations, marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management are crucial because the health of ocean resources deeply influences their economies and livelihoods. In recent times, contrasting
