Comment: Making Sense of Multi-layered Security Frameworks

Security is a priority in the region. It has been so since 1971, when the earlier version of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – the South Pacific Forum (SPF) first met in Wellington on 5-7 August that year. At that

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Briefs

American Samoa Local inflation reached double digits in the first quarter of 2022. The rate was 11.6%, an increase from 9.7% at the end of 2021, says American Samoa’s Statistics and Analysis Division. Price rises were

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Pacific youth raise concerns over debt levels

“25 years from now – my children, your grandchildren are at a risk of potential tax and financial burdens that will be crippling if nothing is done today to reduce our region’s growing debt.” This was the

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The Drua does not sink

‘Sega ni dau dromu na Drua’, meaning ‘The Drua does not sink’, were the words that echoed through the Fijiana Drua camp this season, carrying them all the way to the Super W title. Short and simple they may be,

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Movers and Shakers

Jane Waetara is Solomon Islands’ new Permanent Representative to the United Nations and High Commissioner to Canada after officially tendering an early resignation as the nation’s first female Chief Electoral

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MSG, Indonesia dialogue on Regional Security Strategy

The Indonesian National Police (INP) is hosting the 4th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Regional Security Strategy (RSS) Working Group (WG) from June 6 to 10, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The event is attended by delegates

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Data, skills and a ‘shared vision’ needed to better manage risk

The Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says to better manage risk, access to robust and contextualised data that can be used to make decisions is needed. Speaking at this week’s

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China seeks security deals with Kiribati and Vanuatu

China is intensifying its drive for influence in the Pacific by negotiating security deals with two additional island nations following a pact with the Solomon Islands, according to officials in the U.S and allied

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Albanese victory welcomed by Fiji PM

Pacific Islands leaders will be hoping that the swearing in of Australia’s new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese tomorrow morning will herald a new era in climate action from Australia. Fiji Prime Minister, Frank

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Australia, NZ and the PICs: a new era for PACER?

By Dr Wadan Narsey Australia has been jolted out of its self-declared “vuvale” (family) complacency in its relations to the Pacific. Following the recent political fall-out in Australia because of the

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Opinion: What do the stats tell us about the impacts of COVID-19 on Pacific economies – Q4 2021

Key economic indicators from the final quarter of 2021 indicate an uneven recovery for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) economies from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new paper from the Pacific

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Australia and next steps in the Pacific

Dr Anthony Bergin and Jeffrey Wall The Solomon Islands security agreement with China is a significant setback for Australia and the region. In barely three years Solomon Islands has gone from supporting Taiwan

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