Gomes concerned about China’s advance in Melanesia
New Caledonia’s outgoing member of the French National Assembly, Philippe Gomes, has expressed concern about China’s position in the Pacific, saying Beijing has already colonised Vanuatu. Philippe Gomes, who
Healthy turnout expected for Pacific Mini Games
A total of 1034 athletes from 20 Pacific nations and territories are due to compete in the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas next month. The Pacific Mini Games were originally due to be held in May – June
Opinion: Labor will rebuild Australia’s international development program
Labor’s international development policies will help re-establish Australia as a partner of choice for countries in our region in meeting economic, development, climate and security challenges. These policies will
Bula Vinaka Ovalau
A Message from SPBD Fiji General Manager, Elrico Munoz In 2015, when SPBD Fiji was barely five years old, we visited Levuka and went around the island with one of the SPBD members – Mrs. Taraivina – who has her
Japan reaffirms Pacific regional support
Japan, Fiji and Palau share the same concerns over a security pact China recently signed with the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Sunday as he wrapped up a trip to the two Pacific island
Pacific labour mobility growth: winners and losers
One of Scott Morrison’s biggest announcements from last August’s 51st Pacific Islands Forum was to double the number of Pacific workers in Australia by March 2022 to at least 25,000. The government has come close to
Opinion: The world doesn’t care about swings in marginal seats. Climate action must spearhead a new Australian foreign policy
Late last year, more than 100 former diplomats and officials called for a new Australian foreign policy — with climate action at the centre — to help cement Australia’s future in a world rapidly shifting
Safeguarding Pacific Livelihoods and the Pacific’s Vital Kava Sector
Well before Australia announced it was opening up to commercial imports of kava, cultivation of the crop in Pacific Island nations such as Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands had been
Commercial kava pilot off to a flying start
When the Australian government gave the green light for a two-year commercial kava pilot program in December last year, “the excitement was palpable,” Australia's Minister for International Development and Pacific,
COVID-19, climate change and non communicable diseases
Pacific health ministers respond to health crises COVID-19 is a big opportunity for Pacific countries to transform their health systems, the region’s health ministers have heard. COVID-19, non communicable diseases
MPs seek regional dialogue on deep sea mining
A new alliance of parliamentarians from across the Pacific has called for a regional dialogue on the potential impacts of deep sea mining. The public launch of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining
