Opinion: Trusted partner to the Pacific, or giant fossil fuel exporter? This week, Australia chose the latter
Australia has long tried to be two things at once – a trusted friend to Pacific nations in a bid to reduce China’s influence, and a giant exporter of fossil fuels. This diplomatic tightrope has become increasingly
Albanese wants to “China-proof” the Pacific, but Nauru is driving a hard bargain
The Albanese government hopes to end the year with a major foreign policy victory by signing a landmark pact with Nauru aimed at preventing China from gaining a security foothold in the Pacific. The Sydney Morning
Briefs
American Samoa A runoff election is set for the American Samoa gubernatorial race after no candidate secured the required 50% majority. The team of Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Pulu Ae Ae Jr led with 42.4% of votes (4284),
Pacific education: Backsliding outcomes and a financing freefall
Education outcomes in the Pacific are faltering. Across much of the region, participation in formal education is declining, along with graduation rates and academic performance. Both domestic and international funding
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
Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia wins for Samoa and the Pacific
Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia of Samoa has been elected to the Commonwealth Youth Council executive board ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa. She emerged as Pacific representative after a keenly
Pacific nations gear up for a fight over shipping emissions at critical UN meeting
Pacific nations are preparing for a pivotal week of negotiations in London on how to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in the global shipping industry. Countries will gather later this month to lay out
New Zealand’s army chief: Pacific nations need tailored military training
As the U.S, China and other powers vie for strategic influence in Pacific Island militaries, the army chief of New Zealand told The Associated Press that not all of the larger nations bidding to offer support are
“Literacy is the skill we build to communicate”: Celebrating World Literacy Day
Literacy is not just about reading or writing was the message to teachers, students and policy makers marking International Literacy Day in Suva earlier this month. Former Pacific Community (SPC) Director of Educational
Opinion: Cables under the sea: Pacific island countries need integrated electricity grids
Australia should supercharge the development of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and contribute to their lasting economic security by investing in inter-island electricity grids and diversified energy sources. A green
Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime
Three developing countries have taken the first steps towards transforming the world’s response to climate breakdown and environmental destruction by making ecocide a punishable criminal offence. In a submission to
New U.S COFA agreements offer $7.1b boost to Pacific Freely Associated States, but fiscal reforms are key, ADB report
The streams of U.S dollars that the three freely associated states will receive under their renewed bilateral agreements with the United States will go a long way if they implement stringent fiscal and debt policies and
Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi ‘humbled’ by the results of the public referendum
In this exclusive, BCN News reports the historic occasion when Speaker Hima Douglas signed into law the changes to the Niue constitution. Of the four constitutional amendment polls put to the public referendum last
Digicel Pacific taps SES’s services to bolster Disaster recovery for Tonga
Amidst the increase in natural disasters in the Pacific region, Digicel Pacific and SES have announced an agreement to bolster Digicel Pacific’s network with SES’s service to enable critical communications to be
Pacific ministers gather to discuss water and wastewater challenges
Twenty Pacific islands ministers have gathered in Rarotonga this week to discuss solutions and ideas to combat water and wastewater threats. Held at the National Auditorium, the 8th Pacific Water and Wastewater
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
The World Bank head has thoughts on the Pacific – and needs Australia’s help
The president of the World Bank is due in Australia this week offering to be a force-multiplier for good in the Pacific Island states, and expecting some federal funding to do so. In the first visit by a World Bank
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
‘We are going to do right for Samoa’ – Winston Peters on citizenship bill
A talanoa on the Samoa citizenship bill in Auckland on Friday was held against the backdrop of the passing of the Māori king, Kiingi Tuheitia, as well as the death of the RSE workers who died in a car crash on
Pacific Islands Forum tweaks communique after China outburst
The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has altered the communique from last week’s summit in Tonga to remove an affirming reference to Taiwan, after an outburst from China. In a tumultuous ending to the otherwise
Forum island nations prepare for global oceans conference
As the oceans face devastating change from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Pacific governments are preparing for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in France in June
Maori King Tuheitia dies after heart surgery
New Zealand’s Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, has died aged 69, just days after the celebration of his 18th year on the throne. The death was confirmed by the Kiingitanga’s social media early on Friday.
Tonga’s Finance Minister urges Pacific unity to increase Resilience Fund
Tonga’s Finance Minister, Tiofilusi Tiueti, has urged Pacific nations and their partners to rally behind the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), calling it a “bold step” towards a more resilient and sustainable
