Pacific export revenue returns to pre-pandemic levels
The Pacific island region’s export industry has recovered its pre-pandemic-level performance, posting a 49 percent revenue increase in 2023, which was twice the growth rate recorded in 2022, according to the 2024
Forum welcomes appointment of Deputy Secretary General, Desna Solofa
The Pacific Islands Forum has announced the appointment of Desna Solofa as the Deputy Secretary General – Governance, effective 24 June 2024. Solofa joins the Forum from the Government of Samoa, where she was the
Japan helps Samoa with science academy
Samoa is preparing to establish a Regional Science Academy with support from the Japanese government revealed by Hideyuki Shiozawa, Senior Programme Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. This is a significant
Opinion: How the small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu drastically cut plastic pollution
With lagoons once choked by rubbish, pressure from the appalled community led the government to ban certain single-use products. For generations, the people of Erakor village in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu would pass
Pacific voyaging organisations forge new path of collaboration
A gathering of all the voyaging organisations from Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, including around 10 Pwo navigators, was held last week before master navigator Peia Patai and Vaka Marumaru Atua left Hawai’i
FestPAC closes with fond memories and call to preserve Pacific Arts and Cultures
The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC 2024) ended in Honolulu, Hawaii after 11 days for arts and cultural celebrations fostering fond memories of the event and a huge challenge to preserve Pacific Arts and
Pacific nations strengthen ties at massive FestPAC celebration in Hawaii
A crowd of thousands bid farewell to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture on Sunday during a large-scale celebration at the University of Hawaii that hosted delegates from 27 island nations. FestPAC, hailed
At FestPAC, a call to preserve the ocean that separates — and connects
All of the 28 nation’s participating in 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture on Oahu are separated by miles of ocean. That same ocean, they say, connects them. That’s why they’re working to protect the
FestPAC 2024: ‘Fight against the extinction of Pacific people’
The world’s largest event celebrating Pacific culture has united thousands of delegates, leaders, performers and spectators through uplifting marginalised indigenous groups fighting extinction and the right to
FestPAC 2024: ‘One body, one people, one ocean, one Pacific’
“One body, one people, one ocean, one Pacific”, was was Samoa’s powerful statement during the parade of nations at the official opening of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC). It was
New flight route between Australia and Palau
A new non-stop flight service between Australia and Palau is being launched with the support of both countries’ governments. The Palau Paradise Express, operated by Nauru Airlines, will fly between Brisbane and
Vanuatu celebrates top ranking in Happy Planet Index
Vanuatu is proud to announce its achievement of ranking number one out of over 150 countries worldwide on the Happy Planet Index (HPI), for the second time since the index was first published in 2006. Two Government
Opinion: Call on ADB to secure correspondent banking partners for Pacific countries
Pacific countries have sought the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to secure correspondent banking partners to increase investment and raise opportunities for local businesses. The 14 Pacific Developing Member
Social worker says Pacific men misinterpreting the Bible to justify domestic violence
There is concern over Bible verses being misinterpreted by some Pacific men to justify domestic violence, a Samoan-Chinese social worker says. Genevieve Sang-Yum, a lecturer in social work at Unitec’s Waitakere
Opinion: Pacific elder excoriates Australia on AUKUS panel with Bob Carr
Former foreign minister Bob Carr recently described AUKUS as “fragrant, methane-wrapped bullshit”. This remark — tailor-made for the headlines — was covered by media outlets on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Opinion: Where did that Chinese police video come from?
Last night’s 60 Minutes broadcast in Australia featured extraordinary footage of 2017 Chinese police raids in Fiji, followed by the extraction of 77 People’s Republic of China citizens, hooded
FFA launches new electronic systems to strengthen Pacific fisheries monitoring
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has launched two new electronic systems built for vessel registrations and Port State Measures. FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen introduced the Electronic Vessel
CNMI to lose 50 percent of workforce in 7 years, Senate president tells U.S. official
“In seven years, the CNMI stands to lose 50 percent of its entire employed labour force,” Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero told U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International
Bill to fund U.S. Government includes money to counter China in Pacific
U.S. congressional negotiators released a bill Sunday that would fund key parts of the government through the rest of the fiscal year, which began in October 2023. Among provisions in the appropriations package are
Secrets in the canopy: scientists discover 8 striking new bee species in the Pacific
After a decade searching for new species of bees in forests of the Pacific Islands, all we had to do was look up. We soon found eight new species of masked bees in the forest canopy: six in Fiji, one in French
Opinion: What can the Pacific learn from the EU Parliament vote against Norway’s decision to advance deep-sea mining
On February the 7th, the European Union (EU) Parliament voted against Norway’s recent decision to advance deep-sea mining in the Arctic by reaffirming its moratorium position and called for the European Commission and
Niue facing more power rationing
The Niue government says in recent weeks, power use has surged by up a third and more rationing is possible. Issues with the generators which left the island without power for a week were fully overcome by last
Pacific Island economies show resilience amidst challenges
A new report by ANZ Research says there are challenges ahead for six Pacific Island countries in sustaining the momentum of economic growth. In the bank’s latest Pacific Economic Outlook, economists Kishti Sen and Tom
Australian Defence Force mulls allowing Pacific islanders to serve amid recruitment drive
In a bid to bolster the ranks of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), various recruitment methods are under consideration, with a focus on potentially permitting residents from Pacific nations to join the force. Defence
