Supporting Commentary: Charting our own course with hope, dignity and purpose
To reduce reliance on external aid, the Pacific must strengthen regional integration through existing and new frameworks that promote economic resilience, people mobility, and sovereign
Auditor General exposes missing receipts for $60m COVID-19 funds as Ex-PM, Minister deflect concerns
Tongan government launched a TOP$60 million (US$24.97 million) stimulus budget in 2020 to ease the economic pressure on public health emergencies and health systems due to the COVID-19
Do U.S tariffs signal an end to business as usual for Pacific
President Trump's 2025 withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty signaled a disregard for international commitments, potentially encouraging other nations to act with similar
Pacific leaders unite for historic CEDAW session in Fiji
Nahla Haidar calls the session a historic first for the region, fostering closer UN-community
‘No more excuses: real climate action now’
Vanuatu supports 6PAC+ at IMO, demanding urgent climate action and accountability for
Littleproud says Coalition government would urge Pacific to be ‘more aggressive’ on China
David Littleproud urges Pacific pressure on China, sparking Labor criticism of Coalition's climate
Fiji hit with 32% US tariff under Trump’s new trade policy
Fiji will now face a 32% tariff on its exports to the US, with water exports to be hardest
Financial desperation is driving TMC’s reckless push to bypass International law inbox
The Deep Sea Mining Campaign (DSMC) has condemned The Metals Company’s (TMC) announcement that it will seek deep-sea mining permits through the United States as a cynical, desperate attempt to stay afloat, not a
Kiribati dodges aid cuts in NZ review
The New Zealand Government has decided against cutting its current foreign aid to Kiribati, following a review sparked by a diplomatic stoush between Foreign Minister Winston Peters and the island nation’s
Poll position: What Australia’s election holds for the Pacific
Australia’s policies toward the Pacific will continue to be primarily driven by China’s resurgence, no matter who is elected. Commentary by Tess Newton Cain When Solomon Islands and China signed a
Breaking the cycle of donor dependency in the Pacific
For decades, the Pacific Islands region has been heavily reliant on donor funding to support development, governance, and capacity-building initiatives. While donor support has played a role in strengthening
Micronesian leader says he trusts Japan’s nuclear wastewater disposal process
Micronesian President Wesley Simina has expressed confidence in Japan’s treatment of radioactive water being dumped from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi power plant into the Pacific Ocean. “The visit to Fukushima
Tongan PM warns of global uncertainty as Forum Finance Ministers endorse three key regional initiatives
In a clear warning to his fellow Pacific Finance Ministers, Tongan Prime Minister and Forum Chair Dr ʻAisake Eke highlighted on Wednesday the rising global uncertainty, fuelled in part by shifting U.S policies under
Misogyny on the rise: But women fight back
The opening session of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) meeting in New York this month heard that “misogyny is on the rise.” Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, said women and girls are
‘My parents always told me to dream for the stars: ‘CHamoru name makes it to the moon
Among other things, Marcus Manglona from Guam now has one claim to fame—his name is on the moon. The Blue Ghost lunar lander, which landed on the moon on 02 March, carried with it not just NASA scientific equipment
2025 Australian aid update
Australia’s foreign aid (Official Development Assistance or ODA) for 2025-26 is budgeted at $5.097 billion as announced in Tuesday evening’s Federal Budget, a 2.7% increase over the 2024-25 aid budget of $4.961
Aviation a lifeline for the Pacific, says Forum SG Waqa
Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa, Thursday emphasised the vital role aviation plays in the region’s future, calling it not just a mode of transport, but a lifeline for island economies. Speaking to
“Our people need us more than ever” nurses hear
Nurses are the backbone of Pacific health systems, attendees gathered for the Pacific Heads of Nursing and Midwifery Meeting in Nadi have been reminded. Pacific health leaders are meeting in Nadi this week to address
Leaders call for climate action during post COP29 debrief
Pacific leaders have reiterated the region’s urgent climate demands at the Post-COP29 Debrief of Pacific Political Climate Champions, warning that their voices must not be sidelined. This week’s session brought
Pacific Education Ministers continue to work together for the betterment of Pacific People
Background To support the Forum Leaders’ Pacific vision, the ”Pacific Regional Education Framework, Moving Towards Education 2030” (PacREF) prioritises action on quality and relevance, free learning pathways, and
Pacific governments warned of ‘threat’ from Cambodia’s Prince Group
The governments of Taiwan and Palau have both been warned that offers of investment from the Cambodian conglomerate Prince Group represent threats to each nation’s security and sovereignty. Briefings to the president
“More than an event, it was a movement” – Samoa recalls CHOGM triumph at CSW69
Samoa’s CEO for Women, Community, and Social Development, Loau Donina Va’a, has told Commonwealth delegations at the United Nations’ annual gender meeting (CSW) that Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of
No sign of missing sea ambulance as six-day search ends in the Pacific
Authorities on Monday suspended the search for a Marshall Islands Sea ambulance and its crew of four, missing since 03 March, according to the US Coast Guard. “We stand with the families and the Republic of the