Pacific news in brief for 18 September

United States and Guam flags Photo: 123RF Guam A newly-passed defense policy bill by the US House of Representatives includes a US$3 billion package for Guam - to maintain the island's role in strategic defence. The Pacific Islands Times reported...

Pacific Youth demand urgent action on migration and employment at Global Forum

At the XV Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) in Riohacha, Colombia, Pacific youth leaders delivered their strongest warning yet: the future of Pacific youth is under existential threat if decisive action is not taken immediately....

U.S moves to reinvigorate Pacific partnership with big pledges in Port…

The United States has rolled out a sweeping package of economic, security, and health commitments to Pacific Island nations, signalling what it calls a “reinvigorated” partnership with the region. At a U.S-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) roundtable in...

Countering China's Maritime Insurgency in the South Pacific

[By Jason Lancaster] Guadalcanal, the Coral Sea, Tarawa, New Guinea, and Iron Bottom Sound highlight the strategic location of the South Pacific during the Second World War. Today, U.S. and allied preeminence in this vital region is under threat....

Pacific Youth demand urgent action on migration and employment at Global…

At the XV Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) in Riohacha, Colombia, Pacific youth leaders delivered their strongest warning yet: the future of Pacific youth is under existential threat if decisive action is not taken immediately....

How Australia’s climate target could stack up against the rest of the world

“That doesn’t mean the target is going to be 68 per cent,” Bowen said. “But it does frame the conversation.” Loading Scientists say the scale of warming since 2021, and increasing emissions since then, mean higher reductions are now required....

Pacific declares itself an ‘Ocean of Peace’ in historic regional pact

IN Honiara, participants at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum have hailed last July’s International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change. For President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau, “the ICJ advisory opinion is a milestone and a great...

Climate change: Where there is a will, there is collaboration 

At a time when the construct of a consolidated ‘West’ is shifting, are there signs that China, India, Brazil, and the EU can forge a clear climate agenda? The realities are quite clear. China outpaced all other players by investing $627 billion in...

China unveils maritime training programme for Pacific island nations

China's engagement in Pacific maritime cooperation is increasing, with a focus on areas such as marine science, economic development, environmental protection, and maritime security. But its growing presence is also altering regional geostrategic...

PEOPLE | Manabu the collector

HE worked in Fiji in 1993 as a volunteer and has never broken ties with the country he grew to love. Manabu Kitaguchi, a lecturer at Tenri University & Osaka University of Arts, visited Fiji three weeks ago with a passion to educate children with...

Accelerating Value in Insurance with AI: From Experimentation to Realized Enterprise Value

Country Select One United States Canada Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Azores Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus...

Depleting fishing grounds and the need to practice sustainable fishing at Titiana

By Ronald Toito’ona The dual impacts of over-fishing and climate change appear to have resulted in the depletion of fish stocks on various common fishing grounds used by local fishermen from Titiana village, in the Western province of Solomon...

Largest Dalo exporter builds $20 million enterprise

For more than a decade, a farmer and businessman in Navua has quietly revolutionised Fiji’s dalo export industry, turning locally grown root crops into a $20 million-a-year international business. Today, Ben’s Trading Limited exports Dalo,...

Civilization exchange and mutual learning in maritime training for Pacific island countries

[Photo provided to China Daily] Building on shared maritime cultural roots, and exploring avenues to deepen multifaceted cooperation in the new era, China launched a practical training program for Pacific Island maritime officials. This initiative...

Australia’s strategy of denial in engaging with its ‘Pacific family’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the 54th Pacific Islands Forum last week. During a short press conference in Honiara, Albanese mentioned our “Pacific family” four times. Despite that warm and fuzzy metaphor, the cold reality is that...

N.C. lawmakers push for changes to Camp Lejeune Justice Act to get help to victims and families more quickly

The drinking water at Camp Lejeune was found to be contaminated by industrial solvents and other chemicals from the 1950s through the 80s, and the CDC found more than a million people may have been exposed. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act opened a...

Countering the People’s Republic of China’s Maritime Insurgency in the South Pacific

By Jason Lancaster Guadalcanal, the Coral Sea, Tarawa, New Guinea, and Iron Bottom Sound highlight the strategic location of the South Pacific during the Second World War. Today, U.S. and allied preeminence in this vital region is under threat....

Worries mount for businesses as Bangladesh nears LDC graduation

Bangladesh is poised to graduate from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its development journey. As per media reports, the interim government has also reaffirmed that the country’s...

Netweaving the Soul of Pasifika Development

Introduction: Reconnecting with Our Pacific Soul Bula vinaka, talofa lava, malo e lelei, halo olgeta – warm Pacific greetings to you all. Esteemed leaders, respected elders, fellow academics, youth representatives, and civil society champions –...

No waiting as Pacific leads

A GAME-CHANGING commitment has been forged in the Pacific Region with European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, boldly declaring a new era of partnership. With an investment strategy in focus in the Pacific...