by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Tahitian performers wearing skirts made of palm leaves mixed with Olympic surfers, residents, and visitors during the start of the Summer Games opening ceremony in French Polynesia on Friday morning, a considerable distance of around 10,000 miles from the primary event in Paris. French Polynesia’s President Moetai Brotherson expressed his…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer In-Depth Solomons, a news platform and member organization of the non-profit OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project), was notified by the platform that more than 80 posts had been taken down from its official page. OCCRP suspects that adversaries of independent journalism in the nation may be responsible for…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The French Ambassador to the Pacific has stated that President Emmanuel Macron has not yet considered a letter from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) seeking approval for a high-level Pacific mission to New Caledonia. Véronique Roger-Lacan mentioned that due to the Paris Olympics commencing this week, it may be challenging…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) serves as a crucial platform for dialogue and cooperation among the nations of the Pacific region. Among the members, Australia and New Zealand have wielded significant influence, both historically and politically. Their involvement in the forum has shaped policies, agendas, and priorities, impacting the entire…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer In the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean lie numerous island nations that face unique challenges due to their small size and isolation. Amidst these challenges, French involvement in the Pacific region has played a significant role in fostering development and bringing about positive change in otherwise economically disadvantaged island…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Despite Fiji’s significant efforts to combat human trafficking, the country still falls short of meeting the minimum standards required for its elimination, as highlighted in the latest report by the US State Department on human trafficking. The report underscores the vulnerability of children in Fiji to forced labor in various…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The recent visit of Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Regional Director for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization, to New Zealand has garnered significant support from local Pacific community leaders. Dr. Piukala, who became the first Pacific Islander to assume this role in January, spoke at the University…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer Leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) are urging France to permit a collaborative United Nations-MSG initiative to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the political climate in New Caledonia and suggest potential resolutions for the ongoing crisis. Representatives from the member countries of the sub-regional alliance – including Fiji, FLNKS,…
by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Health authorities in Samoa have reported an additional 12 cases of dengue fever in the most recent week ending on July 7th. Since November of the previous year, a total of 468 confirmed cases of dengue have been documented. The majority of cases persist in the Apia region, particularly affecting…
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer Additional armored vehicles and fire trucks have been delivered to enhance the security forces in New Caledonia, which include the police and firefighters. The French High Commission announced last week that a shipment brought by the cargo vessel “Calao” from France had arrived. The consignment included ten new armored vehicles…