Results for Pacific Islands

There is a urgent need for Pacific nations to rise above national agendas and act regionally, to respond effectively to the economic crisis in the Pacific’s albacore long line fisheries, warns the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Director-General James Movick. Pacific countries will also need to confront distant water fishing nations to reconcile their narrow fishing interests with their broader role as key strategic and development partners of this region, he said.

Dr Colin Tukuitonga is the new Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) based in Noumea, New Caledonia effective on January 23.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has announced that he will resign from his post as commander of the Fijian army next month, on February 28.

The International Rugby Board has decided to suspend funding to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) until key reforms are made.

The Inaugural “South Pacific Islands Christmas in the Park 2013” on Saturday December 14 in Brisbane, Australia, brought a South Pacific twist to a community Christmas celebration with dances and prayers. Matangi Tonga Online reader, Sulieni Layt shares photos of the event that has won three-year funding support from the Brisbane City Council's community festivals program. [Matangi Tonga Online readers: Please send us your photos of the festive season, from wherever you are around the world- Editor]

Tropical tuna fishing needs to be controlled says a disappointed Pacific Island Tuna Industries Association (PITIA) this week, charging the Western & Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC) with failing to protect the interests of Pacific Islands tuna industries and leaving the southern albacore longline fishery “open for another year of plundering.”

A five years jail sentence given to Pita Driti, a former Brigadier-General of the Royal Fijian Military Force, by the Fiji High Court's Mr Justice Madigan on Wednesday December 11 contradicts an earlier jury decision, says Ratu Tevita Mara, who is taking refuge in Tonga.

Three Tongan students graduated from the University of the South Pacific's School of Law on Friday, 6 December in Port Vila, Vanuatu. HM King Tupou VI conferred the degrees as Chancellor of the university.

Tonga and Tuvalu are among thirteen countries that have not signed a global treaty to ban nuclear tests and are being urged to sign and or ratify the treaty as soon as possible. .