France has approved a high-level Pacific mission to New Caledonia, aiming to gather information from all sides involved in the ongoing crisis. The decision was confirmed by the French Ambassador to the Pacific, Véronique Roger-Lacan, in an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific this evening. The mission, requested by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders, comes as PIF Foreign Ministers meet in Suva. Melanesian Spearhead Group chair and Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has voiced strong support for New Caledonia’s independence, emphasising a democratic process. Salwai stated, “We are family… politically and morally, we support the independence of New Caledonia.” The crisis…
Author: Newsdesk
Workshops in Tonga and Samoa are being held as part of the ACIAR project “Responding to Emerging Pest and Disease Threats to Horticulture in the Pacific Islands” to address the potential threat posed by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). This pest, recently introduced to the South Pacific Islands, is capable of transmitting Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease that devastates citrus trees like oranges, lemons, and limes. In Tonga, the August 5th workshop at the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forest research centre marks the first awareness session on citrus pest and disease threats. While ACP and HLB have not yet reached…
France is expected to reveal today whether it will allow Pacific leaders to visit New Caledonia ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga later this month. French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision will be delivered by French Ambassador to New Caledonia, Véronique Roger-Lacan, during the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva. Roger-Lacan hinted at the announcement on social media, stating she is en route to Suva with important news for the Forum Troika. The Troika, which includes Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, will discuss the proposed mission to New Caledonia.…
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. To mark the occasion, President Xi Jinping called on the international community on June 28 to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new era and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind and promote human progress. I first visited China in 2001 to study at the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army. During that time, I also visited the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. When I landed in China again in 2010 as the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary…
The Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) has launched the first-ever survey dedicated to understanding the experiences and challenges faced by Pacific journalists in upholding freedom of expression and information across the region. Named “For us. By us. About us.”, this survey targets journalists in 14 Pacific countries, excluding Australia and New Zealand, and seeks to document their day-to-day realities in reporting. Founded over a decade ago, the PFF aims to protect and promote Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts freedom of expression and information as fundamental rights. The survey’s primary goal is to gather robust baseline…
David Liti, one of Team New Zealand’s few Tongan athletes, is determined to bring home gold in the men’s weightlifting competition at the Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old, who was raised in South Auckland, proudly represents both Tonga and New Zealand at his second Olympic Games after debuting in Tokyo 2020. “I think it’s important for anybody to represent who they are, their family, and their country,” Liti said in an interview with PMN NZ. “It doesn’t matter what I wear or what people see on me, I’m still Tongan, I’m still Kiwi. I represent both.” Liti, one of the few…
Indonesian security forces recovered the body of New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning on Tuesday, following a deadly separatist attack in Papua. Conning, a pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, was shot by gunmen allegedly with the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, shortly after landing in Alama, a remote district in Central Papua’s Mimika regency. The attackers, who released all six passengers including two health workers and two children, are suspected to be from Nduga district and led by Egianus Kogoya, according to Bayu Suseno, spokesperson of the Cartenz Peace Taskforce. Suseno…
The Chinese government has released a report on the progress of the Global Security Initiative (GSI), highlighting achievements since its inception. The report, presented at the launch ceremony of the Center for Global Security Initiative Studies in July, provides a systematic review of the initiative’s impact and progress. In a written speech at the event, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised the importance of the report in helping all parties understand the GSI’s practical significance and unique value as an international public good in the field of security. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the…
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off Japan’s southern coast this evening, triggering a tsunami advisory. The quake, which occurred at 4:43 p.m. local time, was centered off Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island at a depth of approximately 18.6 miles. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory, warning of waves up to 3.3 feet along Kyushu’s southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku. The JMA urged residents to avoid the sea and coastal areas until the advisory is lifted. Waves as high as 20 inches were reported in Miyazaki, according to NHK. There were no immediate reports of…
A groundbreaking Plastic Dialogue took place yesterday during the Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable, aiming to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution. Organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) and funded by the Australian Government, the event gathered over 200 delegates. Minister for National Resources and Agriculture, Sa’aga Talu Teafa, emphasized the severe impact of plastic pollution on Tuvalu. “Plastic pollution from ocean currents has washed up on all of our 8 islands, affecting marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and impacting our food security, economic, social, and cultural well-being,” he stated.…