Despite the loss of income, some people say they enjoyed the peace of border closures while the environment had a chance to recoverFor nearly a year and a half after the onset of the pandemic, the Cook Islands didn’t see a single tourist.In early 2020 …
PNG authorities order corpses to be swabbed amid fear of undetected Delta outbreak
One of Papua New Guinea’s chief health officers warns low vaccination and testing rates are a ‘recipe for major spread’ of deadly strainSee all our coronavirus coverageOne of Papua New Guinea’s chief health officers has warned the country’s low testing…
The house that can withstand a cyclone: how traditional dwellings are making a comeback in Vanuatu
Since Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu, locals are returning to the saeklon haos, made from vines, palm fronds and grassesWhen Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu and concrete buildings collapsed, their iron roofing blown away, there was no loss of life in th…
Pacific Islands Forum: climate crisis and old rows surface as leaders meet screen-to-screen
A Zoom meeting of prime ministers and presidents was never going to be a particularly smooth affairThere was what looked like a virtual walkout, veiled criticism of certain nations, a video address from the US president and of course, technical issues:…
US blocks imports from Fiji-based vessel accused of enslaving its crew
Customs and Border Protection issued an order Wednesday to halt shipments from the tuna fishing vesselThe US has blocked imports in American ports from a Fiji-based tuna fishing vessel that is accused of enslaving crew members.On Wednesday, Customs and…
Fiji’s political turmoil: everything you need to know
An unpopular new law that critics say will remove power from landowners has triggered political and social upheavalFiji has experienced escalating political tensions over the past fortnight, with opposition politicians arrested, extra police deployed a…
Fiji’s emergency Covid-19 hotline fell silent during the rugby sevens final: we really needed this win | Sheldon Chanel
The men’s gold and women’s bronze medals meant everything to Fiji, which has the highest per-capita Covid infection rate in the worldWhen the Fijian men’s sevens team beat New Zealand to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, the entire nation ce…
‘Women have not been able hold these: Samoa’s first female PM gets down to the job
After months of political turmoil, following the country’s most contentious election, Fiama Naomi Mata’afa is ready to get to workThe prime minister’s office in Apia, the capital of Samoa, which overlooks the harbour, has just been vacated by the man w…