- Two advocates for traditional landowners in Vanuatu explain why the Western model of development promoted by Australia through its aid program is inconsistent with Melanesian values.
- The resignation of Fiji's Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald, and the appointment of RFMF Land Forces Commander Sitiveni Qiliho to act as his replacement, continues to reverberate with prominent lawyer Richard Naidu resigning from the Constitutional Offices Commission in protest and Defence Minister Timoci Natuva defending the appointment.
- Jenny Hayward-Jones says Qiliho's appointment is a setback for rebuilding democracy in Fiji.
- The Nauru Government's commitment to the rule of law is still in doubt as lawyers for opposition MPs await visas to enable them to represent the MPs in court.
- See what was discussed at the Aus-PNG Network's latest PNG Emerging Leaders Roundtable on the topic of critical infrastructure for development in PNG.
- This Special Humanitarian Bulletin from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs gives an update on El-Niño in the Pacific. A lack of rainfall is already starting to have devastating impacts on agriculture and food security, especially in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, which are still recovering from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
- In Bougainville, many families are still waiting on news of missing relatives 20 years on from the conflict. They are calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to do more to ensure remains are returned to home villages.
- New Zealand rugby union legend Jonah Lomu died unexpectedly this morning at the age of 40. Former All Blacks teammate Alama Ieremia said Lomu redefined what wing play was all about and described Lomu as 'a very gentle person and a very genuine Islander'.
Pacific Island links: Aust aid challenged, Fiji's police chief controversy, El-Niño and more
Published 18 Nov 2015
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