Pacific forum set to open in Palau without several leaders
Pacific leaders started to gather in Palau on Monday for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, but the absence of several heads of government has cast a shadow over a meeting…
Australia and Fiji seal mutual defence pact in push to counter China in Pacific
Australia and Fiji signed a new bilateral defence alliance on Monday in a second major diplomatic win within a year for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against Chinese influence in…
Australia, Vanuatu sign delayed security deal that is seen as curbing China
Australia and Vanuatu on Monday signed a development and security pact that had been delayed for months over Vanuatu’s concerns that it could stifle investment from other countries. – Australia,…
Father Lini Day – Vanuatu Honors Its First Prime Minister and Founding Father on February 21
On February 21, 2026, Vanuatu celebrates Father Lini Day, a national public holiday commemorating the birth of Father Walter Hadye Lini (1942–1999), the country’s first Prime Minister and one of…
John Frum Day – Vanuatu Celebrates a Cargo Cult Legend on February 15
On February 15, 2026, the people of Tanna Island in Vanuatu celebrate John Frum Day, one of the most colorful and distinctive cultural festivals in the South Pacific. This annual…