Traditional name reinstated
Naoereo (pronounced “NOW-eh-ro") is now the official name for Nauru. The government announced that this constitutional change would not be subject to a referendum of the country’s population as it was not a new name, rather a reclamation of the country’s traditional title, heritage and identity. The people of Naoero are referred to as dei-Naoero and the three-letter code for the country is NRO. The new designation has made its debut on the world stage at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Fiji HIV/AIDS crisis worsens
In Fiji, the HIV/AIDS crisis is worsening. It is estimated that one in 60 adults is now living with HIV. The rate of infection is continuing to rise. When the national outbreak was declared in 2025 the infections were largely confined to high-risk populations. Now, it has spread across the community. However, needle sharing among intravenous drug users is still considered to be the main driver. Last year Fiji recorded the highest level of HIV transmission from mother to child in the world.
Pacific countries face permanent visa bond requirements
A recent announcement from the US administration has identified five Pacific island countries whose citizens face permanent visa bond requirements. The five countries are Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. If the current ‘Visa Bond Pilot Program’ becomes permanent, nationals of these countries will have to pay a bond of up to US$20,000 when applying for a visa to visit the USA. The US administration claims the system reduces the number of overstayers in their country.
Vanuatu and Timor-Leste sign agreements in Port Vila
President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste visited Vanuatu to join the celebrations of that country’s 46th anniversary of Independence. There is a strong relationship between the two countries since Vanuatu was the only Pacific island country to support Timor-Leste at the UN during its struggle for independence. Ramos-Horta and Vanuatu’s PM, Jotham Napat, signed a development cooperation agreement and a visa waiver agreement during the visit to further cement ties between the countries.
About the author: Dr Tess Newton Cain is Principal Consultant at Sustineo. She is also a distinguished academic and researcher with over 25 years of unmatched experience in delivering exceptional policy, research, and analysis to drive strategic development across the Pacific islands region.
