- The Asian Development Bank adjusted PNG's economic growth forecast from 15% to 9% in 2015 and 5% to 3% in 2016. Considering population growth is about 2.1% in PNG, this means per capita economic growth in 2016 will be negligible.
- Nikunj Soni provides a good assessment of PNG's economic situation and the potential political ramifications.
- Matt Dornan and Tess Newton-Cain look at the new Framework for Pacific Regionalism adopted at this year's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' meeting. They argue it has made the meeting more inclusive and recognised the political nature of regionalism.
- Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Colin Tikuitonga, gave the first ever Pacific community statement at the UN General Assembly outlining the Sustainable Development Goals that are most relevant for the Pacific.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the UN General Assembly plans for debt relief for developing nations. The news has sparked cautious optimism in the Pacific, where a number of nations are struggling to repay Chinese loans.
- Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama and New Zealand's Prime Minister Key formally met on the sidelines of UN leaders week in New York, the first such meeting since the 2006 coup in Fiji.
- Last week Jonathan Pryke explained why Prime Minister Turnbull's new cabinet is great for the Pacific.
- Papua New Guinean PhD candidate Lawrence Kaiapo Gerry writes about his experience studying in Sydney and the contrast to his life in PNG.
- The first free counselling hotline in PNG has proven a success in its first month of operation, providing much-needed support to victims of family violence.
Pacific Island links: PNG's economy, regionalism, SDGs, Chinese debt relief and more
Published 30 Sep 2015
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