Vanuatu takes Pacific islands sovereignty dispute to ICJ
Vanuatu has filed an application at the International Court of Justice seeking sovereignty over two small Pacific islands controlled by France. The case concerns Umaenupne, also known as Matthew Island, and Umaeneg/Leka, also known as Hunter Island. The Hague-based court said the application was received on Tuesday and relates to a decades-old territorial dispute rooted in the colonial era.The court said the application has been sent to Paris, and no proceedings will move forward unless France agrees to the court's jurisdiction. France has not accepted the ICJ's compulsory jurisdiction for disputes with other states, which means the case cannot be... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Sep 2026 20:30 LONDON
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Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau hit by multiple leader withdrawals
Several Pacific leaders have pulled out at the eleventh hour from the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Palau, disrupting a summit that was expected to advance regional diplomacy and climate-related cooperation. The withdrawals include the prime ministers of Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa, leaving the gathering with a noticeably reduced level of political representation. Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed he will still attend.The Solomon Islands prime minister, Matthew Wale, cancelled his appearance after a no-confidence motion was lodged against him at home. The motion was brought by the home affairs minister, Manasseh Maelanga, who accused Wale... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Aug 2026 09:02 LONDON
