Wale, Marape to discuss Bougainville independence
BOUGAINVILLE’S independence could be on the agenda when Pacific leaders meet in Palau later this year.
STAFF REPORTERS
Vanuatu says France stalling over disputed islands
A RESOLUTION to the long-standing sovereignty dispute over the uninhabited Matthew and Hunter islands appears distant, as Vanuatu accuses France of stalling negotiations just one year before critical French elections.
New Caledonia split over freedom fighters’ case
A FRENCH court's decision to drop all charges against pro-independence leader Christian Téin and 13 others has produced mixed reactions across New Caledonia, with the public prosecution now appealing the ruling.
Pacific leaders win historic UN seats
IN a landmark achievement for the Pacific, Faatino Utumapu of Samoa and Villarney Remengesau of Palau have been elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Candidates prepare for New Caledonia elections
VOTERS in New Caledonia go to the polls on June 28 to elect representatives for the islands’ three provincial assemblies – in the South, North and Loyalty Islands – and the national Congress of New Caledonia.
Fijian Kava initiative seeks global link for farmers
A NEW digital platform launched for public testing this week aims to connect Fijian kava farmers directly with buyers around the world, cutting out middlemen and giving growers their own verifiable identity.
Kiribati to host 2030 Micronesian Games
KIRIBATI has secured the bid to host the 2030 Micronesian Games, marking the first time in history the nation will welcome the sub-regional sporting since its inception in 1969.
UNODC backs Pacific anti-corruption journalism push
THE United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is backing a new Pacific journalism initiative aimed at making corruption reporting a more durable force for accountability, as officials say existing oversight
A country burns: Meanwhile, chiefs argue over a name
IN April, I caught up with a close friend in Melbourne, an Indo-Fijian woman who left Fiji 30 years ago in search of a better life.
Building a better world: Safe, fair, inclusive
IS it any wonder people are in thrall to the power and vicarious thrill of digital technologies when many acclaimed films and TV series extol the apparent virtues of digital surveillance?
Drug find on remote Fijian island
ISLANDERS on Ogea in Fiji’s Eastern Division have reported finding packets of what is believed to be cocaine on a remote beach.
Korean Air could make return to Fiji
FIJI'S national airline may soon be flying into turbulence as Korean Air poises to make a return to the region after a seven-year break.
Samoan PM – Our youth used by drug cartels
SAMOAN Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt claims the country's youth are being used by international drug rings who lure them with hefty pay checks.
Tonga’s political crisis deepens, third minister guilty of election bribes
TONGAN Lands Minister, Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, has been found guilty of electoral bribery – the third cabinet member linked to misconduct in the 2025 general election.
Fiji central bank cuts 2026 growth forecast as inflation climbs
FIJI’S central bank has sharply lowered its economic growth outlook for 2026, warning that higher fuel prices, rising inflation and softer consumer spending are slowing activity.
PNG tourism authority criticises Green Fee, warns it could hurt visitor arrivals
PAPUA New Guinea’s tourism authority has rejected the country’s new Green Fee on international travelers, saying it was introduced without consultation and risks weakening a sector still trying to recover and grow.
Chinese town development for Port Moresby
BAOSEN International Holdings Limited is pressing ahead with a proposed PGK4 billion mixed-use development in Port Moresby’s Five-Mile precinct in what could become one of the largest private property investments in
Bougainville independence debate enters parliament
PAPUA New Guinea’s Parliament has moved a step closer to setting out how it will handle Bougainville’s independence question.
Mobile internet prices in PNG: Stability amid infrastructure developments
IN December 2025, PNG's acting communication minister announced an early Christmas gift for the country: three new undersea cables to be delivered not by Santa's sleigh but as part of the Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative,
Taylor tells leaders to stop avoiding tough questions
A FORMER senior Pacific regional official has urged leaders to stop avoiding tough questions on self-determination and sovereignty, warning that security agendas overshadow issues that really matter most to islanders.
Wale pushes Australia reset, highlights $SBD200m aid
MATHEW Wale says Solomon Islands will continue to work closely with Australia on infrastructure financing while also engaging other partners, including the United States, as it pursues development priorities.
Tuvalu unveils first ocean policy
TUVALU has used World Oceans Day 2026 to put its ocean at the centre of national policy and national identity, soft launching the country’s first National Ocean Policy in a move that officials say could shape how the
Pacific family framing shapes security talks
TRUST and regional responsibility dominated discussion on security at the Canberra press conference, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale framing future
