Church leaders call for genuine peace
IN an impassioned plea, church leaders have called for national leadership in the Pacific to lean toward courses of action that facilitate lasting and meaningful peace in our region.
MARK SHEEHY
Fiji’s drug crisis forces new rehab push
FIJI'S Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially opened the Salvation Army’s new Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programme facility as part of the country’s wider fight against a worsening crisis.
PNG LNG landowner stakes will not be diluted, Marape says
PAPUA New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has sought to calm concerns over the PNG LNG project, saying the government will not dilute landowners’ and provincial governments’ equity stakes.
Vanuatu strengthens measles outbreak defences
VANUATU has moved to sharpen its measles outbreak response as Pacific countries work to protect communities from the disease which was declared eliminated in the region in 2025.
Pacific moves to turn climate finance promises into bankable projects
PACIFIC leaders have taken a major step towards closing the region's climate finance gap after concluding a regional workshop aimed at turning long-standing climate finance commitments into investment-ready projects.
Samoa begins ground-truthing mangroves for carbon storage data
SAMOA has launched community consultations and fieldwork to assess the carbon storage capacity of selected mangrove sites to strengthen climate reporting, conservation planning and the country’s greenhouse gas
Tuvalu says SDG progress needs urgent global action at UN forum
TUVALU used a United Nations sustainability forum to press rich nations for faster climate finance and reforms to the global financial system.
Fiji and New Zealand renew Duavata Partnership
FIJI and New Zealand have renewed the Duavata Partnership for a further five years.
Australia launches five-week hydrographic mission in PNG
AUSTRALIA will deploy its hydrographic survey ship, HMAS Leeuwin, to Papua New Guinea for a five-week mission to improve navigation safety and strengthen maritime cooperation.
Marape pledges legal and funding support for St John Ambulance
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the government would move to strengthen St John Ambulance through legislation which would recognise its role as a national emergency service.
Taipei protests as PNG orders Taiwan office shut
PAPUA New Guinea has ordered the immediate closure of Taiwan’s Economic Office in a move which strengthened Port Moresby’s alignment with Beijing and drew a sharp protest from Taipei.
European film festival returns with focus on culture and connection
THE European Union has officially launched the 5th European Film Festival in Fiji, bringing eight acclaimed European films to audiences across Suva, Pacific Harbour, Lautoka and Labasa.
Drua secure Super W final at home
THE Fijian Drua women thrashed the Queensland Reds 31–5 at the Churchill Park in Lautoka to guarantee their spot in the 2026 Super W Grand Final.
Tahiti: Beach soccer powerhouse
AS the FIFA World Cup returns and captures global attention, the 2026 tournament marks a significant moment for Oceania football.
A rude awakening: New Caledonia at political impasse
AFTER a lacklustre electoral campaign for New Caledonia’s provincial assemblies and Congress, the French dependency remains at an impasse over its political future.
Saipan stone rolls home
LAST year, a stone pillar returned to the Northern Mariana Islands, 75 years after it was taken by a private collector. This symbol of Chamorro history is one of 10,000 pieces from the Northern Pacific removed—most
We’ve heard it all before
IN July 2022, I descended over 8000 metres to the bottom of the Palau Trench in a deep-sea submersible.
Movers and Shakers
MICHAEL “Mike” Henry has been appointed as the new Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji, a role he describes as “both a challenge and a very interesting opportunity”.
First Tongan set to serve in Utah Senate
A TONGAN-AMERICAN politician has made history in the United States after winning his primary election to become the first Tongan state senator in American history.
Pacific disaster insurer opens Suva hub
THE Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) has opened a regional office in Suva, marking 10 years since Pacific leaders established the region’s first sovereign disaster risk insurance facility.
Pacific CSOs: Our ocean is not a battleground
PACIFIC civil society organisations want regional leaders to reject growing militarisation and have warned that the region must not become a battleground for geopolitical
Solomons, China focus on relations
SOLOMON Islands and China will discuss expanded cooperation this week, a fortnight after Australia signaled its intention to take a greater role in regional defence.
Solomon Airlines signs deal with Philippines carrier
SOLOMON Airlines has signed an interline agreement with Philippine Airlines, allowing passengers to travel on single tickets and have baggage checked through to their final destinations.
