Australia, PNG unveil first mutual defence treaty in more than 70 years
AUSTRALIA and Papua New Guinea have formalised a landmark mutual defence treaty, a move the two governments cast as a major upgrade in security ties and a new phase in the relationships between the Pacific neighbours.
Rarotonga hosts Pacific leaders to strengthen traditional governance for nature
RAROTONGA woke up earlier this month to a different kind of Pacific gathering.
ADB lowers growth forecast amid energy market disruptions
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut its growth outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific for 2026 and lifted its inflation
ADB invests in sustainable fashion in Cook Islands
THE Asian Development Bank’s Frontier Seed initiative in the Pacific has made its first investment in the Cook Islands, backing Manini Wear with $USD130,000 in growth capital as the multilateral lender looks to
Marape calls for the Pacific to remain an Ocean of Peace
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has urged major powers to keep the Pacific out of military rivalry after China fired a
Pacific cannot be treated as a theatre for force – Marshall Islands
THE Republic of the Marshall Islands has sharply condemned China’s reported submarine-launched missile test in the South Pacific, saying the region cannot be treated as a venue for military signalling.
Cambodia’s HIV model the region cannot ignore
CAMBODIA has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets – 95 per cent of people living with HIV diagnosed, 95 per cent of those on treatment, and 95 per cent of those virally
Will Australia’s diplomatic streak last?
LAST week , Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu’s Jotham Napat, signed the Nakamal Agreement in Canberra, a security pact that, among other things, bars foreign military bases from Vanuatu’s
Tonga ratifies global nuclear test ban treaty in Pacific milestone
TONGA has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, becoming the 179th country to do so and completing treaty universalisation across the Pacific region.
Wale takes hard line on corruption
LESS than two months after taking office, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has vowed that his country will not repeat the failures of the logging industry.
USP brings Pacific legend to the stage
THE University of the South Pacific's Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies will premiere its first major theatrical production since December 2023, bringing the Pacific legend of Sina and the Eel to the
VITI Reggae Festival unveils 2026 lineup, launches talent search for indigenous artists
THE VITI Reggae Festival at Prince Charles Park in Nadi from October 8-10 will boast a regional lineup headlined by South African reggae star TK Dube, son of the legendary Lucky
USP research targets climate-resilient taro farming for Pacific
A UNIVERSITY of the South Pacific (USP) researcher is developing new tools to help Pacific farmers strengthen taro production as climate change and declining soil health threaten one of the region's most important
FEO rejects voter register misinformation
FIJI’S elections office has reassured the public that the country’s electoral processes, including the National Register of Voters, are administered in strict accordance with the law.
Typhoon Bavi speeds past Guam
SUPER Typhoon Bavi has dropped to a Category Four storm and is racing away from the Marianas, prompting the National Weather Service to lift its typhoon warnings early today.
China missile test not the act of a friend: Solomons
SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has condemned China’s ballistic missile test over the Pacific, declaring it was “not the act of a friend.”
Fiji acknowledges China’s advance notice of military activity
FIJI has acknowledged advance notification from China before a missile was fired into the Pacific region on Monday.
Fiji’s Taveuni faces critical fuel shortage
TAVEUNI, Fiji’s third-largest island which serves as the country’s agricultural engine, is grappling with fuel shortages and shipping disruptions that have affected tourism, farming, and daily life.
Fiji revenue surpasses forecast by $156.9 million as economy shows resilience
FIJI’S tax revenue reached $FJD3.226 billion in the first 11 months of the financial year, exceeding government forecasts
Super Typhoon Bavi lashes US Pacific territories
A POWERFUL super typhoon hit the western Pacific on Monday, bringing life-threatening winds and torrential rain to Guam and other US territories.
Vanuatu launches new biodiversity strategy to tackle invasive species
VANUATU is ramping up efforts under a new biodiversity strategy that prioritizes the control of invasive species and the reinforcement of community-led resource management.
Aircalin rebrands ahead of new aircraft
AIRCALIN is making changes to its logo, a move that comes as the international airline prepares to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 in December.
Ex-coup figure calls for major constitutional reforms
A JOURNALIST who spent 24 years in prison for his role in Fiji's 2000 coup has called for radical constitutional reform, proposing the abolition of the Prime Minister's office and ending the country’s standing army.
