Arrest in human trafficking sting in Tonga
Law enforcement officials in Tonga said they have arrested a person and recovered a victim during a human trafficking bust last
Security
Guam law firm lodges human rights complaint against U.S military
A Guam-based law firm has filed charges of human rights abuse against the U.S military, alleging violations of Chamoru people's indigenous rights to
UN chief calls for safety of peacekeepers after IDF breaches UN position in Lebanon
The UN Secretary-General on Sunday reiterated that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be
Kiribati criticises Beijing missile launch
Kiribati has issued rare criticism of China over last month's launch of an ballistic missile, saying it "does not welcome" Beijing's
Condemnation grows after China fires test rocket into central Pacific
Regional defence leaders are continuing to meet in Auckland as the Pacific faces increased geopolitical
Northern Mariana Islands leaders concerned about China missile test in the Pacific Ocean
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) leaders are worried about China's recent missile
Paris shifts gears on New Caledonia, after months of conflict
After nearly five months of conflict in New Caledonia, the French government has formally announced it will abandon a constitutional amendment on voting rights for New
New Caledonia’s constitutional reform will not go ahead: French PM
New Caledonia's controversial constitutional reform will not go ahead, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier
Opinion: Pacific initiatives need transparency and ground rules to reduce harmful competition
It’s time for the Pacific to talk about ground rules in the security sector, write Blake Johnson and Adam
Pacific Island leaders concerned after China launches ballistic missile test
Fiji’s President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, delivered a stinging rebuke to China’s recent ballistic missile test in the
Australia sends expert teams to Fiji as Chinese state-backed hackers attack Pacific Islands Forum
The Australian government sent expert teams to Fiji this year to help the Pacific’s top regional body after its networks were infiltrated by Chinese state-backed hackers, the ABC has learned. The cyber attack on
Kiribati ‘feel sorry’ for barring diplomats but it ‘makes sense’, minister says
The head of the Kiribati government delegation at the Pacific leaders’ summit in Tonga has played down the “viral” news of the Micronesian nation closing its border to “diplomatic visits” until the end
Kiribati closes border to diplomats until 2025
Kiribati has banned foreign diplomatic visits until 2025 due to national elections in a move that has left officials scrambling for more information. A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration sent to
PNG jolts donors over power grid roll-out as China sale dismissed
The chairman of Papua New Guinea’s national power provider has called for a faster U.S. and foreign donor roll-out of promised electricity infrastructure while saying there is absolutely no plan to sell critical grid
Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meet in Tonga, sharing knowledge for security
The South West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces (SWPHMF) met Wednesday in an exclusive meeting in Nuku’alofa, held at the Leadership Centre, Masefield Naval Base. “This meeting is a chance for the heads of
Maprik town burns
Maprik town in East Sepik was set ablaze over two days, beginning Monday between 3pm and 4pm and spilling into early Tuesday morning. Police have confirmed the arrest of at least 189 suspects. A special court hearing
Samoa Gun amnesty starts next month
The Samoa Police has announced a comprehensive gun amnesty set to begin on 01 August running through 30 September in an attempt to collect illegal firearms in circulation. This initiative, spearheaded by Samoa’s
French police kill alleged gunman amid continued unrest in New Caledonia
French police shot and killed an alleged gunman in New Caledonia on Wednesday, local prosecutors said, bringing the toll of almost two months of unrest in the French Pacific territory to 10. The suspect was killed
Air transport woes top agenda of Marianas lawmakers’ assembly
Issues and concerns regarding air transportation between the CNMI and Guam topped the agenda of the Mariana Islands Legislature Association’s 2nd General Assembly at the Guam Congress Building on Wednesday. Guam
Indonesian soldiers thwart fuel smuggling to Papua New Guinea
Indonesian soldiers from the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 700 litres of subsidised fuel to PNG. The task force personnel, serving at the 122/Tombak
Human rights vetting urged for Fiji defence treaty
A defence treaty between Australia and Fiji should include vetting processes for human rights violations, a parliamentary committee has been told. The agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Defence and the Status of
CCTV network launched in Samoa
Criminals beware, you are now being watched as the Samoa Police and Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched the Safer CCTV Network that will keep an eye on hotspots around Apia. It comprises 30 CCTV cameras, a
Prison ‘dark culture’
Josefa Nata claims Fiji’s prison system is perpetuating what he describes as a “dark culture” of cover ups of the abuse of prisoners’ rights, including uninvestigated deaths, and has met with Prime Minister
‘Help’ written in palm fronds assists U.S. forces in rescuing Micronesians stranded on tiny island
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard found and rescued three men Tuesday from a tiny atoll south of Guam, where they spent more than a week after they were left stranded. The men, all in their 40s, set sail from Polowat Atoll,