Pacific Islands Forum’s exclusion of great powers and its consequences

Pacific island leaders gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leadership Meeting in September. Photo courtesy of the FSM government These Islands By Robert Underwood In the prelude to the September 2025 Pacific...

To defer or to leap, that is the question

In 2026, Bangladesh is expected to graduate from the United Nations (UN)’s list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Some view this as a triumph, while others see it as a threat. The truth lies in between: graduation is neither a silver medal of...

PM Manele highlights peace, security at UNGA

BY NED GAGAHE Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ commitment to global peace and security during his official engagements at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Speaking to local media yesterday...

How AUKUS shapes Australia’s Pacific Islands relationship

Since its election in 2022, the Albanese government has embarked on an unprecedented campaign of diplomatic activism in the Pacific Islands. Four security agreements – with Tuvalu, Nauru, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea – have either been formally...

Pacific quarantine-free travel expands

One-way quarantine-free travel to New Zealand will be extended to include Nauru, Tuvalu and American Samoa, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Health Aupito William Sio announced today. “I am pleased to announce that from 11.59 pm 27...

Antarctic sea warming from climate change, sees third lowest winter peak

Antarctica's winter sea ice has hit its third-lowest peak in nearly half a century of satellite monitoring, researchers said Tuesday, highlighting the growing influence of climate change on the planet's southern pole. Each year during the Southern...

Update: Dengue fever in the Pacific: Samoa records 7th dengue death

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa has recorded more than 14,000 clinically diagnosed dengue cases since January, and its seventh death from the disease. The latest report, released on September 29, covers the week of September 22- 28. The Ministry...

Why loss and damage matter in the Pacific

For many Pacific Island nations, climate change isn’t a distant threat or an abstract statistic – it’s an everyday reality reshaping homes, traditions, and futures. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, increasing temperatures and severe weather...

Australia Signs First Defence Pact With Papua New Guinea In Over 70 Years

Home Australia Australia Signs First Defence Pact With Papua New Guinea In Over 70... Under the Pukpuk defence treaty, which is the first signed by Papua New Guinea, Australia and its northern neighbour are obliged to come to each other’s aid if...

Pacific Growth to Accelerate in 2025 on Resource Strength — ADB

Economic growth in the Pacific is expected to pick up next year, buoyed by strong resource output in Papua New Guinea (PNG), according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025, released on 6 October by the Asian Development Bank...

Australia signs key defence deal with Papua New Guinea

Australia will gain access to Papua New Guinea's (PNG) military facilities and troops under a new deal that will see both nations come to each other's defence if either is under attack. Australia's leader Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart...

Time Is Quickly Running Out To Visit This Beautiful Country

The islands in Oceania in the South Pacific are a top bucket list destination for many beach lovers who want to experience true paradise. For some, Fiji is the place to go for the best all-inclusive resorts and a secluded retreat. Others may want...

Australia, Papua New Guinea sign mutual defence treaty

Published On 6 Oct 20256 Oct 2025 Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape have signed a mutual defence treaty in Canberra, with the leaders saying the text of the agreement will be...

Will the IMF US$961m windfall rescue Zim?

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Covid-19 has caused substantial long-term global macroeconomic environment change, and the pandemic inflicted long-term scars on the global economy. By Learnmore Nyamudzanga According to the...

Pacific news in brief for 2 October

Photo: Aleksandr Shyripa Papua New Guinea - drugs Papua New Guinea's deputy police commissioner Donald Yamasombi says the country is sitting on a dangerous stockpile of illegal drugs - as much as three tonnes. The Post-Courier reported Yamasombi...

Taiwan pledges US$3m to Pacific program

Taiwan has pledged US$3 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) to help address climate issues in the Pacific islands, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday. “On behalf of Taiwan, Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo of...

Pacific-led ocean protection initiative gets big funding boost from Bezos Earth Fund

Goldlined emperors with colorful reef (Tuvalu, June 2025). Photo: Manu San Félix / National Geographic Pristine Seas There has been a significant new funding boost for the Pacific-led effort to protect our oceans. The Bezos Earth Fund has...

Three best private schools in Solomons this year

Woodford International School in East Honiara is the top best private operated school in the country this year. That’s according to ’Schoolbell.net,’ a leading global education rankings platform. Dylan the Regional Director, Oceania Division in a...

VUVALE PARTNERSHIP | A beacon of unity

Fiji’s economic prosperity, its environmental health, and way of life are inextricably tied to the sea. The opening of the new Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre in Lami on Friday (October 3) will help Fiji protect and safeguard its ocean...

Philately gets you everywhere — even North Korea

Kim Il-sung, the North Korean leader and grandfather of the current ruler, Kim Jong-un, in 1980 EDOARDO FORNACIARI/GETTY IMAGES In further evidence that the British monarchy ­exerts a fascination in the most unlikely places, it has emerged from...