Tongan boxer Fe'ofa'aki 'Epenisa will make her Olympic debut this weekend when she squares off in the 62kg weight category.

Tune in eaFiji holds on to beat Ireland by four points to advance to the semi-final in the Rugby Sevens at the Paris Olympics. Also, Fe'ofa'aki 'Epenisa becomes the first female boxer to represent Tonga at the Olympics.ch morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

George Smith has made a long-awaited homecoming to Tonga, ahead of a historic double-header between the Queensland Reds and the Tongan men and women's national teams.

The world's number 1 flanker, Ardie Savea, has signed up to play for Moana Pasifika in the Super Rugby Championship.

It is well documented throughout history that Pacific people are natural navigators of the moana, and Samoan sailor Vaimo'oi'a Astrid Ripley is one of them.

Fiji has beaten Ireland 19-14 and will now face Australia for the right to play-off for the gold medal.

A Samoan mono-lingual dictionary has been published to help preserve the language and promote its use among the diaspora.

Twenty-five people have reportedly been killed in Angoram district of Papua New Guinea's East Sepik province. Governor Allan Bird has has called for an immediate increase in police numbers to deal with the outbreak of violence, reported to have been sparked by a land dispute.

The Cook Islands is set to host it's biggest national event, the Te Maeva Nui festival. 

Twenty-five people have reportedly been killed in Angoram district of Papua New Guinea's East Sepik province. 

Fiji is currently the biggest supplier of workers to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. There are 6,379 Fijian PALM workers in Australia as of June 2024. It's a huge jump from 2019 when there were only 226, and correlates with big changes to the scheme over the past five years.

Samoa's police force is mourning the death of Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite, who was allegedly shot and killed on Monday while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. 

Investigations into the grounding of a Fiji Navy vessel gifted by Australia could take years before any disciplinary action. The Puamau, a Guardian-class patrol boat worth $18m AUD, ran aground on June 11 on Fulaga Island in the Southeast of Fiji. A military inquiry found critical deficiencies in procedures and standards within the Navy.

A master Tongan tapa mat maker, Tui Emma Gillies, is concerned with the common trend of traditional Tongan tapa mat makers using plastic in making ngatu (Tongan tapa mat).

Fiji is currently the biggest supplier of workers to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. There are 6,379 Fijian PALM workers in Australia, a huge jump from 2019 when there were only 226. It correlates with big changes to the scheme over the past five years.

On July 17, 1988, a 10-meter-high tsunami struck PNG's North West Coast, killing two-thousand people. One survivor, Alice Possani Ossii was only 7-years old when the tsunami struck. She is still coping with psychological trauma caused by the event.

A small fern found in New Caledonia and Vanuatu has been found by researchers to have the largest genome of any living organism.

Fashion and prison are not two things you'd expect to go together, but a program in a Papua New Guinea prison is bringing hope to women inmates by equipping them with fashion skills, they could use to start a new life.

Tourism numbers are down in Vanuatu during what should be the peak holiday season. Businesses and communities reliant on tourist dollars say it's a catastrophe, and are blaming the recent liquidation of Air Vanuatu. 

Two Catholic churches in the New Caledonia were torched last week and a Kanak monument desecrated over the weekend. The attacks have heightened tension in the territory, just three weeks after New Caledonia took part in the French national elections.

The bowing out of US President Joe Biden from this years presidential race for the white house, appears to have the full backing of the ruling democratic party. The US Pacific state of Hawaii is one electorate in that presidential race. Former state senator from Hawaii, Will Espero, gives his perspective.

Tourism numbers are down in Vanuatu during what should be the peak holiday season. Businesses and communities reliant on tourist dollars say it's a catastrophe, and are blaming the recent liquidation of Air Vanuatu. There are hopes the government can deliver on a plan to get the national carrier flying again.

The prow from an ancient Samoan war canoe taken during the Samoan Civil War in 1888 and stored in a German museum, has finally been returned to its homeland. 

It's estimated Elon Musk's Starlink now has more than 6,000 satellites beaming internet around the globe, and while supporters of the technology say it will have clear benefits for the Pacific Islands, many governments are yet to grant it a license. 

Over the weekend, the Flying Fijians, took on the mighty All Blacks in San Diego. The match saw a good turnout of both Fijian and New Zealand rugby fans.

It's estimated Elon Musk's Starlink now has more than 6,000 satellites beaming internet around the globe, and while supporters of the technology say it will have clear benefits for the Pacific Islands, many governments are yet to grant it a license.

Guam celebrated Liberation day on July 21, marking eighty years since the US territory was liberated from Imperial Japan in the Second World War.

Some say Samoa has the most beautiful villages in the Pacific, and many Samoans attribute this pride in appearance to an annual beautification competition.

New Zealand beat New Caledonia 4-0 in the OFC U-19 Men's Championship, but both teams had already claimed the real prize.

Tonga Rugby Union has appointed Aisea 'Aholelei as its long-term CEO after serving as the interim chief for several months.

Three Papua New Guinea Taekwondo Olympic athletes are looking to punch above expectations in Paris.

Some fifteen hundred athletes made it to the Micronesian Games, but the Chairman of the Organising Committee says it could have been more.

Close to 35,000 are expected to turn-up to watch the Flying Fijians take on the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday.

Papua New Guinea's junior NRL academies will face off in a nationally televised tournament to determine which region holds the most talent.

The third and final game of the state of origin series was watched across Papua New Guinea. ABC correspondent Belinda Koro took to the streets of Goroko to talk to passionate fans who followed the game.

'Lai Tei Dalo Ko Tamaqu' is a 150-year-old Fijian nursery rhyme that's steeped in history. It's the inspiration for 'Butakoci', a Fijian dance production that looks at the history of blackbirding, when people from neighbouring Pacific islands were kidnapped or coerced into working on plantations in Fiji.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape stopped over in Indonesia while on he was on his way to Tokyo for the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting. He met and signed a number of trade agreements with President Joko Widodo. It's the latest of a number of meetings between Marape and the Government of Indonesia over the last three years, reflecting a growing relationship.

The leader of independent MPs in Solomon Islands is demanding the country's prime minister provide more information about a budget rescue package from China.

Member nations of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, are calling on the French government to allow an joint UN mission to visit New Caledonia and assess the political and socio-economic situation.

Things are going from bad to worse for Vanuatu's tourism industry which is supposed to be enjoying its busiest period of the year. First Air Vanuatu was placed into liquidation in May, now one of the three domestic charter operators, Air Taxi, has had its operator’s licence suspended following a crash of one of its planes.

Member nations of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, are calling on the French government to allow a joint UN mission to visit New Caledonia and assess the political and socio-economic situation.

Vanuatu's Civil Aviation Authority says it's awaiting an independent investigation to examine the plane crash that resulted in the death of a passenger on Monday.

The deadline for the repayment of a $119 million US-dollar loan from China is nearing. It's been on the Tonga government's books for almost 15 years, 

It's been described as a millstone hanging around Tonga's neck. A $119 million U-S-dollar loan from China, that has been sitting on the Tongan government's books for almost 15 year years. 

Leaders from 18 Pacific Island countries are in Tokyo for the Pacific Leaders Meeting. The tri-annual event, which acts as a forum between the Japanese Government and its Pacific Island neighbours, is an opportunity for Japan to hold direct discussions with its donor recipients in the region.

Local media and social justice groups in Fiji are reporting increasing cases of meth, heroin and cocaine use, including among children. 

Residents of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea say their hopeful the government's lifting of a moratorium on development will re-invigorate the town and see former residents return. 

Fiji and Papua New Guinea are continuing calls for the United Nations to send a mission to New Caledonia to investigate the situation on the ground. 

The drama and controversy surrounding the US presidential election took a dark turn over the weekend with the attempted assassination of Republican party candidate Donald Trump.

Pacific leaders are in Japan this week for the 10th Pacific Island Leaders meeting. Among them are the prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, who only completed state visits to China last week. 

As the US presidential election rage between Biden and Trump gains momentum, the suitability of either candidate continues to be a key concern among Americans. For a Pacific perspective of the U-S presidential race, we spoke Patrick Ti'a Reid Chairman of the American Samoa Democratic Party. 

Hidden beneath the waves of Micronesia's Chuuk Lagoon is an underwater realm like no other. Fifty-five WW2 shipwrecks lay amid beautiful and diverse coral reefs, making it a drawcard for scuba divers from all over the world. 

Pacific leaders are in Japan this week for the 10th Pacific Island Leaders meeting, which commenced today. The tri-annual event acts as a forum between the Japanese Government and it's Pacific Island neighbours. 

Vanuatu's government says Air Vanuatu will resume its domestic flights by the end of this month. Finance Minister John Salong says flights will start up again ahead of Independence Day on July 30, almost three months after the company went into voluntary liquidation. 

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele wrapped up his tour of China with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. 

Like the rest of the world, the tourism industry in Cook Islands was hammered by the border closures of the COVID pandemic,

When two Samoan seasonal workers died recently in a road accident in Australia, their families back home found out through pictures and videos posted on social media.

When Tuvalu's only patrol boat was damaged in a cyclone last year, the Pacific nation's 900,000 square kilometre EEZ was left vulnerable to trespass and illegal fishing.

Marshall Islands are set to play their first competitive soccer match of any description when they take on FSM and Kiribati for the Outrigger Futsal Cup in Majuro.

Tonga Rugby's new head coach Tevita Tu'ifua is keen to develop the Ikale Tahi on home soil by drawing on players from the islands, and from Moana Pasifika.

Solomon Islands are one win away from securing a place at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup for the first time, with most likely Samoa or New Caledonia standing in their way. 

Vanuatu's Ajah Pritchard Lolo all set to add the Olympic Games to her resume, after securing a precious place in the weightlifting competition through the IOC's universality programme. 

She has the numbers - Oceania's Mr Weightlifting, Paul Coffa, believes his star pupil Eileen Cikamatana can get the job done and strike gold at the Paris Olympics.   

Tonga Rugby's new men's head coach wants to develop the team on home soil, but the door stays open for heritage players ready to make the switch to the Ikale Tahi.

The National University of Samoa are celebrating forty years of success with the signing of a five year partnership with the University of Auckland to ensure effective pathways for tertiary success for Sāmoan students.

French Polynesia's pro-Independence party, Tavini Huiraatira, lost two of its three MPs during France's recent snap election. Pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says despite the loss, there remains international pressure for France to give up its colonies.

Three-thousand men, women and children living in a settlement outside Port Moresby, will soon be displaced after losing a long legal battle to stay on the land where they've built their homes. 

The Australian government is extending its snakebite partnership with Papua New Guinea. It will see global vaccine provider CSL Seqirus provide a yearly donation of 600 vials of Australian-made antivenom and training to PNG health staff. St John Ambulance will train healthcare workers and distribute anti-venoms to more than 65 healthcare clinics.

Kiribati's government is defending its support for the re-election campaign of the International Seabed Authority's Secretary-General, Michael Lodge, after reports his opponent was offered a job to drop out of the race. 

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape has appointed five new Cabinet Members replacing ministers who defected last month, during a failed attempt by the opposition to stage a no confidence motion.

Australia's treasurer, Jim Chalmers, told Pacific leaders at the inaugural Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane yesterday, they can "bank on" his country to help prevent a reduction in banking services.

A community advocacy group in Papua New Guinea is calling for greater transparency on how government funds are being spent in the community. ACT Now says while funding for district development authorities has increased, the quality of services have not improved.

A group of village boys in the Guadalcanal, took part in a dramatic rescue after an open boat sank off shore.

Hawai'i has banned seabed mining after Governor Josh Green signed a landmark bill on Tuesday that he says will protect vulnerable ecosystems.

Australia's treasurer, Jim Chalmers, told Pacific leaders at the inaugural Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane yesterday, they can "bank on" his country to help prevent a reduction in banking services.

Australia's Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says his country is at risk of being grey listed by the Financial Action Task Force, because it's failing to meet global standards in combating money laundering and terrorism finance.

Nine former FijiFirst MPs have pledged their allegiance to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, although they will remain in opposition as independent MPs.

After several weeks of violence and unrest sparked by proposed voting reforms, pro-independence leaders in New Caledonia are hoping to have a French government that’s more sympathetic to their cause. It's taken 38 years for a Kanak MP to be elected into the French National Assembly. While there’s optimism among pro-independence supporters about their MP Emmanuel Tjibaou, there’s also concern about how he will be welcomed by the various political factions in Paris. 

After several weeks of violence and unrest sparked by proposed voting reforms, pro-independence leaders in New Caledonia are hoping to have a French government that’s more sympathetic to their cause. 

For thousands of Pacific Islanders working in Australia, sending money home every pay day is a normal part of their routine, but it comes at a cost as remittance fees are charged with every transfer.

For the first time in 38 years, New Caledonia has elected a Kanak candidate into the French National Assembly. Emmanuel Tjibaou won one of two seats up for grabs in yesterday's election, with loyalist candidate Nicholas Medtzdorf winning the other.

Pacific Island workers in Australia earn thousands of dollars in superannuation — money they hope will help fund a better life for them and their families back home. But many face obstacles to claiming their superannuation, such as delays, language barriers and lack of internet access. It's causing frustration for many Pacific Island seasonal workers. 

Forty-six years since Solomon Islands became an independent nation, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says while the county has been confronted with challenges, it's also enjoyed successes like the hosting of last year's Pacific Games.

Dugongs were once a common sight around Vanuatu's Efate island. Now they are rarely seen, and conservationists are calling for a study to find out exactly how many still roam the waters of Vanuatu. 

For the first time in 38 years, New Caledonia has elected a Kanak candidate into the French National Assembly. Emmanuel Tjibaou won one of two seats up for grabs in yesterday's election, with loyalist candidate Nicholas Medtzdorf winning the other.

Weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana is keen to send her coach and mentor Paul Coffa off to a golden retirement by taking out the 81kg category at the Olympic Games.  

Manu Samoa's new coach Mahonri Schwalger faces a tough challenge the first time out against an Italian side fresh from their best-ever season in Europe's Six Nations Championship 

The secretary of the biggest of Fiji's domestic rugby unions, Suva, says he wants to see the national body put years of poor governance behind it, reclaim its seat on the World Rugby Council, and learn to stand on its own two financial feet.

Getting the squad you want where you want them - still the biggest task facing the coaches of the premier national rugby union teams in the Pacific. 

This week’s internet services to the Tongan islands of Va'vau and Ha'apai were severely disrupted forcing internet providers to switch over to satellite internet. 

Papua New Guinea has taken a historic step in appointing the first woman president of the country's Olympic Committee. Emma Waiwai has been involved in sports in PNG for 40 years starting off with playing basketball in her youth as well as being a sports administrator.

A new Presidential Palace and a gleaming new Ministry of Finance Building have become the latest additions to Port Vila's landscape. The buildings are gifts from the Chinese government and were handed over this week to the Vanuatu government. It’s sparked concerns over the maintenance of the building and weather there’s reciprocity attached.

Fiji's Law Society wants John Rabuku to resign following a decision by the country's Supreme Court, disqualifying his appointment in regards to professional misconduct. It says John Rabuku needs to resign to demonstrate that his office respects the laws of Fiji and the courts constituted under those laws.

In New Caledonia, all eyes will be on the ballot box this weekend, with the second round of the French national elections being held. Pro-independence advocates in New Caledonia have set their sights on getting not one but two representatives elected into the French National Assembly.

Fiji's Law Society has called for the resignation of the Acting Director of Public Prosecution to resign following a decision by the country's Supreme Court, disqualifying his appointment in regards to professional misconduct.

The fallout from the deregistration of the FijiFirst Party is being felt across the political arena, with the party now under the threat of total dissolution.

Organisers and participants of a shark calling festival in Papua New Guinea's New Ireland Province are hoping to spark interest among the younger generation. 

There are fresh warnings that more landslides could hit Enga Province. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people are running out of food and essential supplies in Porgera Valley with mountains of debris cutting off the main road into the area.

The Pacific representative on the Commonwealth Students Association says young people need help to overcome their cultural reluctance to speak out on issues affecting them.

Papua New Guinean film Black Python, which made its history-making premiere at the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Honolulu last month, has been touted as the country's first-ever locally-made action crime drama.

In Tuvalu, public consultations are underway to discuss the Falepili Union agreement with Australia. Under the arrangement, 300 Tuvaluans can permanently resettle in Australia every year, and in return, Australia has a say in the country's security agreements. 

There are fresh warnings that more landslides could hit Enga Province. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people are running out of food and essential supplies in Porgera Valley with mountains of debris cutting off the main road into the area.

Fiji’s largest political party has been de-registered. The jailing of its leader followed by an attempt by the party executive to sack 17 of its MPs, led to its eventual collapse.

New Caledonia is on track to having a pro-independence MP voted into the lower house of the French parliament following a massive voter turnout in the first week of the French snap election. Results show pro-independence candidate Emmanuel Tjibaou leading by 44% in the rural constituency, well ahead of pro-France candidate Alcide Ponga who claimed 36% of the vote. 

Last Friday, New Celebrated Matariki Day. It marks the Māori new year and was established as a holiday in 2022 after years of advocacy. 

Preparations for a major taro festival, held once every  two decades, is underway on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu.

Fiji's largest political party has been deregistered just weeks after it attempted to sack more than a dozen of its own MPs. 

The first round results of French Parliament elections show that pro-independence candidates could win both constituencies in New Caledonia. Meanwhile, there are reports that protesters blocked a polling station during voting in the capital Noumea.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has reiterated his country's ties with China on his return home from Australia.

Over 10,000 local fans turned up at Port Vila's Fresh Wota Stadium to see if Vanuatu  could make the most of  its home advantage in  the OFC's Nations Cup.

The Samoan community in the Australian state of Victoria are mourning the death of two seasonal workers in a mini-bus crash last week.

Tonga Netball's CEO Salote Sisifa says the Tala almost pulled out of the recent PacificAus Sports series because of clubs' refusal to release players.

Some say it's only a matter of time before PNG's bid to join the NRL gets the nod, but the CEO of the rival bid from Fiji says they have everything in place and don't need government money to get off the ground.   

Vanuatu's Jesta Toka still with eyes on a career in AFLW as she continues to impress in NSW 

Tonga Netball's CEO is calling for a rethink of the PacificAus Sports series after the Tala were almost forced to pull out because key players including their captain were denied the chance to represent their country.  

A new study has found the construction of a large archaeological site in Samoa began approximately 900 to 600 years ago and signified the rise of a hierarchical society.

In Vanuatu, there's a political buzz in the air, with MPs rushing to declare their political allegiance by September as the deadline looms for new, stricter political regulations.

The poultry industry in Papua New Guinea is urging the government and businesses involved in importing poultry to work together to stop Avian influenza, or bird flu, from entering the country.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

There's been much debate over the years about how rugby's league state of origin came to be. But now, a new discovery has found the first ever series between NSW and Queensland might actually have taken place in Papua New Guinea at the end of the second world war.

The future of Julian Assange will be decided in the Northern Marianas when he appears before a court today in Saipan. 

Security, labour mobility and budget support will be on the table when the leaders of Solomon Islands and Australia meet today in Canberra. 

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Books on Papua New Guinea's history rarely document the experiences of Papua New Guineans themselves before colonisation, but a new book by PNG writer Paul Puri Nii shares his family's history going back almost a hundred years.

The head of anti-corruption group, Transparency Solomon Islands, is urging Prime Minister Jeremiah Menele to put more money into fighting corruption.

Solomon Islands' new Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is in Australia on his first state visit since taking office, with a meeting with his counterpart Anthony Albanese on the cards.

Violence has flared up in New Caledonia after pro-independence activists charged with organising last month's deadly protests were deported to France. 

Researchers in Papua New Guinea say the sharing of violent and gruesome images on social media is accelerating conflict and inciting violence.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

A new study has found that sexually transmitted diseases (STD) is a common factor for low birth weight rates in Papua New Guinea.

Every year, close to one thousand students drop out of Vanuatu's school system. Overcrowding in classrooms and poor-quality teaching have been blamed for the high drop -out rate. 

A major salvage operation is underway in Fiji's Lau waters to recover the patrol boat Puamau, which remains stuck on a reef near the small island of Fulaga. 

The Micronesian Games kicked up a gear over the weekend with people in the Marshall Islands turning out in big numbers. 

It’s been years in the making: a new agreement that allows the people of eastern Solomon Islands free movement into Vanuatu's Torba Province.

The Pacific is home to enigmatic archaeological sites from the ancient city ruins of Nan Mandol on Pohnpei Island to the ancient Pyramids of Tonga, but only a handful have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Media headlines in Australia have been awash with coverage of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's plan to build seven nuclear reactors should his party win the next election. 

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Host nation Marshall Islands are aiming for a big finish at the Micronesian Games as they look to close the gap on Nauru and CNMI at the top of medal table  

Ben Gollings has told Pacific Beat that his dismissal as head coach of the Fiji rugby sevens team was unjust. He says he had to contend with constant interference in his work and was not given the support he requested

English coach David Jones says he has opted out of leading American Samoa national men's team because there was no meeting of minds on the best strategy for their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.  

Fiji's Roy Krishna out to make history, as Papua New Guinea and Tahiti eye off the last remaining place in the OFC Nations Cup semi-finals.

Australian media hype suggesting PNG's push  to join the NRL is a done deal is wide of the mark,  but Andrew Hill, CEO of the PNG bid team says the go ahead may be only months away.

Convicted Australian entrepreneur, Andrew Spira, says he would gladly give up his Vanuatu passport, adding he doesn't plan to be in the country beyond the end of the year. It comes amidst backlash over why he has been granted citizenship.

Australia's opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has many in the Pacific concerned after pledging to replace Australia's renewable energy policy with nuclear power.

Kava is a major cash crop in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu but in other parts of Melanesia where it is not traditionally consumed, the intoxicating crop is now rousing the interest of farmers looking to export it to overseas markets.

Vanuatu's Citizenship Commission says convicted Australian entrepreneur cleared the necessary checks before he was granted citizenship and given a Vanuatu passport.

On the streets of Nuku'alofa, the rush is on to complete two hundred container houses to  provide much needed accommodation for this year's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, to be held in August.

Japan worried pacific island leaders last year when it released treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. But now it's Australia's opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who is raising eyebrows in the Pacific after pledging to replace Australia's renewable energy policy with nuclear power.

The upcoming Olympic surfing event at the famous Tahitian surf spot Teahupo'o, will be one of the biggest events in the territory's history.

Fiji’s Rainbow community is celebrating Pride Month. Official celebrations launching Pride Month started last week and will continue well into July.

A new treatment soon to be rolled out in Papua New Guinea promises to be a game changer in dealing with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Students in Vanuatu are now back in school after the Vanuatu Teacher’s Union called off a nationwide strike, after an agreement was reached with government. 

Anti-nuclear advocates in Guam say despite a recent setback in the US Senate, they'll be pushing for compensation for people who were exposed to deadly radiation during nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Eighteen-year-old Tongan athlete Jackson James Rice (JJ) passed away over the weekend following a diving accident in in Ha'apai.

Guamanian triathlete and Olympian-to-be, Manami Iijima, says she wants to inspire young athletes in Guam and the Pacific.

A well-known Samoan poet and novelist Sia Figiel (57) has aplogised in court over the death of academic Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard (78) - the aunt of US politician Tulsi Gabbard. 

The head of Fiji’s Military, Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, has announced an independent inquiry into the grounding of the patrol boat Puamau to identify the reasons behind the calamity. 

Lifting the tapu - or taboo - is the theme of a new Pacific art project in Mount Druitt in Western Sydney that references themes of mental health challenges and displacement.

An important meeting between pro-independence parties in New Caledonia has been postponed, prompting speculations of division within the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front movement (FLNKS). 

Tonga's government has announced a 575 million Australian dollar national budget over the next year, half of which is funded by foreign donors. 

An important meeting between pro-independence parties in New Caledonia has been postponed, prompting speculations of division within the independence movement.

FestPAC delegations in Hawaii are exhibiting their final performances as the event comes to a close. For the hosts, the festival has been an opportunity to display native Hawaiian culture and highlight efforts in cultural preservation.

All parents know the daily challenge of organising school lunches, which has become even more expensive in the face of inflation.

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China may be warming, but Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the contest for influence in the Pacific is far from over.

It's a unique mix of conventional and unconventional sports and a chance for the smallest nations and states in the Pacific to shine — the Micronesian Games 2024 hosted by Marshall Islands. 

Majuro set to welcome some two thousand athletes, as Marshall Islands takes on hosting duties for the Micronesian Games for the first time since the event began back in 1969.

Oceania Weightlifting's head coach Paul Coffa says there are still too many drug cheats in the sport. If they were gone, he says athletes from the Pacific could be world-beaters. 

Back for the first time since 2016, the OFC Nations Cup will kick off with a bang as Solomon Islands take on host nation Vanuatu in a match labelled by both coaches as a knock-out game. 

In Vanuatu, more than half of voters have endorsed a proposal to change the constitution and bring about political stability, but for many communities, there's uncertainty about what impact it will have on their lives.

The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture concludes this week in Hawaii.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape last week survived yet another push to hold a no-confidence vote against him, with the process now in the hands of the country's supreme court.

The mammoth task of resettling thousands of people displaced by the Enga landslide is underway following a geological assessment of the disaster site.

In Vanuatu, more than half of voters have endorsed a proposal to change the constitution and bring about political stability. It’s the result of a historical referendum that was announced yesterday evening, but for many communities, there's uncertainty about what impact it will have on their lives.

It's been a tumultuous week in Fiji politics with the leaders of country's largest party, Fiji First, resigning from office. 

Boosting the economy is the focus of the Solomon Islands Government’s new 100 day strategy.

An Australian donated Fiji navy patrol boat, RFNS Puamau, has run aground while on its first mission. It's stranded on the small island of Fulaga in Fiji's remote Lau group of islands. 

An Australian made Fiji navy patrol boat, RFNS Puamau, has run aground while on its maiden journey. It's stranded on the small island of Fulaga in Fiji's remote Lau group of islands.

An advisor to the Vanuatu government says the European Commission is pushing through with a suspension of its visa-waiver program with the Pacific country despite concessions made by the government.

President Emmanuel Macron has called a snap election in France, but it's unclear what impact this will have on New Caledonia and proposed changes to the territory's electoral role.

Bougainville's president and senior leaders are in Solomon Islands as part of consultations on a draft constitution, and are speaking with the Bougainvillean community there.

A contemporary performance by Fijian dancers at the opening ceremony of FestPAC, has triggered critics, who say the performance was inappropriate.

Tonga’s 44-strong delegation to FestPAC, captivated audiences when they entered their stage with a 30-meter long tapa cloth.

Vanuatu's Electoral Commission has deferred its announcement of the results of the country's constitutional referendum because of what it calls "mismatches" in polling data.

Vanuatu's Electoral Commission has deferred its announcement of the results of the country's constitutional referendum because of what it calls "mismatches" in polling data. Voting started a fortnight ago with people choosing whether or not to support constitutional amendments aimed at improving political stability.

Delegates at the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Hawaii have put the spotlight on New Caledonia's Kanak people, in the wake of violent riots that rocked the French territory last month. 

Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister, Matai Seremaiah, says a deal inked with Air Nauru will help restore domestic and international flights to the country.

P&O Cruises Australia is the largest provider of cruises into the Pacific. But as of March next year, the company says it'll be folding its operation into Carnival Cruise Line.

Fiji's once-dominant political party FijiFirst looks to be on the verge of dissolving following the resignations of several key figures. 

Unknown areas of the Pacific Ocean may be uncovered as part of a new expedition to map unsurveyed sea floors.

More than a thousand school teachers have gone on strike in Vanuatu in protest of unpaid entitlements. Half of all public schools in the country have been closed since last Friday, and students have been told to stay at home. 

It's a pivotal day in Vanuatu's history with the results of a historical referendum to be announced later today. The referendum - which took place on May 29 – is aimed at getting public endorsement for changes to the constitution to bring about political stability. 

As Fiji's authorities battle a major drugs crisis, the government has announced a reset of its police force. The changes backed by Australia are aimed at rooting out corruption and restoring integrity in Fiji's law enforcement.

As the response to the Enga landslide in Papua New Guinea enters a third week, the humanitarian effort is turning its focus towards helping vulnerable people traumatised by the disaster. 

It's a pivotal day in Vanuatu's history with the results of a historical referendum to be announced later today. The referendum - which took place on May 29 - is aimed at getting public endorsement for changes to the constitution to bring about political stability. 

An artist is paying tribute to Nauru and other parts of the Pacific in a major exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney.

Eight Papua New Guinea cadets have been participating in a new training initiative with Townsville police in North Queensland. 

It's been a sea of colour at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawaii, with Pacific Island dance and culture on full display.

The Fijian Drua have won just once away from  home in their first three seasons, but older and wiser now, coach Mick Byrne believes they can find a way past the Blues in the last eight.

There may be lessons to be learned post-games, but first impressions of new look Oceania Athletics championships are good.

It's been a long wait, but for the first time in many years American Samoa is playing host to major regional tournament, in the form of Pacific Nations Cup tennis.   

Head Coach  Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork has worked out a careful strategy to take the best of Samoa's talented young weight-lifters all the way to the top. 

She's already made waves at junior level, and now Fiji's Nina Nakula is set for her senior international debut at the PacificAus Netball series, as the Pearls strive to topple Tonga Tala. 

The largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Island culture commences today in Hawaii.

Australia's foreign affairs minister penny Wong is in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara today, visiting the country's newly-elected prime minister Jeremiah Manele.

Papua New Guinea opposition MPs are infuriated after their motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape, was disallowed from progressing because of a "paper work error".

Papua New Guinea opposition MPs are infuriated after their motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape, was disallowed from progressing because of a "paper work error".

Researchers say Tonga's massive Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption in January 2022 may be behind unusual weather patterns around the world.

Families across the Pacific huddled around televisions last night as game one of the 2024 men's rugby league state of origin kicked off in Sydney. 

The bold plan that saw Niue ban commercial fishing and place a protection on close to half of its ocean territory has been documented in a new film from National Geographic.

Nauru's former President Baron Waqa was welcomed this week as the new head of the Pacific Islands Forum. Waqa's appointment as Secretary General looks to heal a rift between Forum member nations and Micronesian countries who walked out of the body in 2021, following the appointment of Henry Puna. Waqa's appointment means an early exit for Puna who  misses a second term in office.

The Australian Defence Vessel, Reliant, visited Tonga this week, to support Tonga with it's disaster response preparations and relief needs.

Not seen or heard in their natural habitat for decades, Guam kingfisher birds will soon be released onto Palmyra Atoll, one of few areas in the world that are free of land predators.

Researchers say two populations in Papua New Guinea have genetically adapted to environments with low oxygen and high rates of malaria respectively.

Nauru's former President Baron Waqa was welcomed this week as the new head of the Pacific Islands Forum. 

This week, Samoa marks its 62nd anniversary as an independent state. Celebrations for this year's anniversary, however, have been scaled down following a decision by the government to only hold grand celebrations every five years.

The counting of votes has started for Vanuatu's first national referendum. It seeks to amend the constitution to bring about political stability by tying MPs down to political parties.

Richard Bong was known as the ace of aces and is considered by many to be America's greatest fighter pilot in WWII, but his plane crashed in PNG. Now, after 80 years, it has been found.

The fallout from the FijiFirst party's decision to terminate 17 of its MPs for backing a pay rise in parliament continues, but a number of the MPs have challenged the legality of the decision. 

This week Samoa marks 62 years of independence. Celebrations haven been scaled down from previous years, following a decision by Government to only hold grand celebrations every five years.

Every year, thousands of men and women from the Pacific region travel to Australia and New Zealand to work on farms, meat factories, and other industries.

With law and order being restored to Noumea, French security forces are under scrutiny for their treatment of Kanaks.

More than ten days after a deadly landslide hit Enga Province, sticks and shovels are still being used to dig up the bodies of loved ones buried under rubble.

There's resentment among many Pasifika politicians about the direction of their Government. New Zealand's ruling National Party has promised massive cuts to the public sector. 

One of the Australian government's biggest diplomatic efforts to develop closer relations with the Pacific starts today with the opening of the Pacific Engagement Visa. 

Australia's Pacific Engagement Visa commences today with the goal of offering visas to three thousand applicants from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Lest. The visa process which requires an employment offer, a medical assessment and proof the applicant can support themselves in Australia for a year.

Vanuatu's Finance Minister John Salong says the government will not be a major shareholder in any future airline. 

One of Australia's biggest diplomatic efforts to develop closer relations with the Pacific starts today with the opening of the Pacific Engagement Visa. It will allows 3,000 Pacific Islanders to permanently settle in Australia every year. 

Preserving the traditional stories and fables of First Nations people from around the globe is the focus of the First Nations Writers Festival in Townsville.

Manu Samoa will be among eight teams battling for just four available places in the World Rugby 7s Series for next season at the new look end of season tournament in Madrid.  

The Oceania Athletics championships in Fiji will be the biggest and most comprehensive the Pacific has ever seen, and they'll reach a bigger TV audience than ever before. 

Kaiviti Silktails to dangle the carrot of competing against the NRL's top young players, as a way to entice the cream of Fiji's young talent to take up rugby league.

Fijiana have a season of Super Rugby behind them, and two matches at the Oceania Championships compared to Manusina's one, but the Samoans believe the culture of their team will help them retain their crown. 

This week, Tonga's Parliament held its first national debate and consultation on whether the capital punishment should be imposed in order to address the Kingdom's drug crisis.

Many legal experts says introducing the death penalty for drug offences in Tonga would do little to dampen drug trafficking, which they say will require a regional effort.

Yesterday, the people of Vanuatu began voting in a National Referendum to amend the constitution and remove political instability. The referendum comes after multiple changes in Government from votes of no confidence. There were three vote of no confidences held in the space of two years.

There is public discontent in Fiji after the country’s parliament voted to approve the recommendations of a parliamentary sub-committee to significantly increase the pay of MPs and Government.

The number of dead and missing in last week’s devastating landslide, is still being established by authorities with estimates ranging from 162 to as high as 2,000. Relief efforts have been complicated by logistical challenges such as the remoteness of villages as well as by concerns of further landslides, with locals being encouraged to evacuate the area.

In an era where Pacific languages are endangered and cultural knowledge gaps are widening, social enterprises like Pacific Kids' Learning are attempting to revitalise and strengthen cultural knowledge and identity in young people.

Humanitarian aid has begun flowing into Enga province with a number of Australian and New Zealand aid teams set to arrive in the disaster zone today. Among the task force arriving are geological experts from Australia and New Zealand, who will conduct a study of the disaster zone. It comes as authorities raise questions over the death toll with local government officials disputing figures put out by the national government.

Humanitarian aid has begun flowing into Papua New Guinea's Enga province with a number of Australian and New Zealand aid teams set to arrive in the disaster zone today. Among the task force arriving are geological experts from Australia and New Zealand, who will conduct a study of the disaster zone.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Despite spending thousands of dollars to stop the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Vanuatu, the government has confirmed the spread of the pest to the outer islands.

In Vanuatu, writers are being encouraged to describe how important the ocean is to people's lives in the Pacific through storytelling.

An exceptionally rare 19th-century Fijian "Bulibuli" war club has shown up in an auction club in the UK.

Sixteen MPs from the opposition Fiji First party are still in office despite supporting a government move to raise the salaries of parliamentarians. It’s a defiance of party orders to oppose the motion.

The pro-independence FLNKS party in New Caledonia says a referendum on electoral reforms proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron would further destabilise the territory.

Tonga's parliament is debating whether capital punishment should be imposed to curb the Kingdom's drug crisis.

Papua New Guinea’s government has warned the death toll from Friday's landslide in Enga province could rise dramatically.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck Tonga yesterday caused a lot of alarm but no damages or injury. The epicentre of the quake was located 70 kilometres off Tongatapu.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The mysterious uninhabited  island of Tetepare in the Solomon Islands is home to an undisturbed ecosystem of forests and wildlife. 

The UN's International Organisation for Migration says approximately 670 are presumed dead as a result of a landslide that devastated the village of Kaokalam in Enga Province. Authorities say landslides are still continuing in the area, as locals work around the clock to retrieve bodies buried beneath the debris.

A decision by Fiji's parliament to approve a 130 per cent salary increase for MPs has been met with public unease. Local media have reported a mostly negative reaction from members of the public. 

The UN's International Organisation for Migration says approximately 670 are presumed dead as a result of a landslide that devastated the village of Kaokalam in Enga Province. Authorities say landslides are still continuing in the area, as locals work around the clock to retrieve bodies buried beneath the debris.

As Marshall Islands plot a path to fielding a national soccer team for the first time, documentary cameras will be with them to capture every twist and turn along the way.

President Macron of France says there is no consensus on a political way forward in New Caledonia, and he's warning that dialogue can only resume when the road blocks in and around Noumea are taken down.  

With a side that's packed with Super Rugby experience, Fijiana are primed for a run at the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship and a world cup place next year. 

The feel-good sports story of the week has to be Samoa's under-19 women's cricket team, who have become the first side from their country at any age group, male or female, to qualify for a World Cup finals series.

Home town support could be the difference as Pirae go in search of a first OFC Champions League title against perennial winners Auckland City. 

The recent evacuation of 40 Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers from a Tasmanian home is just the latest case of Pacific Labourers facing housing problems. 

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Caledonia this morning in a bid to restore peace to the territory.

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in New Caledonia in a bid to restore peace to the territory.

Pacific environmental groups have praised an advisory opinion by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea that greenhouse gases are an ocean pollutant.

The discovery of ancient artefacts on Timor-Leste could change what scientists understand about the early migration routes of people to Australia.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was in Solomon Islands yesterday, announcing $50 million in funding for a new border management system and urban health centre.

New Zealand's Fresh Movement Collective are bringing their dance theatre MĀUI to the Sydney Opera House for an Australian premiere tour this August.

After being stuck in Australia and New Zealand for more than a week, many seasonal workers from Vanuatu are on their way home following the collapse of their national airline, Air Vanuatu.

French President Emmanuel Macron and three ministers will visit New Caledonia after an outbreak of violence in the territory over proposed electoral reforms.

The Law of the Sea court in Hamburg, has stated that greenhouse gases can be considered to be marine pollution, and has handed it down an advisory opinion on the obligations of countries to combat climate change.

As the unrest in New Caledonia continues, Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu has become the latest high-profile Pacific leader to raise concerns about the rights of the Kanak people.

French President Emmanuel Macron is travelling to New Caledonia a week after the French territory was gripped by violence. His visit comes as Australia and New Zealand conducted the first of several expected repatriation flights to evacuate tourists.

Fiji's Home Affairs Minister,  Pio Tikoduadua, says he's interested in re-establishing the country's own dedicated intelligence service to help fight trans-national criminal organisations.

Air Vanuatu's voluntary liquidation has left hundreds of seasonal workers across Australia and New Zealand stranded many waiting to fly home. 

As countries around the world celebrated World Bee Day this week, so too did Kelly Inae in Papua New Guinea.

Australia and New Zealand are making preparations to repatriate their citizens from New Caledonia. France's High Commission in New Caledonia says it's regained control of the main road leading to Noumea's international airport.

Australia and New Zealand are preparing to repatriate their citizens in New Caledonia after French authorities cleared a vital highway connecting the capital Noumea to the international airport.

The Pacific Conference of Churches is expressing its concern about the welfare of Kanaks as the French military conducts operations to restore order in New Caledonia.

As a security crackdown takes place in New Caledonia, Amnesty International is calling on the French government to respect the human rights of indigenous Kanaks.

In Tonga, tapa cloth is an integral part of the kingdom's culture. It's a lucrative product in Tonga, but many fear the market is being taken over by fake tapa imported from Indonesia.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says it will meet with the World Intellectual Property Office in Geneva later this month in a bid to secure international legal protections for kava.

Pacific dances, songs and cultural understanding is what children learn at Busby public school in south-western Sydney.

As a security crackdown takes place in New Caledonia, Amnesty International is calling on the French government to respect the human rights of Kanaks. Up to a thousand French security personnel are in New Caledonia as authorities attempt to restore law and order.

Pacific rivals Samoa and Tonga could find themselves locked into an eight-team battle for four coveted places in the World Rugby 7s series Top 12 next season.

Rival factions in New Caledonia are talking in an effort to put a stop to violent protests on the streets of Noumea, meanwhile constitutional changes that provoked the rioting are yet to complete their passage through the French political system. 

Rewa FC coach Rodeck Singh says the gap between New Zealand clubs and the island teams at the OFC Champions League is closing, as he targets a semi-final place for his Fijian team.  

Barramundis' head coach Tatenda Taibu says the PNG men's cricket team have the talent to rise to test match status, and he is determined to lead them there.

New Caledonia's pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front party is calling for peace and an end to riots in the territory. At least three have been killed and France has declared a state of emergency that will last 12 days.

There is optimism that a welfare pledge from Australia's Federal government will uplift people hard hit by a cost of living crisis.

There are concerns over the harmful effects that social media can have on young girls in Tonga.

New Caledonia's government is calling for calm following political riots from pro-independence supporters, which has seen businesses torched, police injured and dozens arrested.

New Caledonia's government is calling for calm following political riots which has seen businesses torched, police injured and dozens arrested.

Australia's aid budget in the Pacific will exceed $2 billion following last night's federal budget announcement.

The collapse of Vanuatu's national carrier, Air Vanuatu, is being felt across the country, particularly in the health and tourism sectors.

Many remain stranded following the voluntary liquidation of Air Vanuatu, including over a dozen Australian student volunteers on Tanna Island and a number of Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers in Australia.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

A public health medical officer for the Ministry of Health in Tonga, Dr Patelisio Na'a Patelisio, says Post Traumatic Stress Disorder continues to be a problem in Tonga.

Today, 14 May, marks Girmit Remembrance Day in Fiji, a commemoration of the day the first Indian indentured labourers arrived in British-administered Fiji in 1879. 

Hundreds of travellers are still stranded as Vanuatu's national carrier, Air Vanuatu, went into liquidation last week, with the Australian firm Ernst & Young appointed as the airline's administrator. 

Data from a research on the exposure to pollution in Solomon Islands has found that school children are exposed to levels of smoke and dust particles that are higher than safe levels recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Bonitos' first choice goalkeeper Philip Mango is stepping to one side for now, as he looks to build his coaching credentials

Kapuls' head coach Warren Moon wants to see a full scale restructure of soccer in PNG and a greater emphasis on high performance. But in the short term he could turn to heritage players based overseas to lift the team out of the doldrums.   

Long-time OFC Champions League kings Auckland City can expect a tough battle in this season's finals in Tahiti.

Both Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua are still in contention for Super Rugby finals places, but while the Drua will fancy their chances of completing a double over Western Force, Moana face a tough outing against the Chiefs at Mount Smart. 

International AFL will return to the region in November with the launch of the Pacific Cup. The focus will be on young talent coming through the AFL's academies in the islands, and right now the rules won't allow PNG's first home grown AFL professional, Ace Oea, to play for them in the new tournament. 

Fiji's former Prime Minister and military strongman Frank Bainimarama will be sentenced today for perverting the course of justice.

Fiji's military strongman and former prime minister Frank Bainimarama will be sentenced today for perverting the course of justice. All eyes will be on the outcome and whether he'll get a custodial sentence.

Australia is moving to cement further ties with Tuvalu, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announcing new funding of $110 million following last year's historic Falepili Union.

The governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville have agreed on enlisting a moderator to progress talks on a 2019 independence referendum. 

Vanuatu has topped the Happy Planet Index list for the second time ranking number one out of 150 countries worldwide for 2024.

There’s fresh calls for the US to clean up bombs and wrecks from the Second World War which are scattered all over the Pacific, including in Papua New Guinea.

Australia's capital Canberra will be the site of climate protest by activists from the Pacific.

The PNG government says it's looking at $2 billion in earnings from cash crops thanks to high global prices for cocoa.

The bill would grant New Zealand citizenship to people born in what was known as Western Samoa who were entitled to citizenship but were denied it due to a law change in 1982.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Bougainvilleans voted overwhelmingly for independence from PNG in a non-binding referendum in 2019, but it has yet to be ratified in PNG's parliament.

The organisation's analysis of child protection risks found children are facing increasing levels of physical, sexual, emotional and online violence in the five Pacific countries studied.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Many women risk jail to terminate a pregnancy; some face even greater dangers.

As Solomon Islands' new Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele begins his first week in office, all eyes will be on how the first-time PM will fare. 

It comes after a government appointed tribunal report recommended the dismissal of suspended judge, David Lambourne.

The partnership will enhance security operations between the Micronesian states and shore up Palau's disaster response capabilities.

Results have disappointed, but skipper Selina Solman says mixing it with higher ranked teams is the only way Vanuatu cricketers can raise their game on the world stage.  

There will be plenty of emotion when Moana Pasifika takes to the field at Teufaiva Stadium for the very first time, but it's points that are important as the side presses for a finals place. 

PNG's boxing team has been invited to compete at the World Friendship Games in Russia later this year, and union president Dr Gideon Kendino says it could open the way to the professional ranks for his best fighters. 

Moana Pasifika's Man of the Year, Solomone Funaki, believes the crowd can lift the team over the line against the Highlanders in Nuku'alofa

Eight games in to their debut Jersey Flegg Cup season, and the Kaiviti Silktails are still winless, but they're hopeful they can topple the second bottom Eels in Lautoka.

Solomon Islands' captain Ileen Pegi believes she has the talent to use her move to Noumea as a springboard to play soccer in Europe.  

Hawaii's state house on Monday voted to approve a resolution calling for a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza - the first American state to do so.

The High Court is expected to rule on an appeal on his sentence in Suva later today.

A recent International Labour Organisation report highlights concerns about youth unemployment, while the total unemployment in the Pacific region has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Pacific Engagement Visa will be based on an online ballot and will allow up to 3,000 eligible Pacific Islanders annually to live and work in Australia.

Two men are vying for the top job: Jeremiah Manele from the incumbent Our Party and former opposition leader Mathew Wale.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The aim of the referendum is to address the problem of political instability which is caused by members of Parliament switching their party allegiances. 

Reports from PNG say the initiative taken by BNG trading which has been operating in PNG for the past 100 years is to help improve food security for people.

David Lambourne was suspended two years ago on allegations of misconduct, sparking a judicial crisis that has left the Pacific Island nation without any senior judges.

And experts worry an upcoming mandate, to force farmers to pay PALM workers a minimum of 30 hours per week is making them look elsewhere for labour.

The worst hit areas are Yap state and parts of the northern Marshall Islands.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

It comes after Australian judge David Lambourne was given notice to leave the country within 21 days.

With just days to go until the first sitting of parliament following the national election, Mr Sogavare says the burden of leadership has become too great for him and his family.

Vanuatu has trialled a new visa trying to bring in more workers from overseas - but early results have been disappointing for businesses.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The referendum will be the first of its kind and aims to change the constitution to bring about political stability.

A recent visit to Australia from Johnny Koanapo revealed that many Ni-Vanuatu citizens are ending up in prisons due to a variety of minor to very serious offences.

Former men's soccer captain Alwin Komolong says PNG's disastrous results at the recent OFC Under 16 qualifier were the result of years of neglect at grassroots level.   

Tight bowling and nerveless batting gets Vanuatu over the line for an historic win over Zimbabwe at the T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi

After defeating the Pacific's top team to get there, Vanuatu made its mark instantly on the T20 WCQ in Abu Dhabi, with a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe. 

The technical director employed by the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation says the idea of playing the country's first-ever international match later this year against American Samoa in Hawaii is an enticing prospect.

Ace Oea's nephew is on track to follow his uncle and fly the PNG flag in the AFL with the Gold Coast Suns.

A tribunal report recommending the dismissal of suspended Judge David Lambourne has been tabled in parliament and will be debated today. 

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

For Australians, the trek by the diggers along the infamous Kokoda Trail is forever etched into the country's military history. 

Australian National University Researcher Dr Terence Wood says there is no clear winner yet, and a coalition will need to be formed to be the country's next government. 

There have been more than  200 cases since November last year.

The eight ancestors were taken without their communities' knowledge and kept in a museum and a university in Germany for about one hundred years.

The delegates are joining more than 2,000 delegates representing member states, observer organisations and UN entities at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.

The research found gender stereotypes were common - with blame in areas such as domestic violence reporting commonly attributed to women. 

The pair camped overnight in hoi village, and will this morning trek about 10 kilometers to the Isurava village for a dawn service on tomorrow.

Vote counting in Solomon Islands is now complete, with caretaker PM Manasseh Sogavare's Our Party claiming 15 MPs.

The event brings health professionals alongside political leaders to try and find solutions to the biggest health problems facing the world.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Ruth Liloqula, Chief Executive Officer of Transparency Solomon Islands, says it has been a tough slog getting women into parliament, with many facing an uphill battle in an ever-hostile environment. 

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Over 11,000 children die from preventable deaths every year in Papua New Guinea.

Pacific conservation experts and officials have been in Europe to discuss the challenges facing the world's oceans.

There's a a push to bring the Kokoda track under new management, amid concerns that it has declined in recent years.

Australia's prime minister Anthony Abanese will become the first sitting PM to walk part of the gruelling 96-kilometre Kokoda track.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Vishal Prasad is one of only six winners of this year's Global Citizen Prize, and is receiving the honour in New York in the United States.

The hike in cocoa prices are due to a fall in the production of the crop in some of the biggest cocoa producing nations in Africa.

The caretaker government is waiting to see if they have the numbers to secure a second term in office.

The Catholic Bishops Conference has announced the 87-year-old Pontiff will be in PNG from September 6 to 9.

The Catholic Bishops Conference has announced the 87-year-old Pontiff will be in PNG from September 6 to 9.

The pawned goods have become security for loan repayments, but if people can't repay their loan in time, they lose them. 

After toppling the number one team in the Pacific, PNG, to get there, Vanuatu are determined to make their mark on T20 World Cup qualifying tournament against higher ranked teams. 

American Samoa's new head soccer coach David Jones is in talks with Nauru and Marshall Islands, with a view to being the debut international opponent for both nations in Hawaii in August.

Pacific athletes broke national records and set personal bests at the Australian Championships in Adelaide, but what will it take to get them on the podium at international events outside the region?  

On the Super Rugby menu in Suva, Fijian Drua is out to end the Hurricanes' unbeaten run, while Fijiana is focused on making it three grand finals in three seasons as it takes on the Western Force. 

Drus's Suva target - women to secure a Grand Final place, men to end the Hurricanes' unbeaten record  

Cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Region of Bougainville are giddy with excitement over never-before-seen prices of their cocoa beans. 

Observers say many Solomon Islanders were at the polling booths early on Wednesday, in what they say is a positive sign for the election. 

There's alarm in the Cook Islands over proposed cryptocurrency legislation that could grant the government sweeping powers to seize financial assets in any part of the world.

Fiji's LGBTQI community is devastated by the possibility that a young trans woman who died last month at the Lautoka Hospital may have been the victim of a hate crime. 

Solomon Islands officials say polling was peaceful across the country yesterday, and it could take more than a week before ballots are tallied.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

An American museum has partnered with a historical preservation group to find the P-38 fighter, which belonged to Medal of Honour winner Richard Bong.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

Mr Sogavare has made his political ties with China a key part of his campaign, but this has been divisive.

The country's president suspended justice David Lambourne in 2022, and the government tried unsuccessfully to deport him.

The Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption has warned voters against taking bribes or being swayed by money politics. 

Thousands of Solomon Islanders being asked to make their choice today on who will lead the country.

It's the first step in deciding whether  caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare will see another term or if Solomon Islands will see new leadership.

Dahlia Malaeulu has written the very first book in the world - Vasifika, that captures the stories of Pasifika families living with autism.

After a busy week of campaigning, Solomon Islands is in an election blackout today, ahead of tomorrow's vote.

Colonel Naliva's presitgious secondment came under scrutiny in February after The Australian newspaper highlighted historical allegations of torture against him in Fiji.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The festival commemorates the island nation's first anniversary of decriminalising same-sex relations.

Warmer seas cause problems for the oceans, including coral bleaching, which is badly affecting many reefs, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef. 

Vanuatu's Finance Minister, John Salong, has denied social media comments that the national carrier Air Vanuatu will soon be liquidated.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The same program that eliminated dengue in Australia's Far North Queensland has successfully been rolled out in Suva, Port Vila and Tarawa.

Yap state is one of the areas hardest hit. It has some water reservoirs, but outer islands rely solely on rainwater, and supplies are dwindling.

Moana Pasifika's CEO Pelenato Sakalia says it is up to the competition to find a way for his team to play more games and more often in Tonga and Samoa. 

Port Moresby Vipers are seeking PNG RFL approval to bid for a place in the NSW Cup, meanwhile, they've sealed a player development deal with Hull KR from the English Super League.

The TRU has opted for a coaching duo to lead the Ikale Tahi, they hope, to the next World Cup. The board believes Tevita Tu'ifua and Nili Latu will generate more power and energy working together.

It's the biggest election in the country's history and all eyes are on whether Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will return to office for a fifth term. 

Aerial scanners used to map archaeological sites on Tongatapu have spotted close to 10,000 mounds that were once residences long ago.

Samoa's government is stressing that under new laws citizens living abroad will still have to come back to Samoa to physically cast their vote. 

Sauni Ogomeni's call comes after after three PNG farm workers were jailed for raping a young woman.

The film responds to a generation labelled as "Plastic" who face regret, shame and sometimes an unwillingness to embrace one's heritage.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The mayor of the capital Majuro, Ladie Jack, says the impact of deportees on his community has been 'nothing short of devastating.'

President and co-founder of the Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson), Waskam Emelda Davis, said it was critical the museum followed sensitive and meaningful consultations.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

K-pop is an acronym short for Korean popular music: it's upbeat, colourful, and its impact has spread far beyond Asia.

The Papua New Guinean government has approved a military and police operation to be carried out at the Porgera gold mine in the country's highlands. 

In Vanuatu, villagers living beside Erakor lagoon near Port Vila are planning to take the government to court for environmental neglect.

Three young Papua New Guinea women have realised the phrase "the sky is the limit" by training to become helicopter pilots.

It comes as residents of the low-lying atoll nation recover from devastating king tides, with some describing it as the worst they've seen.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

It's a rare insight into what diplomats in the region were thinking at the height of the geopolitical competition for influence in the region.

Esther Sione Daniels is the founder and owner of Te'hine Trend, based in the New Ireland province, she sources fashionable wear and jewellery from the local women and sells them online.

Five emerging filmmakers will highlight the gritty realities of life in West Papua at an upcoming film festival.

In Vanuatu, the government is considering giving a Chinese logging company a second chance, despite it breaching an agreement with the government. 

Professor Scott Heron, the UNESCO chair for climate vulnerability of heritage at James Cook University, said many of these threatened seagrasses were found in the Pacific. 

Iririki Island Resort has long advertised many offerings for tourists, however, a casino is no longer one of them.

Fijian tennis player and coach William O'Connell said his Pacific Games gold medal was tarnished because he feared his sport may be on the way out in Oceania 

Lakapi Samoa's CEO says the board voted unanimously to ditch Manu coach Seilala Mapusua after a poor performance review 

Former FRU development coach warns that Kolinisau may not be the magic solution to Fiji 7s failings

Former English Premier League player Dave Kitson wants to create a soccer legacy on Nauru, as he and two fellow Britons seek to put the island on the world soccer map 

Vanuatu's Debbie Masauvakalo on a mission as World ParaVolley's new vice-president to establish the sport in more Pacific countries 

They're being appointed to represent defendants on the island who can't afford a lawyer. 

The Australian Defence Force, under intense scrutiny as to why its workforce is well below its authorised threshold of 62,000 personnel, may look to the Pacific to fill the gaps.

It comes as the US Drought Monitor has upgraded conditions on Wotje in the Marshall Islands and on Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia from severe to extreme.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

The new season of The Pacific is on ABC Australia airing across the region tonight at 5:30pm PNG time.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

New Zealand's largest trade union, the Public Service Association, has slammed the cuts, saying they would have far reaching consequences for the health and wellbeing of Pasifika families.

Under He Whakaputanga Moana, which translates to 'declaration for the ocean,' the animals will be recognised as legal persons.

The director of public prosecutions has appealed to the High Court calling the sentence unsatisfactory and manifestly lenient.

Linguist Vasalua Jenner-Helu, who is set to travel to Oxford University, is researching how Tongan language was influenced by missionaries, who compiled the kingdom's first dictionary.

Tune in each morning and afternoon to keep-up-to-date on the happenings in the Pacific.

It is the culmination of a two-month process, after the king withdrew his support for the two ministers via an extraordinary letter that led some to speculate that he'd lost faith in Tonga's government   

A recent 60 Minutes program claimed that a well known Chinese businessman living in Fiji was a  key operator for the Chinese Communist Party and a senior member of a transnational criminal syndicate.

The last national census, conducted in 2011, is thought to be wildly inaccurate, under counting the number of citizens by a massive 20 per cent.

Shipping companies that produce around three per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions will now pay a fee for every ton of carbon they produce from burning fuel.

If passed, the Geographical Indication Bill would authorise the use of special DNA marks on each kava variety so they can be identified after they've been shipped abroad.

The Tongan government says its development plans are appropriate and beneficial for Tongans after an independent analysis found their policies to be value for money. 

A Vanuatu seasonal worker accused of murdering a man by sawing off his leg in Far North Queensland has yet to enter a plea two years on after he was first charged.

An aid organisation says there's hope that tuberculosis cases could be reduced in the Pacific region after an increase in funding.

The mammoth event will see thousands of representatives from 56 member countries descend on Apia to discuss issues like climate change, democracy and the rule of law.

The High Court convicted Bainimarama a fortnight ago, along with the former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho on a charge of abuse of office, for interfering in a police investigation in 2019.

The High Court convicted Bainimarama a fortnight ago, along with the former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho on a charge of abuse of office, for interfering in a police investigation in 2019.

Months of political tension in Tonga look set to reach an end point, as a critical meeting takes place between King Tupou VI and his advisers on Vava'u in the country's north.

There's fears the video is just the tip of the iceberg of how the military is behaving in West Papua.

Fijian authorities are aware that the businessman is on a high-profile list for allegedly being an operative for the Chinese Communist Party with ties to the criminal underworld.

Timor-Leste's economy is heavily reliant on oil and gas, and on the country's petroleum fund to promote development.

In a little under a month's time Solomon Islanders will head to the polls to cast their votes to elect their members of parliament.

The company has been accused of illegally cutting down trees, with photos of its workers dressed in Chinese military uniforms sparking outrage last year.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's Our Party has hit out at political rivals — saying any change of status would lead to China imposing trade sanctions on the country's main exports, round logs.

From next month Facebook will remove the news tab on its app in Australia, reducing users' access to news stories.

Auckland born- Samoan, Leniu admitted he called Torres Strait Islander, Mam a "monkey" during a game, originally stating it was just a loose comment that didn't mean anything.

The death toll stands at three but authorities fear it could rise higher, as information from remote and isolated communities come to hand.

The death toll stands at three but authorities fear it could rise higher...as information from remote and isolated communities come to hand.

A group of American kava growers has produced its first locally-grown crop, with hopes of serving the lucrative US market on an industrial scale.

Campaigning is intensifying, as Solomon Islands heads to what's being described as the country's most important elections. 

Australian researchers say a seaweed has the potential to transform the lives of women in the Pacific, and bring positive change across a underdeveloped industry.

The Metals Company, which has a mining joint venture with Nauru, is calling for environmental group Greenpeace to be stripped of its observer status at the council, after protesters boarded a deep sea mining research vessel last year.  

This week the eyes of the Tongan public will turn to the remote island of Vava'u in the country's north, where King Tupou VI will meet with advisers after receiving an apology from the prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni.

While the prime minister appears to have defused the tensions, it remains unclear what agreement his government has reached with the king.

The Fiji government and World Rugby are at loggerheads over the appointment of a new coach to lead the Flying Fijians in a year when the team will play test matches against three of the top six nations in the world.

As WCL reaches its climax on the home front, the FIFA series is creating new opportunities for Pacific teams to compete against countries from other international confederations. 

New Fijiana Drua coach Mosese Rauluni is delighted with the way his team has already gelled despite missing out on competitive pre-season matches.

 Lote Tuqiri joins forces with Nemani Nadolo to spread the spirit of vuvale before Super Rugby double header at Lautoka's Churchill Park.  

The new contraceptive, called Sayana Press, enables women to inject themselves with the medication. 

There have been up to 30 road closures across the country due to flooding.

Palau's president Surangel Whipps Junior says the approval of a new funding agreement with the United States came just in the nick of time.

Dr Saane Fonohema is a pathologist in training who's doing her placement here in Melbourne as part of a scheme to boost the quality of medical care in the Kingdom.  

In Fiji, torrential rain is expected to continue until tomorrow, and a heavy rain warning remains in force throughout the country.

The program is sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and its participants could one day play a big part in maintaining the stability of the region.

Vanuatu went through three prime ministers in as many months last year. 

A significant test for Vanuatu's government, the referendum in May will broach a new law to tie MPs down to political parties.

Although the government says it is finding a solution, for now, many citizens remain uncertain about where their fuel will come from.

It's less than a month before the people of Solomon Islands head to the polls for an election many see as the most important in its history.

Fiji's Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, has announced his government's intention to stick with a controversial policing agreement with China. 

History tells us that reading the waves, understanding the stars in the sky and seeing how birds migrate have long been how Pacific people navigated the seas and adapted to their ever-changing environment.

A heavy rain warning is still in place after the country experienced a weekend of flooding,  causing school closures, power outages and hundreds having to find refuge in evacuation centres.

Tongan health leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have a new name for dementia, MĀNGALO, which is helping the community better understand how to deal with it.

Their last encounter was last November at the Pacific Games in Honiara where the Solomon side won 2 goals to nil.

A documentary on family violence in Papua New Guinea has highlighted the traumatic impact of the abuse on both the victims and perpetrators.

The country is investing millions of dollars into a project aimed at reducing waste in the hospitality, food and tourism sectors.

Cook Islands is bolstering its fight against single-use plastics by investing millions of dollars into a project aimed primarily at the hospitality, food and tourism sectors.

Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu will head overseas next week to face three nations they've never met before as part of a new FIFA initiative.

After an encouraging start to the season last week, the PNG Hunters will hit the road to take on the Central Coast Capras in Rockhampton.

One of Vanuatu's most promising young footballers has signed a contract in one of Australia's top competitions.

Back-to-back champions Fijiana Drua will kick off their Super Rugby Women's season on Sunday in a grand final rematch against the Reds in Brisbane.

The second edition of the Oceania Football Confederation Women's Champions League is closing in on the midway point in Honiara.

Australia's longest-running foreign bribery case, involving alleged payments to Nauruan politicians, is back in court.

It's a long-held tradition in Tonga that Kava is drunk by men and served by women, but today, that's changing.

Queensland-based company Getax is charged with conspiracy to bribe a foreign official, over allegations it paid Nauruan MPs money to further its phosphate exporting interests.

An estimated 16,000 people have been affected by drought conditions in the Federated States of Micronesia, where in some parts, it hasn't rained for three months.

There's confusion in the Samoan diaspora after a constitutional change extended the right to vote to overseas Samoans.

Air Vanuatu says it is scrambling to source spare parts from Europe, Asia and the U.S to get its sole jet back in the air.

A new Oxfam report finds that on average, Fijian women work more than three times the unpaid work than men.

The two MPs decided not to contest next month's election, with their husbands instead running in their seats.

Researchers say their discovery flies in the face of previous thinking about what early earth would have looked like. 

The two MPs decided not to contest next month's election, with their husbands instead running in their seats.

Business groups had put the damage bill at around 900-million kina and asked for about half that in grants to rebuild damaged property, replace lost stock and retain staff.

Dr Atonio Lalabalavu told parliament that case numbers jumped from 245 in 2022 to more than 415 last year.

Last week Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and a handful of Ministers travelled to the remote island of Niua to apologise to King Tupou the Sixth.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting set to take place in the capital Apia this October.

In five weeks, Solomon Islanders will head to the polls to vote for their representative in the national and provincial government. 

Last week Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and a handful of ministers travelled to the remote island of Niua to apologise to King Tupou VI.

Palmer will be looking to repeat his success in American Samoa - when the primaries head to the Pacific territory of Guam in June.

A Fijian dancer, Navi Fong recently received a major tourism award - the first entertainer to do so.

The $US3.5 billion law provides much needed funds to Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, in return for exclusive US military access to their territories.

The $US3.5 billion law provides much needed funds to Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, in return for exclusive US military access to  their territories.

And in Super Rugby the Fijiana Drua recorded their first win in the new season of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Australia's Opposition has announced its intention to champion nuclear power should it get into office, saying its the future of clean energy for the country.

Learn to Serve Pentecost is a youth-led organisation formed late last year on the island of Pentecost.

Women's rugby team Penina Pasifika have vastly exceeded expectations against Australia's top clubs.

The Kaiviti Silktails will make another piece of history this weekend when they play their first ever match in the NSW Rugby League's Jersey Flegg Cup. 

The second edition of the OFC Women's Champions League kicks off in Honiara on Sunday, but all roads will likley go through Auckland for Pacific clubs.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation is advertising for a new head coach to take charge of the men's national team and lead them at the OFC Nations Cup in June.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation advertises for a new head coach to take charge of the men's national team and lead them at the OFC Nations Cup in June. Also, Women's rugby team Penina Pasifika vastly exceed expectations against Australia's top clubs.

For Vanuatu, any prospect of a World Cup place is gone, but more importantly, so too is a large slice of future funding. 

The head of Fiji's Women's Crisis Centre says Women's Minister Lynda Tabuya's demotion within her political party is double standards at play.

The head of Fiji's Women's Crisis Centre says Women's Minister Lynda Tabuya has been treated unfairly after her political party removed her as deputy leader over sex and drugs allegations.

Fiji's government has urged the International Court of Justice to not render an advisory opinion on the question of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Calls for a treaty to ban the spread of fossil fuel are growing, with young Pacific Islands activists taking the lead in launching the Naiuli Declaration.

A new World Bank report has found that economic growth in the Pacific region has slowed down, despite an initial burst of growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

More than a billion people now live with obesity, and nine out of ten countries with the highest levels of overweight people are in the Pacific region.

Ms Tabuya has been at the centre of an alleged sex scandal involving a fellow minister while on an official trip to Australia's State Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne in last year.

While the group has been granted a visa to live in Australia, their children are still stuck overseas. 

Fiji's women's minister, Lynda Tabuya, has been removed from her position as the deputy leader of the governing party, The People's Alliance.

The Pacific served as one of the biggest battlegrounds of the Second World War, including the little-known chapter of Micronesia's Chuuk Lagoon.

On the streets of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, the political stand-off between the King and the government is causing confusion and fierce debate.

Timorese farmers in a remote area say a plan to move the border between the two countries will take away their land and livelihoods.

Some communities in Vanuatu are still rebuilding a year after the country was pummelled by two major cyclones that struck just days apart.

It's been several weeks since King Tupou VI sent shockwaves through the Kingdom, with a letter from his Privy Council effectively withdrawing support for Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and his foreign minister.

More than 25,000 Fijians, or around 3 per cent of the population, migrated overseas in the year ending 2023 - the highest since official records began in 2005.

Officials in the region believe the protections are needed to preserve kava's long heritage and its reputation. 

It comes after critics of the treaty raised concerns that a security clause risked compromising Tuvalu's sovereignty. 

The researchers made the discoveries by examining species in forest canopies in Fiji, French Polynesia and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The reinstatement of Fiji's Great of Councils of Chiefs has prompted questions about its role in politics and in the country's leadership.

It comes after critics of the treaty raised concerns that a security clause risked compromising Tuvalu's sovereignty. 

World Rugby are trumpeting their new-look Pacific Nations Cup tournament, but with no top-tier nations in sight, how will it help the island teams?  

14 athletes are representing the Pacific family at the World Indoor Championships in Scotland. 

Fiji's Silkltails are already established in the NSW Rugby League set up, and now CEO David Trodden has indicated that he's keen to see teams from Tonga and Samoa given an opportunity too. 

Australian government funding is boosting the prospects of Pacific athletes making it to Paris for the Olympics or Paralympics, but there are also personal sacrifices to made

World Rugby say the revamped Pacific Nations Cup, featuring Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, USA, Japan and Canada will accelerate competitiveness, but what's the reality? 

Nadroga's technical director Franck Boivert would be a popular choice for Flying Fijians' head coach — if only his job application could be found by the FRU.

It comes after the new prime minister Feleti Teo was sworn into office yesterday morning.

At a meeting in Apia last October, 60 scholars agreed to set up the Pacific Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and they're hoping to make it a reality later this year.

Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, the Turaga Sau from Tailevu, was elected chair of the GCC after winning close to half the votes of members.

Today marks 70 years since the US government exploded a thermonuclear weapon on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

It comes after the new prime minister Feleti Teo was sworn into office yesterday morning.

Haka for Life is set to raise awareness about mental health and the importance of the Tiriti, or Treaty of Waitangi, at this Saturday's Mardi Gras parade in Sydney.

Traditional leaders from several Pacific countries are meeting in Fiji today in the first-ever gathering of its kind.

The referendum aims to secure Vanuatu's political future and end political instability. 

Many see it as the government's first step in rolling back Māori reforms, and it's drawn heated public debate. 

Feleti Teo was elected un-opposed yesterday morning, a first in the Pacific nation's history.

The ban targets plastic shopping bags, cups, plates, cutlery, polystyrene takeaway plates and plastic bottles.

Traditional leaders from several Pacific countries are meeting in Fiji today in the first-ever gathering of its kind.

The Director General of the MSG, Leonard Louma is trying to bring together national broadcasters from member countries to see if they can generate more good news. 

Feleti Teo was elected un-opposed yesterday morning, a first in the Pacific nation's history.

In a bid to combat repeat retail offending, a Facial Recognition Technology trial (FRT) are now being used in supermarkets in Aotearoa and Australia.

Pro-independence protesters clash with police in downtown Noumea, in opposition to French-government planned changes to New Caledonia's electoral roll.

The research, conducted by Conservation International in Fiji, found local indigenous-led projects could help bring about wider uptake.

When Solomon Islands signed a secret security pact with China in 2022, it prompted concerns including from Australia that China was gaining a foothold in the region.

Pro-independence protesters recently clashed with police in downtown Noumea, in opposition to French-government planned changes to New Caledonia's electoral roll.

Despite their tropical appearance, the Pacific islands have the world's lowest rates of access to safe or basic drinking water and sanitation.

With just three wins in their first two seasons, Moana Pasifika are determined to make an impact in 2024 with a revamped team under new coach Tana Umaga.

Opened just last year, Honiara's purpose-built Friendship Hall is playing host to a series of three matches between the Kurukuru and Australia's Futsalroos . 

After an overhaul of their squad and their coaching panel, Moana Pasifika are intent on muscling their way up the Super Rugby ladder in 2024 

There's a buzz in Lautoka in anticipation of Melbourne Storm taking on Newcastle Knights in a pre-season match at Churchill Park, as the NRL comes to Fiji for the first time. 

It's a race against time, but the new Australian government backed women's rugby team, Penina Pasifika, are gearing up for their first ever match.  

Fiji's Silktails keen to put on a show ahead of NRL exhibition match in Lautoka as a prelude to their debut season in Jersey Flegg

Earlier this week, Fiji backed the United States at the International Court of Justice, supporting Israel's right to occupy the Palestinian-occupied territories, including Gaza.

Sydney World Pride started last weekend, and members of the Pasifika queer community will also take part.

The father of two and former Auckland mayoral candidate was raising money to bring safe drinking water to children in the Pacific region, before he suffered a medical incident.

Earlier this week Fiji backed the United States at the International Court of Justice supporting Israel's right to occupy the Palestinian occupied territories, including Gaza. 

PNG's Puma Energy says it has cancelled contracts with clients, as some of its operations in the country have been closed due to a severe shortage of fuel.

The Pacific region has one of the highest rates of non-communicable diseases in the world, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses.

Acting Governor-General Patteson Oti set April 17 as the official date yesterday, ahead of a historic election in the country.

World Pride festivities have started in Sydney, where gender and sexually diverse people are out in public celebrating their identities openly.But it's something people in some other parts of the Pacific region can't do.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is appealing to tribal fighters to lay down their arms after 49 people were killed in an ambush in the highlands region.

A new book claims Australia's ambitions for global climate policy leadership have been seriously undermined in recent years, and a renewed approach to the Pacific is needed to secure the region's interests.

Police in Papua New Guinea say 49 people have been killed in an ambush in the highlands region as police and military look to track down those responsible for the attack.

An historic final will play out on Monday evening in Samoa's capital Apia, as first-time finalist Solomon Islands take on New Zealand in the Oceania Football Confederation's (OFC) Women's Olympic Qualifiers.

The likely electoral victory for Indonesian military strongman Prabowo Subianto has sparked concerns about what his presidency might mean for the pro-independence movement in West Papua.

The likely electoral victory for Indonesian military strongman Prabowo Subianto has sparked concerns of what his presidency might mean for West Papua.

Vanuatu's cricketers will be playing for their country and their sporting futures at the World Cup Challenge League play-off in Malaysia. If the team fail, it will hit future funding hard. 

Pay has been a constant issue for the players in the Fijiana Drua squad, particularly after back-to-back title wins in Super W, and it raised its head again when the team boycotted camp in Nadi for a time. But new coach Mosese Rauluni insists it's all behind them now.

Former Kumuls and PNG Hunters head coach Stanley Tepend says he walked away from both teams because he was given impossible choices. Tepend says he lost the support of the Hunters' board, and was "rewarded" with a demotion after leading the Kumuls to the World Cup quarter finals.   

Solomon Islands are flying at the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament and on track for a place in the final and a shot at winning a trip to Paris, if they can topple host nation Samoa

After a successful trial run ahead of the pandemic-affected Olympics in Tokyo, the Australian Olympic Committee is stepping up support for Pacific athletes keen to secure places at the Paris Games in July. 

The Kapuls all-time top goal scorer Reggie Davani is  expanding his coaching horizons in his new role with the youth academy players at Central Coast Mariners in Australia's A-League. And his door open to would-be professionals from the Pacific if they're up to the challenge. 

Police in Tonga have seized up to 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in the latest crackdown on hard drugs in the Kingdom.

A motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister was widely expected to be entertained in Parliament today. But it's been delayed over a technical change in the document's wording that has led to it being re-filed.

Opposition politicians in Solomon Islands are vowing to make public or even scrap a deeply contentious security pact with China if they manage to oust Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare when the Pacific island nation goes to the polls in April. 

Security experts say the recent failure by the US Congress to approve $US1.6 billion in grants is threatening to undermine its alliance with Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. 

Governor of East Sepik Province Allan Bird has been selected as the alternate prime minister for the opposition, ahead of a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape.

Governor of East Sepik Province Allan Bird has been selected as the alternate prime minister for the opposition, ahead of a motion of no confidence against Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.

Papua New Guinea's parliament will convene today as moves to oust Prime Minister James Marape continue to grow. 

Papua New Guinea's parliament will convene today for the first time this year and at the top of everyone's minds is a bid by the Opposition to oust Prime Minister James Marape.

In Fiji a disturbing video of a father beating his child has gone viral.

Micronesian leaders have warned that delays in funding from the United States are putting them at risk of exploitation by other countries.