Nauruans head to polls for general election, referendum

SYDNEY, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nauruans headed to the polls on Saturday to elect members of parliament and decide on a change to the nation's constitution, local media reported. Fourteen polling stations in the country were open from 9:00 a.m. to...

Pacific must lead global Tuna governance, says SINU Vice-Chancellor Aqorau

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau says Pacific Island States must continue to assert leadership in the global governance of tuna fisheries to protect their sovereignty, economy, and identity....

Pacific atoll nations receive NZD13m boost for critical water security

Representatives from seven Pacific atoll nations gathered in Nadi, Fiji, this June with an urgent message. Rising seas and prolonged droughts are pushing their communities toward a water crisis that threatens tens of thousands of lives. These...

'Bread and butter' issues to dominate Nauru elections - Academic

Early morning view of Nauru. Photo: New Zealand Herald/Jason Oxenham A former Pacific Islands Forum advisor says "bread and butter" will be the focus for the Nauru elections on Saturday, likely not geopolitics, which have been dominating...

The European Union and the Pacific Community boost border security in Marshall Islands with advanced X-Ray technology

Photo: European Union Ambassador Barbara Plinkert and Marshall Islands Minister Anthony Muller, key handover of the Airport X-ray machine The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) has received a state-of-the-art X-ray machine to reinforce border...

Moses rushed in as duo ruled out of PM’s XIII vs PNG — Full teams for four-game blockbuster

Mitchell Moses has been rushed into the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII team for their clash with Papua New Guinea after two players were ruled out due to injury. Code Sports reported Moses, who was picked for the Kangaroos Ashes squad, will come...

Strategic Minerals and the False Promise of Seabed Mining

By Drake Long On April 29, a small seabed mining enterprise known as The Metals Company (TMC) formally submitted an application to NOAA to commence commercial-scale mining in an area of the ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. This followed...

Pacific Growth to Accelerate in 2025 on Resource Strength — ADB

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

Nauru election week begins with music festival and beauty pageant

The Nauru Electoral Commission hosted its official candidate ballot draw on Friday, 3 October 2025 following the formal closure of the nomination and withdrawal period. Photo: Nauru Media News - NTV Nauruans will head to the polls on Saturday for...

Climate superpowers, a new Ebola outbreak and how to eat less plastic

Want to get the ThinkLandscape digest in your inbox? Sign up here. You’re probably aware that eating less meat can benefit your health. But did you know that if we all switched to more plant-based diets, it could save millions of lives each year?...

Experts warn of communities at high risk for natural disasters: 'Forced to stay exposed'

A new study shows that coastal living is undergoing a shift, as residents relocate in response to rising seas and extreme weather threats unique to coastlines and disproportionately impacting low-income and marginalized communities. What's...

Palestine and the Pacific

Why have island nations been so prominent among supporters of Israel? By Nic Maclellan Standing beside Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on 17 September, Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka declared that “the people of Fiji share a very close...

WHP steps up fight against tobacco use in Western Pacific

By Pacific Island Times News Staff Governments in the Western Pacific have made progress in advancing their tobacco control laws and expanding smoke-free environments. The sale of e-cigarettes, for example, is banned in 10 countries in the region,...

Senate Reaffirms Opposition to U.S. Refugee Proposal as Whipps Calls for Renewed Dialogue

The Palau Senate has once again rejected a U.S. proposal to establish a refugee or deportee resettlement program, citing the nation’s limited capacity and legal constraints. President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. continues to push for dialogue with...

Pacific islands bound by climate change, divided by deep-sea mining: Nauru…

“The climate crisis is not up for debate,” Micronesian President Wesley Simina said. “The only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands.” Pacific island leaders agreed. At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly...

China to step up Pacific push after Australia–PNG defense treaty

CANBERRA (AFR)—China will double down on efforts to expand its influence across the Pacific after Australia and Papua New Guinea agreed to ink a comprehensive defense treaty, foreign policy experts have warned. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – September 26 – October 2, 2025

Editor’s Note: We are undergoing a web host migration process and may need to make necessary modifications to our format and frequency over the next several weeks. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Political Leadership and Regionalism,...

Rising authoritarianism has accelerated and normalised mass deportation of migrants

Under President Donald Trump, the United States is expanding its efforts to detain and deport non-citizens at an alarming rate. In recent months, the Trump administration made deals with a number of third states to receive deported non-citizens....

Nauruans to vote on new parliament and constitutional change

Voters in Nauru will head to the polls this weekend to decide on two important decisions. One is to elect members of parliament, and the other is to decide on whether to change the country’s constitution. In the lead-up to the vote, Nauru is also...

Australia and PNG Sign Defense Treaty, Agreement With Vanuatu Delayed

Last week, Papua New Guinea approved a new treaty with Australia, the Pukpuk Treaty, under which the two countries commit to defending each other in the event of an attack. Meanwhile, Australia is still seeking to finalize the Nakamal Agreement...