Pacific Islands focus: health and gender inequities, climate updates, and some hope for marine biodiversity

Introduction by Croakey: In breaking news on Thursday, Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence agreement with Australia. PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement, known as the PukPuk treaty, “will elevate the two...

Solomon Islands pushes UN to back Pacific-led peace and resilience agenda

Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair Jeremiah Manele has told the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) last week that the world is entering “a moment of profound uncertainty,” warning against militarisation, rising inequality, and...

Solomon Islands strengthens bilateral ties with Indonesia

BY LORETTA B MANELE Solomon Islands is strengthening its bilateral ties with Indonesia. According to a press statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC), Acting Prime Minister, Bradley Tovosia received a courtesy call last...

Solomon Islands exports to China hit $2.3 billion in six years

BY NED GAGAHE China has emerged as Solomon Islands’ largest trading partner, with two-way trade surging past US$3.5 billion in just six years since diplomatic ties between the two countries were formalised in 2019. The major milestone was...

World leaders back UN plan to combat non-communicable diseases and mental health

A delegate from Kiribati in a meeting during the third day of the general debate of the General Assembly's eightieth session. September 2025 Photo: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel World leaders have thrown their weight behind a United Nations (UN)...

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,...

Evening Brief: Trump Declares Drug Cartels ‘Unlawful Combatants,’ Putin Warns of Escalation Over US Missiles

Evening rundown for Thursday, October 2, 2025. Trump Declares Drug Cartels ‘Unlawful Combatants,’ Citing Armed Conflict After Caribbean Strikes President Donald Trump has designated drug cartels as “unlawful combatants” and declared that the US is...

OPINION | A health and development challenge for the Pacific

Diabetes The first article in this series reported on the latest trends in development assistance for health and the second focused on the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and especially in low- and middle-income countries. This...

Strengthening animal health with Australia

BY CHRIS ALEX Animal and plant health systems in Solomon Islands are set to improve with the help of Australia. This was discussed among animal health experts at the “Livestock and Biosecurity Partnership Dialogue” last week at SINU in Honiara....

Fiji, Vanuatu renew ties

Fiji and Vanuatu have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen development cooperation across key sectors, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told Parliament. “The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed as part of our...

Solomon Islands Strengthens Partnership with India at FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

New York, Wednesday 24 September 2025 – Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka (MP) highlighted the Solomon Islands’ commitment to strengthening its bilateral partnership with India during the Forum for India-Pacific...

Outrage as Solomon Islands government orders vetting of stories on national broadcaster

The Solomon Islands’ government has prompted outrage by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster, forbidding it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. On Monday the government...

2nd Ocean Conference gets underway in Honiara

The second Pacific Islands Ocean Conference 2025 is underway in Honiara this week. It was officially opened on Monday, bringing together around 350 participants from across the region to strengthen collaboration on sustainable ocean governance....

U.S. island in the Pacific endures "ecological disaster”

Since the middle of the 20th century, a non-native species of snake has wrought havoc with the ecosystem on Guam, a small U.S. territory nestled in the Western Pacific Ocean. Most notably, the snake’s invasion of the 210-square-mile,...

PIF calls for stronger global action on NCDs and mental health

BY NED GAGAHE The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has made a powerful call for renewed global commitment to tackle Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges in the region. Delivering the Forum’s statement at the Fourth High-Level...

West Deputy Premier: strategy, interventions key to health success

WESTERN Province Deputy Premier, Hon. Brian Lotikena, has underscored the importance of strategic planning and timely interventions in strengthening the country’s health outcomes. Hon. Lotikena made the remarks during the closing program of the...

‘Awareness key to tackling child sexual abuse in Solomon Islands’

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU Despite strict laws against sexual abuse, Solomon Islands continues to record alarmingly high cases of this, according to Dr. Koen Sevenants, a consultant for UNICEF’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Children...

PM Manele Highlights Solomon Islands’ Leadership in Ocean Governance at Bloomberg Global Forum

New York, USA, Wednesday 24 September 2025 – Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele today participated in a high-level roundtable discussion at the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum in New York, emphasizing the country’s progress in advancing...

HIV 'national crisis' in Fiji - assistant health minister

selective focus of negative and positive hiv blood sample test on red background Photo: Copyright: lightfieldstudios Fiji's assistant health minister says the country may record more than 3000 HIV cases by the end of the year. The country declared...

Former Miss Solomon Islands, Polosovai Vows to Continue Advocacy Work

By Eliza Kukutu As former Miss Solomon Islands, Elsie Polosovai concludes her reign, she has pledged to continue serving as an ambassador for the country in whatever role or capacity she holds in the future. Polosovai officially ended her tenure...