Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,291

Here are the key events on day 1,291 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Published On 7 Sep 20257 Sep 2025 Here is how things stand on Sunday, September 7: Fighting Explosions were heard in cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro, late...

Reframing conservation as livelihood

Louisa Castledine, the owner of Ocean Toa Cook Islands, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. SUPPLIED/25071832 A new movement has been established to promote bold initiative that combines indigenous knowledge with scientific practices to...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – August 29 – September 4, 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,...

SILAG PARTNERS WITH FIJI’S FLIPS TO BOOST PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING

In a significant move to strengthen civil service across the Pacific region, the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG), signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fiji’s Leadership Institute of Public Service...

BSP ushering in a new era of banking

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) has reopened its flagship Port Moresby Branch, marking a transformative milestone in its commitment to innovation, inclusion, and excellence in banking across PNG and the South Pacific. Valued at K4 million, the...

Expedition Launches to Chart the Most Unexplored Seafloor in US Waters

The Ocean Exploration Trust has announced the launch of an expedition aboard its exploration vessel Nautilus to map some of the least-explored areas in US waters. The vessel is set for a 22-day mission to acquire high-resolution bathymetry around...

Pacific Island Nations are Divided Over Deep Sea Mining

[By Kolaia Raisele and Aidan Craney] In recent years, Pacific island nations have earned global credibility as champions of climate action. Pacific leaders view sea level rise as an existential threat. But this united front is now under strain as...

Aspiring aviators take flight with Air New Zealand Pathway Programme

Hands-on experience: Pathway students Anthyea Brown (second left) and Tamuera Newnham (fourth left) try their skills in the flight simulator, joined by Rarotonga team leader Stevenson Safotu (far right). SUPPLIED/25090111 The Air New Zealand...

The Pacific’s united front on climate action is splintering over deep-sea mining

In recent years, Pacific island nations have earned global credibility as champions of climate action. Pacific leaders view sea level rise as an existential threat. But this united front is now under strain as some Pacific nations pursue a...

Pacific news in brief for 17 July

Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, French Polynesia and American Sāmoa have also declared dengue outbreaks. Photo: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Samoa - dengue A dengue fever outbreak in Samoa has claimed the life of a second child. The Sāmoa Observer...

Preview: 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva. Photo: X / @ForumSEC Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders are en route to the Solomon Islands for their annual meeting, which kicks off Monday. So far, the lead-up has been marred by geopolitical tussles...

Over 6 billion people worldwide are exposed to at least one key anti-tobacco measure

From: World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco control efforts protect 6.1 billion people – WHO’s new report 23 June 2025, Dublin/Geneva—The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 at the World...

Finland charges Russian vessel officers with damaging undersea cables connecting Estonia

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Pacific islands push back against growing climate threats

The Cook Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are separated by around 6,000 kilometres of Pacific Ocean. Despite the vast stretch of water between them, the two small island nations share a common challenge: how to protect their people...

Punching above its weight, Pacific pushes for ship polluters to pay

By Robert Iroga in London Punching above our weight has been the statement echoed in London this week to describe the tiny Pacific’s bold push against some of the global heavyweights to have polluters (ship) pay-up for their pollution. This...

Pacific Islands focus: health, environmental, security and geopolitical updates

Calls to tackle violence against women in the Pacific region, efforts to alleviate the impacts of extreme heat, new guidelines to assist in protection of whales, and concerns about deep sea mining are among the topics covered in the latest edition...

Hospice staff bring cultural care and dignity to families

Hospice workers are supporting patients nearing the end of their lives, but say stigma and misconceptions can still hinder Pacific families when a loved one is dying. Niukini Hendrikse, a social worker at Tōtara Hospice, says the ongoing challenge...

Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting concludes in Honiara with strong regional commitments

Ministers to the PWWA Ministers Forum- Photo credit: Solomon Islands Government The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded yesterday in Honiara, with Ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories...

America’s counterattack on China’s growing influence in the Pacific islands

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class James Phelps from Indianapolis, Indiana, assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), conducts a dive at the grotto on the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oct. 27, 2021. (U.S....

Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting concludes

The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded on Tuesday in Honiara, with Ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and sanitation across the region. The...