Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Israel and Ukraine Used Smuggled Drones To Wreak Havoc on Their Enemies. Could China Do the Same?
A covert Israeli drone base secretly installed in the heart of Iran. More than 100 Ukrainian remote-controlled military aircraft smuggled deep into Russia, concealed under wooden sheds. Israel and Ukraine have activated these assets to devastating...

Palau welcomes the Pacific
Team PNG Flag Bearers Josh Tarere and Thelma Toua at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games with Team PNG Chef De Mission Kinivanagi Karo (left) (Image: Team PNG) In a spectacular opening ceremony of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games last...
‘Only 15’: Predator’s twisted Grindr text
A convicted child sex pest from Lebanon who was caught in a vigilante sting attempting to meet a 15-year-old boy on Grindr should be allowed to stay in the country due to his “low risk of reoffending” and “contribution to the Australian...

The Pacific island nation of Nauru passes crypto legislation
The Republic of Nauru, a remote island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, has passed a law that could transform the country into a regional hub for crypto, digital banking, and Web3 innovation. On Tuesday, Nauru’s Parliament approved a bill...

Unusual: United Airlines Has 11 Routes That Do Not Involve The US
Fifth freedom routes allow for an airline to sell tickets for a flight between two foreign nations as a continuation of an airline's flight that originates in its home country. An example would be Qantas flying to London via Singapore, while...

Nauru Launches Bold Climate Resilience Initiative To Secure National Future At COP29
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Nauru, the world’s smallest republic, has unveiled an ambitious climate resilience initiative at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), calling on global investors and climate entrepreneurs to...

Our voyage to Statehood, 60 years on: understanding the nature and practice of free-association as we reflect on our development journey
Prime Minister Mark Brown. SUPPLIED. This year, the Cook Islands marks 60 years of self-governance, an historic milestone in our voyage to statehood, by Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. In 1965, our people chose to shape our own...

Pacific Mini Games to Unite Region through sports and sister state partnerships
KOROR, Palau – Palau is preparing to host its largest-ever regional event, the 22nd Pacific Mini Games, with more than 2,000 athletes confirmed to participate—making it the most attended Mini Games in over a decade. Two thousand eighty-five...

The Pacific Islands: America’s Power Vacuum and China’s Offensive
The United States has traditionally provided significant assistance to Pacific island countries. Many of these countries and regions still use the U.S. dollar as their currency and, absent their own armed forces, rely on the U.S. military for...

The Pacific Islands: America’s Power Vacuum and China’s Offensive
The United States has traditionally provided significant assistance to Pacific island countries. Many of these countries and regions still use the U.S. dollar as their currency and, absent their own armed forces, rely on the U.S. military for...

Nauru moves toward leadership in cryptocurrency in the Pacific
In what the Nauru government announced as a landmark move for the Pacific region, the tiny island nation's parliament has passed legislation to establish a dedicated virtual asset regulatory authority, or VARA. VARAs play a crucial role in...

Palau signs Landmark Security MOU with 12 Pacific Nations for Pacific Mini Games
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau — The Republic of Palau has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 12 Pacific Island nations to enhance regional security cooperation during the 2025 Pacific Mini Games (PMG), marking...

Building Pacific capacities to support trade and market access
To strengthen the skills of Pacific biosecurity, border control, exporter representatives and relevant stakeholders in using Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) databases and platforms, a regional capacity-building workshop is underway in...

Pacific Nations Cup 2025 opens June 30
The American Samoa Tennis Association, along with the International Tennis Federation and Oceania Tennis Federation, is hosting the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup June 30 to July 5th. Over 65 athletes and coaching officials from 11 Pacific Island...

Why most Pacific governments stand with Israel in spite of UN votes
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist Amid uncertainty in the Middle East, one thing remains clear — most Pacific governments continue to align themselves with Israel. Dr Steven Ratuva, distinguished professor of Pacific Studies at Canterbury...

Nauru seeks to become a hub for blockchain industry with the launch of digital asset regulator
Nauru Parliament building/Photo courtesy of the government of Nauru By Pacific Island Times News Staff The Nauru Parliament has passed a measure establishing an autonomous agency to regulate cryptocurrencies and the blockchain industry, with its...
Need for independent science during plastic treaty negotiations
Poor science heard during the negotiations for a new Plastics Treaty has caused concern for the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. A group of approximately 240 scientists representing over 250 independent scientists across the...

Nauru Regulates Crypto with a New Dedicated Regulator
Nauru, a micro island nation in the Pacific Ocean, has become the latest to pass legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies by forming a dedicated virtual asset regulatory authority. A Dedicated Regulator for Crypto The bill, passed by Nauru’s...

Nauru becomes first Pacific nation to establish dedicated crypto regulator
Nauru has become the first Pacific nation to establish a dedicated regulatory authority for virtual assets. The Pacific nation of Nauru passed legislation on June 17 to create the Command Ridge Virtual Asset Authority, an autonomous body that will...
Why most Pacific governments stand with Israel
A supporter of Israel holds an Israeli flag in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on 8 October. Photo: JULIA NIKHINSON / AFP Amid uncertainty in the Middle East, one thing remains clear: most Pacific governments continue to align...