In the Solomon Islands, the night before an election is known as Devil's Night.
Political candidates offer bribes — handing out everything from cash to sacks of rice and Chinese-made solar panels to secure votes last minute.
Vote-buying has been a (...)
Papua New Guinea's prime minister has hailed ties with "big brother" Australia in a historic and closely watched speech in Canberra.
James Marape's address to Australia's parliament — the first by a Pacific Island leader — comes as Australia and (...)
Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a major security agreement that will place Australian police in the Pacific nation.
Speaking to reporters alongside Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Canberra on Thursday, Australian Prime (...)
If China's neighbors, near and far, could have sent Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden a text in the last 48 hours, it would probably have been some version of: "Can you two please sort things out?"
Of course, the entire world was watching US (...)
A planned summit of Quad leaders from the United States, India, Australia, and Japan in Sydney next week has been canceled after US President Joe Biden pulled out of his visit, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday, adding (...)
Honduras is taking steps to begin official diplomatic relations with China, President Xiomara Castro announced on Tuesday, a move that would sever ties with Taiwan.
China refuses to maintain diplomatic ties with any country that recognizes Taiwan (...)
The US has reopened its Solomon Islands embassy in a move widely seen as shoring up influence in the Pacific to counter China's push into the region.
Last year Washington and its allies were blindsided when the tiny nation signed a security deal (...)
Antigua and Barbuda will vote on whether to become a republic following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the country's prime minister revealed.
Gaston Browne said a referendum could take place within three years — but emphasized that the move was (...)
The Solomon Islands' prime minister has accused Australia of interference over its offer to help fund an election he controversially wants to delay.
Manasseh Sogavare is seeking to defer the vote - due in mid-2023 - by seven months, a move critics (...)
The Solomon Islands has temporarily halted all naval visits after failing to grant access to US and UK ships earlier this month.
Honiara said the vessels had not sought access in time, and this prompted a review of the arrival procedure.
But the (...)
Fiji has told an Asian security summit that climate change is a bigger threat to the Pacific than military tensions.
"Machine guns, fighter jets... are not our primary security concern. The single greatest threat to our very existence is climate (...)
Australia's new Labor government has secured a majority in parliament, election analysts say.
The center-left party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, defeated Scott Morrison's conservative coalition in an election on 21 May.
A record vote for (...)
The world is "navigating a dark hour in our shared history" with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden told key Asian allies.
The war has now become a "global issue" underscoring the importance of defending international order, he (...)
Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia's new leader and will fly immediately to an international summit.
Albanese's Labor Party defeated Scott Morrison's conservative government in an election on Saturday.
It remains unclear whether (...)
Australian voters have delivered a sharp rebuke to the center-right government, ending nine years of conservative rule, in favor of the center-left opposition that promised stronger action on climate change.
Australian Labor Party leader Anthony (...)
New Zealand has been aware for some time now of a "growing assertiveness" and a "growing interest" in its region — explicitly from China, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
But Ardern also spoke of the need to work together with China, on (...)
Australia, New Zealand and the US have raised concerns on security in the Pacific, after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
The deal was signed this week, fuelling fears China may seek to build a naval base in the Pacific (...)
Australia will spend $2.6 billion (3.5 billion Australian dollars) to upgrade its defensive missiles as the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region becomes more challenging due to China's assertiveness, the country's defense minister said (...)
Schools in 23 countries, with 405 million pupils, are still partially or fully closed because of Covid, the United Nations Children's Fund says.
The charity, UNICEF, estimates 147 million children have missed at least half of their in-person (...)
Solomon Islands has confirmed it is drafting a security deal with China — a move that's triggered alarm in neighboring Australia and other Western allies in the Indo-Pacific.
Leaked papers indicate a Chinese military base could potentially be set up (...)
The Sea Women of Melanesia train local women to monitor and assess the impacts of widespread coral bleaching on some of the world's most endangered reefs using marine science and technology.
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — To most people, fins, (...)
Nicaragua has become the latest country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China, BBC reported.
Taiwan said it was "deeply saddened", adding that Nicaragua had "disregarded [their] many years of friendship".
The decision was praised by (...)
A Caribbean-based prime minister, a scientist, a group of indigenous women, and an entrepreneur were announced on Tuesday as this year's winners of the United Nations' Champions of the Earth awards.
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), (...)
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare survived a no-confidence vote on Monday, as lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to keep him in power, BBC reported.
It comes just more than a week after riots rocked the Pacific Island nation for three (...)
Australia is sending peacekeeping troops to the Solomon Islands, as riots rocked the capital city of Honiara for a second day, BBC reported.
PM Scott Morrison said police and army personnel would provide stability and security to the Pacific Island (...)