Pacific Beat

On the sidelines of Pre-COP31, leaders have been brought face to face with the people living on the frontline of global warming

Pre-COP's first guest, PNG Prime Minister James Marape has pledged financial help to Tuvalu's land reclamation project to combat rising seas.

As Fiji and Tuvalu host Pre-COP31 this week, one village in Fiji has been living in tents for more than five years, while another has moved altogether to escape rising seas.

Fiji's parliament has passed new laws creating a Counter Narcotics Bureau, giving authorities new powers to search, seize and carry out covert operations.

Fiji police say another batch of drugs held as evidence in the Suva High Court, is missing, bringing the total amount of missing cocaine from the high court to 52kg.

$10 million worth of cocaine, stored at the Suva High Court, has been replaced with what's reported to be flour.

Four people have been rescued after their yacht struck a whale and capsized while sailing between Fiji and New Zealand.

Amnesty International says Naoero's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court risks undermining human rights protections in the Pacific.

HIV has been declared a national crisis in Fiji and an increasing number of mothers are passing the virus onto their babies.

Police in Port Moresby have arrested two men believed to be involved in one of PNG's biggest robberies.

Sweeping constitutional changes could be put to a referendum in Fiji before the end of the year.

Fiji's parliament is expected to receive a constitutional review report today, but some are worried that it might be used to delay the country's upcoming elections.

Samoan Police have charged two men with conspiracy to murder in relation to the shooting of crime figure Lorenzo Lemalu in Vietnam.

More than 30 people are still missing at sea from the sinking of the MV Matui in Vanuatu. Dr Peter Nuttal, a maritime expert at the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport, says regional powers need to prioritise their maritime aid towards upgrading ferries and purchasing seaworthy transport vessels.

The search is still on for 38 people still missing from Vanuatu's MV Matui Ferry Disaster but there is little hope of finding anymore survivors.

The search area after MV Matui ferry disaster in Vanuatu has been extended, with some 30 passengers still missing.  

Authorities say up to two people are dead and 30 are still missing after an inter-island ferry sank between Santo and Ambae.

There is a shortage of drinking water on Ambae Island in Vanuatu following increased volcanic activity, and ash fall which has polluted water sources on the island.

The Solomon Islands' Opposition has accused Australia of interfering in domestic politics, after a text message detailing treaty negotiations was leaked.

A key report recommending changes to Fiji's constitution will be handed to Cabinet this week. Not yet public, the report has already raised questions over a Fijian Christian state and the role of chiefs in politics.

Pacific leaders have backed a communique criticising China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test at their most significant regional meeting.

A major police investigation is underway in Papua New Guinea's capital after a group of armed men held up private security vehicles carrying gold bullion and cash.

The Pacific region has been slightly sidelined in first few days of the Pacific Islands Forum have as tensions bubble between external partners, but priorities are turning back to the region focusing on drug smuggling, international crime and climate change.

Speaking from the PIF Leaders summit in Palau, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters says he's sceptical about President Taneti Maamau of Kiribati's no show.

Just hours after landing in Palau for this week's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Matthew Wale was called back due to a no-confidence motion filed against him.