Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas photographed holding hands in Vermont sparking romance talk during 'Deeper' preps

Four decades later, in 2024, judicial officers and experts from across the world came together in an unprecedented initiative to draft the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being. It was followed by a landmark act of global recognition when the...

Japan boosts Pacific alliances as global confidence in US wanes

As trust in the United States fades globally, one of its closest allies, Japan, is actively seeking to strengthen its ties with countries in the Pacific and Asia regions. Concerns over trade disagreements, security pressures, and political...

Judicial well-being: From taboo to recognition by the UN

Judicial well-being has long been a taboo subject, despite the untold toll it has taken on judges who must grapple daily with the problems and traumas of others. Research shows that judicial stress is more pronounced among magistrates and trial...

Whipps on Deep Sea Mining: “Not a Silver Bullet”

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. used his address at the United Nations General Assembly to call for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining, warning that it poses severe risks to biodiversity, fisheries, and climate stability. He stressed that...

Lost in Space: The Limits of Geolocation in a Satellite-Connected World

“Where are you?” is not an easy question to answer on the Internet. The telephone system’s address plan embedded a certain amount of physical location information in the fixed-line network, and a full E.164 telephone number indicated your location...

American teen who solo-traveled to 118 countries reveals how he did it, where has the best food – and the tropical island that bored him

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...

What Pacific Island leaders told the UN about climate, conflict and peace

A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York,...

What Pacific Island leaders told the UN General Assembly about climate, conflict and peace

A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York,...

India to rewrite drug-quality rulebook to match US, EU, Japan standards

India is setting up new standards for 123 drugs, and updating them for another 200 medicines, as it aims to align with the benchmarks in the US, Japan and the European Union (EU), according to three government officials familiar with the matter...

Pacific to IMO: Fast-track the Net-Zero fund or fail

Pacific leaders are calling for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to fast-track setting up its Net-Zero Fund (NZF), warning that without urgent action the Organisation will fail to deliver on its own commitment to contribute to a Just...

Four Key Takeaways for Deep Sea Mining from the ICJ Advisory Opinion

Established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for administering resources in the Area, including regulating Deep Sea Mining (DSM) activities (art. 156 UNCLOS)....

The European Union invests EUR 9 million in Climate information services in the Pacific

A five-year EUR 9 million(US$10.2 million) project aimed at strengthening the production, availability, delivery and application of science-based information, supporting decision-makers was today launched at the Pacific Climate Change Centre in...

Deep-sea mining is a false solution to our challenges (commentary)

A new op-ed argues that the case for deep-sea mining is weak and also that the facts used by its proponents don’t add up, but rather cloud their judgment. The divergence between scientific understanding of likely ecological harms and prevailing...

How China promotes a more just and equitable global governance system

For the first time in its 24 years of World Trade Organization (WTO) membership, China announced on Tuesday that it will no longer seek any new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations, a decision hailed by the WTO as...

Pacific microstate sells first passports to fund climate action

Pacific microstate sells first passports to fund climate action by AFP Staff Writers Sydney (AFP) Aug 7, 2025 A remote Pacific nation selling passports to fund climate action has approved just six applicants since early this year, but officials...

Pacific Islands race to contain 'largest dengue fever outbreak in a decade', as disease kills 18 people

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Dengue fever has struck countries across the Pacific, where health authorities have recorded 23,500 suspected cases and 16,000 laboratory confirmed cases this year. The mosquito-borne illness has killed 18 people,...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Completes Major Digital Upgrade for Five Pacific National Tourism Organisations

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Trove Tourism Development Advisors as its Lead Digital Specialists, has successfully delivered a transformative digital upgrade for five National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) whom are...

A sales-pitch pivot brings deep-sea mining closer to reality

Early on, Canada-based The Metals Company cast the rocks it seeks to mine from the deep seafloor as a crucial resource for electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies, positioning them as a solution to the accelerating climate crisis....

Record dengue fever outbreaks challenge Pacific health systems

Dengue fever continues to surge across the Pacific, reaching record levels and pushing health systems to their limits. Since January, more than 16,500 cases and at least 17 deaths have been reported in the region, according to the Pacific...

Why Haven’t PNG and Australia Signed the Pukpuk Mutual Defense Treaty Yet?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in Papua New Guinea (PNG) last week for two purposes. The first was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence from Australia, and the second was to sign a new defense treaty between...