An Uber to a higher purpose

When I first arrived in Harrisonburg on 12 August 2023 in the United States to study for a master’s degree at James Madison University in Virginia as a Fulbrighter from Papua New Guinea, courtesy of the US Embassy in Port Moresby, my immediate...

Fiji eyes new agriculture opportunities with Israel

Source: Fiji Government / Facebook Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says opportunities to grow Fiji’s agricultural sector are taking shape, with Israel expressing strong interest in supporting the industry. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren...

Australian think tank proposes 'Pacific-Eyes' intelligence alliance for regional security

The "Pacific-Eyes" concept draws "inspiration" from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance between the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Photo: 123RF An Australian think tank has proposed an intelligence-sharing agreement between...

Pacific nations reel in tuna gains through initiatives

PAPUA New Guinea and Pacific Island countries are currently enjoying the catch value of tuna through the East New Britain Initiative that was endorsed by the Special Fisheries Committee in Kokopo in 2023. National Fisheries Authority (NFA) acting...

A New Era For Digital Agriculture In PNG: AMIS Officially Launched For Evidence-Based Planning And Management

Press Release – EU STREIT PNG This innovative Agriculture Management Information System is more than a database, it is a comprehensive decision-support system that enables real-time, data-driven insights for evidence-based policymaking. Port...

The mice that roared: how eight tiny countries took on foreign fishing fleets

By Christopher Pala It has been described as “the most remarkable achievement of the Pacific island countries in the last 50 years”. In 1982, eight, mostly minuscule Pacific island countries in whose waters much of the world’s skipjack tuna was...

Marape calls for unity and reflection at launch of Reset PNG@50

The Prime Minister cutting the ribbon to the Reset PNG@50 blueprint (Image: PM's Media) Prime Minister James Marape today launched the Reset PNG@50 blueprint in Port Moresby, calling on Papua New Guineans to reflect on the past 50 years of...

PNG Welcomes Sinopec’s Entry into Local Petroleum Industry

Papua New Guinea’s petroleum sector has gained new momentum with the announcement that Chinese energy giant Sinopec will set up a subsidiary in the country. The move, confirmed on September 24 in Port Moresby, followed discussions between...

PNG PM Marape Says Ok Tedi Wealth Yet to Improve People’s Lives

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has admitted that the economic gains from the Ok Tedi mine have not yet translated into tangible improvements for the people of Western Province. During the closing ceremony of the CMCA workshop in Port...

Why Australia Should Amplify the Pacific Region’s Voice in APEC

Climate diplomacy efforts in the Pacific are an integral part of Australian foreign policy under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. After taking office in 2022, Albanese formally reinstated an Australian ambassador for climate change. The ambassador...

Israel signals possible peacekeeping role in Gaza

ISRAEL says Fiji’s neutral and highly skilled military could play a valuable role in future peacekeeping efforts once negotiations on Gaza’s next phase are complete. The indication came as Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said discussions...

League stars inspire city students

THE Santos National Football Stadium was filled with energy and excitement on Tuesday as students from four Port Moresby schools took part in the Pacific Championships school clinic – an event that used the power of rugby league to promote...

Pope Leo makes beloved ‘doctor of the poor’ Venezuela’s first saint

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...

Dubizzle Group postpones IPO

Dubizzle Group said on Wednesday it has decided to postpone its plans for an initial public offering (IPO), without giving a reason for the move. The postponement comes barely 10 days after the company announced its intention to float and one day...

The Pukpuk Mutual Defense Agreement: Security or Polarization?

Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon be bound by a mutual defense obligation, requiring each to come to the other’s aid in the event of an attack. The two nations have recently drafted a major security agreement known as the Pukpuk...

The bear and the bot farm: Countering Russian hybrid warfare in Africa

Summary Russia has made significant inroads in Africa—particularly in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic and Mali—deploying military operations that, while limited in scope, are often devastating for local civilian populations. At the same...

Gitex is the ideal platform for making sense of a rapidly changing world

As the global system continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, artificial intelligence and other technologies have emerged as central forces driving this transformation. This was vividly demonstrated at the annual Gitex Global held in Dubai...

Woodford Folk Festival announces huge 2025/26 line-up

Australia’s largest gathering of music, art and ideas, Woodford Folk Festival, has unveiled its 38th edition program and announced tickets are now on sale. Running from 27 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, the six-day festival will transform...

Cook Islands PM Brown welcomes United States’ increasing engagements in the Pacific

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has welcomed the United States’ increasing involvement in the Pacific. Brown, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, made the comments in the U.S-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue in Port...

Urgent Action Needed To Protect Coconuts

Press Release – PGRSC Pacific users will discuss solutions to challenges faced across the region as well as learn new tools and skillsets, with technologies like GIS and Remote Sensing already transforming fields from agriculture to disaster...