Pacific Islands News Roundup – January 29 – February 4, 2026

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security

• Bougainville rejects Chinese partner for mine that will fund independence (PACNEWS/Reuters)
  
• Bougainville President Toroama declares Panguna Mine to reopen by June (NBC PNG)
  
• PM invites US Deputy Secretary of State to visit Tonga during “high-level” talks on US visas and other issues (Matangi Tonga)
  
• Fiji PM signals possible resignation after court rules anti-corruption chief dismissal unlawful (PMN)
  
• ‘Renewed chapter’: Marshall Islands President Heine meets PM Albanese in Canberra (RNZ)
  
• ‘Treat us with dignity’: Pacific visa fight returns to NZ Parliament (PMN)
  
• Koror State Legislature makes history with first woman Speaker (Island Times)
  
• French National Assembly adopts the Arbelot law to facilitate compensation for victims of nuclear tests in French Polynesia (Tahiti Infos)
  
• Fiji Seeks Stronger US Support on Drug Threat (Fiji One)
  
• UPNG survey shows low student support for Bougainville independence (NBC PNG)
  
• Germany recognises Niue as a sovereign state by formalising diplomatic relations (PMN)
  
• Tokelau heads to the polls after storm delays (RNZ)
  
• Visa glitch triggers duplicate charges for Rarotonga visitors (PMN)

People-Centered Development

• Micronesia: Island US military veterans struggle to get healthcare (RNZ)
  
• Health agency flags concern following rise in vaping across Pacific (Island Times)
  
• Vanuatu set for largest-ever health outreach initiative (Vanuatu Daily Post)
  
• Pacific farmers rely more on farmer groups than governments, study finds (Pacific Island Times)
  
• Human Rights Commission raises alarm over Fiji’s human trafficking record (Fiji Times)
  
• Building of community-based aged care centres for Tonga, a priority for new Minister (Matangi Tonga)
  
• Pacific DNA research could change how diabetes and obesity are medicated (Island Times)
  
• Hawaiʻi practitioners say AI has no place in cultural tattoo practices (HPR)
  
• ‘It’s about people’: Some Hawaiʻi businesses voice opposition to ICE actions (HPR)
  
• In Marshall Islands, people connection matters more than anything else (Pacific Island Times)
  
• Health is more fragile than in mainland France, and there are marked differences with other overseas territories (Tahiti Infos)
  
• Four strings, one ocean: Pacific islands roots take centre stage on World Ukulele Day (PMN)

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

• Microplastics found in a third of surveyed fish off the coasts of Pacific Islands (Pasifika Environews/Phys.org)
  
• Tonga and Australia sign renewable energy pact to boost clean power transition (Talanoa O’ Tonga)
  
• Guam Governor would support ban on deep-sea mining in Guam waters, headed to DC to lobby issue (Guam PDN)
  
• USAID cuts hits climate resilience and governance projects in PNG (The National)
  
• National deep-sea mining experts visit Am Samoa to support community opposition (Samoa News)
  
• Fiji seas warm above normal, coral reefs at risk (FBC)
  
• With $130M in new ‘green fees’ expected, Hawaiʻi eyes 75 projects to address a long list of environment-related needs (Maui Now)
  
• Cook Islands prepares domestic groundwork as global ocean treaty takes effect (Cook Island News)
  
• From Pest to Progress: Vanuatu Future Fund Leads National Response to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (International Business Times)
  
• Oceanfront Lahaina Property Owners May Get Buyout In Updated Disaster Plan (Civil Beat)
  
• ‘Wetlands are lifelines: Leaving abundance for the next generation,’ says Minister Tabuya (Pasifika Environews)
  
• Governor: Guam is prepared for emergencies (Pacific Daily News)

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

• NZ pulls plug on $6.7m power project in Papua New Guinea amid tribal violence (RNZ)
  
• CNMI utility seeks up to US$700m in federal funding for power upgrades (RNZ)
  
• Ferry network could link Northern Marianas and Guam, study finds (RNZ)
  
• EU–Pacific Trade Talks Boost Regional Opportunities (Fiji One)
  
• Fiji’s kava sector surges past $190M annually (Fiji Times)
  
• Inflation rate in American Samoa drops into the negative (Samoa News)
  
• Hawaiʻi’s Cost Of Living Is High. But There’s Another Huge Problem (Civil Beat)
  
• Palau president at ADB (Islands Business)
  
• Qantas’ Brisbane-Palau Route Surges as Whipps Pushes for Second Weekly Flight (Island Times)
  
• Vanuatu Island Focus Initiative targets key crops, livestock, and forestry on each island (Vanuatu Daily Post)

Disclaimer:

The PIR seeks to include news coverage from news outlets across the Pacific, representing a diversity of coverage in the region. Please note that the inclusion of article links does not represent PIR or PIDP endorsement of the information presented in the articles.

---

The Pacific Islands Report (PIR) is a project of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center and the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

This non-exhaustive news roundup, featuring open-access information, is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.

Subscribe to get our news roundups delivered to your email inbox and explore our archives at pireport.org.

We value your feedback.