The third world’s LDC conundrum

The least developed countries (LDCs) have been struggling to graduate to developing nations for years. But at the same time, these countries fear losing preferential trade, exports, and employment. So, they hesitate and step back even after...

These countries are sinking into the sea. What happens when they disappear forever?

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...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – August 22 – August 28, 2025 

Editor’s Note: We are undergoing a web host migration process and may need to make necessary modifications to our format and frequency over the next several weeks. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Political Leadership and Regionalism,...

A Credibility Test: Will the U.S. Stand by the Pacific Islands Region Amid Its Exclusion?

Scheduled for September in the Solomon Islands, the 2025 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting was expected to serve as a key test for U.S.-Pacific Islands relations. However, recent developments indicate that the U.S.—along with China and...

SI delegation backs launch of Pacific inter-parliamentary association

BY NED GAGAHE A six-member delegation from the National Parliament has returned after participating in the 5th Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) Conference held at the InterContinental Hotel in Natadola, Fiji, from August 26–29, 2025....

Op-ed: Reopening US Pacific marine monuments does not threaten pelagic ecosystems

Ray Hilborn is a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, a member of the Science and Statistics Committee of the Western Fisheries Management Council, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the...

Hon. Mike Eman to speak at Virtual Island Summit 2025

By Thaiz Macie From Island Innovation The Honorable Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, will be speaking at the Virtual Island Summit 2025. This is the very first time he will address global audiences at the Summit. Also speaking at the event will...

Pacific communities gather for annual RSE workers' sports celebrations

Not even the persistent rain could dampen the spirit at Blake Park on Saturday, as hundreds of Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers from across the Bay of Plenty region came together for the 2025 RSE Sports Festival in Mount...

Pacific Water Ministers Meeting Concludes with Strong Regional Commitments

Wednesday 27 August 2025, Honiara – The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded yesterday in Honiara, with ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and...

America’s counterattack on China’s growing influence in the Pacific islands

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class James Phelps from Indianapolis, Indiana, assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), conducts a dive at the grotto on the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oct. 27, 2021. (U.S....

Island Leaders to Address 10,000 Attendees at Virtual Island Summit 2025

The Honorable Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, and Antonio Morales Méndez, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria are headlining the agenda at the 2025 Virtual Island Summit (VIS) taking place September 15-19th, joining a plethora of other...

UPSC Key: Fiji-India relationship, Tourism sector and Salwa Judum

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Story continues...

Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting concludes

The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded on Tuesday in Honiara, with Ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and sanitation across the region. The...

The World's Least Visited Country is Sinking into the Sea

The most popular tourist destinations are, unsurprisingly, large, well-known countries. France, Spain, and the United States see hundreds of millions of visitors annually. Nations at the bottom of the list are a little more obscure, but Tuvalu is...

The World Court just ruled countries can be held liable for climate change damage – what does that mean for the US?

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion in July 2025 declaring that...

These Are the Most Boring Countries to Live In, According to Reddit

Not every country offers constant buzz. Some move at a slower pace, where routines settle in and little changes from day to day. On Reddit, travelers and locals often single out a handful of places that feel especially quiet or uneventful, the...

Australia tops new list of most expensive passports in the world - but here's the list of countries it will get you into without a visa

By NICHOLAS WILSON, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 09:53 EDT, 24 August 2025 | Updated: 09:53 EDT, 24 August 2025 The Australian passport has been revealed as the most expensive in the world for the second year in a row, but research suggests...

Michigan Economic and Security Review group calls Ford-CATL partnership a high-risk tech venture

The Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group has declared the Ford-CATL partnership a high-risk venture, raising concerns about national and economic security. This announcement was made on the social media platform X. According to...

Rockefeller Foundation Supports Discussion on Ethical Role of Governments, Businesses and Society in Addressing the Climate Emergency

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA | August 22, 2025 ― The city of Bogotá, Colombia, hosted the South, Central American, and Caribbean Dialogue of the Ethical Global Stocktake (GST) on Thursday, August 21. As one of the four pillars of social mobilization leading...

Get Ahead of Property Tax and Business License Compliance

Thank you for your interest in the webinar! Check your inbox for an email with instructions on viewing this on-demand presentation. Oops something went wrong. Watch Now {"LSQLeadFields":[{"Seq":1,"Name":"First...