Bougainville commemorated the 24th Anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) on 30 August 2025. The BPA is a historic accord signed between the people of Bougainville and the Papua New Guinea government 2001. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Bougainville - independence
Papua New Guinea's prime minister says Bougainville will have a good outcome, regardless of how PNG's parliament votes on its independence.
James Marape told The National that if parliament says 'yes' to independence then it will be processed; and if it says 'no', they will process something that is good for Bougainville.
Marape said he cannot pre-empt the parliamentary process outcomes, but the process is running.
Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, voted overwhelmingly - 97.7 percent - for independence in a non-binding referendum in 2019.
Guam - shutdown
Guam's governor Lou Leon Guerrero has ordered agencies to prepare contingency plans, following the US federal shutdown.
The US government began shutting down after midnight Wednesday, local time, as lawmakers and President Donald Trump failed to break a budget impasse.
Leon Guerrero said the impact on Guam's local government and community will depend on the length of the shutdown, and on the availability of prior-year funding that allows some federal programs to continue operating as normal.
She said similar things have happened before, and they will weather the storm together.
Meanwhile, in an effort to keep their country moving, Palau leaders have met to try and agree on their next budget promptly, to allow the government to resume regular operations.
Palau relies on funding from the US through a compact agreement.
Vanuatu - ocean
National Geographic Pristine Seas has launched a month-long expedition to study Vanuatu's ocean ecosystems.
Vanuatu waters are globally recognised for high biodiversity and at-risk species.
Local media reported the hope is for better protection for one of the world's most climate-exposed regions, threatened by frequent cyclones, rising temperatures, and overfishing.
Samoa - memorial
Samoans are remembering the loss of their family members killed in the aftermath of a tsunami 16 years ago.
On 29 September 2009, earthquakes generated tsunami waves of up to 22 metres, killing at least 192 people in Samoa.
Sagale Fa'aaliga Fauena told the Samoa Observer he still carries the grief of losing most of his family in one morning.
Seven members of his family died that day.
Aotearoa New Zealand - kava
New Zealand's Otago University has limited kava use on campus, as it creates its first policy on how the drink can be appropriately used.
PMN reported the restriction allows kava to only be used in ceremonies and approved research, to balance cultural respect with health and safety obligations.
The University of Otago's Pacific associate professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu acknowledged the drink's cultural significance but said the university must meet its duty of care as a public institution.
There is no clear timeline for the release of the university's formal policy but Sika-Paotonu said there will be opportunity for public feedback.
