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Pacific News headlines with summaries.
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New Caledonia's path to 2026 FIFA World Cup revealed
The French territory will take on Jamaica in the play-off tournament semifinal. If they win, they will play Democratic Republic of Congo for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Narco subs appear in Pacific amid warnings cartels are ramping up trafficking to Australia
21 Nov 2025In the past 12 months, three empty vessels - bearing the hallmarks of boats used by Mexican and South American drug lords - have been found floating near the Solomon Islands.
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'Little bit of hysteria' at COP30 fire
The lead Pacfic campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific says the fire ended up burning a hole through the ceiling.
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Brown says govt officials have engaged 'consistently' with NZ
20 Nov 2025The Cook Islands Prime Minister says ministers and officials have engaged "consistently" with New Zealand through every formal channel to address tensions with Aotearoa.
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Pasifika Sipoti in brief
A round-up of sports news from around the region, including Flying Fijian Lekima Tagitagivalu nominated for try of the year.
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'Ikale Tahi to focus on options for Scotland test
Tonga's head coach believes despite their recent losses to Argentina and the All Blacks, Scotland will be tough to beat at home.
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Pro-independence split widens, another party quits FLNKS
21 Nov 2025Another founding member of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front has formally split from the indigenous pro-independence movement.
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Samoan journalist calls newspaper ban 'premature'
An executive member of the Journalists Association of Samoa says Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa's decision to ban the Samoa Observer from press conferences came as a shock. Audio
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Pacific news in briefs
20 Nov 2025A round-up of news from around the region, including formal negotiations between Vanuatu and France on sovereignty over Umaenupne and Umaeneg islands.
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Pasifika smoking rates halved, but still twice the national average
19 Nov 2025A health leader has labelled the latest Pasifika smoking rates "totally unacceptable", despite the New Zealand government celebrating them.
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Non-profit calls for stronger action on illegal fishing and high seas transhipment
19 Nov 2025The Pew Charitable Trust believes the Pacific Tuna Commission needs to do more on port side measures in order to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.
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Polls close in Tonga general election
While more than 64,700 had registered to vote, only those in the country could vote as there are no overseas voting provisions under the kingdom's electoral laws.
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Tonga election: Two new noble representatives elected
Voting continues for the general public to elect 17 people's representatives, who will join their nine noble counterparts in the Legislative Assembly.
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After 15 years of democracy, is Tonga turning back to its king?
Thursday's general election occurs less than a year after the former PM Hu'akavameiliku resigned in parliament, just minutes after a no-confidence motion against him.
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Tonga election: Polls open for voters to elect new parliament
There are 71 candidates vying for a seat in parliament, including eight women. Audio
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Pacific news in brief
19 Nov 2025A round-up of news from around the region, including Nauru's deputy minister for public health saying diabetes is a national crisis.
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Manu Samoa qualifies for 2027 Rugby World Cup
Samoa has claimed its ticket to Australia after a hard fought 13-13 draw against Belgium in Dubai.
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'Just want answers': Samoa editor responds as PM bans newspaper over coverage
The Samoa Observer editor says "we're not fighting the government" and "we're trying to do a job" to hold government to account. Audio
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Tonga prepares for polls amid fuel shortages in Nuku'alofa
A fuel shortage on the eve of the general election highlights a variety of challenges Tongans are juggling as they prepare to head to the polls.
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'We all have to do our bit': Ardern urges collective climate action
The former New Zealand prime minister, who is at COP30 in Belém, says every nation needs to do its bit when it comes to climate change. Audio
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Pasifika Sipoti in brief
A round-up of sports news from around the region, including Pacific teams rising up the international rugby league rankings.
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Moana Minerals backs five-year seabed exploration extension
18 Nov 2025The seabed mining company's comments follow the Cook Islands decision to extend the ongoing exploration period for a further five years, until 2032.
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Four decades on, Wa'a Hōkūle'a returns to Aotearoa
Forty years after the Hawaiian Wa'a Hōkūle'a's maiden voyage to Aotearoa sparked the renaissance/revival of Polynesian wayfinding, she is once again a classroom at sea.
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Samoan PM bans nation's only newspaper from govt access
The ban on Samoa Observer comes as La'aulialemalietoa faces legal pressure and growing questions over transparency after a heated confrontation with media at his home.
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