OPINION | Are we exporting our future? | The true cost of Fiji’s labour policies

The scale of the problem SINCE 2018, approximately 114,000 Fijians – nearly 12 per cent of our entire population – have left the country. That’s equivalent to losing every resident of Lautoka and Nadi combined. Deputy Prime Minister Professor...

Signs of life return near the Hunga sunken volcano

Marine life is faintly resurging around the seafloor destroyed by Tonga’s 2022 Hunga eruption. It has been more than three and a half years since the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai underwater volcano battered Tonga’s sea floor...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – October 10 – 16, 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,...

Bold promises as questions remain unanswered just three months from Australia’s under-16 social media ban

As Anthony Albanese talked up his impending social media ban for under-16s this week to world leaders in New York, Australia’s eSafety Commission boss was on the other side of the USA attempting to figure out if Silicon Valley tech giants would...

Fighting climate change takes more than data — it needs wonder, love and hope

Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet Kate Marvel Ecco (2025) The idea that rising carbon dioxide concentrations could warm the planet dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. Women’s rights campaigner and scientist Eunice...

The Metals Company pushes ahead with deep sea mining plans in Pacific waters

New information shows Canadian mining group The Metals Company (TMC) is a step closer to deep sea mining in international waters under controversial U.S laws. Two Pacific nations, Nauru and Tonga, are involved as the company’s partners, even...

Laying the foundation: BYUH introduces construction and facilities management as a major

Ongoing construction at BYU–Hawaii in 2025 Photo by Haley Cowan Distinct from the structure of the engineering and architecture programs, construction and facilities management (CFM) is set to be an official major under the Faculty of Math &...

New DoC apps let Kiwis aid marine conservation

New Zealanders are being urged to turn everyday moments into marine conservation wins, as the Department of Conservation launches two new citizen science tools aimed at protecting some of the country’s rarest ocean species. With an estimated 695...

America's CDC crisis imperils domestic, international public health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), America’s Cabinet-level, executive, national public health agency, which once prided itself on conducting science-based, data-driven analysis of pathogens and diseases, has fallen victim to...

The Wyatt Sicks to add 8-time champion to their group for a potential WarGames match? Exploring the possibility

It seems that the Wyatt Sicks now have an opponent for this year's Survivor Series: WarGames. Last week's episode of SmackDown saw Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis successfully defend their WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits, thanks to...

Manta rays go to extremes to build mental maps of the ocean

Giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris). Credit: MV Erdmann Giant oceanic manta rays, the largest species of ray, glide thousands of kilometres across vast, featureless stretches of open ocean between the tropical and subtropical habitats they...

Released WWE star on X: "Well obviously I had to have pi*sed somebody off lmao!"

A recently-released WWE star has shared a lengthy message on his X handle, reacting to being let go by the Stamford-based promotion. BJ Ray had quite a lot to say about his release. BJ Ray, one of the most controversial wrestling stars in recent...

Solo Sikoa's SmackDown promos are a waste of time, claims WWE veteran - "We've seen it a million times" (Exclusive)

Former WWE head writer Vince Russo spoke about Solo Sikoa's promo this week. The Street Champion appeared in a video package on SmackDown. The leader of MFT showed up once again in a vignette played during the show. Last week, he showered praise...

Ronaldo sets new record but Portugal forced to wait to seal spot at World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for World Cup qualifying goals on Tuesday, but Portugal were denied early passage to next year’s finals after a late Hungary equaliser forced a 2-2 draw in Lisbon. Two goals from the Portugal captain – the first...

The Big Question: Is there too much sport?

Too long, too hard, too intense. In recent years, the complaints have become louder and fiercer, as professional athletes feel the impact of an ever-increasing number of events, races and tournaments in a packed sporting calendar. In a sporting...

Royal backing boosts cervical cancer fight in Pacific

Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu visited UNSW Sydney to spotlight efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Pacific nations. During the visit this week, Queen Nanasipauʻu met program leaders, researchers and partners from UNSW and the University of...

Eru Kapa-Kingi says he has no regrets about turning on Te Pāti Māori

Activist Eru Kapa-Kingi Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Prominent activist Eru Kapa-Kingi has declared he does not "regret a single thing" about his dramatic cutting-of-ties with Te Pāti Māori, saying he knew he would be "dragged through the...

3 WWE Superstars The Wyatt Sicks must add for their feud against MFT

Last week's episode of SmackDown marked the third time Uncle Howdy wasn't seen with The Wyatt Sicks. Despite his absence on the show, his teammates, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis, successfully defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street...

Voices: Taxes on alcohol and smoking can help countries facing severe aid cuts

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...

Vince McMahon pitched embarrassing WWE angle to major star right in front of his wife

A WWE Hall of Famer has shared the story of the moment Vince McMahon pitched an incredibly weird angle to him. When McMahon pitched the stalker angle to former WCW World Heavyweight Champion DDP, his wife was right there beside him. DDP is one of...