Pacific islands bound by climate change, divided by deep-sea mining: Nauru…

“The climate crisis is not up for debate,” Micronesian President Wesley Simina said. “The only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands.” Pacific island leaders agreed. At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly...

Pacific Islands focus: health and gender inequities, climate updates, and some hope for marine biodiversity

Introduction by Croakey: In breaking news on Thursday, Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence agreement with Australia. PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement, known as the PukPuk treaty, “will elevate the two...

Pacific islands bound by climate change, divided by deep-sea mining: Nauru swimming against the tide

Deep-sea mining equipment. Photo courtesy of Impossible Metals “The climate crisis is not up for debate,” Micronesian President Wesley Simina said. “The only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands.” Pacific island leaders...

Australian government extends use of Nauru as a refugee prison

Without any prior public notification or scrutiny, the Australian Labor government has just extended a contract for the running of an asylum seeker prison on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru until at least 2027. Accommodation in the Nauru offshore...

Commonwealth takes Nauru bank service

THE University of the South Pacific (USP) is proud to announce that five of its academics have been recognised among the world’s Top 2% scientists by Stanford University for 2025. This prestigious ranking identifies researchers whose work is among...

What Pacific Island leaders told the UN about climate, conflict and peace

A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York,...

What Pacific Island leaders told the UN General Assembly about climate, conflict and peace

A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York,...

Nauru ‘peddling dangerous fallacies’ at UNGA: Greenpeace

Greenpeace Australia Pacific FIJI/SYDNEY – Friday, 26 September 2025 — In response to Nauru’s statement on deep sea mining at the UN General Assembly, where it falsely claimed deep sea minerals were ‘essential’ for the green energy transition, the...

Morning Mail: Alarm at Nauru detention contract price rise; LIV golf course plan threatens Indigenous site; Albanese backs Starmer

Good morning. We lead today with revelations that a US private prisons operator will be paid $790m to hold just over 100 people on Nauru after the government expanded its contract in a decision called “absurd” by critics. In South Australia, a...

Nauru President defends seabed mining in UNGA speech

Nauru's President David Adeang has defended moves to open his country's waters to deep sea mining. He called on the International Seabed Authority to speed up its drafting of regulations for Nauru to adopt...so it could have global approval on...

Nauru ratifies Pacific Resilience Facility, calls climate finance a “lifeline” for…

Nauru has deposited its instrumental of ratification for the historic Pacific-led climate initiative – the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), during the partners roundtable talanoa, at the United Nations headquarters in New York Tuesday. During...

'History will not judge us by our words' - Pacific leaders' climate call at UNGA

Photo: LEONARDO MUNOZ The president of Nauru has told world leaders small island developing states still face unacceptable barriers to climate finance. Speaking at the United Nations General Debate in New York, David Adeang said climate change is...

‘We are Micronesia’ declared as Nauru prepares for inaugural Micronesia Festival

Miss Nauru - Charlei Deiye YAREN — Nauru is set to host a celebration of Micronesia through music and pageantry at the inaugural Micronesia Musical Festival and Miss Micronesia Pageant that will run from Oct. 6 to 9, 2025. The major cultural event...

NZYQ member could be sent to Nauru within weeks after fourth visa granted

A fourth member of the so-called NZYQ cohort is back in immigration detention after being issued a Nauruan visa, as the government steams ahead with its plan to deport hundreds of convicted criminals to the tiny island nation. They were taken into...

Small nations demand unity, fairness, and action: Nauru President Adeang…

Nauru President David Adeang has told world leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) that his country, though small, carries a strong voice for peace, resilience, and fairness in global governance. “It is an honour to address...

Pacific leaders launch memorandum for investors to climate fund

Pacific leaders meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA for a PRF Partners Roundtable Talanoa. 23 September 2025 Photo: Supplied / Finau Soqo Pacific leaders have met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to launch a...

Phosphate mining ruined Nauru. Can it find its way again?

Imagine being one of the world’s richest countries – but amassing all of that wealth by exploiting a single resource that’s soon to run out. That was the conundrum facing the Pacific island nation of Nauru in the 1970s. Once the world’s top...

IMF EXECUTIVE BOARD CONCLUDES 2025 ARTICLE IV CONSULTATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF NAURU

The following information was released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF): On September 17, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Nauru.[1] The...

Exile to a vanishing shore: human rights, climate and the Nauru ‘solution’

The recently announced deal to send hundreds of refugees to Nauru raises serious questions about human rights and environmental obligations. Alison Battisson and Janet Pelly explain. The Nauru deal was triggered by a 2023 High Court judgment,...

Nauru sells citizenship to wealthy while 'poor' refugees remain in detention, advocate says

The entrance to Regional Processing Centre, one or RPC1, currently holding around 90 asylum seekers on Nauru. Photo: Caleb Fotheringham A refugee advocate in Australia says Nauru's citizenship initiative is "a national pariah". Nauru is enticing...