Pacific leaders have backed a communique criticising China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test at their most significant regional meeting.

A major police investigation is underway in Papua New Guinea's capital after a group of armed men held up private security vehicles carrying gold bullion and cash.

The Pacific region has been slightly sidelined in first few days of the Pacific Islands Forum have as tensions bubble between external partners, but priorities are turning back to the region focusing on drug smuggling, international crime and climate change.

Speaking from the PIF Leaders summit in Palau, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters says he's sceptical about President Taneti Maamau of Kiribati's no show.

Just hours after landing in Palau for this week's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Matthew Wale was called back due to a no-confidence motion filed against him.

Papua New Guinea’s government has tabled the results of Bougainville’s 2019 independence referendum. It's the beginning of a parliamentary process that will lead to a historic vote on whether or not independence will be officially granted.

A key milestone in Bougainville's path towards independence will be reached today when Papua New Guinea's parliament decides on whether to ratify an independence referendum.

The International Federation of Journalists are calling for defamation charges against a veteran Samoan journalist to be dropped immediately.

The Tongan government is investigating what happened after a boat carrying more than a dozen whale watchers capsized in rough seas.

The Australian judge who oversaw a controversial commission of inquiry in Fiji says he has no regrets about how he conducted himself despite being heavily criticised by the country's High Court.