The incumbent prime minister has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency, opening move in the political chess match to form the next government of Solomon Islands.

The incoming head of the Pacific region's main political body is yet to sign his contract, almost six months after the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Rarotonga.

The French-proposed "pact" to salvage New Caledonia's beleaguered nickel industry is still in limbo as the local Congress has decided to re-examine the whole document through a "special committee".

Hundreds of high-powered firearms - allegedly stolen from weapons disposal sites - are still in use today, the police chief in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville says.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including the arrest of a French Polynesian dancer on drug charges.

Opinion - Restrengthening connections between Pacific tauiwi (settlers) and Māori is an important step towards transforming Aotearoa's constitution, to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi.

A round-up of news in brief from around the region, including Papua New Guinea's public sector workfroce beholden to loan sharks.

A wrap of sport that took place this week from around the region, including rugby, rugby league, soccer, tennis, swimming.

Human error and venue complications hampered the first day of counting in Solomon Islands but a steady stream of provisional results are expected today as more counting centres come online.

Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said the team will need to focus on their own game and do the basics right.

Live and Learn Tonga says more people are struggling and there was a need for assistance to be refocused to urban areas in the Kingdom.

The counting process for Solomon Islands' joint election is only just getting underway as the retrieval of ballot boxes from polling stations all across the country continues.

The health chief has confirmed about 80 people have been affected by the mosquite-borne disease and number of cases are going up.

"We have been treating gender equality as a women's issue only for far too long," SPC principal strategic lead for Pacific women and girls, Mereseini Rakuita, says.

The 9th Our Oceans Conference in Greece brings together government delegations from around the world to discuss challenges affecting their countries, including efforts to mitigate climate change.

A round-up of news in brief from around the region, including New Zealand's Speaker of the House leading a delegation to the Cook Islands and Niue.

A Pasifika survivor of abuse in a faith-based institution in New Zealand is calling for a proper, "meaningful", in person apology from the Catholic Church to happen through formal redress.

After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations.