Fiji

A new study tracks down where native iguanas in Fiji and an extinct species from Tonga came from, offering clues about the ecosystems of volcanic islands.

The United States and Fiji have signed a new defense pact amid concerns about China's military influence in the Pacific. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

Over the next 30 years, the Pacific Island region will experience at least 6 inches of sea level rise, according to a recent study by NASA. HPR’s Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

Researchers surveyed 46 participants, who were asked to watch amusing videos and have their facial reactions recorded by a Facial Action Coding System, which is a software that looks at expressions and muscle movements.

The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture has come to a close and thousands of Indigenous islanders are now returning home, each carrying a piece of cultural knowledge with them. HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports from the closing ceremony in Honolulu.

Traditional leaders from across the Pacific met at ʻIolani Palace to sign the Tuurama Ariki Declaration, which created the Oceania Traditional Leaders Forum. The declaration comes as Indigenous communities across the Pacific Islands wrestle with governments rolling back their rights. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has the story.

A Traditional Leaders Forum is underway as part of the Festival of the Pacific Arts and Culture. Traditional leaders from Fiji, Aotearoa, Sāmoa and Hawaiʻi are building on a history of diplomacy among Pacific nations dating back to the reign of King David Kalākaua. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Fiji’s former Prime Minister has been sentenced to a year in prison for interfering in a criminal investigation while he headed the country's government. This comes as the nation's ranking in a global press freedom index has improved. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

Fijian authorities say they are in the process of deporting six leaders of a South Korean religious sect. Hundreds of followers moved to the Pacific nation a decade ago and built a thriving business empire. HPR’s Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

New Zealand and Fiji have signed a defense agreement to strengthen military training and maritime security. It comes as regional tensions are rising over security. HPR’s Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.