Independent State of Papua New Guinea — a Melanesian island nation in the Pacific
New Zealand has confirmed its first mainland detection of H5 bird flu after a brown skua found on Petone beach has tested positive. Authorities have said there is no evidence of mass mortality or poultry infection, but surveillance and a targeted vaccination programme for endangered captive birds have been activated as officials monitor wild populations.
Les Mills International founder Leslie Roy Mills has died at 91. A company statement says he died peacefully; his career spanned Olympic competition, mayoralty in Auckland, and building a global fitness brand. His son Phillip Mills says his father left a lasting impact on health and community through gym culture.
Australia and Fiji have formalised new defence arrangements aimed at countering China’s influence in the Pacific. The Ocean of Peace Alliance and the Vuvale Union strengthen regional security commitments, with Australia pledging over a billion dollars in funding over the next decade to support security, development, and regional stability.
China has test‑launched a long‑range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the South Pacific carrying a dummy warhead. Beijing has said the launch was routine and that relevant countries were notified; Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pacific states have condemned the test as destabilising and said notice was insufficient.
Modi has stepped up engagement across the Indo-Pacific, signing agreements with Indonesia, Australia and others amid regional security tensions. China has tested a ballistic missile in the Pacific, prompting concerns over Beijing's expanding military reach. Modi's three-nation tour highlights New Delhi's aim to shape regional balance.
Papua New Guinea has closed Taiwan’s Taipei Economic Office, a move Beijing calls a consolidation of ties and a win for the One-China principle. China welcomes the decision as the Pacific shifts its diplomatic footprint amid Taiwan’s dwindling regional presence.
Athletes across several disciplines have delivered a day of high drama at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with stunning medals in boxing, judo and powerlifting. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all feature on the podium as the schedule enters its final phase.
Nigel Farage has unveiled "Operation Fortress": a Reform UK plan to use the Royal Navy to intercept small boats in the English Channel, detain those on board, and return them to France or Belgium. The proposal has drawn legal, military and diplomatic scepticism, French officials have condemned it, and rivals say it aims to distract from party financial scandals.
Nauru has inaugurated an embassy in Jerusalem, making it one of the few small states to move or open a mission in the disputed city. The ceremony’s remarks cast the move as a clear alignment with Israel, drawing swift responses that frame the act as a challenge to the international status quo and to potential Palestinian rights protections. Other nations have followed or signaled similar moves in recent years, heightening the diplomatic scramble over Jerusalem’s status.
England's rugby union head coach Steve Borthwick has had his contract extended past the 2028 Six Nations to provide certainty ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia. The RFU says the move will allow time to decide leadership beyond the tournament while backing the team if they perform well in Australia.
UNICEF reports 171 million learners across 106 countries faced climate-related disruptions in 2025. Storms, floods and heatwaves disrupted classes; girls face higher dropout risks. The report warns of US$200 billion in potential lifetime earnings losses and calls for resilient school infrastructure and data systems.