The Latest Breaking News from Mark Brown

Turmoil over China’s influence in the affairs of South Pacific island nations has flared as it emerged that a Pacific leader at the region’s most important diplomatic summit apparently pledged to erase an affirmation of Taiwan’s involvement in the meeting from its closing statement

Torrential rain and an earthquake greeted leaders welcomed to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, underscoring climate change the region faces

Pacific island leaders are discussing where to next in the wake of deadly riots in the French territory of New Caledonia and concerns from Indigenous peoples.

A senior constable jailed for the violent arrest of a young woman is appealing findings he assaulted her and then falsified evidence about what happened.

The recent shootings of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont’s largest city come as the small rural state, often ranked as one of the safest in the country, is grappling with a spike in gun violence

Findings from an extensive review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have been released with ideas on how to transform it. Led by co-chairs Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul, the review heard from around 10,000 people before making 26 recommendations with 139 supporting actions. Presenting their findings, co-chairs wrote:

Leaders discussed phasing out fossil fuels and navigating Washington and Beijing’s battle for regional dominance, all while internal tensions bubbled below the surface

Members of the Pacific Islands Forums are weighing the economic potential of sea floor mining against possible harm to ocean ecosystems

On Thursday, on the small island of Aitutaki, the PM ditched the diplomatic metaphors and went for an actual jiggle