Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

World News | Royal Train to End 156 Years of Service as King Charles III Seeks to Economise
London, Jul 1 (AP) The Royal Train will soon leave the station for the last time. King Charles III has accepted it's time to decommission the train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria, because it costs too much to operate and would have...

King Charles and Queen Camilla's royal tour scrutinised as cost of trip to Australia and Samoa revealed
The staggering cost of King Charles and Queen Camilla's trip to Australia and Samoa last year has been revealed as part of the Royal Household's Sovereign Grant Report. Their Majesties' 11-day tour was the monarch’s first trip to a Commonwealth...

Queen Elizabeth II's favourite form of transport to be scrapped
Queen Elizabeth II's favourite form of transport, the royal train, has reached the end of the line and is set to be decommissioned. At a briefing revealing the annual financial report for the Royal Family, and confirming details of a huge £91m...

King Charles to retire iconic Royal Train that was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth
The train, introduced in 1977 and powered by biofuel, will be retired next year due to rising costs. King Charles is set to retire the late Queen Elizabeth’s cherished Royal Train after decades of service, as part of efforts to cut costs amid the...

Princess Kate and Prince William receive new power from King Charles
King Charles has appointed the Prince William and Princess Kate as grantees of Royal Warrants, marking a significant expansion of their official duties. The new arrangement allows the Prince and Princess of Wales to grant warrants to companies...

A better Samoa starts with education
There are children now faced with an uncertain future as district councils have turned away from the promises they made. For many of these children, education is a means of escaping poverty and achieving a better future. These children are having...

British & Irish Lions vs Reds: TV info and kick off time as starting XV named and Scotland star gets call up
The British and Irish Lions are currently preparing for their second tour match in Australia. After kicking off their preparations for their three-test series against Australia with a 24-28 defeat against Argentina last weekend, Andy Farrell’s men...

Williams out of tour and replaced by White as Lions name XV to face Reds
Tomos Williams is out of the British & Irish Lions tour, having sustained a hamstring injury in the win over Western Force. Ben White, the Scotland No9, has replaced him. The Wales scrum half Williams, 30, suffered the injury when scoring his...

Japan can help the Pacific become more resilient
Australia’s 2024 national defence strategy describes Japan as an ‘indispensable partner’ for achieving regional peace and security. But the prominence of the growing defence relationship between Japan and Australia, while vital, risks obscuring...

UOG TO HOST PACIFIC TEACHER EDUCATION FORUM
The University of Goroka (UoG) in the Eastern Highlands province is set to host the inaugural Pacific Teacher Challenge Conference from July 5th to 7th, 2025. This landmark event, the first of its kind for UoG and a significant gathering for the...
Pacific news in brief for 23 June
Photo: 123RF Papua New Guinea - health A senior health official in Papua New Guinea is promising action after revelations some nurses are wanting payment for writing referrals for patients. The Post Courier reports claims of such a practice were...

The Best Rugby Players In The World: No. 100-75: Henry Pollock Has Arrived
Italy managed only one win at the 2025 Six Nations, which came against Wales. For a team looking to improve upon an impressive 2024 tournament, where it had two wins, including one against Scotland, it was a disappointment. Still, with stars such...

Marist Saints to fly Samoa’s flag at Heilala 9s
Excitement is building as the Marist Saints prepare to depart for Tonga on Monday to compete in the highly anticipated Heilala International 9-a-side Rugby League Tournament, scheduled to kick off next Friday as part of the vibrant Heilala...

Ann Cairns ensures Samoa’s first medal is Gold at Palau Mini Games
Source: Vodafone Samoa. Samoa has secured its first medal at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau through the efforts of Anne Cairns who assured it was nothing less than GOLD 🥇✨ Source: Vodafone Samoa. Anne Cairns won gold in the V1 500-metre Vaa. Malo...

Wrestling Duo secure 2 Gold Medals for Samoa
The wrestling duo of Etitoa Tamati and Shane Palemia have both earned gold medals for Samoa at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Etitoa Tamatu earned his Gold medal in the Men’s 97kg Wrestling Freestyle while Shane Palemia earned his Gold medal in...

Introducing your National Bank of Samoa Weightlifting Team in Palau for the Mini Games
Your nbs Weightlifting Team 🇼🇸 PALAU 2025 Pacific Mini Games Women’s ⚡️Iuniara SIPAIA Event division Super 87kg+ Village : Saoluafata & Vaoala ⚡️Lesila FIAPULE Event division Super 80kg+ Village : Alafua ⚡️Avatu OPELOGE Event division 77kg Village...

Royal train to end 156 years of service as King Charles III seeks to economize
LONDON (AP) — EMBARGOED UNTIL 2100 GMT JUNE 30, 2025. (5 pm eastern) The Royal Train will soon leave the station for the last time. King Charles III has accepted it’s time to decommission the train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria,...

Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia arrive at center of Pacific voyaging heritage, Taputapuātea
Polynesian Voyaging Society’s traditional voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia, accompanied by Tahiti’s canoe Fa‘afaite, arrived early last week at their first stop in French Polynesia: Taputapuātea. Photo Courtesy: Polynesian Voyaging...

From the Heart of Samoa to the Deep South: Taula launches Partnership with Marist Otago Golf Club
Source: Marist Otago Golf Club. Taula Beverages has reached the deep south of Aotearoa with a partnership launched this past weekend with Martist Otago Golf Club. Taula featured last Friday at the Gladfield Golf Course as club members braved the...

Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list Close Pakistan’s passport now ranks 100th, it marks an improvement from its 113th position in 2021 Updated On: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:37:34 PKT ISLAMABAD...