PINA

A prominent pro-France leader in New Caledonia, Sonia Backès, has resigned from the French government after a resounding defeat at France's Senatorial elections four days ago. In July 2022, Backès, a member of French President Macron's Renaissance party, had been appointed assistant minister for Citizenship in French Prime minister Elisabeth Borne's government. She is also President of New Caledonia's affluent Southern...

The United States is backing a new undersea internet cable connecting several Pacific islands, according to a plan for the project, boosting Washington's interests in a region where it is vying for influence with China. The Central Pacific Cable would connect American Samoa with Guam - two U.S territories - and extend to up to 12 more Pacific islands, according...

By Dr Transform Aqorau On 26 September, a significant announcement echoed across the Pacific region: The Solomon Islands officially joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). As the world watches closely, this latest membership has broad implications for the island nation and perhaps for the wider Pacific context. Why is this significant? The AIIB, established in 2016, has rapidly grown to be...

Fiji went for consistency in selection on Thursday for a Rugby World Cup game against Georgia that could put the popular Pacific islanders on the cusp of the quarterfinals. Everyone’s favorite underdog made just one change to the 15 that started and upset Australia 22-15 just under two weeks ago. Selesitino Ravutaumada is in at right wing for Jiuta Wainiqolo, who...

Japan boosted their quarter-final hopes with a hard-fought 28-22 Pool D victory over Samoa at Stadium de Toulouse, ensuring England are the second team to qualify for the knock-out stages. Pieter Labuschagne went over to give Japan the lead before his fellow flanker Michael Leitch popped up on the wing to add a second, as Samoa’s scrum-half Jonathan Taumateine was...

Oceania Rugby confirms Thursday that the 2023 Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship will be held at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, Australia on 10 - 12 November. The Queensland Government through the Department of Tourism, Innovation, and Sport are proud to host the 2023 Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship for the first time at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane. The Minister for Tourism and Sports...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the just-concluded United States-Pacific Leaders’ summit in Washington allowed Pacific Island leaders to discuss with President Joe Biden issues related to prosperity, security and sustainability in the region. “The summit highlighted the strong partnership and cooperation between United States (U.S) and the Pacific Island nations,” he said. “This reaffirmation of robust bonds will...

An El Niño has been officially declared for Tonga this week, by the Tonga Meteorology Department, meaning that the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean is now warmer than usual, expecting warmer temperatures, less rainfall, and more cyclones. Tonga is forecast to experience warmer temperatures, less rainfall, and more cyclones in the next six months, from October 2023 to May 2024,...

Forum Deputy Secretary General, Esala Nayasi says the Pacific region should discourage any subsidies that support fishing of stocks that they have declared overfished, in line with the Forum strong and effective fisheries management system. Nayasi made the remarks in Suva while opening the Pacific workshop on World Trade Organisation (WTO) Fisheries subsidies. “Subsidies to the fishing sector has contributed to...

Solomon Islands has joined the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) days after its leader snubbed an invitation to meet U.S President Joe Biden at a Pacific summit. Solomon Islands joins the bank alongside the Central American nation of El Salvador, which deepened its relationship with Beijing a few years after switching ties from Taipei. Tanzania, another key Beijing ally and...