PINA

A rollcall of Pacific Island nations have very different views on the release of treated radioactive wastewater. By Derek Grossman Japan’s decision last month to begin discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from its destroyed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is fairly unpopular in Oceania, potentially damaging Tokyo’s reputation in this increasingly strategic region. Nuclear fallout is a particularly sensitive...

Pacific Island countries attending the 2023 Asia Pacific Social Protection conference in Manila this week – used the final day of the meeting to collectively commit to implementing social protection programmes amidst other competing national priorities. Eight out of the 14 Pacific Developing Members Countries (PDMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) were represented at the conference – that amongst...

Pacific countries used to struggle to collect data needed for the social protection indicator (SPI) survey that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been publishing since 2005. But, David Abbott, an ADB consultant with extensive data analysis experience in the Pacific, has noticed a big increase in the last decade of Pacific countries collecting data for the SPI report. The Social...

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...