PINA

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday held talks with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 47 years ago, China-Papua New Guinea relations have developed rapidly and are at the forefront of...

As China marks the 10th anniversary of its Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the BRI, many are assessing the impact of its global push to promote connectivity and billions of dollars in deals for infrastructure projects. In the Pacific, Beijing’s BRI has set off a race of great power competition with the United States and other countries. Analysts say...

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and experts from China, South Korea and Canada on Monday collected seawater samples near the crippled Fukushima nuclear complex in northeastern Japan following the release of treated radioactive water from the site, the Japanese government said. The team is visiting Japan through 23 October to corroborate the country's marine monitoring amid safety concerns over...

Fiji's Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo becomes Attorney-General today, despite mounting opposition about his appointment. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said his appointment stands as he’d rather have an independent judicial opinion rather than admitting his appointment was wrong. The Fiji Law Society president, Wylie Clark, had said on Sunday the society would take the matter to court if forced to do so...

The United States has finalised a 20-year extension to its agreement on ties with the strategic Marshall Islands and expects to sign the US$2.3 billion deal on Monday, chief U.S negotiator with the Pacific island nation Joseph Yun said. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of three sprawling but sparsely populated nations that have U.S ties governed...

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will outline his nation's role in the Indo-Pacific during a visit to Australia, amid soaring regional tensions. Anthony Albanese will meet with his Fijian counterpart in Canberra on Wednesday, where they will update the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership, which sets out shared priorities of the relationship in a bid to strengthen peace in the Pacific. The two...

The Australian Government has safely airlifted 255 people utilising two Royal Australian Air Force flights (a KC-30A and a C-17A Globemaster III) and a Government-supported private charter from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The deployment of the two Defence aircraft, activated under Operation BEECH, follows the commencement of Australian Government assisted-departure flights from Tel Aviv...

Senator Jesse Lujan has introduced a resolution expressing solidarity with Jewish communities around the world and showing support for Israel, following an unprecedented airstrike by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group in Gaza, killing 1,400 Israelis. “We need to put it on the record that the 37th Guam Legislature strongly opposes these horrific acts of evil,” Lujan said. “We believe in protecting...

By Angie Bone, Karin Leder, Tin Tin Su and Tony Capon The climate crisis is already affecting millions: bringing death, injuries and mental health consequences, as well as the loss of homes, livelihoods, health services and critical infrastructure like power, transport and communications. By now, there should be no doubt: the climate crisis is also a health crisis. And, as COP28...

The Australian Government has announced that it would provide funding that will help support the Fijian and Fijiana Drua teams. The investment as part of the next phase of the PacificAus Sports funding ensures their participation in the Super Rugby Pacific and Super W competitions over four years. Both teams have thrived since their inclusion in their respective competitions, with the...