PINA

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency member countries have been unable to conclude an agreement for distribution of US$60 million a year that the United States government has promised for fishing access by the American tuna fleet. The FFA will meet this week in Papua New Guinea for the third time in an effort to resolve differences over a new distribution...

By Sefanaia Nawadra The 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials and associated meeting guided by the theme: “Sustainable, transformative and resilient for a Blue Pacific” is taking place at Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa this week, from 04-08 September 2023. It starts on Monday with SPREP’s Partnership Dialogue and concludes with the Ministerial High-Level Talanoa. The SPREP Meeting follows the meetings...

Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui said on Saturday his side's record ranking of seventh has no impact on their preparation for the Rugby World Cup. After last weekend's first win over England the Pacific islanders moved up to seventh, as they prepare to start their tournament against Wales on 10 September . “It changes nothing for us,” Raiwalui told reporters. “We haven't...

Hundreds of locals welcomed the Fiji Water Flying Fijians in Lomont, Bordeaux as they begin their Rugby World Cup journey. Former players like Fero Lasagavibau, Julian Vulakoro, Sisa Koyamaibole and Ropate Ratu were also at the official welcoming ceremony. The 33 players received their World Cup caps and medals at the event which was also attended by Luke Daunivalu who is...

Bolstered by quality recruits courtesy of World Rugby's eligibility rule changes, Manu Samoa harbour genuine ambitions of making the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time since 1999. Being pooled with England, Argentina and Japan in the opening stage would make that look a tall order had the Samoans not just taken Ireland down to the wire...

Vanuatu will meet hosts New Zealand and the Solomon Islands will face Fiji in Wednesday’s semi-finals at the OFC Olympic Men’s Qualifier in Auckland. The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have notched up wins on the final day of Group B action at Trusts Arena with the Solomon Islands beating Tonga 5-1 to finish with a perfect record in Group play....

China likely shipped genuine firearms to the Solomon Islands when its donation of “replica” weapons to police last year sparked a political firestorm in the tiny Pacific Island country, a previously unseen diplomatic cable claimed. Police in the Solomon Islands said they received imitation firearms from China for training purposes after claims in local media of a secret illicit weapons...

An Australian-owned mobile phone operator in the Pacific Islands has likely been used by private spy firms to track people on the other side of the world and steal their data, according to an expert cyber security analysis. The revelations come after Australian telecommunications operator Telstra purchased Fiji-based Digicel Pacific in July 2022. The purchase was backed with US$1.33 billion...

The future of Fiji coalition Government hangs in the balance as the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) drafts an ultimatum that could collapse the eight-month-old administration. A letter is expected to be delivered by party leader Villame Gavoka to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, outlining SODELPA’s grievances for not honouring the kingmaker’s terms of agreement. Rabuka will have seven days after receipt...

Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has expressed disappointment with the Prime Minister’s stand on the West Papua issue labelling it as ‘hypocritical’. Wale said the current Prime Minister used to be a strong supporter and advocator for West Papua in the past but he has taken a 180-degree on the issue. “I am actually not surprised that the Prime...