PINA

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...

A Pacific-led and owned initiative to help Pacific nations implement their climate targets under the COP21 Paris Agreement, has been hailed as an example of the region’s global climate leadership. The Pacific NDC Hub platform was set up in 2017 by Pacific Leaders to assist countries find data, resources and expertise to enable them to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions...

Fiji's Minister for Women, Lynda Tabuya has applauded the collaborative efforts that led to the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting as an annual stand-alone event within the Pacific Islands Forum of Leaders. “Coming together on this occasion holds indeed great significance. Our collective leadership for gender equality and our shared commitment to accountability are vital in bringing...

Fiji will sign a defence agreement with France, after the cabinet of the Pacific Islands nation approved the deal, Fiji's government said in a statement on Thursday. France's President Emmanuel Macron in July toured the Pacific Islands, where France has overseas territories, denouncing predatory behaviour by big powers in a region where China is extending trade and security ties. Macron's advisers...

Faced with the existential threat of a rapidly warming world, leaders from the Pacific gathered in Fiji this month to discuss regionally-driven solutions that can limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5C. The High-Level Dialogue sought to forge stronger regional coordination in identifying and advancing Pacific needs and priorities as part of global efforts to address climate change. Hosted by...

A regulation to ban single-use plastics in the Solomon Islands will come into force today 01 September 2023. This ban prohibits the importation, manufacturing, distribution, sale and general use of single-use plastics. Chief Environment Officer within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Wendy Beti confirmed this to SIBC News in an interview. A joint Technical Working Committee...

The almost full attendance by parties of the first face-to-face meeting of the Noumea Convention, since 2019 when COVID-19 hit and devastated communities around the world, has signalled our commitment to strengthen efforts to protect the Pacific’s natural resources and marine environment to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. The 17th ordinary meeting of the contracting parties to...