PINA

Australian police will stay in the Solomon Islands to provide security for a regional sporting event in November and national elections in 2024, the Pacific Island nation's government has said. The number of officers will increase before November's Pacific Games, when 5,000 athletes from two dozen nations are expected to arrive, according to a statement on Solomon Islands Broadcasting's Facebook...

Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Henry Puna says he hopes Forum leaders would endorse the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration in November. During a media conference on Friday night at the Forum Secretariat headquarters, Puna said they had entrusted to each forum member to put into actions what leaders had collectively agreed to in Rarotonga in 2012. “As I have mentioned...

Fiji's deputy Prime Minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Viliame Gavoka has confirmed SODELPA’s support for the Coalition government is “very solid”. And he has dismissed reports that claimed he was to deliver a letter to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka threatening the party would defect to FijiFirst if certain demands were not met. “There is no truth that I delivered...

The Australia Federal Police (AFP) hosted the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Conference last week, reinforcing the need to work closely together to ensure the safety and security of communities across the region. The 50th annual conference saw 19 Chiefs or their delegates come together to share information, knowledge and form stronger partnerships to further combat transnational crime and other...

A young Samoan climate activist says the UN's new guidance on children's rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is “the first step to global change”. The UN Committee have affirmed for the first time that climate change is affecting children's rights to life, survival and development. 'General Comment No. 26' specifies that countries are responsible not only for protecting...

Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad says a visa-free travel agreement between his country and New Zealand would help both economies which are “underperforming” in trade relations. Prasad and Finance Minister Grant Robertson spoke at this year’s Fiji-New Zealand Business Council conference, the first under Fiji’s new coalition Government led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Prasad said visa-free travel arrangements between...

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...