PINA

For the first time in decades, foreign and defence policy are in the electoral spotlight in New Zealand, as opinion surveys show public concern about the security environment and the major parties wrestle with how to respond to an assertive China. The first part of the country’s defence review, released last week, said that New Zealand's military capabilities had fallen...

Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has revealed weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament in Honiara this week, Wale said firstly there is a lack of a specified timeframe for the implementation of the TRC recommendations. Wale said this has led to a delay of over a decade, an indication of a lack of...

Fiji recorded 245 new cases of HIV infections in 2022 compared to 151 new cases in 2021 which is an increase of almost 100 per cent. Highlighting this while receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) drugs from the Indian Government at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Suva Thursday, Minister Dr Antonio Lalabalavu said it is also very worrying to note that...

By Cyril Ip Beijing submitted a searing working paper to the United Nations opposing Tokyo’s plans to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, which could begin as soon as the end of August. “If the so-called treated water is really safe and harmless, why does Japan not dispose of it within its own territory...

Tonga ran in four tries and survived a sending off early in the second half en route to a 28-3 rugby win over Canada on Wednesday. The 15th-ranked Pacific Islanders are gearing up for next month's World Cup in France. No. 23 Canada, which failed to qualify for the rugby showcase for the first time ever, was seeing its first...

Australia coach Eddie Jones has named La Rochelle second-row Will Skelton as captain of a young Wallabies squad for Rugby World Cup 2023. Three uncapped players, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Jorgensen and Blake Schoupp have been included in the 33-player squad, but there is no room for Michael Hooper or Quade Cooper. Only eight of the 33 players called up by Jones...

A motion of no confidence against Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau will now be debated next Wednesday, after the government didn’t appear at Parliament today, Twenty-five members of the Opposition camp attended Parliament’s second extraordinary session for the scheduled debate. The motion could not be debated because there weren’t enough members in attendance to form a quorum. The motion will now...

By Sera Sefeti The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) submitted its final report to Japan on 04 July on the safety of dumping treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, saying the discharge proposal is consistent with relevant international safety standards. But the small island nations of the Pacific remain strongly concerned over Japan’s persistent intention to dump nuclear waste on...

We try bringing together Pacific people and groups, in unity and solidarity so that we have one united way against nuclear waste dumping, nuclear testing and addressing nuclear legacy issues in the Pacific. This was highlighted by Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) in Fiji Nuclear Justice campaigner Epeli Lesuma in an interview with fijivillage News about the environmental issues surrounding...

Prolonged tightening of monetary policy in neighbouring Australia and New Zealand will have a huge impact in the Pacific, including Fiji. This was revealed in a Pacific Economic Update report by the World Bank. These are measures that these two trading partners will use to address increasing inflation. World Bank Country Economist Reshika Singh says Pacific Islanders working in Australia and New...