PINA

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...

“We’re in a tough pool, but we’ll throw all our eggs in one basket and aim up against Ireland. We can’t play footy with them; they’ll beat us every day of the week. So, we need to come up with a bit of a plan and I think we’ve got one; it’s going to be good.” Andy Farrell’s charges will...

For Charles Piutau, Tonga’s 102-0 defeat by New Zealand in July 2021 was a line in the sand. It was a thrashing that came with caveats – Covid-19 travel restrictions meant a weakened Tonga team – but as the All Blacks ran in 16 tries without reply in Auckland, it was clear things had to change. Less than six months...

Flying Fijians have shifted their focus towards their opening match against Wales in the 2023 Rugby World Cup next month after creating history in Twickenham over the weekend. Fiji being a tier two nation stunned England 30-22 in their second warm-up match and Head coach Simon Raiwalui said he is proud of the entire team. “It was a historic day in...

Regional representatives unite to address critical issues of gender equality, climate action, and social inclusion at the second Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting in Suva. The in-person gathering has brought together various groups, including representatives from the region's political spaces, civil society, and young advocates who are representing youth from their sub-regions. The Niue Minister for Natural Resources and Pacific...

By Rowena Acraman In a resounding call for inclusive leadership and gender equality, Cook Islands Minister for Internal Affair, Vainetutai Rose Brown, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, shared a powerful speech Thursday in Suva. The first ever face-to-face meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIF)brought together distinguished ministers, youth representatives, and advocates from the expansive Pacific...

Police chiefs from 22 Pacific Islands nations are meeting in Queensland this week for the 50th annual conference and talks on tackling cybercrime and child exploitation. Australian Federal Police (AFP) chief, Reece Kershaw said this Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Conference marks a special occasion for them to celebrate the strength of their partnership. “As Pacific Leaders, we draw on...

The Pacific Parliamentarians Alliance on Deep Sea Mining (PPADSM) has welcomed the call by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders for a Pacific wide moratorium on deep sea mining. Leaders from Fiji, Front De Liberation Nationale Kanak Socialiste (FLNKS), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu agreed that no underwater seabed mining should take place in their respective jurisdictions, and...

Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has challenged Pacific Islands Forum Women leaders Thursday saying ‘there is no place for violence in our region, and it is on all of us to make that a reality’. “This is my challenge to all of us, this Thursday, 31st day of August, 2023. Let September bring with it new commitment to prevent and...