PINA

The danger of indiscriminately releasing nuclear fission products into the ocean is that the products can find their way into the food chain, a New Zealand scientist said on the impending discharge of radioactive-contaminated cooling water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. “Once in the food chain, the longlived nuclear fission heavy nuclei like cesium-137,...

A group of lawmakers in the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus led by U.S representative Ed Case reintroduced legislation last Wednesday calling for a significant increase in American engagement with Pacific island countries as China and the United States compete for influence in the region. “The peoples of these islands have developed their own proud cultures and identity over millennia, and...

Preparations are underway for the 6th Meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-6) and associated meetings to be hosted by the Government of Fiji in August, the first face-to-face meeting of the PMC after two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions. PMC-6, the Third Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-3) and the First Development Partners and Donors Engagement Meeting...

A second half fightback wasn’t enough for Australia A as Tonga secured a historic 27-21 win in Friday’s international fixture at Teufaiva Stadium. The hosts took just three minutes to open the scoring through Salesi Piutau, who barged through Australia A’s defence out wide after a blistering start from the Ikale Tahi forward pack. A Taniela Tupou scrum penalty saw the...

The past two weeks of training together will be put to the test on Saturday when the Flying Fijians host Tonga in the Punjas Test Series. Head Coach Simon Raiwalui is impressed with the Ikale Tahi after beating Australia A in Nukualofa Friday. The Tongans have the advantage having a game under their belt while Raiwalui will work things around before...

Don Opeloge has done it again. He claimed yet another gold medal for Samoa in the Men's 102kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in India lifting with a total lift of 379kg. He defeated India’s Singh Harcharan who settled for silver and Australia’s Leon Vogeler-Schmidt who claimed bronze. Samoa's weightlifting team's coach, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork shared the good news with...

Fiji has won its first gold medal at the 2023 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Delhi, India. Taniela Rainibogi claimed Fiji’s gold today. Rainibogi snatched 163kg and 200kg in the clean and jerk for a new total of 263kg. This means Weightlifting Fiji now have a gold, silver and bronze medals at the championship. Nehemiah Elder claimed Fiji’s first medal after settling for silver. Miriama...

Confidential documents obtained by PACNEWS have revealed that a week after back-tracking support for Japan on the release of treated nuclear wastewater in Fukushima, the Office of the Prime Minister in Papua New Guinea sought approval from the National Executive Council (NEC) to support Japan’s discharge plan. The confidential submission to NEC dated 22 June 2023 highlighted the on-going regional...

The Pacific Islands Forum chair Mark Brown says the planned release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean cannot be a breach of the Rarotonga Treaty as it's a controlled release and not a dump. The Treaty commits the Pacific to being nuclear free, and bans the dumping of nuclear waste in the region. “No, I don't think it would...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has lavished praise on China during his visit to the country, declaring that Beijing has no “strategic interests” in the Pacific and suggesting the emerging great power has been unfairly tarred by the West. The two countries have officially elevated their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” during Sogavare's week-long trip to China, and...