PINA

Vanuatu has called on France to engage peacefully with the leaders of the indigenous Kanak people of New Caledonia after the French government announced that President Emmanuel Macron will visit the island nation. Protests and rioting erupted in the capital city of Noumea last week after the French government imposed new laws on who is allowed to vote in local...

Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu has signed the proposed Constitutional amendments (Articles 17A and 17B) for the upcoming national referendum. This was confirmed by the Office of the President after Port Vila Member of Parliament (MP), Justin Ngwele, commented that the signing of these articles implies their immediate enforcement as law. However, according to the Principal Private Secretary to the Head of...

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the Pacific island of New Caledonia late on Tuesday, his office said, just over a week after riots erupted in the French overseas territory, killing six. Australia and New Zealand were evacuating tourists from the island as the violence left a trail of destruction with looted shops, torched cars and road barricades restricting...

Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa described climate change as the biggest threat faced by the region as she gave her keynote address at the 4th Pacific Climate Change Conference on Tuesday. Pacific leaders, organisations and experts from across the Pacific have gathered in Samoa this week to look at ways to overcome climate change. Held at the National University of...

Australia stands ready to help Solomon Islands build a military force, as Defence Minister Richard Marles seized the opportunity to hold talks with the nation's new prime minister. Marles has travelled to Honiara for high-level meetings as the Pacific nation transitions to a new government under the leadership of Jeremiah Manele. The defence minister, who pledged $50 million for border management...

Fiji's Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, says he's interested in re-establishing the country's own dedicated intelligence service to help fight trans-national criminal organisations. Tikoduadua said Fiji should have its own intelligence service to compliment foreign assistance provided by its security partners. Fiji has long been used as a transhipment point for the movement of illicit drugs to Australia and New Zealand....

Fiji's President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere has commended the founder of Starlink Elon Musk for creating opportunities for wider bandwidth connectivity and high-speed internet connections in remote and rural areas of Fiji. This achievement is made possible through Starlink’s massive satellite network which now covers 100 countries. In a meeting with Musk at the Saint Regis Resort in Nusa Dusa, Bali,...

Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, has officially opened the fourth iteration of the Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference (POPCCC), reminding that Pacific communities are already amongst the worst affected by the escalating climate change crisis. “For Pacific countries, this is already their lived reality,” she said. Prime Minister Fiame delivered the keynote address at the National University of Samoa...

World Rugby and Capgemini are delighted to announce the 25 inspiring female leaders from around the world that will participate in the Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme in 2024 and 2025, driving visibility of female leaders from within the rugby family and helping to accelerate the development of the women and girls’ game, on the road to Women’s...

Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne is expected to make minimal changes when he names his side for their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin. Speaking to FBC Sports, Byrne said he’s tempted to keep the same starting 15 that played last week. However, there’s expected to be a new inside centre as rookie Waqa Nalaga is still...