PINA

French President Emmanuel Macron urged "compatriots" in New Caledonia to forge a common future on Tuesday during a landmark visit, more than a year after the overseas territory's disputed vote to remain part of France. Macron faces a significant challenge charting an acceptable path for both French loyalists and the pro-independence, indigenous Kanaks who widely boycotted the December 2021 referendum...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said on Tuesday he was forced to cancel an official visit to China after enduring a minor head injury that required him to stay at home. The visit was announced earlier on Tuesday by the Chinese embassy in Fiji, which said Rabuka would attend the opening of the World University Games in Chengdu, alongside Chinese...

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy held constructive discussions with Solomon Islands’ Ministers during his first day in Honiara. In meetings with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele, Minister Conroy welcomed the opportunity to discuss the Solomon Islands-Australia economic and security partnership, which is delivering jobs and building...

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region need to drastically increase their investments in disaster warning systems and other tools to counter rising risks from climate change, a United Nations report said Tuesday. The report issued by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, or ESCAP, says nearly US$145 billion is needed to set up systems to minimise deaths...

U. S Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has completed a visit to Palau as part of her weeklong visit to the Pacific Islands She highlighted the United States’ historic and long-standing relationship with Palau, one of three freely associated states in the Pacific whose relationship is underpinned by a Compact of Free Association (Compact). Secretary Haaland, Assistant Secretary for Insular...

Having a good start is vital for the Flying Fijians against Samoa on Saturday. In its first match of the Pacific Battle against Tonga, Fiji raced to a 19-0 lead. Assistant Coach Brad Harris said it was a positive start for them but a little bit of fatigue set in and some of the players missed their roles. He said that’s certainly...

Fiji Pearls Head coach Unaisi Rokoura acknowledges the challenge of facing Tonga, as they haven’t defeated them in a while. To ensure readiness, the team has engaged in warm-up matches and focused on mental preparation. “When we play Jamaica it’s like the playing style against Zimbabwe and of course New Zealand and Scotland has the similar style as Australia” Rokoura is confident...

OFC officials have been appointed to their first match at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, taking charge of Argentina v South Africa on Friday 28 July. Referee Anna-Marie Keighley of New Zealand will be joined by fellow Kiwi Sarah Jones and Samoa’s Maria Salamasina as assistant referees to represent the Oceania region for the match at Dunedin Stadium in...

“Where the Pacific goes in relation to addressing the imminent threat of climate change, or lack thereof, is where the rest of the world will follow. If the global community does not stand together to curb the threat of greenhouse gas emissions, Small Island Developing States will bear the brunt of extreme weather events,” Siromi Turaga, Attorney General of Fiji,...

The US$886 billion defence spending policy for fiscal year 2024 authorises US$9.7 billion to expand the Pacific Deterrence Initiative which seeks to enhance the United States' defence posture in the Indo-Pacific region where it faces a rabid military competition with China. The amount represents an increase of $600 million over President Biden’s budget request, according to Rep, Ed Case of...