PINA

Papua New Guinea Immigration is 99.9 per cent ready for the VIP visits this month, Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau has assured. He told the Post-Courier that immigration officials, in fact, have been processing visas for technical teams travelling in and out of PNG over the last few weeks and months in preparation for these international visits. Hulahu said they do...

China has accused Australia of attempting to sabotage its relationships in the Pacific, saying Australia has a “cold war mentality” and is blinded by “ideological prejudice”. Senior Chinese diplomats said Australia has undermined Beijing’s security and law enforcement cooperation with Fiji, alleging its relations with Fiji are being “targeted” by Australia, the US and New Zealand. Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka,...

Over 500 French naval crew members and officials on the military vessel F734 Vendemiaire paid a goodwill port call in Suva Tuesday Captain Mocard Emmanuel said this visit also marks a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji and France. The visit is part of their Jeanne D’Arc mission, where cadets and officers are deployed for humanitarian and operational training...

Youths from across Pacific Islands Countries will engage in strategic discussion with Pacific leaders on advancing good governance with a focus on the impact of corruption on sustainable development. The discussion, among others, will spotlight two key topics as identified to be priority by youth: response to climate change and promoting gender equality in the Blue Pacific region. The Pacific...

Teen star Isaiya Katoa continues to exceed the expectations of Dolphins coach-in-waiting Kristian Woolf and is set to be a key member of his Tonga side in the end-of-season series against England. Katoa, who scored his first NRL try in last weekend’s stunning 36-16 triumph against Cronulla, has been forced to assume the chief playmaking duties for the Dolphins following...

Fijian Warriors Captain Enele Malele says they still have one more job to do before reclaiming the World Rugby Pacific Challenge title. The Warriors now claim top sit and are undefeated after beating hosts Manuma Samoa 50-25 Monday, but the Lauan skipper said the fight is not over yet. “We still have one more to go,” Malele said. “The game against Manuma...

By Elenoa Dimaira Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau has urged other Pacific Island nations to join his country, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue, and Solomon Islands who have signed a treaty for a fossil fuel free Pacific. Kalsakau also challenged delegates of the 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers in Port Villa, Vanuatu to think of how the region can...

By Elenoa Dimaira The transition of the Pacific to be carbon neutral must be just and equitable to ensure that livelihoods are not lost, says Secretariat of the Pacific Community Principal Strategic Lead, Women and Girls, Mereseini Rakuita. “We need to look at the resources we have and understand how to adapt capabilities so that when we turn off our diesel...

American Samoa wants more involvement at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). It wants associate member status after being a Forum observer since 2011. Discussions were held on 03 May involving the Governor Lemanu Mauga and the U.S State Department on how the territory could have more sway at the regional level. The PIF is the region's premiere political organisation with 18 countries...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is calling on the Asian Development Bank to make it easier to access funding for climate resilience, and be lenient in debt servicing. The Prime Minister addressed the ADB’s 56th annual governors meeting in Incheon, South Korea, last week. He told the board members that small countries such as the Cook Islands face ongoing economic...