PINA

The United States has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to open a diplomatic mission in the Pacific island nation during a visit to the region last year. The last U.S embassy in...

The Albanese Government has reached a major milestone – six months ahead of schedule – with more than 35,000 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers now in Australia. In the October 2022 Budget, the Government committed to reaching 35,000 workers by June 2023. Latest data shows the milestone was reached in December. When the Government came to office the total number...

A UN-led plan to tackle climate change by radically improving the way heat-trapping atmospheric pollutants are measured all over the planet, is being given serious consideration by governments and the international scientific community, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Wednesday. The WMO initiative would create a network of ground-based measurement stations that can verify worrying air quality data that’s...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has welcomed Kiribati's decision to return to the premier political body. “I am delighted at the announcement on 30 January, from the Office of the President of Kiribati, confirming their intention to return to the Pacific Islands Forum,” said SG Puna in a statement. This follows the successful meeting last month between Taneti Maamau,...

Vanuatu's East Epi underwater volcano erupted Wednesday, hurtling ash into the sky and leading authorities to warn ships and aircraft to avoid the area. “We are telling locals to watch out for any strong explosions as the eruptions are still ongoing,” senior volcano officer Ricardo William, at the meteorology and geo-hazards department, told AFP. The department posted images of the eruption...

The “No Jab, No Job” policy in Fiji will be removed soon. This has been confirmed by Attorney-General Siromi Turaga Wednesday. The AG said the decision to remove the policy should have been done a long time ago. “We’re working on that, probably by next Cabinet, we will come to a decision, go to Parliament and remove that. According to the Ministry...

The People’s Coalition government will be redefining the role of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said they are in the planning stage, where they are looking at the operation mechanism of FICAC. “Phasing out doesn’t mean that we just totally get rid of them.” They are instruments of the constitution of Fiji so, doing anything...

An inquiry is expected to begin into the hefty salaries and allowances paid to former chief executives of Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC). The Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh has revealed that former CEO’s of the Fiji Sugar Corporation were being paid up to $840,000 (US$420,000) per annum in salary and allowances. He said it is even more outrageous that the Fiji...

By Lice Movono Veteran Fijian journalist Netani Rika and his wife were resting in their living room when he was suddenly woken, startled by the sound of smashed glass. “I got up, I slipped on the wet surface,” he recalled. He turned on the lights and a bottle and wick were spread across the floor. It was one of the many acts...

By Futoshi Mori, Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant will soon mark the 12th anniversary of the unprecedented meltdown that resulted from the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. The most pressing issue at present is the discharge of treated water into the ocean, as the on-site storage capacity is...