PINA

Australia hopes to host the 2026 COP summit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Saturday, seeking to overhaul his country's reputation for foot-dragging on climate change. “It is a good opportunity, I believe, for Australia to show and to host what is a major global event,” Albanese said during a visit to Bangkok. Centre-left Albanese was swept to power this year on...

Developing countries vulnerable to the worst ravages of global heating have spent the past week at United Nations climate talks urging more support from wealthy nations. The Pacific state of Kiribati has a very specific and unusual demand – that its islands be physically raised up to escape the encroaching seas. The plan to dig up huge clumps of sand and...

The Fijian Elections Office is concerned with the amount of postal voter applications received so far. Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said they expected around 23,000 applications from registered voters, however, they have received only 4,303. Saneem has flagged that there is a potential for low turnout in the postal voting because people have not applied. “Now how does this get resolved,...

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on 18 November affirmed continuing cooperation on fisheries subsidies and other key issues. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, meeting with Pacific Islands ministers in Nadi, Fiji, lauded the group's advocacy on and stewardship of the ocean and climate. To reaffirm longstanding cooperation between the two organisations, the WTO and the...

By Praveen Menon Australia is talking up its green credentials at the annual U.N. climate summit, but its policies do not match the portrayal as it continues to support new mining and energy projects, and fuels the crisis through its enormous fossil fuel exports. A year after his predecessor was slammed as a climate laggard, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government is...

Australia have defended their World Cup title in style with a 30-10 win over Samoa at Old Trafford on Sunday. With skipper James Tedesco and centre Latrel Mitchell claiming doubles and halves Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster all class, the Kangaroos scored six tries to two in front of 67,502 fans at the Theatre of Dreams. The Kangaroos were first to...

Samoan players have pledged to keep playing for the Pacific nation and they may be joined by more stars after changing the face of the international game by qualifying for the World Cup final. After shocking Tonga and England to reach the final, Toa Samoa went down 30-10 to Australia at Old Trafford before a crowd of 67,502, who were...

The Flying Fijians overcame a strong French Barbarian force to win 46-14 Sunday in their third Autumn Test tour. The Fijian side took a comfortable 26-7 lead at half-time. Jiuta Wainiqolo and Vinaya Habosi displayed superb performance scoring a double each. The Vern Cotter coached side ran in seven tries to two as Waisea Nayacalevu scored the first try in the 11th...

COP27 is scheduled to wrap up in 24 hours but countries remain divided on several significant issues including ‘loss and damage’, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday, urging parties to rise to the urgency of the moment and agree on real solutions to solve the greatest challenge facing humanity. “There is clearly a breakdown in trust between North and South,...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Sharm El Sheikh As negotiators scramble to finalise a global climate change pact text before COP27 ends on Friday, some Parties are already predicting a failure of the Egyptian Presidency to listen to the pleas of vulnerable nations – especially around loss and damage financing. For countries like Vanuatu, who have been engaged in...