PINA

President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday rolled out the red carpet for Pacific Island leaders in the face of rising Chinese influence in the region and said it expected a united front, despite friction with one nation — the Solomon Islands. In a first-of-a-kind summit in Washington, the United States promised greater aid and diplomatic engagement on issues from maritime...

The White House today unveiled a Pacific strategy designed to bolster US engagement with more than a dozen island nations on issues including climate change and maritime security while pledging to expand the U.S diplomatic presence in the region. U.S President Joe Biden. The Biden administration released its new strategy, as well as plans for US$810 million in new aid for...

Oxfam in the Pacific says climate change is slowly driving vulnerable communities into poverty and hunger, highlighting that the effects are now a humanitarian call for help. Through a survey, Oxfam reveals that the region's unusual sea intrusions and recent natural disasters have begun to largely affect food gardens, leaving communities with just enough to fill their tummies. The NGO's humanitarian...

Rugby World Cup 2021 fever is sweeping New Zealand with over 30,000 tickets already snapped up for the opening day at Eden Park on 8 October and sales on track to set a new attendance record for a women’s Rugby World Cup match day. Opening match day is set to become the most attended women’s Rugby World Cup match day...

Panthers star Jarome Luai says criticism towards Joseph Suaalii has been “disrespectful” after the teen sensation’s motives were questioned for choosing Samoa over Australia for the World Cup. Suaalii was a certainty to make the Kangaroos squad but told coach Mal Meninga last week that he wanted to represent Samoa instead. The Roosters winger said it was “one of the most...

Leaders of the Pacific Island Forum family convened at the U.S Department of State for the opening of the first-ever US-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington today. Chair of the Pacific Island Forum and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, while delivering his address, said this week will be the most significant engagement between the Pacific Islands Forum and the United...

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Pacific Island nations have agreed to a "new partnership" with the United States ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Friday. Pacific leaders sat down with Mr Blinken and a host of senior officials in Washington on Thursday on the first day of a historic White House summit. The Biden Administration has...

The government of the new Nauru President Russ Kun has been sworn in today and his executive includes 13 members out of the 19 MPs in parliament. Kun retains many of the key portfolios for himself, handling, foreign affairs, police and justice among many others. Stephen Hunt takes on finance, Wanani Dowiyogo has the fishing portfolio and Timothy John Ika will...

A draft joint declaration being negotiated by the United States and Pacific Island countries condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine, flags intensifying American security cooperation with the region and declares climate change is the “highest priority” and “single greatest existential threat” to the Pacific. However, Pacific nations appear to have stripped away a section which seems to take aim at the...

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders begin a milestone summit in Washington this morning, as part of two days of engagement and talanoa with the Biden administration. The sessions will discuss and shape the region's collective partnership with the United States Government, particularly as it reviews and looks to strengthen its engagement in the Pacific region. Framed around the 2050 Strategy for the...