PINA

The Republic of China (Taiwan) says as a democratic country they respect Fiji’s sovereignty and support an open, democratic, and free social system. While responding to an earlier article “Fiji urged to uphold One-China principle” published by FBC News, the Trade Mission of the Republic of China says based on shared values, they remain committed to engaging in various cooperation...

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the first half of 2020, in New York, at the 74th UN General Assembly, extended an invitation to all the Pacific island leaders to attend the third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit in Port Moresby. Modi reiterated that India’s relationship with the Pacific island nations deepened with the establishment of the FIPIC. The...

By Nic Maclellan The closure of New Caledonia’s only daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes highlights the commercial and political challenges facing media across the Pacific. The death of a newspaper strikes hard — and not only when you’re one of its employees. “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes was an institution in New Caledonia,” Thierry Kremer, secretary of the paper’s works council, tells me....

Fiji's Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga has appointed five interim Trustees for the Fiji Rugby Football Union Trust Board (FRFUTB). Former Fiji National Sports Commission Chief Executive Peter Mazey, Jenny Seeto, Alipate Naiorosui, Sikeli Tuinamuana and Mosese Naivalu have been appointed pursuant to powers in Section 13B of the Charitable Trusts Act 1945. “All appointments are until the...

With one round left to play, Fiji Warriors head the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2023 table with a perfect record of 10 points and are all but certain of a 10th competition title. Having opened their campaign with a 72-15 win over reigning champions Junior Japan in round one, Senirusi Seruvakula's side achieved their second bonus-point win on Monday, defeating...

Athletes and para-athletes of Oceania can expect a decade of change that increases their chances at growing through access to high performance, and winning medals as the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) propel the Continent into a new, high-level set of partnerships and initiatives culminating with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the second Games to be...

A panel of commentators who helped cover King Charles’ coronation are facing backlash after making light of rising sea levels threatening to wipe out a remote Pacific Island country. During a Sky News discussion about whether more countries may eventually become republics, presenter Anna Botting mentions the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. One of the three panellists, Australian-British author Kathy Lette, interrupts...

Papua New Guinea is not ready to adopt the system of the people electing the prime minister, says University of PNG political science lecturer Patrick Kaiku. He said the review of the form and system of government recently launched by Prime Minister James Marape could be “unconstitutional”. The Government has directed the Constitutional Law Reform Commission to undertake a review and...

Tonga has received mixed reactions during its human rights evaluation at the 43rd Session of Universal Periodic Review in Geneva. The Kingdom's Foreign Minister Fekitamoelo 'Utoikamanu heard mixed reviews by over 50 UN member states, with all of them commending Tonga's Government for continuing efforts to ratify international treaties. “New Zealand...commends advancement in human rights,” said New Zealand's delegate Anna Louise...

The head of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. “Last week, COVID-19 claimed a life every three minutes – and that’s just the deaths we know about”, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO...