PINA

The people of Nauru go to the polls on Saturday to elect 19 MPs across eight constituencies. There are 77 candidates contesting the seats - 18 of those are lining up in the largest constituency, Ubenide, which will elect four MPs. Meneng, in which the current President, Lionel Aingimea is one of the MPs, selects three members. The least number of candidates...

Pacific countries have officially agreed to use the Fijian Military's Blackrock Camp as a regional humanitarian relief depot. Fiji's Disaster Minister Inia Seruiratu announced the endorsement of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) facility while outlining the 11-point declaration made by Pacific Island Forum's Disaster Ministers in Nadi. The state of the art Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief...

Pacific Disaster Ministers have committed to the inaugural Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Declaration of Commitment to Action towards a safer and more resilient region in the face of disaster risk and climate change. Ministers have also committed to supporting the strengthening of national and regional capabilities in response to disaster and reaffirmed the commitment to establish a regional and Sub-Regional...

In the shadow of the United Nations' towering headquarters in New York City, law student Solomon Yeo from an island nation in the South Pacific is taking in what he describes as a “surreal moment.” Less than three years ago, he was chatting with fellow law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu about how they might...

Pacific activists and students, joined by New York climate activists and Indigenous representatives, held a climate justice flotilla on Saturday sailing past the UN HQ and the Statue of Liberty with banners calling on countries to vote yes to the Vanuatu-led bid for an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change at the UN General Assembly...

The Ministry of Defence has outlined the British military presence in the Indo-Pacific, pointing out that it has grown in recent years. Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament for Romford, asked: “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 67 of the Integrated Review 2021 and the escalation of tensions on the Taiwan border, what recent assessment...

ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Sarah Stubbings, has reaffirmed her commitment to Samoa and the Pacific region on her first visit to Apia. Following meetings with the Central Bank of Samoa Governor, Australian High Commissioner, customers, staff and community partners, Stubbings says she is optimistic about the country’s future. “There was a sense of cautious optimism as the country reopens its borders...

By Matthew Knott When Anthony Albanese met Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji in July, the Australian Prime Minister had good reasons to be wary. Just three months earlier, Sogavare signed a wide-ranging security pact with China, raising alarm Beijing could establish a military base just 2000 kilometres away from northern Australia. In...

Fiji have become the first side to book their place in the OFC U-19 Championship 2022 semi-finals after a 4-1 quarter-final win over Samoa at Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti. A hat-trick from Melvin Mani helped his nation into the final four in the first of today’s quarter-final matches against a spirited Samoa side, who scored their first main finals...

The MSG Prime Minister's Football cup kicks off on Saturday in Port Vila, Vanuatu featuring six teams. Five Melanesian countries and territories are taking part; Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and hosts Vanuatu. Vanuatu Football Federation general secretary Albert Manaroto said the cup would provide more game time for Melanesian teams. "From a footballing stance it means more competitions...