PINA

The Albanese government will pour an extra $1 billion (US$628 million) into aid and security assistance in the Pacific - almost double what Labor promised at the election - as it urgently tries to counter China’s growing influence in the region. The government’s first budget, to be unveiled on Tuesday, will include the biggest increase in aid spending in a...

A Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was signed Thursday between the Fijian and Australian Government at the Blackrock peacekeeping camp in Nadi. Fijian Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Inia Seruiratu and the Deputy Prime Minister for Australia, Richard Marles signed the SOFA agreement. Both leaders agreed that the agreement marked an important milestone in defence relations between Fiji...

Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has started providing medical humanitarian assistance in Kiribati, as climate change exacerbates health risks in the country. On 19 October, 2022, MSF signed a memorandum of understanding with Kiribati to provide medical care focusing on maternal and neonatal health. Speaking at MSF’s Sydney office, Kiribati Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Tinte...

Oceania National Olympic Committee President (ONOC) Dr Robin Mitchell has been elected unopposed as President of the Association of National Olympic Committees following a vote at the organisation’s General Assembly in Seoul. The Fijian official takes on the permanent role after holding the position on an interim basis for the past four years. He succeeds Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who...

The remaining five places in the quarter-finals, as well as the seedings for the knockout phase, will be decided in Whangārei and Auckland this weekend. Australia captain Shannon Parry has urged her team-mates to embrace the challenge of beating Wales and booking their place in the Rugby World Cup 2021 quarter-finals. The Wallaroos head into Saturday’s match at Northland Events Centre...

Small island states will present a proposal for a “response fund” to help climate victims recover from snowballing impacts at next month’s COP27 climate summit. It is more than 30 years since vulnerable nations first demanded support to address the losses and damages caused by fossil-fueled storms, floods and sea-level rise. Rich countries, wary of endless liabilities, pushed back. But...

The signing of another agreement by representatives of the political parties who were excluded from the new Vanuatu Government formation took place last night. The parties involved are Vanua'aku Pati (VP), Rural Development Party (RDP), Iauko Group (IG), National United Party (NUP), People's Unity Development Party (PUDP), and Reunification of Movement for Change (RMC). This political change occurred at the Prime...

Almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to physical inactivity, between 2020 and 2030, if governments worldwide don’t take urgent action to promote the benefits of exercise, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Wednesday. And the price of inaction and staying on the couch, will be severe, WHO said –...

The Fijian Government welcomes the official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles to Fiji from 20 – 21 October 2022. This visit signifies the enduring partnership and strong friendship between Fiji and Australia. During his visit to Fiji, the Deputy Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. He will...

The prolonged dry weather is affecting food and water sources for thousands of people throughout the country and there is a fear that many would die from starvation and water. Reports coming in from around the country indicated that four months of severe sun and heat has cause food and water sources to dry up and there is a fear...