PINA

U. S Senior State Department officials were accused on Thursday of incompetence over China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, with the United States and Australia blindsided by Beijing’s security pact with the Solomon Islands. Republicans grilled U.S Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu and his deputies during a Congressional hearing, saying the Biden administration’s response to China’s growing influence in the...

A judicial review of the Reserve Bank and New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s actions around money laundering laws has failed, leaving money remitters carting bags of cash around in an attempt to keep the low-cost money transfer practice alive. Pacific money remittance companies have found themselves deprived of bank accounts thanks to how banks have interpreted their anti-money laundering...

The inaugural Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting, which will be hosted by the Fijian Government will be held virtually on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the Pacific gender agenda. Forum Ministers for Women will examine the role of women and girls in Pacific futures, with a keen focus on the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, the climate change...

The surging costs of climate change-driven destruction have made vulnerable nations poorer by about one-fifth, 55 such countries said on Wednesday, as fears grow that UN discussions on money for states to repair and avoid harm could become a “talk shop”. “Loss and damage” caused by more extreme weather and rising seas is a key issue at mid-year UN climate...

The global community needs to “be inspired” to defend the world's oceans ahead of the second United Nations Oceans Conference in Lisbon at the end of the month, a Fijian policymaker says. Fisheries minister Semi Koroilavesau said the Pacific cannot protect its greatest resource through advocacy and action on its own. Safeguarding the ocean and its resources against future dangers “to...

Fijian Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum Chair Voreqe Bainimarama has called for regional solidarity. This follows the two-day high-level political dialogue held in Suva, where several leaders who were disgruntled with the Pacific Island Forum were united thanks to reforms proposed by Fiji and other members. Bainimarama said now is the time to bridge our differences and work together for...

At the end of the month, world leaders, youth, entrepreneurs, and civil society will gather in Lisbon, Portugal, for the second UN Ocean Conference, to mobilise action and jumpstart science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action. Co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya, the event will be a platform to effectively address the challenges that the...

Queensland star Cameron Munster stole the show as the Maroons spoiled NSW's return to Accor Stadium, upsetting the Blues 16-10 to take a 1-0 series lead. In front of 80,512 fans at Sydney's Olympic Park, the Maroons, led by Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans and debutant Patrick Carrigan, dominated on their own terms with big moment plays helping Queensland to a special...

World Rugby investment in the establishment of the Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua Super Rugby franchises has been rewarded with 43 players being selected for their respective nations for the upcoming World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2022, which takes place in Fiji from 2-16 July. With the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the international game, World Rugby has part-funded...

The health of the world’s ocean and the planet continue to suffer as a result of climate change and other anthropogenic pressures. This remark was made by Pacific Ocean Commissioner and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna at the opening of the Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA) meeting in Suva this week with the theme, ‘Accelerating Blue Pacific Ocean action for...