PINA

New Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday climate change was the main economic and security challenge for low-lying island counties in the Pacific, referring to a region in which China has been extending its influence. “The region is looking to us to work with them and to lead by example,” he said in Tokyo during a meeting of...

Two Tongan Cabinet Ministers, who were found to have committed bribery in the lead up to the November 2021 General Election, have been granted a stay of execution in their judgements, until their appeal is heard and determined. It is understood that there will be a special Appeal Session scheduled for July. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC granted the first stay...

The University of the South Pacific’s Council has raised concerns about the financial and operating risks arising out of Fiji’s withheld grant, compounded by the COVID-19 economic impacts. In a statement, the USP says apart from continued attempts to talk with the Government of Fiji, the Council was looking at other measures to deliver its core business without compromising the...

By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Quad summit in Tokyo has praised Australia raising its ambition on climate change, after Anthony Albanese told fellow leaders his government would do more to assist Pacific countries address it. Albanese stressed Australia’s revised climate policy during the meeting, attended by US president Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,...

Western Force have kept their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes alive after snapping their losing streak with a key 48-28 win over Moana Pasifika. Playing their postponed round-10 match on Tuesday night in Auckland, the Force ran in seven tries to also collect a vital bonus point. That came in the 78th minute when Kyle Godwin ran on to a break...

Fijian Drua will be based in Fiji next season. However, where exactly is not confirmed at the moment. The Drua were based at the New South Wales Sport and Recreation center in Lennox Head, Australia this year. Head Coach Mick Byrne said the Fiji based players are back home for good. He said everything will be confirmed in a few weeks. Players will have...

Australia’s new foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will seek to improve relations with Pacific island countries, flagging an early visit to the region and promising to be “a generous, respectful and reliable” partner. China’s new security deal with Solomon Islands was a point of political dispute during the Australian election campaign and there are now reports that Beijing could be...

Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has acknowledged the new Australian Labour Government’s stance on the issue of climate change. Australia’s newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in this morning and his campaign listed climate change as one of its main issue of priorities. Mata'afa said this is one vital area that links Australia to the Pacific. She noted the...

-Former Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has said “serious security concerns” in the Pacific were “avoidable” in a speech where he advocated for New Zealand standing alongside like-minded countries in the region and backing that up with "our finances and resources”. He said a time when foreign policy was “non-political” and when politicians held the view that offshore “we would...

China's foreign minister Wang Yi will visit the Solomon Islands this week and sign key agreements, expected to include a security pact criticised by the United States, Australia and Japan. The Solomon Islands government and China's ambassador confirmed the visit on Monday, with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare describing it as a milestone. “Prime Minister Sogavare looks forward to a productive engagement...