PINA

China’s foreign minister is expected to visit the Solomon Islands by the end of the month, in a move that has heightened fears that Beijing plans to establish a naval base on the strategic Pacific territory. Wang Yi is expected to travel with a large delegation to the Solomons’ as part of a broader visit to a number of Pacific...

Pacific Forum Leaders and Foreign Ministers attended a unique 'Tok Stori' hybrid event in Suva on Tuesday 10 May. The event was initiated by the Solomon Islands as part of a Ministerial visit to Fiji, including a call on the Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Fiji, Voreqe Bainimarama. Hosted by the Forum Secretary General Henry Puna at...

Tuvalu fears that climate change, an existential threat to the Pacific nation, is being forgotten and it worries that fellow island nations could become “pawns” in a global competition between China and the United States, its foreign minister said. Simon Kofe told Reuters the superpower competition was a concern, distracting attention from climate change, the priority for Pacific islands endangered...

Fijian Drua have prevailed in their inaugural clash with Moana Pasifika, winning 34-19 in Parramatta. The first meeting of the Super Rugby Pacific's newest sides proved a high-scoring affair at CommBank Stadium, with the Fijians seeing off a fighting Pasifika line-up and claiming their second victory of the season. But beaten Moana captain and former Wallaby Sekope Kepu said the match...

Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei has become the third cabinet minister in a space of a week to lose his Parliamentary seat following a Supreme Court ruling on Friday morning in Nuku'alofa. Poasi Tei was found guilty of bribery during the campaign for Tonga's general election last November. The ruling was handed down by Justice Laki Niu. Last week successful...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the tragic death of his deputy Sam Basil is a big loss to his family, people of Bulolo, Morobe, United Labor Party and the country. In a statement Marape said he was a strong member of the present generation of leaders in government who had the country at heart. He said what makes...

Humanity is “at a crossroads” when it comes to managing drought and accelerating ways of slowing it down must happen “urgently, using every tool we can”, said the head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Thursday, calling for a global commitment to support drought preparedness and resilience. Through its newly published Drought in Numbers report, released in...

Vanuatu's outgoing president, Obed Moses Tallis, has urged the government not to abolish the ministry of justice, warning of a “dictatorial system”. His opening speech to parliament's first ‘ordinary’ session of 2022 is his final duty of his mandate which will end in July. “In my observation during my five-year term as a Head of State, judiciary in Vanuatu under the...

Three State authorities in Papua New Guinea have clashed over the issue of writ as the country counted down to 4pm Thursday for the official start of the National General Election. The death of Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil on Wednesday night forced Prime Minister James Marape to recommend for the deferral of the issue of writs to another date. He...

A Chinese ambassador says China's engagement with South Pacific island countries poses no threat to Australia, responding to fears that Beijing will establish a military foothold in the Solomon Islands. China's envoy to Australia, Xiao Qian, attempted to reassure his host nation in a newspaper opinion piece published Thursday as reports emerged of a planned trip by a high-level Chinese...