PINA

Opinion by Kathrin Hille Alarm over planned security pact belies long-running problems in west’s approach to Pacific region The anxiety caused by China’s planned security deal with the Solomon Islands shows that Australia, New Zealand, the U.S and Japan fear losing their influence in the Pacific — but are struggling to do anything about it. When the draft agreement — whereby...

The Wallaroos could barely hide their excitement after fixtures against Fijiana and Japan were announced for next month. The tri-series ends a two-year drought without Tests, with COVID derailing preparations ahead of this year's World Cup, with Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton eager to get off to a strong start. “The more effort and time you put into getting a team together,...

A container packed full of medical supplies and equipment is on its way to Tonga thanks to Moana Pasifika’s fundraising efforts. Moana Pasifika’s fundraiser ‘Ofa Atu Tonga - With Love Tonga’ kicked off on February 4 at the new Super Rugby Pacific club’s pre-season game against the Chiefs. Up until the container left for Tonga on Monday, the fundraising drive had...

A top American admiral has criticised a potential security pact between China and Solomon Islands, describing it as a “secret" arrangement worrying the U.S and its partners. Australia has warned that a Chinese naval base in the Pacific nation, less than 2,000 kilometres from the Queensland coast, would “change the calculus" for the Australian Defence Force. Those sentiments have now been...

The 350.org Pacific Climate Warriors put forward strong reactions to Monday’s release of the UN IPCC Climate report entitled; Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. For 30 years the UN IPCC reports have proven beyond doubt that Climate impacts are increasingly frequent and devastating. Frontline communities, who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, are experiencing the worst...

Countries should cut down on their greenhouse gas emission and take greater responsibility for problems created by climate change to save island nations like Tuvalu from extinction, said the country’s senior official. In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s Minister of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for...

The United Nations secretary-general says Australia and other countries intent on increasing fossil fuel production are dangerous radicals. Antonio Guterres made the comment while launching a new global climate change report urging the world to hit the accelerator on the transition to renewable energy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released on Tuesday, says it's still possible to meet...

A new flagship UN report on climate change out Monday indicating that harmful carbon emissions from 2010-2019 have never been higher in human history, is proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster, António Guterres has warned, with scientists arguing that it’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Reacting to the latest findings...

New Caledonia's largest pro-independence party said it will not give up on the gains made in terms of decolonisation from France under the 1998 Noumea Accord. The party president Daniel Goa made the statement in an address at the party congress in the north of the main island at the weekend, outlining its key points ahead of negotiations with Paris...

Ha’apai has 18 positive COVID-19 cases in the community, recorded on Saturday, Tongan Minister for Health, Dr Saia Piukala said Monday. He said according to reports, there did not seem to be any connection to the positive cases in quarantine in Ha’apai at this stage, but more information on the situation would be confirmed later. Around 126 people travelled to Ha’apai...