PINA

Labor will vow to increase foreign aid to Pacific island countries and ramp up patrols to fight illegal fishing, as it makes an election pledge to “restore Australia’s place as first partner of choice for our Pacific family”. A boost to regional broadcasting is also part of the package, with Labor seeking to intensify political pressure on the prime minister,...

Japan dispatched a senior official to the Solomon Islands on Monday amid concern that a recently concluded security pact between the southwest Pacific nation and China will increase Beijing’s military influence in the region. During his trip through Wednesday, Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Kentaro Uesugi is scheduled to discuss the enhancement of bilateral ties and collaboration in the international arena...

Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman has called on the governments of Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiation table, as a peaceful approach to ending their prolonged conflict. “This is in lieu of Vanuatu’s relationship with Russia and Ukraine, and its long-held foreign policy approach of ‘friend to all and enemy to none’,” the PM said in a statement. “It...

Fiji’s official 2022 General Elections campaign period starts today – 26 April, 2022. The Fijian Elections Office Monday launched the campaign guidelines detailing the do’s and don’ts that political parties have to adhere to while campaigning. According to the Electoral Act 2014, the campaign period must not be earlier than 30 days prior to the completion of the three years and...

-A New Zealand medical team in Tonga is overwhelmed by the level of mental health support needed by those affected from the volcanic eruption and tsunami three months ago. The group of eight from the Pasifika Medical Association (PACMAT) has been helping hundreds of people and says there has been deep trauma amid resilience. PACMAT lead Amanaki Misa said some children...

I want to thank all the Pacific Elders for their recent statement supporting a visit to West Papua by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and urging the UN Human Rights Council to pass a motion on West Papua. These Elders have reminded the world's leaders that this visit must take place before the meeting of the G20...

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has put quality before quantity in its qualification system for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It has also devised a system that, unlike qualifying for Tokyo, can be exploited by cheats because it allows athletes to "hide away for a year". It was privately dubbed “the North Korean qualifying system” by one of the delegates at...

A new Fijian Drua ‘i-voce’ or oar was handed to the team during their official welcoming ceremony at the Fiji Museum in Suva last night. The oar or paddle is carried by the captain of the team when they run out for any of their Super Rugby Pacific match. It is also held by the skipper during the team’s i-bole in...

Otago Highlanders coach Tony Brown says the team will not under estimate the Fijian Drua especially in their backyard. The Highlanders team arrived last night ahead of their clash with the Fijian Drua this weekend. “Yeah I think they will be passionate and want to put on a really good performance for their people and I think they will want to...

The Fijian Drua have confirmed the signing of Reds outside back Ilaisa Droasese with immediate effect after he was released from his contract. Droasese made his debut for the Reds in 2021, instantly making an impression as he scored off the bench during their round one win over the Waratahs in Super Rugby AU. Catch every game of the 2022 Super...