PINA

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...

Australian Scott Morrison has rejected a claim by China's ambassador that Beijing's co-operation with Pacific island nations is not a threat to Australia. Ambassador Xiao Qian told the Australian Financial Review the two nations had common interests that should outweigh their differences. The prime minister countered, saying China's "interference" in the Pacific was of “great consequence”. “I don't want to give any...

A former high commissioner to the Solomon Islands has questioned whether Australia is still a free country after being “manhandled” by Scott Morrison’s security when he tried to talk to the prime minister about mishandling the relationship with the Pacific Island nation. Trevor Sofield, the high commissioner to the Solomons from 1982 to 1985, was at a cheese shop and...

Brianna Fruean, a Samoan Pacific Climate Warrior and environmental champion has been announced as a recipient of the Global Citizen Prize: Citizen Award, citing her work leading grassroots community projects for climate justice, and her commitment to bring small island representation and young Pacific voices to the forefront of global climate conversations. The Global Citizen Prize recognizes activists across the...