PINA

Amid a regional backlash, the Solomon Islands said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing. A day after officials from the two countries initialled a draft agreement on security, the office of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Friday the agreement does...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says Pacific leaders may need to meet as Solomon Islands prepares to ink China security deal Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says Pacific leaders want “greater clarity” from the Solomon Islands about their contentious China security deal, and may need to bring forward a crucial regional meeting. Mahuta last week travelled to Fiji to sign a...

Tuvalu has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), bringing the total number of Treaty ratifications to 172 and underscoring the Pacific island state’s commitment to ending all nuclear tests, everywhere. The move was marked on 31 March 2022 in a Treaty ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, attended by Tuvalu’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samuelu...

Fiji's 2022 General Election will be a highly contested one that can only be won by political parties that work together says former politician, Mick Beddoes. Speaking to FBC News, Beddoes believes Fiji’s political landscape is evolving, predicting that it’s very likely that no party can win outright to replace the FijiFirst government. But Beddoes warns all those that intend to...

Nauru’s President Lionel Aingimea has announced the first two COVID-19 cases in Nauru, while stressing that there is no cause for panic. The two COVID-positive people arrived on a passenger flight on 31 March. They remain in quarantine. President Aingimea says both persons are well and do not have any symptoms, and are being cared for by the medical team at...

The response to Palau’s much-ballyhooed digital residency programme has been much slower than expected. So far, 800 people have signed up since the programme went online in January. Although well below the target, that number is passable for now, according to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. “We had zero and now we have 800. The goal is 7 billion, but we...

FIFA and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) over the weekend signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), in the margins of the 72nd FIFA Congress in Doha, committing to working together to enhance awareness of climate change mitigation action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and leverage opportunities for climate-resilient football development in the Blue Pacific region. The partnership...

Fijiana Drua have burst the NSW Waratahs' bubble to all but book a berth in the Super W final. The Drua turned on the style to snap the Waratahs' 21-match unbeaten streak with a 29-10 win in their top-of-the-table clash on the Gold Coast. The Waratahs had never previously lost since the advent of the women's competition in 2018 but the...

Digicel Pacific has signed their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific sponsorship with Moana Pasifika and is the new sponsor for the jersey sleeve for the 2022 season. Digicel’s TV services – Digicel TV and Sky Pacific brings the game of rugby into the homes of many of the Pacific Island nations and has held exclusive TV broadcast rights for the Pacific...

NIWA scientists are sailing to Tonga next week to survey the ocean around the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano after the devastating eruption in January. Thousands of square kilometres of the sea floor will be surveyed, with video capturing the eruption’s impact from NIWA’s research vessel, RV Tangaroa. The ship will leave on Saturday, 09 April, and the knowledge gained will be vital...