PINA

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will open its seventh Regional Presence Office, in Suva, Fiji, to serve countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and Fiji’s Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the IMO Headquarters in London on 18 March, confirming the arrangement. The Regional...

Analysis by Liam Moore The prevailing strategic culture in Australian foreign policy circles that view Pacific Island states in instrumental and paternalistic ways is unproductive. Moving forward, there must be active recognition of the agency of these actors and engagement with their key concerns — particularly climate change. There is a long-held view in Australian foreign policy circles that the Pacific...

The best 36 men’s and women’s teams in the world will showcase the speed, skill and all-action drama of rugby sevens while a pumping music and entertainment line-up will create a buzzing festival atmosphere over three fun-filled, sun-soaked days at the iconic Civitas Metropolitano Stadium. While fans enjoy the entertainment around the venue, the action on the pitch will be...

Seven former Pasifika rugby stars will be inducted into the first ever Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame (PRHOF) in Auckland on 28 March. The inaugural event will honour late All Black Johan Lomu and the late Papali'itele Peter Fatialofa, a former Manu Samoa legend. Also on the inductees list are Fijian legend Waisale Serevi, former All Black great Tuafa'asisina Bryan Williams,...

The release of the fourth batch of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the sea concluded Sunday, with the next round possibly starting next month, the plant's operator said. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings released about 7,800 metric tons of processed water as planned in the latest round, which began in late February....

Magistrate Seini Puamau did not pronounce former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho guilty this morning as directed by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo. However, Puamau acknowledged the findings of the High Court in convicting Bainimarama for attempting to pervert the course of justice and Qiliho for abuse of office where they interfered in an...

The United States has been working to help Taiwan consolidate its formal diplomatic ties with countries in the Pacific island region and prevent them from being poached by China, according to a top State Department official. “We work very carefully and closely with them to make sure their needs are met. And we try to close off any opportunities that...

The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country's immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is “invalid”. New Zealand passport holders only need to wait five years to apply for permanent residency under the current rules while all nationals with other citizenship need to wait a minimum of 10 years....

Tuvalu’s new prime minister, Feleti Teo, wants “guarantees” from Canberra that a landmark treaty with Australia will not undermine his country’s sovereignty. Teo, who was appointed leader last month, told the Guardian a controversial security clause in the Falepili Union treaty has led to fears among Tuvaluans that Australia “might encroach on Tuvalu’s sovereignty”. The treaty, signed in late 2023, states...

Fiji will uphold a policing cooperation agreement with China after reviewing the deal, the country’s home affairs minister, Pio Tikoduadua, has confirmed, despite earlier concerns within the Pacific nation over the deal. The controversial agreement was signed in 2011 when Fiji was under military rule. Under the deal, Fijian officers have been trained in China while Chinese police have been...