PINA

The Solomon Islands’ ruling party has pledged to strike a “pragmatic” balance between stronger ties with China and its relations with “traditional partners” such as Australia if it wins re-election in April. The Pacific nation’s Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has taken a pro-Beijing stance since returning to power in 2019 and has accused “agents of Western powers” of trying to...

The Australian Government, through PacificAus Sports, will partner with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to support more than 250 athletes from 13 Pacific nations as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The supported athletes will compete across 15 sports including athletics, swimming, boxing, weightlifting and Rugby 7s. Australia’s commitment to promoting greater inclusion of women and...

Super Rugby Pacific will look to encourage more counterattacking from kicking duals as they tweak the offside laws. The current laws state players can be put onside from a kick if the ball is either passed or the ball carrier runs five metres. This limits the amount of opportunities and space to attack, leading to further kicking between the teams. Super Rugby...

The government of Japan reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of releasing treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. In a press briefing in Suva Monday, Japan’s Deputy Press Secretary Mariko Kaneko said the decision to discharge the treated water into the ocean came after six years of extensive research and consultation with...

A former political advisor believes Tonga's parliament should be dissolved due to the current stand-off between King Tupou VI and the government. Lopeti Senituli advisor to former Prime Minister Akalisi Pohiva says the King has no confidence in the current Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. And he says it's time for the prime minister to step down. Meanwhile, a stalemate remains in Tonga...

By Lopeti Senituli Early last week, the Secretary of Tonga’s Privy Council wrote to the Chief Secretary (Secretary to Cabinet and to the Prime Minister), saying “I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty in Council’s Decision PC17/2024, approved by circulation of 02 Feb 2024, was … pleased by and with the advice of the Privy Council...

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has reassured her Pacific counterparts the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean last year followed international safety standards. The commitment includes continued collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She appreciated the science-based discussions between Pacific Island Countries, Japan, and the IAEA. The Ministers...

Cook Islands foreign affairs minister Tingika Elikana Monday highlighted the need to drive discussions on regional priorities and forge inter-regional cooperation essential for global acknowledgment of these priorities. He acknowledged the presence of Yoko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan in attending 5th PALM Ministerial interim meeting - a first in the Pacific. Kamikawa comes face to face with her...

The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting (MIM) for PALM10 was held in Suva, Fiji, on 12 February 2024 in order to follow up on the outcomes of the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) as well as to prepare for PALM10. This was the first time for MIM to be held in the Pacific Islands Region. 2. The Meeting was attended...

Unprecedented threats facing the Indian Ocean are just as serious as those confronting Pacific nations, with regional security, climate change, and humanitarian issues causing major concern, Australia’s foreign minister says. Penny Wong put a spotlight on issues in the vast waters to Australia’s west during a speech at the Indian Ocean Conference in Perth on Friday. Some 400 delegates from 34...