PINA

While other regions in the world have made notable progress in curbing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, the Western Pacific still faces significant challenges, with 2.3 million people living with HIV, 140,000 new infections and 53,000 deaths in 2023 alone. Every hour, 16 people are newly infected and six people die from HIV-related causes in the Western Pacific region,...

ANZ Group CEO, Shayne Elliott has praised Fiji's quick economic recovery and reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to the Pacific region. Speaking at the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s Speaker Series, Elliott outlined ANZ’s enduring role in driving economic growth across the islands. “Fiji has bounced back impressively from the pandemic downturn, with the economy now outperforming 2019 levels,” Elliott said. “Leading the...

The Marshall Islands and Palau have signed the MOU for the U.S Tuna Treaty to apply the 2024 amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between Pacific Island States and the U.S pending ratification of such amendments by all the Parties. Anthony M. Muller, Minister for Natural Resources and Commerce of the Marshall Islands, and Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries...

In a significant step for Pacific fisheries, U.S Ambassador Marie Damour on Monday hailed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Fishing Access Terms for 2025 as a “testament to enduring cooperation” between the United States and Pacific nations. Speaking at the ceremony held during the 21st Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC),...

Australia is preparing to deliver its position on what obligations states have to address climate change and help Pacific Island nations facing the existential threat. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding oral hearings between 02 - 13 December to inform advice on what obligations nations have to address climate change and what the legal consequences of failing to...

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Palau’s new One-Stop Shop during his visit from 0 5 - 06 December, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Office of the President. Lai’s visit to Palau will conclude a tour of Taiwan’s three remaining Pacific allies, which include Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands. Lai's Pacific tour from 30 November to...

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has issued a call to action to address the escalating crisis of non-communicable diseases in the country. “This is no longer a future concern; this is the present, and the time to act is now,” Heine said, keynoting the Health in All Policies Conference 2024 held on 28 November at the USP Conference Hall in...

The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations. After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked...

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has postponed the session to table the motion for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni from 03 December to 09 December 9, 2024. The postponement follows the Prime Minister’s request for an extension to submit a written reply to the motion. Originally due by 12 noon Friday, the Lord Speaker has granted...

It was a historic milestone announced with jubilance in 2022 at the end of the United Nations Assembly 5.2 in March 2022 with more than 170 governments uniting to End Plastic Pollution through an international legally binding agreement. Fast forward to 2024, the fifth and final Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee in Busan Korea where the Plastics Treaty Text was to be...