PINA

Voters have until 5pm today (03 December) to register to vote in the Snap Election on 14 January 2025, including the by-election for the Northern Ward Constituency of the Port Vila City Council (PVCC). Citizens who have recently turned 18, those who are 18 but have not yet registered, and individuals seeking to transfer between polling stations and constituencies can...

A policing expert in the Pacific says that as cyber threats become more sophisticated, the role of governments and organisations in safeguarding their assets has never been more critical. To address this, a security awareness training programme is being implemented to develop an information security mindset within the Pacific police workforce. This initiative aims to equip officers and staff with the...

American Samoa's director of Marine and Wildlife Resources Taotasi Archie Soliai is ecstatic that American Samoa has been granted observer status in the Forum Fisheries Agency(FFA). The Deputy Director General of the FFA, Dr Pio Manoa, informed Soliai that the 135th meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee endorsed the request from American Samoa to be an observer at the Forum...

A record number of oral statements are expected to be presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as highly awaited public hearings on States’ legal obligations with respect to climate change got underway on Monday. The hearings are part of the process towards the court issuing an advisory opinion, which will clarify States’ legal obligations under international law and...

A handful of countries should be held legally responsible for the ongoing impacts of climate change, representatives of vulnerable states have told judges at the international court of justice (ICJ). During a hearing at the Peace Palace in The Hague, which began on Monday, Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change and environment, said responsibility for the climate crisis...

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr on Monday urged China to respect Palau’s sovereignty and international law, just days ahead of a contentious visit by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Lai is visiting Palau, along with the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu – three of Taipei’s 12 remaining diplomatic allies – as part of a Pacific tour that has triggered fierce criticism in...

Countries negotiating a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution concluded their fifth session in the small hours of Monday in Busan, Republic of Korea, with plans to reconvene in 2025. Despite intense discussions, delegates recognised the need for more time to address divergent views and refine the treaty’s framework. The session, which began on 25 November, brought together more than 3,300...

A significant milestone was reached in Suva, Fiji, Monday as nine additional Parties signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to apply the 2024 amendments to the Treaty, pending ratification of such amendments by all the Parties. These Parties were: eight Pacific Islands Parties (PIPs) — Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu; and...

Vanuatu has opened proceedings in a landmark climate case brought before the UN's top court, arguing international law and the warming of the atmosphere demands broader action. The Pacific state is leading two weeks of hearings at the International Court of Justice, beginning Monday, seeking a formal advisory opinion on whether high-emitting countries should do more to stave off climate...

Australia has reiterated its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate action but does not think high-emitting countries have further legal responsibilities to stave off climate catastrophe. In a landmark case brought before the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ), Vanuatu is leading an argument brought by several Pacific nations and developing states that developed countries have a legal responsibility...