PINA

The Government of Vanuatu, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade (MoFAICET), launched its first documented Foreign Policy Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, Matai Seremaiah, said this Foreign Policy aims to promote and develop specific areas, including promoting sovereignty and protecting national boundaries. “We are committed to safeguarding Vanuatu’s sovereignty and territorial...

The Albanese government will strike a new funding deal with Papua New Guinea to support asylum seekers after the country threatened to send them back to Australia unless a fresh agreement was signed. In December 2021 the Morrison government struck a secret deal for about 75 refugees and asylum seekers to stay in Port Moresby after the regional processing centre...

Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa Wednesday reiterated the importance of ocean governance at the Regional Ocean Governance and BBNJ Workshop in Suva. “Ocean governance is a vast area of importance for decision makers, policy makers, and experts,” he said. Waqa highlighted ongoing efforts and stressed the value of these workshops. “The Secretariat, with the help of CROP and stakeholders, has been working...

New Zealand is unlikely to resettle its full quota of refugees from Nauru under its 2022 agreement with Australia, and faces choices on the future of the pact. A deal struck by previous governments on both sides of the Tasman agreed New Zealand would take 450 refugees from the detention centre between 2022-2025. In the first two years of the pact,...

Fiji's Attorney-General Graham Leung has called on the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku to do the honourable thing and resign. In a statement, Leung said the office is bigger than the individual. “It is regretted that the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (Rabuku) has chosen to remain in office following the opinion of the Supreme Court,” Leung said. Meanwhile, the...

A campaign launched by Human Rights at Sea International, centred around a film about Eritara Aati Kaierua, a Kiribati fisheries observer who died at sea in March 2020, will push for greater protections for fisheries observers. The Death at Sea Justice Campaign and the Death at Sea film, which premiered in January 2024, are sponsored by Blue Marine Foundation and...

The Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne have named four debutants in their lineup for the Test match against Georgia this Saturday. Kitione Salawa, Peni Dakuwaqa, Inia Tabuavou are set to start while Elia Canakaivata will come off the bench. In the front row, Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere, and Mesake Doge will start, supported by Isoa Nasilasila and Temo Mayanavanua in...

Sebastian Visinia, Marco Fepuleai and Murphy Taramai will make their Manu Samoa debut in the run-on team against Italy on Friday at Apia Park in the July Tests. Two other debutants Lolani Faleiva and Afa Moleli have been named on the bench and could get their first stripes. Head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger has named Aki Seiuli, Sama Malolo and Marco...

The people of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean are in mourning after witnessing the devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Beryl. This unprecedented Category 5 hurricane has wreaked havoc across the South-East Caribbean islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Chair, Samoan Ambassador to the UN, Fatumanava Dr Pa’olelei Luteru...

The United States has congratulated Tuvalu, which deposited its instrument of accession to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) with the United States on 28 June 2024. As one of the treaty’s depositary governments, the United States recognises and welcomes Tuvalu’s important decision to join the more than 180 other BWC States Parties in advancing the BWC toward the goal of...