PINA

Tonga’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano, has signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)S Secretariat in Brussels, formally presenting the ratification of the new European Union-OACPS Partnership Agreement. On 15 November last year, the EU and its member states signed a comprehensive Partnership Agreement with the members of the...

Fiji's President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere highlighted the concept of Fiji's 'Ocean of Peace' as world leaders seek a peaceful resolution to the war of aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Speaking at the “Summit on Peace in Ukraine” roundtable on the Human Dimension of the war in Ukraine, President Katonivere highlighted that from Fiji’s perspective, addressing the human dimensions...

Opinion by Sefanaia Nawadra, SPREP DG. Every year on 16 June, we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty which officially established the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as an independent intergovernmental organisation, also known as the SPREP Treaty. This year marks 31 years since the Treaty was signed. As we celebrate another SPREP Day, I...

Counting is underway in a highly anticipated national census in Papua New Guinea that is hoped will dispel wildly diverging population estimates ranging from 9.6 million to nearly twice the number. Just after midnight on Monday, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape became the first person in the country to be recorded, as part of a broadcast to raise...

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has announced it will convene an independent Board of Inquiry (BOI) on the grounding of the Fiji Navy vessel, RFNS Puamau. RFNS Puamau hit a reef and ran aground in a passage close to the far-flung island of Fulaga in the Lau group. The incident occurred last Tuesday, only a month after the multi-million-dollar...

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China may be warming, but Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the contest for influence in the Pacific is far from over. Senator Wong says previous governments were inactive in maintaining Australia influence in the region, and that her government is working to make Australia the Pacific's number one security partner. Her comments come as she prepares...

The United States and Palau are bolstering their longstanding partnership through Exercise Valiant Shield, a large-scale military training event currently underway across the Indo-Pacific region. “This exercise is a routine training event that upholds our commitment to regional security and Palau’s defence under the Compact of Free Association,” said Colonel Matthew Mulvey of Combat Logistics Regiment 17, who is leading...

Fijiana 15’s coach Moses Rauluni says it was a rusty start to the week, with players not putting in their maximum effort as they prepare for their first Test against Japan. However, things took a positive turn during Thursday’s captain’s run ahead of their Test against Japan. The former national skipper says that the players seemed to lack undivided attention in...

Taking the helm of the Pacific Islands Forum as its new secretary general, former Nauru President Baron Waqa has called on island nations to stick together toward accomplishing regional goals. “Our PIF membership has never been as strong as it is today. But we cannot afford to become complacent. We must continue to work every day to build and strengthen...

As nearly 40 percent of land across the planet is degraded with more acres lost every second, governments, businesses and communities must galvanise action to reverse the damage and protect Earth, the UN chief said in a strong message for the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked annually on 17 June. “Every second, around four football fields of...