PINA

A Palau Election Commission (PEC) spokesperson says it's highly unlikely President Surangel Whipps Jr will lose the election. Official results for the presidential election are yet to be declared. Unofficial results show President Whipps ahead of former four-term President Tommy Remengesau Jr by more than 1000 votes, with around 1600 votes yet to be counted. As of Thursday afternoon, local time, Whipps...

By Dr Satyendra Prasad, Senior Fellow – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Climate Lead for Abt-Global Pacific’s leaders, civil society, climate activists are making their arduous journey to Baku in Azerbaijan for the annual UN Climate Conference – COP29. All climate COP’s matter for the small states across the Pacific. This one perhaps like no other since the...

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has confirmed that former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been granted early release as of today, in accordance with Section 46 (3) of the Corrections Act. This decision follows a comprehensive review of his application, which was processed in line with the relevant legal provisions governing early release and supervised reintegration. Section 46 (3) of the...

With a new, revised schedule announced this week, the stage is set for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings on the obligations of States under international law in respect of climate change. The first day of testimony will now feature a delegation from Vanuatu, the Pacific Island State that initiated the request for the advisory opinion from the ICJ. The...

As Pacific countries make their way to Baku, Azerbaijan, a new United Nations report cautioning that current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy and wrecking billions of lives, has added impetus for Pacific delegates to further amplify the One Pacific Voice on 1.5 to stay alive. The UNFCCC 2024...

The Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Thursday officially signed an agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for ordinary passports holders from both countries to travel freely. The signing ceremony between Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka, and PRC Ambassador Cai Weiming, marks another milestone in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two...

Growing U.S security and diplomatic ties with Pacific Island nations are unlikely to slow even if American foreign policy undergoes a major shake-up during Donald Trump’s second term, say former White House advisers and analysts. Following decades of neglect, Washington has in recent years embarked on a Pacific charm offensive to counter the growing influence of China in the region. While...

Small island developing states like Fiji and Vanuatu are uniquely vulnerable to climate change and are already paying the price. Developed countries need to pay up. By Emily Wilkinson, Ilan Noy, Matthew Bishop, Vikrant Panwar Two years ago, when the curtain fell on the COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, developing nations on the frontline of climate change had...

The United States military test-launched an unarmed, but nuclear-capable, intercontinental ballistic missile from California over the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. The Minuteman III ICBM was fired at 11:01 pm Pacific Time from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during an operational test. The U.S Space Force said the test showed the nation's ICBM fleet can leverage dominance in an...

The King has revealed his regret at not visiting Fiji on his recent royal tour of Australia and Samoa after being advised against it for medical reasons. Charles spoke to the High Commissioner of Fiji during an international sustainability conference at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. He told Jovilisi Suveinakama: “I felt so bad we couldn’t get to Fiji (on the royal...