PINA

The Pacific’s peak diplomatic bodies have signaled they are ready to engage with Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Government of Bougainville as mediation begins on the delayed ratification of its successful 2019 independence referendum. PNG and Bougainville’s leaders met in the capital Port Moresby this week with a moderator to start negotiations on the implementation of the UN-supervised Bougainville Peace Agreement...

By Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Republic of Vanuatu Vanuatu stands with the 6PAC+ alliance at the IMO that includes the Pacific, the Caribbean, Africa, and many SIDS and LDCs. We stand with those who refuse to let another decade slip by while emissions rise, while climate disasters intensify, while polluters walk away without consequence. The time...

By Edward Carver Fisheries observers hold a job little known by the general public but essential to the health of the oceans: monitoring the work on industrial fishing vessels. The sector has its share of illegal fishing and even other illicit activity, so the job comes with risks. A new documentary shows just how dangerous it is. Fatal Watch, co-directed by...

Fakaofo's Esera Fofō Tuisano arrived at his first parliamentary session for the year as Ulu-o-Tokelau, or Head of State, with his daughter by boat from his home on Fenuafala. Unlike the other two atolls, Nukunonu and Atafu, Fakaofo has two islets that the population lives: Falē, where the meeting house is, and Fenuafala, also known as Taī, where the main...

Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa, Thursday emphasised the vital role aviation plays in the region’s future, calling it not just a mode of transport, but a lifeline for island economies. Speaking to aviation ministers from across the Pacific, Waqa highlighted importance of connectivity in a region facing unprecedented geostrategic competition and the growing threat of climate change. “You meet at...

Australian deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles met with Minister for Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat in Cairns Thursday to mark the return of Vanuatu’s Guardian-class Patrol Boat, RVS Takuare. RVS Takuare has been undergoing repairs to the hull and an internal fit-out after the vessel suffered catastrophic damage during Cyclone Kevin in 2023. This marks an important milestone...

Growing up in the Pacific nation of Kiribati, Oemwa Johnson heard her grandfather’s stories about nuclear explosions he witnessed in the 1950s. The blasts gave off ferocious heat and blinding light. He told her people were not consulted or given protective gear against bombs detonated by the U.S and UK at Kiritimati Island, now part of Kiribati, decades ago. People in...

Kirsty Coventry hopes her election as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee - beating six male candidates including Britain's Lord Coe - sends a “"powerful signal”. The 41-year-old former swimmer, who won two Olympic gold medals, secured a majority of 49 of the 97 available votes in the first round of Thursday's election, while World...

Op-Ed by Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau, President of Palau The ocean is in our blood. Nearly 99 percent of my country's territory is made up of its vast waters. From the rich tuna fisheries that sustain our economies to the coral reefs that shield our coastlines, the ocean defines our identity. Yet the threats it faces, including illegal fishing,...

The Vanuatu Government, through the Citizenship Commission, has suspended all new applications under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) until further notice. This has been confirmed by the newly appointed Chairman of the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC), Charles Maniel. CIIP is a Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme that requires foreign investors to make a significant contribution to the local economy through approved capital...