PINA

The human rights record of Vanuatu will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time on Thursday, 02 May 2024, in a meeting in Geneva. Vanuatu is one of 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session from 29 April to 10 May...

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), reports ongoing challenges within the Pacific job market, despite resilient growth. The Pacific Tripartite High-Level Dialogue on Decent Work and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent meeting in Fiji last week saw the release of the Pacific Employment and Social Monitor for April 2024. The report notes that unemployment rates have reverted to pre-pandemic...

By Paul Chen, Representative Taipei Trade Office in Fiji As the world experienced the years of COVID-19 pandemic, it is of paramount importance that we join forces to combat and learn this global public health emergency. Taiwan has been a pivotal partner in the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases in the world as well, generously sharing its best practices...

The Fiji Rugby Union treats its men’s and women’s national 7s teams equally and strives to ensure that players are well taken care of. FRU High-Performance General Manager BJ Mather made this statement following the incident last year, where members of the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side were seen sleeping outside Sydney Airport during a flight layover en route to...

Romani Katoa has been re-elected the vice president of the Oceania Aquatics Board of Directors for a new four-year term. Katoa has been the president of the Cook Islands Aquatics Federation since 2009. He is also the first Pacific Islander to be elected to the bureau of the World Aquatics International Swimming Federation executive board. “I’m very honoured to receive the overwhelming...

The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and the Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) are thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aimed at fortifying the relationship between the two organisations. This landmark agreement is designed to elevate the development of Para sports throughout the Oceania region, encompassing the 17 member countries of ONOC. The MOU highlights a commitment...

Scientific evidence shows that plastics and associated chemicals, including some bio-based plastics, are destabilising the biosphere, harming the natural environment and living organisms including humans, and threatening the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. As 14 Pacific countries and delegates from around the world advance discussions to streamline the text of a legally binding instrument to address plastic...

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened National Consultations for Fiji on the key regional initiatives for 2024. The first of such consultation was presided by the Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Esala Nayasi and Fiji’s Roving Ambassador, William Toganivalu. It was held Friday at the Ministry of...

More than 200 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have completed a successful deployment to assist with Solomon Islands' general election, and provide other support to the island nation. The NZDF personnel were part of a Joint Task Force sent on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with a primary role of helping deliver polling...

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has boldly declared that the state of the republic “is strong and getting stronger” and that Palau is headed “in the right direction.” Speaking before lawmakers, ranking officials, dignitaries, and the diplomatic corps in the Senate chamber of the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK), Whipps highlighted the 30th anniversary this year of the republic’s independence and...