PINA

President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in riot-hit New Caledonia, having crossed the globe by plane in a high-profile show of support for the Pacific archipelago wracked by deadly unrest and where Indigenous people have long sought independence from France. The unrest was sparked by anger among Indigenous Kanak people over constitutional changes backed by Paris that would give voting rights...

By Kishti Sen & Tom Kenny, International Economist & Senior International Economist, ANZ Fiji’s swift rebound from the pandemic-induced downturn has been impressive. The economy is doing better than it was in 2019 with tourism leading the rebound. Visitor arrivals in 2022 exceeded most expectations and last year inbound demand surged past the record arrivals of 2019. "Pent-up international travel demand...

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) strongly supports the new advisory opinion published by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which for the first time at a global level defines the legal obligations of states to act on climate change to protect marine ecosystems. These obligations arise under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,...

The Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST) has released a critical analysis of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) 2023 Revised Strategy for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. In a working paper titled “Disbursement of Revenues Generated by IMO’s Emission Reduction Measures: Is Contributing to a Just and Equitable Transition That Leaves No State Behind an Empty...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has affirmed that the Government remains steadfast and undeterred by the Opposition’s vote-of-no-confidence motion. “We had a full Cabinet today for our National Executive Council meeting and our government business for the two weeks of Parliament starting next Tuesday have been cleared,” Prime Minister Marape stated. “We are not deterred by any conversations on...

In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Fiji is known for its intense tropical beauty, vibrant culture and astonishing biodiversity. Among its unique inhabitants, five species of iguanas stand out, four of which are native and endemic to the islands. Yet, these significant reptiles face an uncertain future, threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and the illegal wildlife trade. Nunia Thomas-Moko, Director...

The Pacific Community (SPC) welcomes the advisory opinion and the role that evidence-based Pacific science has played in the ruling by the International Tribunal Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The tribunal handed down a unanimous opinion that found states’ have a legal obligation to monitor and reduce their emissions on the marine environment that contribute to climate change. “The highest global...

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday flew to France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia on a politically risky visit aiming to defuse a crisis after nine days of riots that have killed six people and injured hundreds. Macron's sudden decision to fly to the southwest Pacific archipelago, some 10,500 miles from mainland France, is a sign of the gravity with which...

Australia is set to launch a plan worth more than $800 million (US$528 million) which will give it major oversight of policing in the Pacific region. As Fiji struggles with a meth epidemic threatening societal collapse, Australian officials are in the capital, Suva, working on the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Pacific Policing Initiative. There are three pillars to the project —...

The Papua New Guinea government’s push for news organisations to become its cheer-leading squad is under further scrutiny this week as parliament hears testimony from journalists and top officials. The effort to wield influence over the news, first announced last year as a “media development policy”, has been watered down in the face of strong opposition. Despite the changes, the...