PINA

By James Bhagwan For the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), the ecumenical alliance for the Pacific region, it was a very difficult decision to go to this year’s COP in Dubai, a conference chaired by the CEO of Dubai’s national oil company who is a significant figure in the global fossil fuel industry, which takes place in one of the...

By Nic Maclellan More than two decades ago, the European Union and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states were due to meet in Suva, to sign a new partnership agreement. But the ceremony, scheduled for June 2000, never took place. On 19 May 2000, a group of armed men led by George Speight and Ilisoni Ligairi...

Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum last week expressed strong concerns over the release of treated radioactive waste water from Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean says Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. PM Brown said there were strong concerns raised by Forum leaders for the significance of potential threats of contamination to the health and security...

The President of Kiribati has played down the chances of his country striking a treaty with Australia similar to the landmark pact which Anthony Albanese signed late last week with Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Kausea Natano. The Falepili Union — inked by Albanese and Natano at the end of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Rarotonga — will open a...

In a series of meetings convened at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) recently, FFA Members have agreed on management options for the region's multi-million dollar Tuna Fishery. FFA Director General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen noted that the management options consultation is the meeting in which FFA Members discuss and agree on key management approaches to ensure the future prosperity...

A factsheets kit to assist the Pacific media report on the ongoing UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) process has been launched by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The launch of the Media Mana Factsheets Kit for Pacific Media took place at the Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity (PPfP) Pavilion at...

The European Union signed three Financing Agreements worth €21.8 million (US$23.2 million) with Pacific Island nations. These agreements mark the EU’s and its partners ongoing commitment to combat climate change and promote essential infrastructure development in the fields of water, sanitation, and hygiene. The primary objective of this budget support is to foster climate-resilient communities and ensure safe and healthy...

As the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leader’s Meeting concludes in the Cook Islands, the 2023 Leader’s Communique offers us great insight as to what leaders have decided are our key regional priorities, and the steps that need to be taken to achieve these priorities. Unfortunately, while we celebrate progress on several fronts including the historic language on a just transition...

  Samoa’s men and Fiji’s women have secured their tickets to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship 2023 in Brisbane. Brian Lima’s Samoa will make their Olympic debut in France next year after they capped a supremely impressive weekend with a 24-0 defeat of Papua New Guinea in the men’s Olympic final on Sunday. Earlier at Ballymore...

Saudi Arabia has announced US$50 million to kick start the Pacific Resilience Facility This was confirmed Friday by Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown after their meeting with Forum Dialogue partners one the sidelines of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Cook Islands. "The announcement by Saudi Arabia for US$50 million to start seeding the Pacific...