PINA

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is conducting a two-day workshop with members of the Vanuatu media to strengthen their understanding of climate change and other environment-related issues in the Pacific in order to further amplify a Resilient Pacific Voice. SPREP’s Communications and Outreach team have been in Vanuatu for a week working on building the capacity...

Samoa head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has made three changes to his starting XV from the team that defeated Chile 43-10 in their last game Paul Alo-Emile comes into the front-row, Brian Alainu’u’ese into the second-row, and Ben Lam onto the wing. Three players in this match-day team bring with them test experience from other countries, with Steven Luatua and Charlie...

Eddie Jones has been hammered by former Australia wing Drew Mitchell for his lack of transparency in the wake of the Wallabies’ first defeat to Fiji in nearly 70 years. Australia have to win against Wales on Sunday to remain in the tournament and avoid the ignominy of becoming the first Wallabies side to never make the Rugby World Cup...

Players will run out onto pitches up and down France in distinctive t-shirts this week as the stars of Rugby World Cup 2023 vow to Keep Rugby Clean. Keep Rugby Clean is World Rugby’s anti-doping education and awareness programme. It aims to deter and prevent doping by educating participants on their responsibilities, raising awareness of doping risks, and fostering an...

G20 nations have a crucial role to play in emission reduction and leading the path towards sustainable development, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr told the General Debate of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “We urgently call on the G20 nations, responsible for 80 percent of global carbon emissions, to uphold their commitments to...

Movers and shakers in the fight against climate change are gathering for the United Nation's Climate Ambition Summit in New York on Wednesday, while climate scientists and Pacific activists call on Australia to ramp up its own ambitions. The summit comes as the Australia Institute has published a full-page ad in the New York Times calling on the Australian government...

Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi on behalf of the Government of Niue and the non-profit Tofia Niue (a public-private partnership) Tuesday launched a first-of-its-kind sustainable funding initiative to ensure long-term conservation of its sovereign waters: Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs). This initiative will be managed by the newly formed Niue and Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust, a charitable trust established to support Niue's...

A “rescue plan” for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must now result in policies, budgets and investment to ensure a more just, equitable and green future by 2030, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday. He was speaking at the conclusion of the two-day SDG Summit at UN Headquarters, where world leaders adopted a political declaration to ramp up progress...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders engagements on behalf of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. “Aotearoa...

Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair, Mark Brown says in consideration of the region geostrategic environment, the time is ripe for the Pacific region to drive the progress of its priorities and aspirations. Brown said the Pacific continue to witness increased strategic interest and geopolitical positioning in the region by external partners and interests. “This has materialised through heightened levels...