PINA

The climate crisis and development challenges pose a mutually reinforcing threat to the growth prospects of Pacific Island Least Developed Countries(LDCs) and need to be addressed together. This was a key observation made by participants at a recent Global Environment Facility regional workshop held in the Solomon Islands which focused on enhancing the resilience of the most economically vulnerable of...

Investing in Guam infrastructure will boost the island’s resilience amid the growing threats of geopolitical conflicts in which the territory is strategically positioned on the front line, according to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “As governor of Guam, I am deeply concerned for the security of my island and our nation. It is imperative that we confront these concerns with unwavering...

President of Hungary Katalin Novak will arrive in Port Moresby for a State visit Wednesday. Prime Minister James Marape said Novak will be arriving with her delegation of 25 persons. She will depart for Manus for a visit, and will finally leave PNG on Friday. Marape said that although Hungary was not geographically close to Papua New Guinea, today’s modern world...

The U.S Coast Guard has opened a dedicated unit on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in order to support the service's expanding consultation and assistance mission in the Western Pacific. The new Illegal Unreported Unregulated Fisheries Centre of Expertise (IUUF COE) is based on Ford Island in Honolulu, where it will be well positioned to advise Coast Guard units and...

Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline has announced major sports sponsorships for next year, welcoming onboard new partners and increasing investments for existing partners. 2024 will see us enter into new sponsorships and partnerships that capture audiences not only in our key markets but globally. Our new sponsorships now include the Melbourne Storm, Kaiviti Silktails, LA Galaxy and an increase in...

With the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting just around two weeks away, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says they have received confirmation from agencies, dialogue partners and leaders who will be attending. The 2023 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be held from November 06-10 in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. PM Brown, who is also the Forum chair, attended the 43rd...

At the request of the Cook Islands Government, the Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) Medical Assistance Team (PACMAT) will deploy a five-member team to the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 06 - 10 November. They will provide clinical oversight and medical assistance throughout the duration of the Meeting. Team Leader, Dr Stephen Stathis, shares...

Tropical Cyclone Lola has strengthened to a category 5 super cyclone, the Fiji Meteorological Service says. A category 5 cyclone means average winds will surpass 198km/h. Residents on Vanuatu's north-eastern islands were feeling the beginnings of the severe cyclone on Tuesday morning. Fiji Metservice said parts of Vanuatu would be feeling gale force winds between 63-84 km/h. Meteorologist Samisoni Waqavakatoga said strong force...

The Australian-sponsored programme to care for refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea has been riven by corruption, fraud and nepotism, a whistleblower within the PNG government’s immigration authority has alleged in a complaint sent to the country’s prime minister, James Marape. The whistleblower also claimed that police investigations into corruption within the PNG immigration and citizenship authority (ICA) were abandoned...

Dr Oldman Oduetse Koboto is Adviser and Manager of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), based in Mauritius. He leads CCFAH’s work to support Commonwealth countries – particularly small and other vulnerable states – in unlocking international climate finance to enable climate action. Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to work as Adviser and...