PINA

Palau’s Senate President Hokkons Baules and President Surangel Whipps Jr are at odds over a proposed Senate Joint Resolution prohibiting permanent stations for missile batteries in Palau, with accusations of foreign influence and differing interpretations of public sentiment fueling the debate. President Whipps, in the 09 February letter to U.S Senators, expressed concern that continued delay in implementing the signed...

Former Fiji military officer and Tailevu chief, Ratu Viliame Seruvakula was elected the Chairperson of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) during their meeting in Pacific Harbour Wednesday. His term is for three years. Ratu Seruvakula, nominated by the Kubuna confederacy, received 27 votes while the other nominees for the post; Ratu Meli Saukuru of Burebasaga confederacy received 10 votes and...

By George J. Maelagi Solomon Islands-based fisheries researcher Jasmine Rahi’i has been involved in a unique project looking at traditional fishing methods used by Solomon Islanders to catch species of tropical eels. In this Q&A, TunaPacific contributor George Maelagi talks to Jasmine about her research and the insights it can yield to inform sustainable fishing of eels by Solomon Island communities. Tell...

Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataafa today met with the Executives of Lakapi Samoa where the strategic changes underway were discussed as Samoan rugby positions itself for the future and in preparation for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of sport as a significant contributor to social and economic development in Samoa, and the...

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) has received a number of expressions of interest and applications for the Secretary General’s role, says organisation president Hugh Graham. The role was previously held by Owen Lewis, who took up the Secretary for Education position last month. Graham says: “I expect that there will be more applications as we get closer to...

New wing signing Junior Ratuva looks all set to make his Swire Shipping Fijian Drua debut against Moana Pasifika in Round 2 of Super Rugby Pacific in Melbourne on Saturday. Ratuva has been named in the match day 23 and will come off the bench. The recently signed speed merchant was previously contracted in the NRL with New Zealand Warriors, and...

Tuvalu's new Government is to review its controversial defence and climate change agreement with Australia - referring to concerns about the absence of transparency and a need to safeguard its sovereignty. Prime Minister Feleti Teo spoke to the nation this morning about his Government's priorities, among them the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union. It's a bilateral treaty which was kept secret until its...

Hilda Heine, the president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, has warned relations with the U.S are “gradually being destroyed by party politics” as Congress delays approval of crucial funding for the Pacific nation. U.S lawmakers have not yet passed funding packages agreed in 2023 with the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in a...

Samoa's Minister of Trade Negotiations, Leota Laki Lamositele, has addressed the WTO MC13 in Abu Dhabi, expressing the high expectations the Pacific nation has for the conference amid the challenging global scenario. “Our expectations for MC13 are high, as the world has not gotten any better since the conclusion of MC12 in June 2022,” stated Lamositele. He highlighted the persisting challenges,...

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele, has expressed Solomon Islands' concerns and perspectives on various crucial aspects during the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) underway in Abu Dhabi. Manele also highlighted the challenges on the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. “Significant ground has been covered, and some tough decisions must be made if we are to have a meaningful outcome...