PINA

By Rowena Acraman The new USAID Pacific Islands Mission was opened in Suva Tuesday at a ceremony organised at the United States Embassy. It was opened by former U.S diplomat and USAID Administrator, Samantha Power who also inaugurated Zema Semunegus as the mission’s Director. Administrator Power emphasised the new USAID office will help enhance digital connectivity and cybersecurity, support Fiji in...

The dangers of rising sea levels are perhaps nowhere more stark than the island nation of Tuvalu in the South Pacific: increased coastal flooding, worsening storm damage, and more threats to come. To help Tuvalu and other low-lying island nations prepare for a changing climate, NASA’s Sea Level Change Team is partnering with a United Nations support initiative. The idea:...

By Nick Thieberger, University of Melbourne Vanuatu's rampaging cyclones are the latest extreme event to threaten the country's cultural records. A digitisation project could be key to protecting them. When cyclones ripped through Vanuatu's Port Vila in March 2023, they left a trail of crumpled buildings, mud-stricken roads and decimated powerlines in their wake. Among those affected was the Vanuatu Cultural...

By Siobhan McDonnell Just two-and-a-half weeks ago, Vanuatu celebrated its 43rd Independence anniversary. Bands marched around Independence Park in Port Vila, watched by the assembled groups of politicians and VIPs and families dressed in national colours. Children waved the Vanuatu flag. It was much like any other year. But behind the scenes, as the French President flew out of the...

The Australian Government is partnering with the National Rugby League to establish the new Pacific Rugby League Championships. The inaugural Pacific Championships will feature women’s and men’s teams from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga. The Government is committing $7 million (US$4.5 million) over the next two years so that seven Pacific countries are included...

Super Rugby organisers have released the 2024 schedule, which is set to feature more matches across the Pacific. After a successful cameo in Apia, plans are in the works for Moana Pasifika to play more of its home games in Samoa and across the Pacific region. Apia Park hosted its first Super Rugby Pacific match in 2023 with Moana Pasifika hosting...

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons hopes Oceania will follow in the footsteps of Europe by creating a continental multi-sport event. Parsons was here last week to see the inaugural edition of the European Para Championships (EPC) that features 10 Para sports across 13 days of competition. EPC organisers hope the event will now take place every four years and be...

Former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry claims that Fiji’s Constitution is a significant obstacle to democracy. Speaking at the inaugural session of the symposium titled ‘Democracy Reimagined: Charting the Course for Fiji’s Political Future,’ Chaudhry claims the 2013 Constitution was imposed, and its review requirements are practically unattainable. Chaudhry suggested the possibility of engaging the Opposition Party...

The Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji met on Friday 11 August at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva to discuss, amongst other issues, the operationalisation of the Forum Troika Mechanism. “I am very pleased that we were able to come together as the Troika to formalise the operationalisation of the Forum Troika Mechanism. This is...

Vanuatu Opposition has accused Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau of not being entirely truthful in his address during a press conference last week after they boycotted the sitting to debate the motion of No confidence. Former deputy Prime Minister and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) President Sato Kilman, criticised PM Kalsakau for labelling the motion of no confidence against him as “irresponsible.” Kilman...