PINA

At a high stakes virtual summit on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva brought together 17 national leaders from major economies and climate-vulnerable countries. The goal was to accelerate global climate ambition ahead of COP30, which will be hosted in Brazil. The meeting was part of a joint mobilisation strategy by the two leaders...

The Pacific Islands Forum has urged global and regional partners to align more closely with Pacific-led priorities as the region faces mounting challenges, from climate change to transnational crime and shifting aid dynamics. Speaking virtually at the 81st Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Forum Deputy Secretary General Esala Nayasi delivered a...

Multiple sources from registered political parties have confirmed that a possible motion of no confidence against Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat is brewing ahead of the upcoming Ordinary Parliamentary Session. The sources told the Vanuatu Daily Post that early discussions have begun to test support for the motion. At present, efforts are reportedly underway to secure the required numbers. The Leader...

U.S deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau held talks Wednesday with a senior delegation from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), including Tonga’s Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke, who currently serves as PIF Chair, and PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa. During the meeting, Deputy Secretary Landau emphasised the enduring commitment of the United States to the Pacific region. “The United States, as...

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dr 'Aisake Valu Eke, together with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa, is undertaking a high-level advocacy mission to the United States this week as part of regional efforts to secure capitalisation pledges for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). The advocacy mission follows...

Today, Tuvalu marks Te Aso o te Paula, the 82nd anniversary of the bombing of Funafuti in 1943—a day of remembrance, resilience, and renewed calls for peace. On this day 82 years ago, Japanese bombers targeted the small atoll of Funafuti. As the attack approached, around 50 locals had sought refuge inside a church. Corporal Fonnie Black Ladd, a U.S Marine...

Major change is on the way for Pacific seasonal workers and, possibly, the government's flagship Pacific visa should Peter Dutton take office on 03 May. The coalition has pledged to bring back a dedicated agriculture visa and review - and likely axe - minimum weekly hours for visiting Pacific workers. Australian Associated Press has quizzed the coalition on its regional policies,...

By Nic Maclellan  New Caledonian political leaders and the French government are scheduled to resume political status talks on 29 April, when France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls returns to Noumea. For Valls, “the objective of this phase will be to reach an overall agreement on the institutional future of New Caledonia.” After initial discussions in Paris in February, then two rounds...

The next pathway event on the road to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia begins on Thursday with the best young players from three nations vying for a World Cup spot through the East-Asia-Pacific Qualifier. Six matches in double round-robin format will be held across six days, with hosts Japan competing alongside Fiji and...

Without urgent action, climate change could be linked to one in every ten cases of intimate partner violence by the end of the century. That is the warning from a new report by the UN Spotlight Initiative, which finds that climate change is intensifying the social and economic stresses that are fuelling increased levels of violence against women and girls. The...