PINA

Tonga has endorsed the Proliferation Security Initiative or PSI, a U.S-led global movement that seeks to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S Department of State welcomed Tonga’s participation in the initiative. The U.S government “looks forward to working with Tonga to advance the counterproliferation goals of the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles,” the State Department...

The UN Secretary-General on Sunday reiterated that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed, following the deliberate breach of a UN peacekeeping position by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) armoured vehicles in southern Lebanon. The incident took place early on Sunday morning (local time), when two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate and forcibly entered...

The UN’s new carbon market will have a compulsory mechanism that aims to prevent developers of carbon credit projects from breaching human rights or causing environmental damage with their activities – a first for the UN climate process. Developers of projects under the UN’s new Article 6.4 carbon crediting system will be required to identify and address potential negative environmental...

Air New Zealand has increased its capacity to Samoa by nearly a third to carry delegates from around the world to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Between 14 and 31 October, Air New Zealand will operate 25 return flights to Apia, the Samoan capital. The increased capacity represents a 29 percent boost compared with typical operations over...

An investigation into the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui will “get to the nub” of what happened when the ship sank, Defence Minister Judith Collins says, as she warns against a "rush to judgment" about last week's incident. Collins recounted details about the incident in an interview with Q+A, where she also spoke on New Zealand's “very significant” credibility gap...

Fishermen on the coast of Safata in Samoa were told to discard fish covered in oil from the New Zealand naval ship HMNZS Manawanui as authorities confirmed leakage of 200,000 litres of diesel. The ship struck a reef last Saturday and sank the next morning. The incident has raised concerns about an impending ecological disaster. Fishermen from various villages in the...

The Fijian Parliament is set to appoint the nation’s next President on Thursday, 31 October 2024, following the endorsement of the Business Committee. Current President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is expected to be reappointed for another term. “The Parliament sitting will take place at 11:00 am,” Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu announced in a statement. The Speaker, currently leading a Fijian delegation at the...

By Kaya Barry and Robert Mason Marking the 30th anniversary of the National Recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders, two exhibitions in Queensland celebrate the enduring presence of Pacific communities in Australia and the vital contributions of migrants to Australian society, while emphasising ongoing connections to the Pacific region. The Australian government first recognised Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct...

The Samoa Minister of Sports and Recreation (MSR) will be co-facilitating the annual World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Oceania Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Doping in Sport (OMMADS) later this month in Apia. The confirmation was announced in a Press Release from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation reiterating the meeting to take place on 29th October 2024 at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel. The...

Fiji 7s legend Waisale Serevi is currently admitted in India with chest pains. Serevi, who is the head coach of the India men’s and women’s 7s team and guided the women to win a silver medal at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in Nepal was rushed to hospital on 10 October. Rugby India in a social media post stated: “We...