PINA

New Zealand’s defense minister issued stinging rebukes of what she said were “vile” and “misogynistic” online remarks by “armchair admirals” about the woman captain of a navy ship that ran aground, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa. “Seriously, it’s 2024,” Judith Collins told reporters Thursday. “What the hell’s going on here?” After days of comments on social media...

In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Leaders’ Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa this month, Pacific Ocean Commissioner Filimon Manoni asserts that Pacific Island countries and territories have not been “sitting on our laurels” when stewarding the health and protection of the region’s vast ocean and marine life. “As stewards of one-third of the Earth’s surface, we understand the health of the...

Marshall Islands was elected on Wednesday to sit on the United Nations Human Rights Council from next year, with climate change and nuclear justice as its top priorities. Currently there are no Pacific Island nations represented on the 47-member peak UN human rights body. Marshall Islands stood with the full backing of the Pacific Islands Forum and its 18 presidents and...

By Tony Hiriasia Jr Fiji defeated the Solomon Islands 1-0 in a hard-fought Oceania Football World Cup qualifiers match at the national stadium in Suva last night. Supporters from both countries showed up in numbers to witness the thrilling showdown. From the first whistle Fiji showed their true intentions, with their high-pressing tactics to disrupt the Solomon Islands build-up play from...

The Pacific's eastern islands can expect an usual or below-par cyclone season, according to New Zealand's climate and forecasting agencies. On Wednesday, NIWA and MetService released their modelling for the upcoming tropical cyclone season which runs from November to April. It is a milder projection for six to 10 cyclones overall, compared with last year's outlook which tipped nine to 14. Solomon...

The critical role of Indigenous peoples in addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution was recognised at the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit (GNPS) held in Sydney this week. Hosted by Australia, the event has brought together leaders from government, business, academia, environmental organisations, and Indigenous communities to accelerate global efforts toward nature-positive outcomes. Six...

Papua New Guinea has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new US$265 million loan aimed at strengthening the country's climate resilience. The deal, announced on Tuesday, will help PNG address the growing impacts of climate change while supporting key economic reforms. The agreement, which will run in parallel to existing IMF arrangements, is part of...

French Overseas minister François-Noël Buffet will travel to New Caledonia next week, from 16 - 18 October. Buffet, who was recently appointed to the position as part of new French Prime Minister Michele Barnier's cabinet, said the visit comes in support of all players in New Caledonia in the wake of the crisis triggered by riots that broke out in...

The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has issued rare criticism of China over last month's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, saying the Pacific is not “isolated pockets of ocean” and it “does not welcome” Beijing's action. Kiribati, a Pacific Ocean neighbour of Hawaii with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 3.6 million square kms (1.4 million square miles) has...

Visiting Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo criticised the United Nations' exclusion of Taiwan as a “hypocritical” act during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei on Tuesday. It was “hypocritical” of the UN to not include Taiwan and its people in its system even though the world body has championed “inclusivity” and “the principle of not leaving anyone behind,”...