PINA

In Tonga, anticipation is building ahead of a no confidence vote against the Prime Minister, scheduled for next week. It will be the second time, Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliu Siaosi Sovaleni will be facing down a vote of no confidence against him. The motive behind the challenge is unclear, but Hu'akavameiliku is confident about his chances of defeating the challenge. However, an...

Thousands of Sāmoans are now eligible for New Zealand citizenship after the Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Bill was unanimously backed by all political parties in Parliament last week. The bill was submitted by Green MP Teanau Tuiono, and was debated for the third, and final, time, on Thursday last week. The bill will now be taken to the Governor-General...

The 98th Meeting of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Council commenced Monday, attracting Ministers and education leaders from across the Pacific to discuss the future of tertiary education in the region. King’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters officially opened the two-day meeting, encouraging the council to look at ways to improve education in the region. Cook Islands Minister of Education,...

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa in Beijing on Tuesday, saying China is willing to make empowering Pacific Island countries to tackle climate change a priority in its cooperation with these countries. China will work with Pacific Island countries to promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...

New Zealand has urged France to forge a new constitutional relationship with its troubled external territory New Caledonia, marred by civil unrest. A bungled proposal to widen the voting franchise in the Pacific Island country produced riots in May, resulting in more than a dozen deaths, widespread looting and arrests. The reform derailed the long-standing Noumea Accord, a pledge from Paris...

Negotiating a plastics treaty is an immense task, even more so when you have a myriad of challenges to be addressed in a treaty developed by over 190 governments with varying perspectives. Emissions and Releases is one topic on the table as text is being developed around this. Emissions refers to what is being released into the air when it...

The recent U.S defence agreement with Fiji may not be groundbreaking—Washington has signed similar deals with allies around the world—but it carries strategic weight. According to Jennifer Parker, an expert at the National Security College, it signals that Fiji will likely see more U.S military presence, such as troop rotations, joint exercises, and coastguard missions. “It's a clear sign that we'll...

Media and communications personnel from FFA Members are gathered in Suva for a three-day long training workshop ahead of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC21) that commences from 28 November - 03 December. The workshop aims to build the capacity of fisheries media and communications personnel to effectively cover fisheries policies, promote media relations, and facilitate informed public...

Fiji's Cabinet endorsed that Fiji host the 9th Pacific Tuna Forum in 2025. The Pacific Tuna Forum is a major biennial conference for the Pacific Islands and addresses critical topics such as tuna management, market opportunities, trade barriers, research and development of new products, and the broader prospects for the tuna industry in the Pacific. The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) of...

By Dr Satyendra Prasad, Senior Fellow – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Climate Lead for Abt Global The just concluded COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan was one of those big moments that will shape the Pacific’s well being for a decade if not more. Climate crisis envelops every dimension of Pacific’s existence. Failing root-crop yields across PNG highlands because of rising...