PINA

Senior officials from the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration (MFAI) joined with officials from member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum to discuss the Implementation Plan for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Cook Islands has played a leading role in developing the Implementation Plan for the 2050 Strategy, which aims to drive regional...

Tonga- Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers and officials will meet this week on 25 and 26 March in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, for a Special Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM). The Special FEMM will focus on three key regional initiatives: the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED); the Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy (CFAMS); and the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). Economic Ministers...

A pair of China-born scammers convicted of bribing officials via a fake United Nations agency have had their Marshall Islands passports revoked while outside the country, potentially leaving them stranded in permanent limbo abroad. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou spent over a week stuck in the transit area of Manila’s international airport earlier this month after authorities in Palau —...

The Cook Islands reaffirmed its commitment to Pacific-led leadership last week, joining fellow Troika Officials of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), as well as Officials from Fiji and Palau, to discuss regional priorities as part of considerations leading up to the annual Forum Leaders Meeting to convene in the Solomon Islands in September. The Cook Islands assumed Chair responsibilities of...

The Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO)Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala emphasiSed the unique healthcare needs of Pacific Island countries during his recent visit to Tuvalu. “As a Pacific Islander, I do understand the needs that are specific for our Pacific Island countries. We are all vulnerable to climate change, and one of the priorities that I want to...

Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, are leading global efforts to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national borders. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty aims to create rules for conserving and sustainably using marine life in high sea areas. Standing Committee Chair Lenora Qereqeretabua said the lack of legal framework under the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction left these areas vulnerable...

New Zealand will return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years after overcoming early nerves to beat New Caledonia 3-0 and book a place in Canada-Mexico-USA. The Kiwis were made to work in their Oceania playoff, held goalless in the first half and losing captain Chris Wood to a hip injury early in the second. New Caledonia...

Papua New Guinea's national cabinet is facing a fierce backlash after resolving to expedite what has been called a “grand shopping list” of projects, including the development of a space agency. Seventy projects are outlined in a confidential cabinet decision that has been seen and verified by the ABC. The list includes acquiring a luxury island in partnership with a Congolese...

Pacific leaders have made it clear that people from non-governmental organisations will not be part of every meeting. Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa clarified this after questions were raised about not allowing Civil Society Organisations in a talanoa regarding the deep-sea minerals which only involved leaders. Waqa stressed that while they value the contributions of CSOs, some matters are best discussed...

Donald Trump's 90 day pause on all USAID funding threw the sector into chaos. As the administration assesses which programme are considered suitable use of funds, it's clear one area doesn't fit that brief: climate change. It's also the biggest issue in the Pacific. On the 20th of January, the news came. The world's biggest aid donor was pausing ALL funding...