PINA

By Simon Kofe and Jess Marinaccio On 05 September 2023, I (Kofe) announced the unanimous passage by Tuvalu’s parliament of the Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2023. The new constitutional amendments will come into effect on 1 October 2023, Tuvalu’s 45th Independence Day. Since November 2016, Tuvalu has been conducting a review of its Constitution to address a variety of concerns. The...

A number of significant amendments to Tuvalu's Constitution have been proposed by the Constitution Review Parliamentary Select Committee. Amongst the 26 proposed changes, the Committee wants to amend Section 2 of the Constitution that refers to the 'Area of Tuvalu' to include the impact of climate change and sea level rise on the nation's territory and statehood. The Committee is of...

Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Mata'afa has told the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, the G20 is responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. “As SIDS, our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is less than one percent. “The G20 is responsible for percent emissions. 80 percent! Our small islands are...

In a momentous occasion held within the halls of the United Nations building on Wednesday, Fiji proudly stood as one of the first nations to sign the groundbreaking “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction,” colloquially known as...

In a significant diplomatic encounter at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti. The meeting on Wednesday New York Time, underscored the long-standing partnership between Fiji and the OACPS, focusing on various critical topics, including Fiji's membership in the...

Australia has put $3.5 million (US$2.25 million) towards supporting the international nuclear regulator as Pacific leaders cry foul about the dumping of wastewater from Japan. Japan has sparked controversy in the region by staging the release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific, splitting regional leaders about its safety. The International Atomic Energy Agency gave the plan the green light, saying...

Deep-sea mining companies in the Cook Islands have been exploring the country's ocean to see if they can extract potato-sized nodules packed full of minerals kilometres deep. Moana Minerals Limited is one of three companies that were awarded a five-year exploration license in the Cook Islands. The license allows the companies to explore the deep sea in the country's exclusive-economic zone...

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is conducting a two-day workshop with members of the Vanuatu media to strengthen their understanding of climate change and other environment-related issues in the Pacific in order to further amplify a Resilient Pacific Voice. SPREP’s Communications and Outreach team have been in Vanuatu for a week working on building the capacity...

Samoa head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has made three changes to his starting XV from the team that defeated Chile 43-10 in their last game Paul Alo-Emile comes into the front-row, Brian Alainu’u’ese into the second-row, and Ben Lam onto the wing. Three players in this match-day team bring with them test experience from other countries, with Steven Luatua and Charlie...

Eddie Jones has been hammered by former Australia wing Drew Mitchell for his lack of transparency in the wake of the Wallabies’ first defeat to Fiji in nearly 70 years. Australia have to win against Wales on Sunday to remain in the tournament and avoid the ignominy of becoming the first Wallabies side to never make the Rugby World Cup...