PINA

Almost 12 years have passed since the strongest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history resulted in a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people along its north-east coast. As the country prepares to mark the 11 March anniversary, one of the disaster’s most troubling legacies is about to come into full view with the release of more than 1m tonnes of...

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed it has received police investigation files on former Fiji’s prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. The investigation file also includes that of former Criminal Investigations Department (CID) director Mesake Waqa. A statement from the DPP stated that it received the police docket...

UN member states on Monday launched two weeks of negotiations aimed at finally reaching a treaty meant to protect and preserve vast areas of the world's oceans. After more than 15 years of formal and informal talks, this is the third time in less than a year that negotiators have converged on New York in what, yet again, is supposed...

Fiji's Finance Ministry has warned Government against taking on any more debt in the next two years in light of the debt level expected to increase to around $10 billion (US$5 billion)by the end of July this year. In its Medium Term Fiscal Strategy 2024-2026 tabled in Parliament last week, the ministry said Fiji’s debt level had been exhausted and...

Governments resume negotiations Monday at the United Nations in New York to finalise a new High Seas Treaty to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The two-week Intergovernmental conference is taking place from 20 February to 03 March 2023 and is a resumption of negotiations from August 2022, when governments ran out...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape arrived in Fiji last night for his official visit in the country this week. His visit signifies Fiji and PNG's longstanding cooperation as members of the Pacific family. Prime Minister Marape will be accorded a traditional welcome ceremony this morning and he will pay a courtesy call to the President, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere...

-Australian foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to Kiribati this week on her first visit as Foreign Minister, and Fiji, where she will represent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders’ retreat. “In Kiribati I will meet with President Taneti Maamau and cabinet ministers. “Earlier this month I was honoured to welcome President Maamau to Adelaide. In...

The European Union (EU) has commended our Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka for his exemplary leadership towards Fiji's national development and the Pacific's solidarity. The EU's strong support was conveyed to PM Rabuka during an introductory courtesy call received Monday by the Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Sujiro...

-Papua New Guinea acting Prime Minister John Rosso has assured Papua New Guineans, residents and businesses that a short term arrangement has been reached between Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and PUMA to continue supplying fuel while work is being done to address regulatory requirements of BPNG. He clarifies that the issue between BPNG and PUMA is not shortage...

By Henry Puna, Forum Secretary General & Pacific Ocean Commissioner As our Pacific Forum Leaders gather this week for their Special Retreat in Nadi, Fiji, their leading officials and Oceans negotiators from our Blue Pacific region will be joining the rest of the world at the UN Headquarters in New York. They are there to conclude negotiations for a treaty...