PINA

The Marshall Islands decided to agree with other Pacific leaders to support Japan's release of treated nuclear wastewater, despite its president raising concerns. In August last year, Japan began discharging water collected from the Fukushima nuclear plant after an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that caused it to melt down. Pacific reactions were mixed. The Marshall Islands has had ongoing concerns about...

Tuvalu has endorsed, in principle, a national adaptation plan to address the existential threat posed by climate change on the Pacific island nation. The proposal was presented to Prime Minister Feleti Teo and his Cabinet by the Nanumea Salvation Seawall Group, comprising locals and Tuvaluans living overseas. Teo was elected unopposed by parliament in February and during his first address to...

Pacific nation Kiribati will begin voting in a general election this week, a poll that will test the strengthening ties between China and the government of the climate-threatened archipelago. The vote on Wednesday in tiny Kiribati - a country of scattered atolls and islands - has the potential to stir ripples across the South Pacific. Kiribati has drawn closer to China...

Fiji’s Prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he'll make an apology to other Melanesian leaders for failing to secure an agreement to visit Indonesia's West Papua province. Rabuka and PNG Prime Minister James Marape have been trying to organise a visit for more than nine months after the Melanesian Spearhead Group appointed them “special envoys” on West Papua. Rabuka said he’s “still...

New Zealand has an important role to play in keeping the Pacific region on a peaceful pathway, deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. He said the coalition government is deeply committed to the Pacific and to ensuring Aotearoa has the connections and relationships to help the region succeed. Peters is on a four-nation tour of Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau and the...

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine says progress has been made towards issues affecting women in the Pacific, such as economic empowerment and domestic violence, but there’s still a long way to go. Last month, the Marshall Islands hosted the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 8th meeting of the Pacific Ministers for Women. The event, which is held every...

New Caledonia, climate finance, U.S territories and lack of banking services – key issues when leaders meet this month. Commentary by Tess Newton Cain For a glimpse of what’s going through the minds of Pacific leaders ahead of their annual get-together, Suva has been the place to be for the past two weeks. Ahead of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum...

Despite the soaring humidity, World Rugby Hall of Fame legend turned coach, Waisale Serevi, is thoroughly enjoying his time at India’s Rugby Sevens camp in Kolkata, West Bengal. Serevi, affectionately known as the ‘King of Sevens,’ expressed his excitement on Facebook, stating that he is looking forward to the upcoming weeks of training both the men’s and women’s teams in...

The Embassy in Suva, in partnership with Basketball Fiji, is proud to announce that two star players from the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, Will "Bull" Bullard and Cherelle "Torch" George, will embark on a Sports Diplomacy tour through Fiji and Nauru. As part of their tour, the Globetrotters will hold a special public event at Yat Sen School on Friday, 16...

The Marshall Islands will receive $6.2 million (US$4 million) from Aotearoa’s foreign minister to adapt to climate change, as rising sea levels and strengthening typhoons put the island nation at greater risk. “New Zealand is committed to addressing the ‘Blue Continent’ challenges, including those in the Marshall Islands. For that reason, we are investing more in supporting a resilient and...