PINA

The Pacific Minister Pat Conroy says Tuvalu’s new government has formally agreed to begin ratifying the landmark Falepili Union with Australia, delivering the federal government a significant foreign policy win. Last month Tuvalu's new Prime Minister Feleti Teo raised concerns about the lack of consultation on the pact in the Pacific island nation, and seemed to signal he'd seek changes...

Vanuatu's government has acknowledged the concerns of Australia and New Zealand when it comes to security in the region after its recently elected prime minister has gone back to the drawing board on a treaty. A day after he was elected in September last year, Prime Minister Sato Kilman flagged he would revisit a security agreement with Australia that spanned...

David Lambourne, an Australian-born high court judge whose attempted deportation two years ago from Kiribati sparked a judicial crisis in the Pacific nation, appeared in court in a case closely watched by the United Nations and international legal groups. Lambourne, who has lived in Kiribati for 30 years and is married to opposition leader Tessie Lambourne, faces deportation if he...

The involvement in the government by King Tupou VI is a return to the “dark ages” for the Kingdom, a long time campaigner for democracy in Tonga says. The King last month withdrew his support for the Ministers holding two portfolios. Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has reportedly stepped down from his defence portfolio, with Foreign Affairs Minister Fekita 'Utoikamanu...

Time is running out for media people and academics wanting to tell their innovative story or present research at the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in July. Organisers say the deadline is fast approaching for registration in less than two weeks. Many major key challenges and core problems facing Pacific media are up for discussion at the conference in Suva, Fiji,...

Fijian 7s Coach Osea Kolinisau has named an impressive squad for the upcoming HSBC Hong Kong 7s tournament next week. One of the most notable additions is the return of Olympic gold medallist Vatemo Ravouvou, and the debut of promising newcomer Joji Nasova. Ravouvou’s comeback is expected to inject invaluable experience and motivation into the team, while Nasova’s debut adds a...

The Fijian Drua need to do better to close out games and maintain their intensity throughout 80 minutes of rugby. Coach Mick Byrne said the side played a perfect game in the first half against the Waratahs last week, leading 26-10 at halftime but were a shadow of themselves in the second spell, allowing the Australians to come back and...

The amendments to be made to the Constitution on 29 May 2024, particularly Articles 17A and 17B, in the national referendum will not stop political instability. As a matter of public interest, this was conveyed by Junior Joe Natuman, the Principal State Counsel in the State Law Office (SLO), on Friday during the National Referendum Communication team training programme held...

The newly appointed board of the climate finance world’s latest entry – the hard-won UN “loss and damage” fund – will likely hold its first meeting in late April after delays in agreeing members. But despite soaring needs for help, the fund itself isn’t expected to hand out any money until 2025 at the earliest, officials say. The World Bank –...

Vanuatu's Ambassador to Europe, George Maniuri, has submitted the national written statement regarding the obligations of states to climate change to the world's highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Submitted almost a year after the United Nations General Assembly's agreed for ICJ to give an Advisory Opinion (AO), the submission marks a significant moment for Vanuatu's international leadership...