PINA

Outgoing President David Panuelo released a lengthy letter detailing Beijing’s efforts to bribe and bully Micronesian leaders – and exploring the possibility of recognising Taiwan instead. By Cleo Paskal for The Diplomat David Panuelo, the president of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has written a letter to FSM leaders providing extraordinary details on Beijing’s political warfare and grey...

By Glen Wright, Senior Research Fellow, International Ocean Governance. Arne Langlet PhD student in MARIPOLDATA, University of Vienna, Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, MARIPOLDATA On Saturday 04 March, 2023, the President of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) tasked with elaborating an Agreement to protect global ocean biodiversity declared, “The ship has reached the shore”. After a long and winding road of more...

Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano has asked a global conference on the world’s least developed countries for indexing that highlights vulnerability to climate as a part of assessing graduation from the list. He shared that ask along with updates on his nation's new climate adaptation plan, called Te Lafiga, at the 5th UN conference for Least Developed Countries, in Doha...

The Pacific Islands Forum has applauded a United Nations treaty to protect ocean life by establishing protected areas in international waters. The “ambitious” treaty was reached at the UN this week with some 193 countries agreeing to the legal framework. Forum secretary-general Henry Puna said the global ocean treaty comes at a time of growing threats from climate change, overfishing, shipping...

Former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was charged with one account of abuse of office, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Pryde said on Thursday and will appear in court today. Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho are accused of stopping a 2019 police investigation into complaints of financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific(USP). “The former...

Climate change is our greatest security threat, Tonga's Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, told the Least Developed Countries meeting, in Doha when he delivered Tonga's national statement this week. “We face global commons issues among which climate change is our greatest security threat. The Doha Programme of Action prioritises climate change and will help LDCs build resilience against future economic...

As the floodwaters recede in cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu, officials are assessing the medium- and longer-term requirements, including food security, health needs and improving disaster preparedness. Residents have been urged to take steps to prevent illness from unsafe food in the aftermath of tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin – category 4 storms – which hit Vanuatu last Wednesday and Friday last week. The...

Officials and practitioners from the public and private sectors from seven Pacific islands countries, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, engaged in holistic policy and practical discussion, aiming to contribute to combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows and preventing tax evasion. The two-day workshop, with the participation of experts from the Asia Pacific Group on Money...

Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, has sanctioned charges of abuse of office against the former prime minister and FijiFirst Party leader Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and the suspended police commissioner, Sitiveni Tukaituraga Qiliho, following a review of the police evidence docket. The charges relate to a complaint laid with the police by the University of the South Pacific...

Former army officer, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, arrived in Fiji today - 12 years after seeking political asylum in Tonga. It's understood he will attend the installation of Ratu Epenisa Cakobau as Vunivalu Friday. In May 2011, Lieutenant-Colonel Mara was commander of the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Forces. He was accused, along with Brigadier Pita Driti and Colonel Mohammed Aziz, of attempting...