PINA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) updated Pacific nations on its work to review plans by Japan to release over a million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, in the coming months. The wastewater, treated under a process known as ALPS, comes from storage tanks at the damaged TEPCO Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima from the...

Former Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman says allowing Indonesia, by former Prime Minister Sato Kilman into the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was a mistake. “We (Melanesians) have a moral obligation to support West Papua’s struggle in line with our forefathers’ call including first former Prime Minister, Father Walter Lini, Chief Bongmatur, and others,” he said. “Vanuatu has cut its canoe over...

The Pacific region is uniquely vulnerable to worsening climate risks, which threaten to cause irreversible economic, social, cultural, and environmental damage. This was stated in the Pacific Security Outlook Report 2022-2023 released by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat this week, highlighting key regional security issues and trends. The report noted climate security issues where some Pacific Island countries had experienced up...

The Cook Islands new Ombudsman will head to Fiji to continue with efforts in forming a Human Rights Institute. Ombudsman Niki Rattle said the policy document to support the legislative amendments of the Ombudsman Bill to establish the National Human Rights Institute (NHRI) mandate is progressing well. “This is continued to be supported by Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and the Cook...

The regulations for the importation, cultivation, processing and export of medical cannabis and industrial hemp in Vanuatu were officially signed Wednesday. A person or business wanting to legally cultivate cannabis and hemp for medical and industrial purposes in Vanuatu can apply to get a licence once the regulations are enforced, after they are published in the government gazette. The regulations provide...

By Sanjeshni Kumar Pacific is not leaving “any stones unturned” when it comes to the safety of their ocean. The Pacific Islands Forum Acting Secretary General, Dr Filimon Manoni has appealed for transparency from the government of Japan on their plans to discharge 1.25 million tons of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Dr Manoni said they will continue to oppose...

New Zealand authorities have found a record-breaking amount of cocaine floating in international waters, which they say was bound for Australia and would have been enough to supply the country for a year. The 3.2-tonne haul was valued at NZ$500m (US$315m, AUD$456m). It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs made by New Zealand law enforcement “by quite some margin”,...

Recognising the need to unlock the economic potential of Fiji's blue economy and catalyse ocean related private sector development, the Fiji Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, Wednesday marked the commencement of the Blue Accelerator Grant Scheme (BAGS) and introduced the first cohort of projects. The launch also sought to create dialogue on enhancing Fiji's national blue...

The theme for World Cancer Day this year is “Closing the Care Gap”. It is the same theme as last year, and indeed will be the same theme in 2024, in recognition of the deep-rooted inequities that populations face in receiving cancer care within countries, and between countries. A blog by Emily Gilmour, Health Officer, Commonwealth Secretariat Unfortunately, in the Commonwealth,...

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has launched the Power of Football strategy, an ambitious programme to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and communities across the Pacific. OFC has long recognised the power of football to develop individuals and communities and has led the delivery of football for development programmes which address challenges specific to our region. This has included the...