PINA

By Sadhana Sen and Stephen Howes In early 2021, the five Micronesian members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) decided to withdraw from the Forum because, despite an understanding they thought they had that a Micronesian would be the next Forum Secretary-General (SG), their candidate was unsuccessful. Efforts to avoid their departure have been underway since, and were concluded last week...

A state of emergency has been declared in Vanuatu following the damage to infrastructure and homes left by severe tropical cyclone Judy. It comes as the country deals with a second cyclone, called Kevin, bears down on the country. At 2am local time the category 2 cyclone was about 165km south-west of Santo and 225km west north-west of Malekula. Red alerts are...

Indonesia has protested to Fiji’s government after the prime minister of the Pacific island country met with a Papuan leader in a morale boost for the regional independence movement. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was elected in December, also said he would support Papuan membership in a UN-recognised organisation of Melanesian nations. Fiji’s previous government and Papua New Guinea...

“Government is committed to consider the views of every person in all important decision making affecting the people. We now have a Government that listens. Our people's perception and experiences are important to us and are necessary for any progressive policy making” This was highlighted by Fiji’s Attorney-General Siromi Turaga while delivering his opening remarks at the Transparency International Pacific...

The head of Japan’s wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant says details of the damage inside its reactors are only beginning to be known 12 years after it was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, making it difficult to foresee when or how its decommissioning will be completed. The most pressing immediate task is to safely start releasing large amounts of...

By Richard Herr Contrary to some media reports, Fijian opposition leader Frank Bainimarama’s three-year suspension from parliament was not for an act of sedition. Rather, he was excluded from service to the parliament for something more prosaic—using unparliamentary language. Given accusations that what Bainimarama said amounted to treason or sedition, both of which are crimes in Fiji, it might be...

The world’s best men’s and women’s rugby sevens players will return to action in Vancouver this weekend with a three-day event from 03-05 March as the race for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory and the all-important Olympic qualification heats up. The 28 captains who will do battle for the highly coveted HSBC Canada Sevens crowns gathered on Wednesday on...

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) President Lambert Maltock and the FIFA President Gianni Infantino met in Paris this week for top level discussions on the future of football in Oceania. The meeting was also attended by OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo. The various high-level discussions included an update on the proposed OFC Professional League which will support OFC’s long-term goal of...

China has launched a centre for disaster risk reduction cooperation with Pacific Island countries. The southern Chinese city of Jiangmen will serve as a home base for exchanges. Officials hope the initiative will help shore up defence against climate change. Chinese Government Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries, Qian Bo, diplomats from the region and other senior officials attended the launch...

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged countries Wednesday to agree a “robust and ambitious” treaty to protect the high seas, as time starts to run out for negotiators. After 15 years of formal and informal talks, delegates have been meeting in New York since February 20 to discuss a text that aims to protect nearly half the planet. It is the...