PINA

Micronesian President David Panuelo said Friday that Japan’s “transparency” over its intention to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has helped ease the Pacific island nation’s concerns over the plans. Panuelo’s remarks stood in contrast to those he gave the UN General Assembly in September of his “gravest concern” regarding Tokyo’s plans to...

Papua New Guinea could be voting for a Prime Minister in 2027 if a Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) review on the form and system of government decides to adopt that approach. According to CLRC chairman Saki Soloma, the government believes that the time is right to initiate this major review on the current system of government. He said the...

The Australian Government is assisting Tonga in its domestic air connectivity until at least 30 June 2023 in a partnership with Fiji Airways, the Australian High Commission announced Friday. The Australian Government offered immediate support to the Government of Tonga in response to recent challenges to Lulutai Airways' aircraft and disruptions to air travel. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by...

A regional dialogue begins today in Nadi led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), under the European Union (EU) and the Government of Sweden funded Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme. The Dialogue brings together representatives from different areas of the tuna fisheries sector – national government, the private sector/industry and civil society - to discuss the linkages...

-Approximately 1,000 U.S airmen, marines and sailors will train alongside 1,000 combined Japan Air Self-Defence Force, Royal Australian Air Force and French Air and Space Force service members in Cope North 2023, which will take place in the region from 08 to 24 February. Allied forces are preparing for this year's massive military drills in the Pacific island region amid...

No matter how high one’s public status is, no one is exempt from the law. This was reiterated by Fiji'S Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua as he spoke about the crucial importance of the separation of powers by law enforcement agencies under his ministry. “Even though I am the minister responsible, I have a mandate of Government. The police should only...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is welcoming Kiribati back into the fold of the Pacific Islands Forum. The Micronesian nation pulled out of the Forum in Fiji last year in protest of the appointment of former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna as Secretary-General of the Forum. However, PM Brown said there had been a meeting between the new Fiji...

Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who is also chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has stressed any future employment within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat must be sourced from MSG member countries. “We must first look with in our region, if we have people with required skills,” he said. “If the Melanesian region does not have those skills...

Moves to remove homosexuality from the Cook Islands Crimes Act are still awaiting sign off from Crown Law. Cook Islands News has been attempting to get into contact with the acting solicitor-general Jason Annadale over the past week. It has asked Annadale when the review of the Crimes Act will be complete, what will be changed as a result, and what...

After the Tongan volcanic eruption and tsunami of January 2022, Mango Island was destroyed, making it uninhabitable for the residents. A new community has been established in 'Eua, south-east of Tonga's main island, and residents were recently welcomed into their new community. Residents from Mango island were packed into a military-style ship, singing and dancing as they approached their destination. Mango Island...