PINA

By Jack Graham Delegates from up to 193 UN member states resume talks in New York on Monday in an effort to wrap up negotiations on a long-awaited treaty to protect the world's oceans from overfishing, pollution and other threats. The high seas - areas lying beyond countries' exclusive economic zones - make up nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans,...

The Fijian Drua have confirmed the signing of cult hero and damaging winger Eroni Sau. 'The Sledgehammer' returns to the Drua after playing a key role in their NRC title campaign in 2018. The 33-year-old will join the Drua this week from French ProD2 side Provence on a one-year deal. “This is a homecoming of sorts for Eroni, who is very highly...

Pacific Islands Forum Heads of States have started to arrive in Fiji Monday. The leaders will be in the country for the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat that will be held from 24 - 25, February in Nadi. Arriving into the Nadi International Airport today was President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands David Kabua and the Premier of...

China has named a special envoy to fill a new role in its Pacific Islands diplomacy as it competes with the United States for influence in the region. Qian Bo, former China’s ambassador to Fiji since 2018, was appointed as the first special envoy of the Chinese government on Pacific Islands affairs, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced last Wednesday. Wang...

Palau will be the site of a proposed Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner if the Micronesian group’s demand from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is granted. The leaders of Palau, Kiribati, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands were in Pohnpei to hold the Micronesian President Summit retreat and in the same meeting, the leaders...

-The Australian government decided to publicly release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships. In previously secret advice, the Department of Defence also raised fears that potential publicity about the problems “may then be exploited by criminal networks or malign actors”. Pacific island countries rely on the Guardian-class...

UN member states are meeting in New York from Monday with the aim of launching a long-berthed high-seas treaty, a crucial step toward the goal of protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030. After more than 15 years of informal and formal talks, the meeting is the third time in less than a year that negotiators are gathering for...

Fiji's Opposition Leader Voreqe Bainimarama was suspended for three years from Parliament effective Friday for statements he made against the President last Monday. When the motion for his suspension was first introduced by Leader of Government in Parliament Lynda Tabuya, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said while it was “a very serious matter”, he wished the Privileges Committee had put in...

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Carmel Sepuloni will travel to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders’ retreat. It will be her first opportunity in both roles to meet Pacific leaders face-to-face and discuss regional priorities and issues. “New Zealand is proud to participate in meetings such as the Special Leaders’ Retreat, where we...

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said New Zealand has accepted international help from multiple countries to support its cyclone recovery efforts, announcing that Fiji will be lending a hand in the coming days. At a press conference, Hipkins said the Pacific nation will be sending 10 defence force personnel, four National Fire Authority crew, and four National Disaster Management Office officials. He...