PINA

The U.S and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have begun exploring future plans to establish military facilities in the Pacific nation, which is now part of the U.S homeland defense strategy. During the recent Joint Committee Meeting held on Guam, U.S and FSM delegations created a Defense Sites Working Group to identify the “appropriate processes for establishing defense sites...

The Australian government is committed to improving the standard of the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme to ensure those under the program are not exploited. Australia’s Minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy said the improvement of the PALM Scheme also encompasses better support and protection for Fijians and other Pacific islanders working in various industries in Australia and New Zealand. Conroy said...

Atmospheric levels of the three main greenhouse gases warming our planet - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide- all reached new record highs in 2021, according to a new report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The agency’s yearly Greenhouse Gas Bulletin warns of the biggest year-on-year jump in methane concentrations in 2021 since systematic measurements began nearly 40...

A winning candidate from the Malekula Constituency, Sanick Asang, was declared eligible and contested the Vanuatu Snap Election despite still serving a suspended sentence. The Director of Vanuatu Correctional Services, Johnny Marango, has confirmed the former Member of Parliament (MP) and now MP-elect, is still serving a suspended sentence. Meanwhile, whether local or international, it is good practice for electoral observers...

While plans submitted by most signatories of the Paris Agreement would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, they are still not ambitious enough to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, a new report by UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) warned on Wednesday. The current combined National Determined Contributions (NDCs)—meaning the countries’ national efforts to...

The top diplomats of Korea and 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) held talks Wednesday in the southern port of Busan to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in diverse regional issues, including climate change. Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin also sought support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan as he welcomed the participants at the 5th...

Fiji's Opposition National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad has been charged with two counts of indecently insulting or annoying a person. Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said Prof Prasad was questioned at the CID Headquarters in Toorak Wednesday and chose to remain silent. “He was subsequently charged,” the Police Commissioner said. Prof Prasad is charged under Section 213 (1)...

The importance of PACER plus as a catalyst for trade, investment and economic development in the Solomon Islands was highlighted in a dialogue currently underway in Honiara. The two-days national dialogue which started on Tuesday 25 October focuses on trade in goods and trade in services as part of the PACER plus implementation process in the country. The dialogue was held...

The 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, was held in Busan on 26 October 2022. Representatives from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu,...

The FIBA Melanesian Cup 2022 tipped off at Vodafone Area Suva in Fiji with Papua New Guinea and Fiji starting their tournaments with wins. Papua New Guinea (PNG) women held off a fast-finishing Solomon Islands in the first game of the day to start their FIBA Melanesian Cup defence, 63-51. Joycelyn Basia was prolific for the Solomon Islanders with 21 points,...