PINA

The World Bank has officially opened a permanent office in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, following several years of an expanding presence and portfolio across the North Pacific. The new regional hub will play a vital role in delivering the near USD half-billion in total support across Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Marshall Islands, and Palau. World Bank assistance...

Queensland’s economic presence in the Pacific will be strengthened by the appointment of Leata Alaimoana as Trade Commissioner for the region. Alaimoana was Impact Investment Manager with Pacific Trade Invest Australia - the trade and investment arm for the Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Trade Commissioner is part of the Pacific Engagement Plan funded under the $150 million (US$100 million) Queensland...

The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) joins the Fijian Media Association (FMA) in welcoming the decision of the Coalition Govt in Fiji to repeal the draconian Media Industry Development Act 2010. On Wednesday, Fijian Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka announced that Cabinet endorsed the ‘total repeal’ of the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) Act of 2010 – ending 13 years of...

The World Rugby Pacific Challenge will take place in Samoa as it returns for the first time since 2020. The tournament, contested by the national ‘A’ teams of Fiji, Japan, Tonga and Samoa, will be hosted in Apia from o3-13 May, 2023. After six consecutive editions organised in Fiji (2015-20) since its rebranding as the Pacific Challenge, the World Rugby-funded...

The Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, has 'warmly welcomed' the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a new UN Resolution asking the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on climate change. The ICJ advisory opinion will address the question of where states have obligations to address climate change, and if they...

With Tuvalu Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Kofe, speaking in Q and A mode in the margins of this week’s Pacific conference on statehood and protection of persons affected by sea level rise. The conference features global and Pacific legal experts and is dealing with “ground-breaking work that will influence a legacy for our children and future generations into perpetuity,”...

The Pacific Islands Forum has expressed the gratitude of member states to the Government of Vanuatu for its commendable and wide-ranging efforts that’s resulted in the historic adoption at the UN General Assembly of the call for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the obligation of States on climate change and human rights. Speaking on behalf...

A UN resolution was adopted on Wednesday that should make it easier to hold polluting countries legally accountable for failing to tackle the climate emergency, in a vote which was hailed as a historic victory for climate justice. The UN general assembly adopted by consensus the resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu, a tiny Pacific island nation vulnerable to extreme climate effects,...

The UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution on Wednesday. The resolution was put forward by the cyclone-battered Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, supported by a “core group” of 17 countries from various regions, and is focused on...

A revolutionary move today as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a landmark resolution by consensus, calling for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world’s highest court, to issue an advisory opinion on climate change. Over 130 UN member states formally registered their co-sponsorship of the resolution ahead of the UNGA vote earlier today, far exceeding the simple...