PINA

Plans to hold a referendum in New Caledonia next year on a new statute for the territory are being abandoned. The French Junior Overseas Minister, Jean-Francois Carenco, told the television station Caledonia that there will be no referendum in July. Carenco said a vote will happen once everybody is ready, noting that there has been no dialogue for two years to...

Deep sea mining could begin in the Pacific as early as this month after a shock decision from regulators to allow The Metals Company to start mining the seafloor. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has granted permission to Nauru Oceans Resources Incorporated (NORI) to begin exploratory mining in the Clarion Clipperton Zone between Hawai’i and Mexico. NORI is a subsidiary...

Japan, the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand are arranging a meeting of their foreign ministers in New York to support Pacific Island nations, in tandem with the UN General Assembly late this month, it has been learned. China is expanding its influence over Pacific Island nations through economic assistance, and the five countries aim to counter these moves...

Japan and Taiwan's Pacific ally Palau on Friday underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait while reaffirming their opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held a meeting in Tokyo with visiting Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr on Friday, after which they issued a joint...

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Papua New Guinea, damaging buildings, triggering landslides and killing at least five people. The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 61km (38 miles), about 67km (41 miles) from the eastern town of Kainantu, on Sunday morning. Local member of parliament Kessy Sawang said at least two people were killed in...

- The Vanuatu Supreme Court has dismissed the urgent constitutional application of the 27 signatories of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Bob Loughman. Chief Justice Vincent Lanabek said that there were two issues that the Court identified which had to be determined by the court. He said the first issue is that there was a Council of Ministers' (COM) advice...

The leaders of nations and territories across the Pacific will be gathering from 12-14 September for the 12th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL), titled “Puʻuhonua: The Pacific Way Forward.” Founded in 1980, the summit provides a rare opportunity for island leaders from the North and South Pacific, regardless of political status, to come together as equals to discuss and...

It's with deep sadness, respect, and gratitude that I, the Forum secretariat families and our Pacific nations join the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Across the UK, the Commonwealth and beyond, we honour the legacy of a remarkable monarch, mother, and world leader. Her lifelong commitment to the service of all her peoples across...

Fiji and Australia were crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 winners in the men’s and women’s events respectively as they both defeated reigning champions New Zealand in two exhilarating finals in Cape Town. The Flying Fijians claimed a third RWC Sevens title, their first since 2005, by beating an All Blacks side that won the last two tournaments with a...

The Albanese government has put great effort into repairing relations with Australia’s Pacific neighbours, which might explain its silence over what is happening in Kiribati. However, the Law Council, the Australian Bar Association and the Australian Judicial Officers Association (AJOA) have been making noise about the small island nation now having no judiciary. In May, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau suspended Chief...