PINA

Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere opened the 2024 Sessions of Parliament Monday with a call for unity and progress, emphasising the importance of representing the diverse voices of the people. “It is an honour for me to be here today, to open this new Parliamentary Session. “As democratically elected representatives, I ask you to listen to the voices of our people,...

By Nic Maclellan in Majuro, Marshall Islands Gina Langinbelik Anuntak is a student at the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI). She’s President of the CMI Nuclear Club, a student association that unites Marshallese students to understand the legacies of 20th century US nuclear testing. “We want to learn about the nuclear history that we were never taught when we were...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna Friday delivers heartfelt remarks at the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day, emphasising the event's significance with gratitude and solemn acknowledgment. “May I firstly extend my sincerest appreciation to the President and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the warm invitation to join you here today....

On Friday, 01 March, World Seagrass Day was celebrated in the capital of Fiji to emphasise the critical role of seagrass ecosystems in sustaining biodiversity and mitigating climate change. German Ambassador to Fiji, Dr Andreas Prothmann described seagrass as the "lungs of the ocean", stressed the significance of seagrass conservation for Pacific Island nations, particularly in sustaining coastal fisheries and...

The new prime minister in the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu said on Friday his country shares democratic values with Taiwan and reaffirmed that his government would maintain diplomatic ties with Taipei, ruling out a shift to Beijing. Prime Minister Feleti Teo spoke to The Associated Press via Zoom, his first interview with international media since his government took office...

U.S agreements with Pacific islands are set to expire this year and Hawaii’s congressional delegation is urging action. An impasse has exposed Hawaii’s financial burden in paying for assistance for legal migrants. U.S Rep Ed Case says after negotiations under two administrations, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau have signed agreements...

World Trade Organisation (WTO) members concluded the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi on 2 March with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration setting out a forward-looking, reform agenda for the organisation. Ministers also took a number of ministerial decisions, including renewing the commitment to have a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system by 2024 and to improve use...

The United Republic of Tanzania is all set to welcome ministers and attorneys-general, including from Fiji, to the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which will open in Zanzibar on 4 March 2024. Held every two years, the meeting of law ministers is a leading platform for collaboration among the 56 Commonwealth countries, which share a common legal tradition. The theme of this...

A fractious meeting of world trade ministers in Abu Dhabi ended with little to show for the time and money spent early Saturday morning New Zealand time. Pacific Island nations were seeking at the WTO ministerial meeting to have the governments of the larger fishing nations stop or reduce the subsidies they pay their fishers. This did not happen but a...

On 15 January 2022, a massive volcanic eruption shook the small island nation of Tonga at a scale that the country hadn’t witnessed since 1883. The volcanic eruption was followed by tsunami waves which struck the west coast of Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai islands. Two weeks after the volcanic eruption, Tonga detected cases of COVID-19 and initiated a response to...