PINA

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal The United Nations Secretary-General has declared an “ocean emergency” at the 2022 UN Oceans Conference co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya in Lisbon. Addressing delegates attending the conference Monday, António Guterres called for a new chapter of ocean action driven by science, technology and innovation. “Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted, and today we face...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal Fiji’s Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum has announced big commitments at the UN Oceans conference currently underway in Portugal. Addressing the plenary at the opening of the UN Ocean conference Monday, Frank Bainimarama said Fiji has the will to put resources behind the most far-reaching transformation in its history. “We have already...

The Pacific Islands have taken to the global stage to call for more investment for Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. The ocean is at the heart of Pacific Island life. Alarmed by the multiple dire crises threatening our ocean, Pacific Islands are calling for improved international efforts at all levels to improve and sustain the health, productivity and...

The final eight teams vying for Oceania club football supremacy will soon learn their OFC Champions League 2022 group stage opposition through a draw confirmed for Thursday, 30 June. The draw will take place at 1.00 pm NZT at the OFC Home of Football – Te Kahu o Kiwa in Auckland, New Zealand. OFC Competitions Director, Chris Kemp will conduct proceedings,...

Team Papua New Guinea ended the Mini Pacific Games with flying colours, topping the medals tally with a total of 80 medals in Saipan, Northern Marianas. They returned with 33 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze. Not only did team PNG top the tally, weightlifting pair Dika Toua and Morea Baru were named among the outstanding athletes of the Games. Chef de...

Today at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali Rwanda, leaders of the Commonwealth reappointed Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC for a further two years to complete the balance of her period in office. https://twitter.com/commonwealthsec/status/1540419295800344576?s=20&t=fgrwXrrzJ34bN-L_JqOl0Q Speaking after her reappointment Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC said: “It is deeply humbling to have been reappointed as Secretary-General of this...

With the ocean at the heart of Pacific cultures, security and economies, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific Ocean Commissioner,  Henry Puna, is amongst the Pacific travellers to Lisbon this weekend. The Secretary General will join the Forum Chair, PM of Fiji Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, who is also former Co-President of the inaugural UN Ocean Conference....

Tackling the devastating effects of extreme weather changes and disasters on communities in vulnerable situations across the world will be a top priority, the new UN expert on human rights and climate change told the Human Rights Council. “The huge human cost of the climate crisis is being ignored. We hear of disaster relief, but the long-term costs are not...

Two U.S lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday that aims to shift more U.S foreign aid funding to the Indo-Pacific region in response to what one described as “China’s bid for hegemony” in the region. The Indo-Pacific Engagement Act is co-sponsored by Rep Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, and Rep Steve Chabot, a Republican from Ohio. It would require the...

Fiji's UN Ambassador, Satyendra Prasad, says Pacific nations needed “great predictability” and no “stop-start” in ties with Washington. “Pacific people and their governments would welcome an enduring partnership with the U.S that is there for the long-term,” he told Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. Samoa's UN envoy said there was a need to see whether a U.S treaty with...