PINA

The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has echoed the calls of the Palau Media Council (PMC) and the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) to uphold freedom of expression and press freedom across the Pacific. These rights, PINA emphasises, are essential for ensuring the well-being of citizens and supporting democratic principles in the region. PINA President Kalafi Moala, speaking on behalf of...

The international community must ensure that the global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy is equitable, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Monday in New York. Mohammed briefed Member States on the work of the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and urged them to share feedback. The Panel recently issued a report which showed that many of...

The Pacific Islands nation of Palau, important to the U.S military amid tensions with China, and among a dozen allies of Taiwan, holds a national election for president on Tuesday. President Surangel Whipps Jr is contesting the post against his brother-in-law, former president Tommy Remengesau, who stood at traffic intersections on Monday directly appealing to drivers for support. Voters will also...

The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly in favor of an independent scientific panel to report on the physical and societal consequences of nuclear war, the first such study in more than three decades. The resolution’s backers say research into the catastrophic consequences of nuclear conflict needs to be urgently updated and expanded, especially at a time of heightened...

Kangaroos forwards have vowed not to be “bullied” by Tonga’s powerhouse pack as they prepare for Australia’s first Test in Sydney for seven years to be played in front of a hostile crowd. With star forwards Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake leading the way, Tonga stunned defending Pacific Cup champions New Zealand 25-24 and the Sea of Red is expected...

The world’s largest biodiversity summit, known as COP16, concluded on the weekend in Colombia, with several landmark decisions, including first ever agreements on nature’s genetic data and on recognising people of Africa descent and Indigenous Peoples as key stewards in conservation efforts. “This is an unprecedented occasion in the history of multilateral environmental agreements,” Camila Paz Romero, spokesperson for Indigenous...

The Paciic Freedom Forum, PFF, is concerned that a defamation suit taken by the nation's largest private sector employer against the national newspaper, Island Times, will threaten public trust in media and private sector transparency. A civil suit of defamation has been lodged on October 29 by Su-rangel and Sons Co. against Leilani Reklai, publisher of Is-land Times, over a...

Palau’s largest newspaper is being sued for defamation by the company of President Surangel Whipps Jr’s father, just days ahead of general elections in the Pacific nation. Surangel and Sons alleges “negligence and defamation” by the Island Times and its editor Leilani Reklai for an article published on Tuesday with “false and unsubstantiated allegations,” owner Surangel Whipps Sr. said in...

An independent UN expert on Thursday called on the international community to fulfill its “urgent moral obligation” to support the Marshall Islands in addressing displacement challenges stemming from the impacts of historical nuclear testing and the growing threat of climate change. The appeal from Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, comes as...

Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) says a salvage company has been assessing the Manawanui wreckage location and what resources are needed to extract fuel still on board the vessel. MPAC said a salvage plan has been presented to them. “Salvaging works will commence once salvage plan has been approved by the MPAC Chair, Afioga Fui Tupai Mau Simanu,” MPAC said...