PINA

The publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III report on climate mitigation only confirms what vulnerable and marginalised communities, indigenous people and climate activists have been saying for years–we are on the brink of climate catastrophe if we do not immediately and drastically reduce fossil fuel production, terminate fossil fuel subsidies, and phase out...

Vodafone has made its entry back into the Papua New Guinea market as of last night as Digitec-Vodafone to operate as the third mobile operator company. In the next two weeks the PNG market will see the new look Vodafone operate in 25 different locations of the country selling mobile phones and SIM cards to customers by 21 April, 2022. Minister...

The Pacific Elders’ Voice welcomes the convening of the 07th Our Oceans Conference in Palau on the 13-14 April. We congratulate the Republic of Palau for hosting this conference and making implementation of the commitments from previous conferences, as well as focusing on significant new commitments around six action areas, the core thrust of the conference. At the outset, the Pacific...

Palau says it’s ready for the 07th ‘Our Oceans Conference’ next week, and that it will co-host with the United States. 80 countries and over 100 non-government organizations have confirmed their attendance according to Justin Kenny, from the U.S Department of State, advocacy and communications for a more sustainable planet, working with Palau counterpart on preparations for Our Oceans Conference...

The ocean is a source of opportunities to sustain livelihoods, trade and mitigate climate change. But the health of the ocean is deteriotrating and the economies it supports are under threat. Protecting our ocean and boosting its economic benefits demands a global trade, investment and innovation "Blue Deal" to create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy that benefits all. An UNCTAD-led...

Two of Australia’s top intelligence chiefs have quietly travelled to Solomon Islands to meet Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and raise the government's deep concerns over a security agreement that the Pacific Island nation is on the cusp of signing with China. Late on Wednesday, Sogavare's office issued a statement revealing he'd held what he called a “positive” meeting with a...

At a January meeting between a Chinese general and New Zealand’s defence secretary, there was one Pacific issue that New Zealand wanted to speak about in detail – the Solomon Islands. The possibility of China building a military base in the Pacific has become a major concern for New Zealand officials and, after details emerged of a prospective security deal...

Don’t compare my actions to the coups perpetrated by Peoples’ Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka. That’s the reaction from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama after critics likened his military intervention in 2006 to the violent overthrow of the government in 1987 by Rabuka, who was at the time, a Major General in the Fiji military. Bainimarama has rejected any similarities between the two...

An unprecedented conference organised by the Pacific Islands Forum has opened in Suva, and it's bringing together island governments and their creditors to tackle the twin problem of rising debt and climate change. Seven Pacific nations are considered to be at high risk of debt distress, including the most populous, Papua New Guinea. Among the speakers is Luke Fletcher, the Executive...

A diverse group of Pacific women engaged in media and civil society joined the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 05 April to explore how gender issues linked to the impact of corruption. Recognising the paucity of research on gender and corruption in the Pacific, a new information note on “Breaking the Silence on Gender and Corruption...