PINA

A top Micronesian leader says Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) secretary-general Henry Puna will quit the position in order to stop the key regional diplomatic body from splitting. Micronesian countries have been locked in an acrimonious dispute with other members of the Pacific Islands Forum over last year's contested leadership ballot, which saw Puna narrowly defeat Micronesia's candidate, Gerard Zackios. Micronesian countries...

The Cook Islands has detected its first case of Covid-19. Prime Minister Mark Brown said this case was not connected to the visitor who tested positive for Omicron after leaving Rarotonga and arriving back in New Zealand last Monday. He said this person - who is currently isolated and under observation at their private holiday accommodation - arrived in Rarotonga last...

The United States is committed to tackling the devastating impact of climate change in the Pacific region. U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted this in a joint news conference after his meeting with Pacific leaders on Denarau Island over the weekend. “As much as any other place in the world, these islands are ground zero for the devastating impact of...

The federal government has threatened to cancel the visas of Pacific Islanders brought to Australia to fill chronic worker shortages in the meat processing industry even though their claims of being exploited by their employer are under formal investigation. Home Affairs officials last month wrote to a number of Pacific Islander workers to notify them of the intention to cancel...

Laughing off claims Fijian Drua will be the easybeats of Super Rugby Pacific, the NSW Waratahs are instead on guard against a first-round ambush from the competition's newcomers. Winless in 2021, the Waratahs enter their season opener on Friday night at Commbank Stadium with renewed confidence after an unbeaten trial campaign against the Queensland Reds, Brumbies and combined Shute Shield...

Many of the 40 Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players were not born when Super Rugby started in 1996. However, some of the youngsters will be part of the matchday 23 that will be announced tomorrow by Head Coach Mick Byrne to face the Waratahs on Friday. Years of sacrifices and commitments will come to fruition in three days when the Drua...

The President of the Federated States of Micronesia says his country has paused its withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Forum as they expect the current head, Cook Island's Henry Puna to step down in June. Five Micronesian countries were scheduled to leave the regional body this year over their disagreement with election of the former Cook Islands' prime minister. But David...

The planet is facing the triple crises of climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution, Secretary-General António Guterres told the One Ocean Summit on Friday, warning that “the ocean shoulders much of the burden”. As the ocean serves as a giant carbon and heat sink, it is growing warmer and more acidic, causing its ecosystems to suffer. “Polar ice is melting and...

The Tonga Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption, tsunami and ashfall has caused an estimated US$90.4 million (TOP 208 million) in damages – the equivalent of approximately 18.5% of Tonga's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – a World Bank assessment for the Government of Tonga has found. The Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report on the 15 January eruption was prepared by the...

The collapse of a key Pacific diplomatic body seems to have been averted at the last minute, with Micronesian countries “temporarily” rescinding their withdrawal. The results of an acrimonious leadership contest last February had threatened to shatter the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Disappointed by the outcome of the election for the Forum's top job, Micronesian nations gave themselves a timetable of...