PINA

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has predicted that between nine to twelve tropical cyclones could impact the the Pacific region this cyclone season. Three or more could develop into severe tropical cyclones. The prediction was revealed during the Ninth Pacific Island Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF-9) this week. Ben Noll, Meteorologist at NIWA, said the Pacific would...

Six current and one former Member of Parliament appeared in court today in relation to charges laid by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption. SODELPA MPs Salote Radrodro, Peceli Vosanibola, Niko Nawaikula, Adi Litia Qionibaravi, Simione Rasova and Ratu Suliano Matanitobua are charged with giving false information to public servant and obtaining financial advantage. Also in court was former government MP...

The U.S government—through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)— is providing an additional US$1.9 million to help Pacific Island countries manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance was obligated to UNICEF Pacific headquartered in Fiji to support both emergency commodity and supply assistance to Fiji and vaccine technical assistance activities to countries throughout the Pacific. “This additional...

Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere was today elected the new President of Fiji after receiving 28 votes from Members of Parliament. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama moved Ratu Wiliame’s name on the floor of Parliament to be the next President of Fiji while Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya moved the name of former SODELPA and Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa. Ro Teimumu received...

By Iliesa Tora Tongans who are eligible to vote must register and vote at the 18 November General Elections in Tonga. Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki made the call at a media workshop on Monday this week. “People should know that they have the opportunity to elect their reps and government at the election and they should exercise that right by...

By Wesley Morgan, Researcher, Climate Council, and Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University The Pacific Islands are at the frontline of climate change. But as rising seas threaten their very existence, these tiny nation states will not be submerged without a fight. For decades this group has been the world’s moral conscience on climate change. Pacific leaders are not...

All members of Fijian parliament will be present today to appoint the new president of Fiji. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will move Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s name on the floor of Parliament to be the next president of Fiji. Tui Macuata has accepted Bainimarama’s nomination to assume the nation’s Presidency. While the opposition leader Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu will move Ro Teimumu...

New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS party has called for “non-participation” in the independence referendum on 12 December. The Kanak alliance wants the vote postponed until 2022 because of the Covid-19 epidemic. The pro-French loyalists have responded to the call by resuming their campaign for the vote. In a statement, the FLNKS criticised the state for wanting to "maintain at all costs the third...

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China will set up a fund to help Pacific Island countries defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang made the remarks at the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing via video link. Wang said the bilateral relationship between China and the Pacific Island countries has shown a good...

Pacific leaders say offering “visas for vaccinations’ would be the ultimate incentive for New Zealand overstayers to get the covid-19 jab, as Auckland struggles to stop delta variant infections spreading through the community. It comes as epidemiologists say the government needs to pull out all the stops to get people vaccinated amid rising case numbers. Immigration lawyer Richard Small of Pacific...