PINA

Samoa's former Ambassador to the United Nations, Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, has called on the United States to ratify a treaty declaring the South Pacific a Nuclear free zone. The South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty of Rarotonga has been signed by Samoa and is also referred to as the Rarotonga Treaty. The regional pact establishing the Pacific as a nuclear-weapons-free zone...

Fiji has recorded 396 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, increasing the total number of cases 45,957 and 477 death since the outbreak in April. Fiji's Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 303 cases are from the Western division and 93 cases are from the Central division in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island. “Six new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed from...

Authorities have arrested a man who threatened to assassinate Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President David Panuelo, in his social media posts. The FSM government did not release the name of the suspect, who has been charged with “making threats of bodily harm” and “retaliation for official action.” The case stemmed from a Facebook comment posted by an account user with...

Kiribati Minister for Employment and Human Resource has assured Government will try its best to ensure that the South Pacific Marine Services (SPMS) does not leave the country before end of this year. Taabeta Amuera Teakai made the assurance to seafarers and their families who marched to Parliament House last Thursday to request government to convince SPMS not leave the...

The UK Government has signed an agreement with the Pacific Community (SPC) for £263,000 (US$359,000) that will help Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Tonga to secure the rights and responsibilities over their respective ocean spaces. The ocean sustains a multitude of activities that fuel local, national and international economies, providing livelihoods and food security for 10 million Pacific Islanders across...

This Sunday, our Forum family joins the global community to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests. A day devoted to honouring all victims and survivors of nuclear tests, to raising public awareness about the fatal consequences of nuclear explosions, and to remembering why nuclear testing must come to a permanent end. This day was declared by the UN General...

The Pacific Climate Change Centre in collaboration with the Australian National University hosted a Pacific webinar to provide the most up to date synthesis of relevant climate change information to diverse Pacific Island audiences. The webinar was held on 25 August 2021 with more than 300 participants that attended the event. The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth...

Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is eying a move into the private sector to enable it to realise its potential of earning about K1 billion (US$285 million) kina compared to the K600-K800 million (US$171- US$228 million it is turning over annually. NFA chairman Ango Wangatau said if they are allowed to operate freely as a private company in...

Vanuatu could be the first country in the region to trial pre-quarantining of seasonal workers in country, as Australia looks to meet its commitment to double the number of Pacific labourers by March. Australia’s Agriculture Minister David Littleproud told ABC’s AM programme, earlier this week, that the arrangement would include Vanuatu. “This month we'll be trialling in country quarantine in Vanuatu." "...

COVID-19 will remain in Fiji just like common flu, says Ministry of Health and Medical Services chief medical advisor Dr Jemesa Tudravu. He highlighted this during a virtual conference with members of the Fiji Principals Association. Dr Tudravu said the virus would become an endemic disease just like common flu. “So, where are we heading,” he said. “From a health perspective, we believe...