PINA

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...

The leader of one of Taiwan’s last diplomatic allies in the Pacific said his nation is under increasing pressure from China to end its support for Taipei. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr also accused China of violating the exclusive economic zone of his nation, an archipelago located north of Australia. Palau is scheduled to hold a national election on Nov 5,...

The prime minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he is willing to personally intervene in New Caledonia's push for independence as the impasse over the way forward for the conflict-ridden French territory continues. The comments came after the Fijian leader completed a three-day mission in the French territory with the Tongan and Cook Islands prime ministers on behalf of the...

The Flying Fijians tour report for the July Test series confirms serious financial issues within the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), which led to some of the team's luggage being off-loaded and the tour manager left behind in England. RNZ Pacific has obtained a copy of the tour report authored by the team manager, Eleina McDonald. McDonald, who resigned after the tour,...

Justice Filimoni Jitoko is the proposed Fijian Speaker of Parliament. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka following the appointment of the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as the country’s new President elect. Ratu Naiqama won the Presidency by a landslide vote of 37 to 16 today. The new Speaker of Parliament will be elected by the august house on 02...

Fiji's Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has been elected the country’s next President in a special parliamentary session in Suva today, securing 37 votes to claim the position. Ratu Naiqama, nominated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, emerged victorious over opposition candidate Ratu Meli Natalatu Tora Taivaiqia, who received 16 votes. “Pursuant to section 84 of the Constitution of the Republic...

As COP29 approaches, the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, sent a powerful message to climate negotiators, calling for unity and unwavering resolve among small island developing states. “Our small island developing states are strong and unified in our positions,” he said, following a year of intensive efforts capped by recent high-level...

Australia to increase missile defence and long-range strike capability as the Asia Pacific region enters the ‘missile age’. Australia will increase its missile defence capability after China’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the South Pacific raised “significant concerns” and as the Asia Pacific region enters a “missile age”. Australia plans to increase its missile defence and long-range strike...

Voters in the U.S territory of Guam will be the country’s first to cast their choice for president on 05 November, but it will be a symbolic and democratically meaningless exercise. As the mainland gets to have its say on who will be president, an anomaly in U.S law means Guamanians are among the four million disenfranchised Americans living in...