PINA

Samoa's prime minister and the five other ousted members of the ruling FAST Party are reportedly challenging their removal. FAST chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt on Wednesday announced the removal of the prime minister and five Cabinet ministers from the ruling party. Twenty party members signed for the removal of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and five others, including Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo...

Chiefs from several constituencies whose members of parliament (MPs) were sworn in as new cabinet ministers on Wednesday hope for a resolution to the internal party divisions as the country heads towards the 2026 general election. Their comments come after four MPs, including those from Va’a o Fonoti, Vaisigano No. 1, Palauli No. 3, and Aleipata Itupa-i-lalo, made the controversial...

Unofficial results in the Vanuatu election show another rainbow coalition is likely, with voters again sending a potpourri of parties to parliament. Ni-Vanuatu went to the polls on Thursday in a snap election triggered by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's dissolution of parliament. While results will not be confirmed for days, counting tallies seen by AAP suggest at least eight parties will...

Reports allege the prime minister-elect has nominated people who were not Members of Parliament for his new cabinet. Kaniva News reported last week that the King was expected to appoint the new Cabinet this week, according to the Prime Minister-designate. The number of nobility MPs, previously claimed to be three in the new Cabinet, now allegedly dropped to only one. The latest...

President Surangel Whipps Jr., during his second inaugural address in Ngerulmud on Thursday, laid out an ambitious vision for Palau, emphasising unity, self-reliance, and sustainability. Marking 30 years since the establishment of Palau’s constitutional government, Whipps called on citizens to preserve their cultural heritage while adapting to a rapidly evolving global landscape. “Together, we have faced storms, disease, conflicts, and...

On Port Vila's waterfront, a lonely Christmas tree stands out among the red-flowering poinciana which line the boulevard. Standing on overgrown grass, with faded baubles, its presence long after the holiday is a reminder of Vanuatu's lost festive season. It is now a month on from the monster 7.3-magnitude earthquake which rattled the Pacific nation, crumbling buildings, killing at least 14...

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Head Coach Osea Kolinisau has named his 13-member squad to the Perth 7s this weekend. Making a return to the fold for his second HSBC 7s Series is 23-year-old youngster Sakiusa Siqila, who last played in the Madrid 7s a year ago. Adding to the squad’s strength is lanky forward Joseva Talacolo, who has made a...

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has terminated 13 Associate Ministers who signed a letter of no confidence in her leadership. On Monday this week, Mataafa sacked three of her Cabinet ministers who no longer had confidence in her leadership. On Wednesday evening, the FAST Party resolved to expel Fiame, the Deputy Prime Minister and four other Cabinet Ministers as members of...

La’auli Leuatea Schmidt was appointed the leader of the ruling party Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) in a swift move to replace Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa who was removed from the party. Laauli is also the party chairman. Mataafa was removed by the 20 FAST members who met on Wednesday night. The new executive appointment is confirmed in a...

By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Junior S. Ami With just over a year left in her tenure as Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa faces a political upheaval threatening a peaceful end to her term. Ironically, the rule of law — the very principle that elevated her to power — has now become the source of significant challenges within...