PINA

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has congratulated Anthony Albanese for his re-election as Australia’s Prime Minister. Albanese’s Labor stormed home to victory in a landslide, winning a swathe of seats across multiple states and unseating Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in his own electorate in the process. Expanding on its majority in the House of Representatives, Labor claimed 87 seats, while the...

Solomon Islands Member of Parliament for South Vella La Vella and Party Leader of Solomon Islands People’s First Party Frederick Kologeto was officially sworn in on Sunday as the new Deputy Prime Minister (DPM). The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Government House in Honiara. He replaced Bradley Tovosia. Also sworn in was Cathy Nori, MP for Maringe/Kokota, who takes up the...

New Caledonia last week imposed a 50-year ban on deep-sea mining across its entire maritime zone – a rare and sweeping move that places the French Pacific territory among the most restrictive in the… The law blocks all commercial exploration, prospecting and mining of mineral resources within New Caledonia's exclusive economic zone – an area of 1.3 million square kilometres. Only...

Moana Pasifika's season is well and truly alive following an high-scoring shootout with the Highlanders - the 34-29 victory seeing Tana Umaga's side defeat the Dunedin franchise for the first time ever. The result sees the Pasifika side claim their fifth win of the year, and climb over the likes of the Blues, Waratahs and Western Force into Super Rugby...

Tate McDermott is challenging his Queensland Reds to man up physically after having their Super Rugby Pacific finals ambitions dented in a thrilling try-fest in Suva. The last-placed Fijian Drua continue to play the competition spoilers, pipping the Reds 36-33 with a last-gasp winner on Saturday. The Reds were a minute away from notching an elusive first win in the Fijian...

On this World Press Freedom Day, we in the Pacific stand together to defend and promote the right to freedom of expression—now facing new and complex challenges in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This year’s global theme is “Reporting a Brave New World: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom.” AI is changing the way we gather, share, and consume...

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has concluded a constructive and positive visit to New Caledonia - New Zealand’s closest geographical neighbour. Peters met the French Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, and the President of the Government of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga. “We came to listen and learn, and to demonstrate New Zealand’s support for the...

By Ronald Toito’ona In a stunning revelation, former Solomon Islands Finance Minister Manasseh Sogavare has exposed what he calls serious failures in the government’s handling of the country’s mineral wealth—pointing to missing revenues, halted mining licenses, and a leadership unwilling to act. Sogavare was responding to a question from In-depth Solomons about his concerns with former deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia’s...

Australians are voting in record numbers ahead of the federal election on Saturday 03 May, with early voting surging past half a million ballots on the first day alone - 22 April. With over 18 million people enrolled to vote, ABC Australia reports that more than one in five people (22 per cent) have already cast their ballots. Among those encouraging...

A proposal for a four-legged assistance scheme to detect hard drugs is amongst the support sought by local police from the New Zealand Police Commissioner, Sir Richard Chambers, on his visit to Samoa. Sir Chambers is in Samoa for his first visit as the NZ Police Commissioner, but has previously visited the island four times before. He was welcomed in an...