PINA

Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has ruled that Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa had “standing” to pursue the special reference filed to recall Parliament to sit and deal with a notice of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister James Marape. The five-men bench led by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika handed down the decision Friday in Port Moresby. Following the ruling, Tomuriesa said...

The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is expected to provide an official response next week on the de-registration of the FijiFirst party. The party had until 4pm last Friday to amend its constitution as directed by the FEO. The Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, had earlier informed the party that failure to abide by the instruction would result in its de-registration. However,...

Japan's government is set to provide weather data to South Pacific islands to help them deal with disasters. The announcement of the scheme will be made at the 10th summit of Pacific islands' leaders scheduled from 16 – 18 July in Tokyo. Since 1997, Japan has invited South Pacific leaders to the summit once every three years. Eighteen leaders are scheduled...

There will be more money to take home for those on minimum wage as the Samoa cabinet has approved an increase in the minimum wage rate. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour announced that, following Cabinet Directive FK (24) 25, the minimum wage will increase in two stages. Effective from 1 July 2024, the new minimum wage will be $4.00...

Journalists and civil society actors from Southeast Asia and the Pacific made strong advocacy contributions at the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), a global biennial gathering billed as the world’s biggest gathering of predominately non-State actors fighting corruption, hosted in Vilnius, Lithuania on 18-21 June. UNODC supported their participation, which enabled the sharing of insights and the showcasing of regional anti-corruption...

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) had its Constitution passed Saturday after a unanimous vote by Union members at the FRU Special General Meeting which was held at the Novotel Convention Centre at Lami. Earlier last month, representatives from the Fiji Rugby Union held consultations in Suva, Nadi and Savusavu regarding the constitution where Union representatives had the chance to share...

Fiji Rugby has announced a strong squad for Team Fiji’s campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The squad, under the guidance of Head Coach Osea Kolinisau, is set to aim for Olympic glory later this month. Head coach Osea Kolinisau has finalised the 15-member squad. Kolinisau commented, “The Olympic Games are a unique event, and our biggest challenge will be adjusting...

The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has made history by electing Mrs Emma Waiwai as its first female President during the 2024 Annual General Assembly held in Port Moresby. This landmark election marks a significant milestone in the organization’s history and reflects its commitment to gender equality and progressive leadership. Waiwai, who has been an active member of the PNGOC...

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed Friday that Kalaveti Ravu has resigned as Minister for Fisheries and Forests. Ravu was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for abuse of office and appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. “In keeping with the conventions of Cabinet, Ravu has tendered his resignation as Minister for Fisheries & Forests to comply...

On the vivid coastlines of Suva an unexpected sight often catches the eye: the traces of human activity washed ashore. Amidst this litter, Suzanne Turaganiwai sees not just debris, but the raw materials for art and the seeds of environmental activism. For the past three years, Turaganiwai, a marine science graduate turned "artivist," has dedicated herself to the fight against plastic...