PINA

The Pacific Islands Forum has announced the appointment of Desna Solofa as the Deputy Secretary General – Governance, effective 24 June 2024. Solofa joins the Forum from the Government of Samoa, where she was the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Relations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has previously served at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as...

Climate change and the protection of the Pacific Ocean remains the two most important agendas for all Pacific Island Countries, says Tongan diplomat. Tonga’s Ambassador to Japan, Suka Mangisi said that Pacific Island nations were not interested in geopolitics and security deals thrown their way by “superpower countries”, but hoped Pacific leaders could use the current interest in the Pacific...

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is taking a leaf from Penny Wong's book, looking to visit all Pacific Islands Forum members within the government's first year. Alongside the shared travel goal, there are signs New Zealand and Australia are working hand-in-glove in the region. Peters, the veteran statesman in his third stint as foreign minister, takes off on Monday...

French Pacific results for the first round of French national snap elections have shown on Sunday a firm radicalisation, especially in the case of New Caledonia. In both of New Caledonia's constituencies, the second round will very much look like a showdown between pro-independence and pro-France contestants. The French Pacific entity has been gripped by ongoing riots, arson and destruction since...

Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigrant National Rally led a first round of voting on Sunday in exceptionally high-stakes elections that could put France’s government in the hands of a far-right party for the first time since World War II. President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling coalition was beaten into third place by a fledgling alliance of the left as the incumbent’s gamble with...

With just six years remaining to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global progress is alarmingly insufficient, with a mere 17 percent of the targets currently on track, according to a new UN report released on Friday. The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlighted that nearly half the 17 targets are showing minimal or moderate progress, while over a one-third...

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...