PINA

Australia will process travel visa applications from Papua New Guinea citizens within seven days, says Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. “We are welcoming Papua New Guineans and friends to Australian shores,” she said. “It is important to expand opportunities for Papua New Guineans to enter the Australian labour market including increasing training and skilled labour under the Pacific engagement visa.” In 2023,...

The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stayed a decision by the National Executive Council(NEC) of 24th May 2024 in appointing Commodore Philip Polewara to the rank of Rear Admiral and Colonel Opa Lari as Brigadier General. These includes the revocation of the appointment of Mark Goina as Commander and Chief of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and discharging...

Former Fiji journalist Josefa Nata says 2000 coup leader George Speight has served enough time in prison and should be released. Nata was convicted of instigating the 2000 mutiny and granted a presidential pardon by President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere in December 2023. Speaking to the Fiji Times newspaper’s online platform, The Lens@177 in Suva, he said Speight, who has been serving...

Cook Islands government is keeping its fingers crossed as it awaits the decision of the Pacific Arts Council regarding the host of the 2032 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture. Prime Minister Mark Brown is confident that Cook Islands’ bid to host the 2032 FestPAC will be the one considered. Cook Islands is one of the four countries bidding to host...

In the vast expanse of the South Pacific, the tiny island nation of Niue, with a population just under 2,000, is making monumental strides in ocean conservation. Despite its small size, Niue's ambitious marine protection initiatives are garnering worldwide attention. National Geographic’s newly released documentary, “Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue,” captures the island's pioneering efforts, coinciding with Ocean Month in...

Police in New Caledonia have arrested 11 people, including pro-independence leader Christian Tein, after deadly riots last month in the French Pacific territory. New Caledonia’s chief prosecutor named Tein, leader of the CCAT (Field Action Coordination Cell) pro-independence movement, in a statement on Wednesday. The activist and 10 other unidentified detainees have been arrested for “organised crime” offences, for which they...

Fiji's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka has met with the President of Nauru, David Adeang, during his visit to Fiji Wednesday. The meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss prospects for deepened collaboration between the two countries and in the build up to upcoming 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga from...

Papua New Guinea isn't considering a policing deal with China and instead believed it was “crystal clear” Australia should be its partner of choice, its foreign minister says. Following the departure of Chinese Premier Li Qiang from Australia, a group of senior federal ministers visited Port Moresby for annual ministerial talks with the PNG government in a bid to strengthen...

The 30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum was held in Port Moresby on 19 June 2024 and was co-chaired by Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea and by Senator the enny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. Other participating Ministers for Papua New Guinea were: John Rosso, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands, Physical...

Athletes on Tuvalu train on the airport runway in the absence of a running track, but the tiny Pacific nation will still manage to send a one-man sprint team to the Paris Olympics. Karalo Maibuca will jet across the world to race for Tuvalu in the men's 100 metres at next month's Games. The 25-year-old was flag-bearer three years ago in...