PINA

By Teuku Riefky, Mohamad Dian Revindo, Universitas Indonesia Solomon Islands host crucial elections keenly watched from Beijing to Washington, but only China is putting its money where its mouth is in the region and it’s working. China’s investment in the Pacific has redrawn the political map of the region. Since 2008, the Chinese government has committed over US$9 billion to infrastructure, development,...

By Priestley Habru, University of Adelaide and 360info Staff Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare could retain power on April 17, but who stands in his way of making history? Solomon Islands sits on the edge of a monumental moment. Solomon Islands writer Dr Tarcisius Kabutaulaka called the April 17 election “perhaps the most important to the Solomon Islands since independence.” If you monitor...

With Parliaments’ approval, all eligible voters under law including Samoa’s diaspora must register or re-register to vote in the next general elections. And the Office of the Electoral Commissioner is already on the ground beginning the re-registration nationwide for all Samoan based voters. The re-registration initiative, according to the Minister in Charge of the Electoral Commission, Faualo Lefau Harry Schuster is...

The federal government has poured cold water on Guam and American Samoa’s hopes of gaining membership of the Pacific Islands Forum, stating that U.S territories are constitutionally restricted from representing themselves in foreign policy-making bodies. “Because the United States is not a member of the PIF and because of the political nature and foreign policy aspects of the PIF, the...

At the invitation of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has deployed an election observer mission to the Solomon Islands to observe the upcoming Joint Election on 17 April 2024. The Forum Election Observer team is led by Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, High Commissioner of Samoa to Fiji, with Lawson Samuel, Secretary of the Law Reform Commission,...

Vanuatu has triumphed at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2024 – Qualifying by downing a 10-man Cook Islands 2-0 in front of a fervent home crowd at VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila. The win means Vanuatu has fended off challenges from the Cook Islands, Tonga and American Samoa to secure the last remaining place at July’s OFC U-19 Men’s...

At the launch of the Pacific Regional Transnational Organised Crime (TNOC) Disruption Strategy in Suva this week, Forum deputy secretary General Esala Nayasi says transnational organised crime is a threat to regional security. “For far too long, organised criminal groups have been able to remain ahead and out of reach of law enforcement in the region. Our region is under...

18 young people have been selected to form an international task force that will lead the planning and delivery of the 2024 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) in Apia, Samoa. The dedicated youth leaders representing 56 Commonwealth countries will work with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC), and the Government of Samoa to design and execute a forum that...

Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni says the people of Tonga wants to see more results and action for the Pacific in 2050. Speaking at the formal launch of the 53rd PIFLM theme, logo, and dates in Tonga, with the Crown Prince, Tupouto’a ‘UIukalala leading the launch as guest of honour, PM Hu’akavameiliku said the focus theme “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki:...

A former Tuvalu Prime Minister scolded the Australian Government and its fossil fuel industry at a recent climate integrity summit in Canberra. Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu's Prime Minister from 2013-2019, was keynote speaker at the Canberra conference last month. He used the opportunity in the Australian capital to tell the Australian Government that it appears “the fossil fuel industry has total control...