PINA

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat’s 2024 Work Programme and Budget was endorsed by the MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) following the conclusion of the Governing Body meetings in Port Vila, Vanuatu last week. The 2024 Budget represented a surplus budget. The FMM sat to deliberate on recommendations put forward to it by the preceding Budget Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) which...

Papua New Guinea will maintain its position of last 10 years not to be part of PACER Plus, says the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru. He made this statement in his first meeting with the new Australian High Commissioner to PNG, John Feakes. Maru said: “I want to make it very clear to the Australian government that PNG...

The Fijian Drua are expecting a physical battle when they take on the Melbourne Rebels in round seven of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific tonight. The Drua are aware of the strong style of play from their opponents and have trained around that area. Coach Mick Byrne said they they are not expecting anything less from the Rebels and...

The pools have been confirmed for the third and final round of the men’s and women’s World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 at Dantestadion in Munich, Germany, and Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, respectively on 18-19 May. The Challenger competition provides a clear promotion pathway to reach the pinnacle HSBC SVNS in 2025, with the top four placed...

Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siosi Sovaleni has confirmed his resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He also confirmed the resignation of Fekita ‘Utoikamanu as Minister of Tourism and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Utoikamanu is now the new Minister of Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) They resigned on 28 March, the Prime...

Op-ed by: Adam Wolfenden The recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference failed to deliver a number of outcomes, most noticeably an agreement to end subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity. As discussions resume at the WTO in Geneva there is now an opportunity for the talks to take a turn for the better and target those most responsible...

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)chair and Samoan Ambassador to the United Nations, Fatumanava Pa’olelei Luteru is calling for ambitious action-oriented outcomes from the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in May. “As we approach the end of the informals and stand at the mid-way point of the preparatory committees, we also thank delegations for their expressed...

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contingent tasked with helping out during Solomon Islands' national election has sailed in to the capital Honiara to begin its work. HMNZS Canterbury is carrying two Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters, which will be used to assist the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to transport polling boxes and election officials to various locations. Solomon...

The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna, says there has never been a more momentous time for the region to get behind the benefits of the Pacific Way. Puna is in Apia this week, meeting with key stakeholders from civil society, the private sector, and official groups following his initial discussions with Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi...

The Solomon Islands official ballot papers for the 2024 Joint Election are printed and have now arrived in the country on Tuesday this week. The ballot papers totaling a record of 1 million, cater to voter numbers in a Joint Election, where Solomon Islands voters will now vote for members of the National Parliament and members of either their Provincial...