PINA

Lakapi Samoa has been in the limelight. The cancellation of the November tour, admission of financial struggles and recently the sacking of the sevens management Samoa Observer(SO) spoke with Lakapi Samoa chief executive officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai(FVF) on the direction needed to ensure the financial stability of the union and how that would lead to better development. SO: Lakapi Samoa continues to...

Tonga may be where time begins but with less than a week remaining before the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) kicks off, the government finds itself in a frantic race against time to ensure everything is in place to ensure the success of this major regional event. The event, which is expected to draw leaders and dignitaries from...

Kiribati is set to continue on its current path with China after incumbent President Taneti Maamau retained his parliamentary seat following two rounds of voting in the country’s national election this week. While the country won't know until next month if Maamau is the official winner, results posted by the Kiribati Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs show Maamau secured...

The AI Asia Pacific Institute has released last week its comprehensive annual report on artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the Pacific Islands. The report, titled The State of Artificial Intelligence in the Pacific Islands, is the fourth in the AI Asia Pacific Institute’s annual series examining the state of Artificial Intelligence in the Asia-Pacific Region. The series explores...

Voters in Kiribati are awaiting the final results of the runoff round of elections on Monday. Twenty-five of the 45 parliamentary seats were confirmed in the first round on Wednesday last week, with those candidates securing more than a 50 percent share of votes. The remaining seats are set to be divvied up among the highest polling candidates in each electorate. A...

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has met with Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China in Beijing Monday. The historic meeting reaffirmed Fiji and China’s longstanding relationship which has been characterised by shared aspirations and common interests, fostering a comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual trust and respect. Upon his arrival at the Great Hall...

The President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda was in Solomon Islands last week to seek support for their application for full membership into the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Wenda met with Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to discuss issues related to West Papua’s MSG membership. He told SIBC News that it was a great honor to...

New Caledonia is looking to Australia for aid to help rebuild its capital city after deadly riots. The French territory was marred by civil unrest and riots that left 10 dead in May after controversial voting reforms were passed in Paris and the Indigenous Kanak people expressed concerns about their voice being drowned out. New Caledonia believed it was eligible for...

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, will visit Samoa from 21 – 23 August as part of his Pacific tour, preceding the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga next week. He will meet with the Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa. With COP29 and the Summit of the Future on the horizon, the primary aim of the Secretary-General's visit to Samoa...

The Intergenerational Youth Summit will have a Youth dialogue with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in Tonga on Monday next week. The Office of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga said today the Youth Summit will be a significant side event to be held on 26 August, alongside the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders (PIFL) Meeting to be...