PINA

The Australian government sent expert teams to Fiji this year to help the Pacific's top regional body after its networks were infiltrated by Chinese state-backed hackers, the ABC has learned. The cyber attack on the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat, which is based in Suva, was first detected in February this year, although the hackers likely gained access well before...

By Wesley Morgan It’s now very likely Australia will be announced as the host of the COP31 global climate talks in 2026 alongside Pacific nations. This would be a very big deal. The talks run for a fortnight and draw tens of thousands of delegates. It would be the largest diplomatic summit Australia has ever held, with satellite events in...

The President of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS), Lagi Keresoma, has expressed disappointment over the stringent media guidelines announced by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Media Committee at Wednesday media briefing, raising significant concerns about transparency within the local media community. “It is very disappointing for a Government that claims to believe in democracy, transparency, and accountability...

Negotiations continue ahead of the Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters this month, where world leaders will enhance cooperation to tackle critical challenges facing the international community and address gaps in global governance. Among the issues under discussion are accelerating sustainable development and reforming decades-old institutions, including the UN Security Council and the international financial system. On Wednesday the Under...

Kuata Taumaheke has her hopes set on a new beginning in Australia. She's lived her entire life in the atoll nation of Tuvalu, and grew up on its most remote island, Nanumea — only 4 square kilometres in size. But rising sea levels now grip her home island. And surging tides, coming further inland in Tuvalu, have added urgency to her attempts...

Accessing climate finance to help build a resilient Niue is at the core of ongoing work by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC). Building capacity to help achieve successful climate change project implementation is at the core of a three-day introductory training now underway. Working with participants from a wide range...

Editorial by Samoa Observer The Samoa government’s attempt to control the media for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a slap across the face of press freedom, democracy and freedom of speech. It is a farce and an attempt by a dysfunctional government unit to gag local and overseas media. No international forum of such importance does this. The United...

In an unexpected move, the Samoa Government announced media restrictions during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October on Wednesday. State media outlets will be the official broadcasters and photographers providing content to all press including overseas media. The host broadcaster for CHOGM is the government TV9 channel, the national radio 2AP working alongside a New Zealand-based company called...

The Pacific islanders who carved the haunting stone statues of Rapa Nui appear to have avoided “ecological suicide”, according to genomics research that adds to evidence against a popular theory about their fate. DNA analysis of human remains suggests the population of the remote volcanic outcrop also known as Easter Island kept growing until the mid-19th century rather than succumbing...

Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has expressed confidence in his squad’s defensive capabilities as they prepare to face the USA in the Pacific Nations Cup semifinal. Reflecting on their performance against Tonga, where they prevented any second-half points, Byrne commended the team’s resilience and fitness. He believes these factors have been instrumental in their ability to maintain pressure and close out...