PINA

By Aubrey Belford (OCCRP), Dan McGarry (OCCRP), Ofani Eremae (In-Depth Solomons), Charley Piringi (In-Depth Solomons), Gina Maka’a (In-Depth Solomons), and Ronald Toito’ona (In-Depth Solomons) Manasseh Sogavare, the four-time prime minister of Solomon Islands, speaks proudly of his humble origins as a school dropout who once earned a living cleaning toilets and making tea for British colonial officials. The 69-year-old premier...

In a world threatened by multiple crises, from diseases to disasters, conflicts and climate change, the right to health for all people is more important than ever. On World Health Day – which is celebrated every year on 07 April – the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging governments to accelerate action to realise the right to health for all...

The first votes of the 2024 Solomon Islands joint elections have been cast in Honiara on Friday. The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) said pre-polling has been facilitated for police officers and electoral officials who will be working during polling day on 17 April. The pre-polling for working officials was held from 7am to 4pm local time. For the election proper, 19...

New Zealand won a tense final 10-7 against France to defend their Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens title, win their first Cup title of the season, and complete a tournament double, after the Black Ferns Sevens showed them the way, as the HSBC SVNS 2024 series bid farewell to the Hong Kong Stadium in style. The first half ended 0-0, but...

The Fijian Drua have continued to build their Super Rugby Women title defence, grinding out a 20-7 win against the ACT Brumbies. Winning for a second straight week, the two-time reigning champions looked clunky in attack early but clicked into gear to win well at GIO Stadium. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Brumbies after a gritty defensive display...

Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs Tingika Elikana says a referendum would allow its people to decide whether to join the United Nations and separate from New Zealand. The Cook Islands government has applied for membership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a first step on the road to becoming a member of the UN. While the country has maintained diplomatic...

Torn between two superpowers, the Federated States of Micronesia(FSM) cautiously navigates a complex diplomatic arena with a hedging approach. Washington calculates its treads as well. The FSM is the only freely associated state with diplomatic relations with China. “We really like our relationship with both countries because it gives us the opportunity to be a peacekeeper in the region,” FSM President Wesley...

Papua New Guinea said it does not see China as “an enemy,” but is supporting the Philippines in advocacy for the international community to follow the “rule of law” in the West Philippine Sea. PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko is in Manila and held bilateral talks with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo Thursday. “For what is happening in your country, the...

Tonga’s prime minister said on Thursday he is open to Beijing’s offer of security support when the South Pacific kingdom hosts a major regional leaders’ summit, raising concerns in the United States as it strives to counter China’s growing influence. Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said there was nothing to fear from China’s offer to help Tonga host leaders of the...

The Australian Defence Force(ADF) should consider establishing a Pacific battalion with rotating Australian and Pacific troops to help boost regional ties and address the military’s staffing crisis, a new report has argued. The government is also being urged to consider allowing the direct recruitment of Pacific Islanders into the ADF, overturning the long-standing principle that Australian citizenship is required to...