PINA

Analysis by Professor Jon Fraenkel In the Solomon Islands, an election in April will decide whether a Chinese allied prime minister keeps his job. Manasseh Sogavare has taken advantage of urban unrest in the past, but his security partners may be reluctant to assist in future. The Solomon Islands goes to the polls in April 2024. This will be the first...

New Fiji 7s coach Osea Kolinisau wants the national side to dictate the tempo of the game. As the team prepares for the Asian leg of the World Sevens Series starting in Hong Kong 7s, Kolinisau said they want to play a high tempo game that we are known for and that can only be achieved through fitness. The 2016 Olympic...

Former Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended commissioner of police Sitiveni Qiliho were today found guilty and have been convicted accordingly by the High Court in Suva. Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo delivered his judgment after Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku filed an appeal against the acquittal of Bainimarama and Qiliho last month. Bainimarama has been convicted for...

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)2024 taskforce has officially unveiled the Samoa CHOGM logo and website for the three-day gathering scheduled for October this year. The event happened Wednesday at the Samoa Tourism Authority Fale Samoa in the presence of the Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaleto’a Eti Sualauvi II and Masiofo Fa’amausili Leinafo, Ministers of Cabinet and Parliament,...

The first Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Heads of Immigration Meeting (HOIM) was successfully convened in Apia, Samoa, Tuesday to discuss the MSG Business Travel Card (BTC) proposition and how it will be developed and implemented. Hosted within the margins of the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) meetings, the aim of the talks was to introduce an easy entry business visa...

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine Wednesday stressed the importance of dialogue between developed countries and the emerging and developing countries collectively known as the Global South. The president also expressed her hope that Japan will serve as a bridge between the two parties. Heine emphasised that communication between the Global South and developed nations must be further promoted and become more...

Since transmitting its revised submission concerning the Manihiki Plateau to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in 2021, several meetings have been held between the Cook Islands Government and the Sub-Commission established to assess the revised submission. Each meeting has steadily progressed the Cook Islands’ ongoing efforts to secure it’s extended continental shelf entitlements. Led by Director...

Papua New Guinea's Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion Jason Peter has shared some key lessons on financing for gender equality to the world's annual meeting on Women, the United Nations CSW. Sharing views from his government on efforts towards financing gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls, he said PNG leaders recognised the importance of access...

Commonwealth law ministers and attorneys general have chosen Fiji as the host of the next Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, to be held in February 2026. At their meeting in Tanzania, last week, ministers, including representatives from Fiji, also endorsed a new set of new measures, designed to improve people’s access to justice. The measures were the result of four-day deliberations among...

The Fiji Government will undertake the review of the National Security and Defence policy. The review is envisaged to be a holistic assessment – encompassing Fiji’s military capabilities but also the broader dimensions. Speaking in Parliament, Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua said the review will include Fiji’s economic security, cybersecurity, environmental security, and human security, with a particular emphasis on...