PINA

Several members of Papua New Guinea parliament have thrown their support to change the laws that govern how the Prime Minister is being elected in the country and allow the people to elect the Prime Minister. The Members who open supported the call for a Constitutional Review and other legislations include the Member for Kandep and Minister for Higher Education...

Australia and Papua New Guinea are on track to increase defence co-operation and sign a new security agreement by April. The foreign ministers are co-chairing the 29th ministerial forum in Canberra on Friday, bringing together nine Australian ministers and 16 from PNG to discuss security, development and economic potential. Defence Minister Richard Marles lauded PNG as an important neighbour and security...

Australia will launch a lottery to bring 3000 foreign workers into the country every year under a new law to be proposed that adapts the “green card” system used in the United States to give the winners a pathway to citizenship. In a departure from decades of visa policy, the federal government will open the scheme to people from across...

Standing just off the dusty main street of Solomon Islands' capital Honiara, 22-year-old Tiphany Maena is about to set off on a new adventure. Next month, the mother of two from the country's western province will hop on a plane and head to Queensland, joining thousands of Pacific Islanders working for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. She'll be picking fruit...

Fiji's Ministry of Home Affairs will soon be undertaking a defence review. Minister responsible, Pio Tikoduadua said they have discussed the initiative with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai and both have supported the idea. Tikoduadua said the Defence Review will be headed by a civilian and an independent panel of...

On 13 February 2023, the government of the Federated States of Micronesia hosted the 21st Micronesian Presidents’ Summit or MPS in Palikir. Operating under the theme “Paddling Together for a Stronger Micronesia,” FSM President David W Panuelo welcomed Taneti Maamau, president of the Republic of Kiribati, Surangel S. Whipps Jr., president of the Republic of Palau, Russ Joseph Kun, president...

A visit by United States President Joe Biden to the Pacific this year will significantly push back against China’s inroads in the region, experts say. On Tuesday, Micronesian leaders announced a possible summit with Biden in the Pacific. In a communiqué released at the 21st Micronesian Presidents' Summit, the leaders expressed their “full support and co-operation to ensure the success of...

UNCTAD sets out the policy actions needed for more people in the region to benefit from digital technologies. UNCTAD published the first Pacific edition of its Digital Economy Report on 16 February. It’s the first in-depth research report on the digital economy in the Pacific, examining opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the region. Digital technologies and e-commerce have the potential...

The Western Force went down fighting against an entertaining Fijian Drua. Spink and Williams impressing for the full 80, navigating space and powering through persistent defence. The high-scoring contest finished with the Force going down by 10 (48-38) on a still Brisbane night. The result was an improvement on the first trial match against the Reds. Although errors caused by ill-discipline...

Fijian 7s Coach Ben Gollings has included four debutantes in his 13-member squad for Los Angeles and Vancouver tournaments. Army duo, Anasa Qaranivalu and Rokoua Rasaku, Police forward Alusio Vakadranu and Uluinakau utility Ponipate Loganimasi have booked their place to Los Angeles 7s. Gollings said “We needed a little bit of shakeup and bringing new energy into the squad, something we...