PINA

The chief justice of Vanuatu has ordered the amendment of a constitutional application against the dissolution of Vanuatu's parliament to exclude the president of the republic from the case. The application, which was heard in the Supreme Court in Port Vila, was brought by 27 opposition MPs who were signatories to a motion of no confidence in the prime minister...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed concerns his government is not active in the Pacific amid concerns China could purchase privately-owned islands off the coast of Australia. Retired entrepreneur Ian Gowrie-Smith is selling the Conflict Islands, situated in Papua New Guinea, and proposed an offer to the federal government to make a purchase. Gowrie-Smith has written to Foreign Minister Penny...

A delegation from the United States Government led by Senator Marsha Blackburn made a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara Wednesday. The purpose of Senator Blackburn’s visit is to provide a member of the U.S Senate Armed Services Committee the opportunity to engage senior leaders from Solomon Islands and to facilitate high-level military and foreign policy discussions...

The Pacific Fishing Company suffered a net loss after tax of over $2million (US$1 million) according to its 2018 Annual Report. While making their submission to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Chief Executive Saiyad Raiyum says the loss was after the cold storage was written off. Raiyum said the pre-write-off loss stands at a little over $205,000 (US$102,000). “The new cold...

By James Batley Australia’s new government has made a strong start in the Pacific islands since its election in May. Early visits by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Pacific Islands Forum, and bilateral visits by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy, have laid the foundation for strong personal connections over...

At the 26th edition of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly, Fijian official and Oceania National Olympic Committees(ONOC) President Dr Robin Mitchell is set to be elected the ANOC President. He is the sole candidate nominated for election and has been serving as Acting President since 2018 after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was charged with forgery in...

With only seven overseas-based players, the main focus of Samoa is to give enough exposure to its local players in the Fiji Rugby Invitational Series. The team brings 23 local players from Samoa who have not had enough international experience. Manuma Samoa coach Afa Hanipale says the overseas-based players who are from New Zealand gives a good balance to the side. He...

The Papua New Guinea Orchids squad for this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) in England will feature 11 debutants and just four players who competed at RLWC2017, as head coach Ben Jeffries looks to nurture talent that can represent PNG women’s rugby league at the highest level for years to come. Two-thirds of the squad, which has an average...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has announced his cabinet line-up. PM Marape has put together a 33-member cabinet, with the Minister of Bougainville Affairs yet to be named. Among the key appointments are Justin Tkatchenko who becomes PNG’s new Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ian Ling Stuckey as Minister for Treasury, Dr Lino Tom as Minister for Health, William Duma...

Calling China's launches of ballistic missiles in its recent military exercises earlier this month “unacceptable,” Japanese parliamentarian Keiji Furuya, who is on a three-day visit to Taiwan, said Tuesday during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen that Beijing's ambition of changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait must be stopped. Furuya, chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council,...