PINA

The Solomon Islands Government is investing about US$66 million (about SBD367 million) in improving telephone network nationwide over the next two years, largely to ensure people in the rural areas have access to watching the 2023 Pacific Games. A government committee has been assessing sites to be included in the project for towers to be built. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry...

The Kiribati Government has expressed its gravest concerns by the action of the Court of Appeal and those who continue to aid and abet David Lambourne in his unconstitutional attempt to seek a life-time appointment. It is also unbecoming for members of the noble judiciary to continue with the action to purposefully create a life-time appointment within the Judiciary, when...

Australia is pinning its hopes on Pacific workers to help fill shortages across the economy — particularly in aged care — but industry says a history of poor conditions and sheer numbers mean that's unlikely to make a significant dent in demand. The federal government has expanded the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) to include aged care, hospitality and...

Vanuatu Speaker of Parliament, MP Simeon Seoule has stressed his status is neutral. He made this statement following a call made by the government side for him to resign. The Speaker's status was questioned after his involvement in a reconciliation ceremony made recently between him and another MP in the Opposition Camp. MP Seoule conceded he was part of a reconciliation ceremony,...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and Pangu Pati leader James Marape says the Government and Pangu appreciates the role of a free media. He, however, cautioned the media to stay away from political and personal preferences. PM Marape said it was quite evident during the 2022 General Election that certain media houses were taking side with politicians, and political parties, and...

Solomon Islands is one of the countries in the Pacific that has accessed the green climate fund. Exsley Taloiburi Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Programme Adviser Climate Finance and Resilience Team Leader says the Green Climate Fund works through accredited implementing entities. He said there is potential for the Pacific Resilience Facility to consider serving as a regional conduit in the medium...

Kiwi startup Xerra has detected up to 100 possible “dark vessels” during an exercise to crack down on illegal fisheries around Tuvalu. Xerra senior scientist Moritz Lehmann said the rate of detection was higher than expected, and the findings could indicate illegal fishing was a bigger problem than currently thought in the waters around the small Pacific nation. “We did not...

By Warren Evans, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Climate Envoy In April 2020, Tropical Cyclone Harold hit the Pacific, unleashing torrential rains and floods which severely affected infrastructure, vital services, and livelihoods just as the region was starting to deal with the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This, sadly, is the state of play for the Pacific, one...

The United States successfully tested a long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Tuesday after twice postponing the launch to avoid stoking tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan, the U.S Air Force announced. The Air Force Global Strike Command launched the unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile over the Pacific from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California just after midnight local time. The missile carried...

Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Monday reaffirmed the country's commitment to the One-China policy and stressed the importance of strong China-Fiji ties in an interview with New Zealand-based Radio Tarana. “I want that to be made clear to everyone, we recognise the One-China policy. And I also want to say that China is an important development partner for Fiji...