PINA

Australia has been told it must do more to counter China’s growing influence in Papua New Guinea after the Solomon Islands’ shock security deal with Beijing forced a last-minute lobbying campaign across the Pacific. In phone calls on Monday evening with Fiji and Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked the two Pacific nations to help convince the Solomon...

National Capital District Governor and a member of the Papua New Guinea Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence(GVB) Powes Parkop expressed his disappointment over the recent enactments in Parliament stating that despite almost 10 years of fighting for women’s seats in parliament nothing has been done to date to realise that. “In just one go they’ve created 13 new...

Pacific officials have started a four-week training course to help them proactively engage with negotiations and implementation of e-commerce rules. As stressed by the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap, the regulatory environment is an essential enabler of e-commerce readiness. Currently, many Pacific countries require support to negotiate and implement rules suitable to boost digital trade. To address these gaps, the...

RNZ Pacific's regional correspondent, Kelvin Anthony spoke to President Surangel Whipps Jr, of Palau, on a range of issues including. *The response and recovery from Covid-19 *The emergency rift at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) *Palau's new digital residency programme *The Ocean's Conference *The escalation of military activity in the Pacific * Climate change *The implications of the planned ending of some of the US economic...

By Anna Powles and Joanne Wallis When the draft security agreement between Solomon Islands and China landed in the news cycle on Thursday, we shared a sense of dread. Initial analysis of the agreement in the Australian media was typically narrow and, at times, downright unhelpful. The most outlandish claim was that Australia should be prepared to ‘invade’ Solomon Islands...

An uneven post-pandemic economic recovery is threatening to widen inequalities and intensify the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across Asia and the Pacific, threatening decades of progress, said a new report released on Monday. The Asia-Pacific region is showing signs of a “K-shaped recovery”, according to the report, typically marked by a divergence of economic and social...

Moana Pasifika and the Blues have confirmed their sides for Tuesday's clash at Mt Smart Stadium. It will make the first of two matches between the two teams, making up for their postponed match in round one. With this in mind, both teams have opted to make several changes from the teams which secured victories on Saturday. Moana Pasifika have confirmed Samoan...

Four players who have been out of action for the Fijian Drua due to injuries may return this week. Kitione Taliga, Meli Derenalagi, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Isoa Nasilasila are expected to be eligible for selection against the Waratahs. Taliga is yet to play in the Super Rugby Pacific for the Drua. The four are back training according to Head Coach Mick Byrne. Byrne...

The Papua New Guinea Kumuls will head into this year’s Rugby League World Cup with a new mentor following confirmation by Michael Marum that he will not re-apply for the role of head coach. Confirming the end of his eight-year reign, Marum told The National that he was considering contesting a seat in his native East New Britain (ENB) in...

Weightlifter Don Opeloge has taken top spot in the 2022 Oceania Online Cup to become the best male lifter in the region with his brother Jack coming second. His brother Jack’s second placing in the regional tournament rounded off a weekend of success for the Opeloge family and Samoa, after Feagaiga Stowers took out the best overall female lifter award...