PINA

The draft Solomon Islands ‘Citizenship by Investment’ bill is complete and is subject to further review before it is submitted to Cabinet for consideration. Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele revealed in Parliament, this is a priority under the Government for National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT)100- days programme. “I am happy to inform parliament that the first draft of the bill for...

King Charles III has announced plans to visit Australia and Samoa next month on a trip that will span a dozen time zones and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment. The 18-26 October tour, which Buckingham Palace outlined Tuesday, marks a watershed moment for the 75-year-old king. King Charles is slowly returning to public duties after taking...

The 51st Conference of Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) in Tonga last week underscored growing concerns about increasing geopolitical competition and the emergence of new actors in the Pacific region. Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo, who recently attended the conference, brought these pressing issues to the forefront during the launch of a new law enforcement training programme on Monday. In...

If Australia succeeds in its bid to co-host global climate talks with Pacific nations in 2026, it could deliver a direct $100-$200 million (US$66 million- US$133 million) economic boost to the host city, according to a new analysis of the federal government's plan. But the federal government is still facing a competing bid from Türkiye for the right to host...

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga Tuesday laid out an ambitious vision for the institution, calling for fast and bold reforms to address intertwined global challenges like climate change, inequality, and economic fragility. “Our mission is clear: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet,” Banga said at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. He emphasised that the World...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama have jointly appointed Sir Jerry Mateparae as the independent moderator to help resolve the ongoing discussions about Bougainville’s future. “After thorough consideration and consultation, we have asked Sir Jerry Mateparae to take up the independent moderator role to support our two governments,” Marape and Toroama said in a...

Canberra and Sydney are set to roll out a royal welcome ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s first visit to Australia as a reigning monarch. The King and Queen will visit the cities as part of a six-day visit to Australia between 18 and 23 October, the first since it was announced the King was undergoing cancer treatment. Details of...

Leaders from across Pacific Island countries have called for a robust 21st replenishment of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA21), echoing the call from African Heads of State who agreed in April on a bold transformation agenda with IDA as a cornerstone. Hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, leaders and representatives from 11 countries met with World Bank...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has praised Fiji Airways for commissioning new Full Flight Simulators, calling it a “momentous occasion” for both the airline and the nation. “As we celebrate yet another landmark achievement in Fiji Airways' remarkable journey, the commissioning of these new simulators is not just a significant achievement for Fiji Airways but for our entire nation,” Rabuka...

Monday, the crime of ecocide was formally introduced for consideration by member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) —an event that represents a major step forward in the global effort to enshrine mass environmental destruction as a crime under international law. ‘Ecocide’, as proposed by Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa, is defined as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge...