PINA

In a landmark event, Solomon Islands has seen the official launch of the Right to Information (RTI) initiative. The project is a collaborative effort between the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Strengthening Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Pacific Island Countries – supported by the Government of the United Kingdom. Access to...

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by the Samoa Speaker of the House on the reinstatement of two Opposition members, the Samoa Observer can reveal. On Monday, Justice Blanchard, Justice Young, and Justice Nelson delivered the verdict. The cross-appeal of the first and second respondents was granted, affirming that the Assembly's decision on 18 October, 2022, to suspend the...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is set to enhance the long-standing relationship between PNG and Australia during his visit this week. As a guest of the Australian Government, his visit will begin on 07 February and will consist of a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties. Accompanied by a high-level delegation including former politicians Sir Yano...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters is heading on a whistle-stop tour of Polynesia this week — hard on the heels of his visit to Australia that resulted in stronger security and defence ties with our Tasman neighbour. He’ll have some reassuring to do in his bilateral meetings with Pacific leaders after New Zealand came out supportive of Australia’s AUKUS...

The U.S has urged Papua New Guinea to turn down China’s offer of a security pact, increasing pressure on the prime minister of Australia’s nearest neighbour as he prepares to address parliament in Canberra this week. The Chinese government last year tried to encompass 10 Pacific Island nations in a single, region-wide security treaty but was rebuffed and now seeks...

Taiwan's top representative to Australia has declared he's “quite confident” that Tuvalu won't follow Nauru's lead and switch diplomatic recognition to China, despite Beijing's attempts to “lure” politicians in the Pacific Island country. China's ruling party remains intent on diplomatically isolating Taiwan and has intensified efforts to convince the dozen countries which maintain official relations with Taipei to recognise the...

Japan is scheduled to host a meeting of leaders from Pacific island countries and territories for three days from 16 July to discuss cooperation on issues amid the deteriorating global security environment, the government said Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press conference that the summit in Tokyo would be an opportunity to reiterate the free...

Even before Miss Samoa Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke's name was announced, people at home already knew she had won it. Why wouldn't she? She was mesmerising from the start and after her talent, there were no questions about who should be the queen of the Pacific. And in winning the Miss Pacific title, she has repeated what her mother MaryJane Mckibbin-Schwenke...

Australia may need to work with China in the Pacific to ensure a record level of development aid and loans are not misused and that the fight for influence doesn't become a flashpoint, a report says. Traditional development partners of Pacific Island nations including Australia, the US. and New Zealand are locked in a geopolitical competition with China, and complex...

Regional media leader and news publisher Robert Iroga is in Suva to speak at a commemorative event this morning at the Forum Secretariat. The longtime journalists and former ACP Head of Media and Communications will be part of a panel event today marking the anniversary of the signing of the Teieniwa Vision for Pacific Unity against Corruption, which evolved from...