PINA

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) is pleased to announce its new Chair, Robert Iroga of the Solomon Islands. Iroga, the former co-chair for Melanesia, takes up the leadership role from outgoing Chair Bernadette Carreon who will continue to serve as Micronesia co Chair alongside the subregional co-chair for Polynesia, Monica Miller of...

Anyone caught with an illegal unlicensed firearm in Papua New Guinea, faces life in prison. With nine days to go before the Issue of Writs, Police Commissioner David Manning says there is a two-week amnesty to have all firearms surrendered to police across the country. He reminded the country that the maximum penalty for uncontrolled usage and ownership of firearms is...

A high-rate of malnutrition and growth stunting among Marshall Islands children has been a concern for many years. A survey jointly conducted by UNICEF and the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services in 2017 documented serious malnutrition and growth stunting in over 30 percent of children from early months after birth to five years of age. But the malnutrition...

The Pacific Freedom Forum says World Press Freedom Day is a significant milestone for Pacific region media. 03 May is World Press Freedom Day, a day declared by the UN to observe and raise awareness of freedom of the press. It is also intended to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the freedom of expression. RNZ Pacific asked...

Two Tongan MPs, one former prime minister and the other a serving cabinet minister, have lost their seats in Parliament. Former PM, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, and the minister for Internal Affairs, Sangster Saulala, have been convicted of bribing voters during the election campaign period in November last year Tu'i'onetoa lost his election petition on Friday and Saulala's election to the Tongatapu No.7...

U.S President Joe Biden's administration plans to step up diplomatic engagement with Pacific Island countries, Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Monday, including inviting Pacific leaders to the White House later this year. Campbell's message, outlined in a U.S-New Zealand business summit, comes amid rising concerns over the security implications of China's expanding presence in the region, underlined by a...

Solomon Islands' High Commissioner to Australia has suggested the relationship between the two upset nations can be resolved through simple communication and the expansion of a successful government scheme. Robert Sisilo flagged Honiara and Beijing were strengthening its partnership after the leaders agreed to a security pact last month on maintaining social order, protecting people's safety, aid and combating natural...

Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has announced the returning of students to school and the resuming of international flights this month, though restricted to Samoan citizens travelling in for various purposes. PM Mata'afa made the announcement on Monday night while advising of major changes to the current State of Emergency (SOE) Orders that lifted the ban on mass gatherings. Cabinet...

Economic recovery was the focus of a recent online conference involving Fijian and New Zealand trade organisations. Hosted by the New Zealand Fiji Business Council, the webinar was held in conjunction with the Fiji Consulate General and Trade Commission (New Zealand and Australia), the Fiji High Commission in Wellington, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Fiji has opened its borders and...

By Nic Maclellan As voters in Australia head to the polls on 21 May, there is increasing debate over the link between climate change and security. Capitalising on the heated debate around the China-Solomon Islands security agreement, a range of former military, intelligence and political leaders have highlighted the importance of climate change as the central security issue in the...