PINA

The Papua New Guinea Government has admitted that the purchase of the controversial Maseratis vehicles for use by the 2018 APEC Leaders was a “terrible mistake”. Finance Minister Sir John Pundari made the admission Thursday when announcing that the 40 luxury vehicles, bought for K20 million(US$5.7 million) at K500,000(US$142,000) each would be put on the market for a “discount price”...

The Fiji Labour Party, Freedom Alliance and Unity Fiji will merge for the 2022 general elections. This has been confirmed by Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, Freedom Alliance Jagath Karunaratne and Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube. The three political leaders in a joint statement said work towards uniting the Opposition parties for the 2022 general elections have started. The three...

With just one month left until the COP26 climate change conference, countries must do more to reduce emissions, finance climate action and support mitigation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the final official ministerial meeting in Milan, Italy, on Thursday. “I cannot emphasise enough that time is running out. Irreversible climate tipping points lie alarmingly close. Civil society is watching closely...

President of the Federated States of Micronesia(FSM) David Panuelo, has transmitted a proposed bill, the FSM Freedom of Information Act, to the 22nd FSM Congress for its members’ review and consideration. As originally described during his inaugural address in July 2019, President Panuelo’s proposed Freedom of Information Act intends to institutionalise the disclosure of public information by establishing suitable procedures,...

Samoa Member of Parliament for Faleata No.3 Ale Vena Ale has raised major concerns relating to bribery and corrupt practices during election petitions after an election. Ale Vena Ale made a suggestion that the Government should consider drawing the fine line on what is considered cultural practice and bribery during campaign periods for any election. He made the points when he...

The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) current negotiations on ending fisheries subsidies are undermining livelihoods and development for developing and least-developed countries. This was echoed by small-scale fisher groups, civil society organisations, intra-government bodies and Member country negotiators at the WTO public forum on "Catching Development: Acting Together for Sustainable Fisheries Trade", hosted by the Pacific Network on Globalisation and Handelskampanjen. “The...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna says the Pacific is keen to host a meeting of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in the Blue Pacific in 2022. SG Puna made the comment while addressing the 27th Session of the General Conference of the OPANAL and Member States for the 54th anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco. “I reiterate the ongoing solidarity of the...

CNMI representative Sheila Babauta has introduced House Joint Resolution 22-11 to condemn the Japanese government's decision to dump nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean. The joint resolution, which was co-sponsored by the rest of the House members, also calls for the CNMI to join the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Pacific Island Forum and the UN Special Rapporteurs in...

With the climate crisis already devastating lives and incomes, young people will be critical to driving global action forward, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told participants attending the Pre-COP Youth Event in Milan, Italy, on Thursday. Hundreds of delegates from across the world are taking part in the meeting, which is a precursor to the UN COP26 climate change conference in...

Fiji has recorded 70 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, increasing the total number of cases to 50,953 and 622 deaths since the outbreak in April this year. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said there have been 103 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 12,841 active cases. “There have been 50,953 cases...