By Eliza Northrop BELEM/SYDNEY (THE CONVERSATION) —After a long and deadlocked bidding process for Australia and Pacific Island nations to co-host the UN climate summit (COP31), the event will now be hosted by Turkey. Australia’s Climate Minister, Chris Bowen, will reportedly take a key role as “COP President for negotiations”. More details are yet to […]
Category: Opinion
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PINA Statement on the government of Samoa’s Ban of the Samoa Observer
The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) expresses deep concern over the Government of Samoa’s decision to ban the Samoa Observer, one of the country’s longest-serving independent newspapers.This action represents a serious threat to media freedom, public access to information, and democratic accountability in Samoa and the wider Pacific region.PINA urges the Government of Samoa to […]
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Europe has defended Freedom under Fire. Taiwan Has Built Democracy Under Pressure.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s European Parliament speech affirms shared democratic values — and rebuts Beijing’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758. By Jessica C. LeeAmbassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Republic of Palau On November 7, 2025, Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim stood before lawmakers in the European Parliament and spoke with clarity […]
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Rubekul Belau reaffirms its Duty to the People of Palau
Koror, Republic of Palau | November 10, 2025. In response to remarks made during the Presidential Press Conference on October 30, 2025, the Rubekul Belau (Council) issues this statement to clarify the context and intent of its recent correspondence with the Embassy of Japan. The meeting between High Chief Reklai Raphael B. Ngirmang and […]
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Polling Place Changes are not just Logistics—they threaten every Voter’s Right to a Fair Chance
By J. Ngoriakl11/06/2025Koror, Palau. Voter rights or suffrage, a paramount feature of our democracy, hinges on the accessibility and fairness of the voting process, and polling places are central to this sacred democratic principle. Even seemingly innocuous changes, like last-minute closures or consolidation of polling places, can have profound consequences. Such disruptions disproportionately affect voters […]
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Keeping the local in locally led development
By Mark Moran CANBERRA (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —The notion of “locally led development” should be reserved for leader-led development through local communities, civil society, churches, small businesses and Indigenous NGOs; something that pre-exists and endures independently of external aid, regardless of the benefits it derives from such aid. DFAT released its Guidance Note on Locally Led Development […]