PINA

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy Fiji and Tonga have become the first Pacific developing member countries to give the Asia Development Bank (ADB) the greenlight to raise inshore and offshore bonds in their local currencies. The two countries deposited their regulatory approval to the ADB at the 58th Annual Meeting, currently underway in Milan, Italy. According to Annie Wang,...

The motion of no confidence against Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was withdrawn by its mover, Central Honiara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo, after Parliament resumed on Tuesday. Speaker of Parliament, Patteson Oti explained the motion was not listed in Tuesday’s order paper because it was withdrawn. He said the notice was withdrawn totally under standing order 31 (2) and is...

No major changes are expected in how Australia engages with the Pacific, geopolitical experts say. Anthony Albanese's Labor Party will have another three-year term after a landslide victory over Peter Dutton's Liberal Party. Griffith University's Associate Professor Tess Newton Cain said Albanese and his team felt they had done a good job in the first term “repairing relations that they felt...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met with Henry Liu, Head of the CIA Office for East Asia and the Pacific, in his office on Tuesday. Accompanying Liu to the meeting was the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Marie Damour. The meeting focused on strengthening Fiji-U.S relations, enhancing regional security, and deepening development cooperation. During the meeting, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed Fiji’s appreciation...

The Asian Development Bank’s 58th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors opened on 5 May in Milan, Italy, with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa outlining four core areas driving transformative change across Asia and the Pacific. Nauru’s President and Finance Minister David Adeang, along with Deputy Finance Minister Delvin Thoma, are attending the meeting, which has drawn over 5,000 participants...

The motion of no confidence (MONC) against the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele, which had previously been scheduled for tabling and debate, does not appear on today’s parliamentary order paper. According to the order paper, today’s proceedings will begin with prayers, followed by messages and announcements, matters of privilege, and then adjournment. Under Standing Order 25, members of...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy Both New Zealand and Australia have urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ensure project procurement process for Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) align with the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles. The Pacific operates in a unique procurement market, and is at high risk from both climate and economic downturns. “When operating in the Pacific,...

Cook Islands' leading environmental lobby group is hoping that the Cook Islands government will speak out against the recent executive order from United States President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking seabed mining. Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) says the arrogance of U.S president Trump to think that he can break international law by authorising deep seabed mining in international waters is...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy In a very personalised appeal to the 69 members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the new President, Masato Kanda highlighted trust as a fundamental leadership value that will guide his work and that of the ADB across the Asia Pacific region. Reflecting on his first few moths in office, President Kanda emphasised...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy Australia has reminded the Asian Development Bank (ADB) if it wants to maintain its position as the multilateral partner of choice for the region, it must modernise its processes and practices, alongside moving staff closer to clients to remain relevant and effective. Rachel Thompson, Australia’s temporary governor while addressing the ADB’s high level...