PINA

Cook Islands foreign affairs minister Tingika Elikana Monday highlighted the need to drive discussions on regional priorities and forge inter-regional cooperation essential for global acknowledgment of these priorities. He acknowledged the presence of Yoko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan in attending 5th PALM Ministerial interim meeting - a first in the Pacific. Kamikawa comes face to face with her...

The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting (MIM) for PALM10 was held in Suva, Fiji, on 12 February 2024 in order to follow up on the outcomes of the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) as well as to prepare for PALM10. This was the first time for MIM to be held in the Pacific Islands Region. 2. The Meeting was attended...

Unprecedented threats facing the Indian Ocean are just as serious as those confronting Pacific nations, with regional security, climate change, and humanitarian issues causing major concern, Australia’s foreign minister says. Penny Wong put a spotlight on issues in the vast waters to Australia’s west during a speech at the Indian Ocean Conference in Perth on Friday. Some 400 delegates from 34...

Joseph Lelang has resigned as Papua New Guinea Leader of the Opposition and also as a member of the People’s National Congress party. This shocking announcement comes after Lelang received huge backlash from the public through social media for not attending media conferences staged by the members of the Opposition. The member for Kandrian-Gloucester made the announcement in a media conference...

Japan on Saturday promised 2.4 billion yen(US$6,701,111) in grant aid to Samoa to help improve a national university's facilities, as Japan's foreign minister met the Pacific island nation's prime minister in an effort to strengthen the bilateral relationship. During their talks in the Samoan capital of Apia, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who also serves as...

Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Kamikawa Yoko has met with Kalani Kaneko, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of the Marshall Islands, ahead of the PALM 5th Ministerial Interim Meeting in Suva, Fiji. She congratulated him on his new role and offered support for the Marshall Islands, which had suffered from drought and high waves. Kaneko expressed gratitude for Japan's assistance and...

Going to university in Australia could become simpler for Pacific Islanders if they are considered domestic students. The high commissioner for Samoa, Hinauri Petana, told federal politicians the crippling cost of international student fees in Australia was curbing educational outcomes in her nation. “Our appeal is that, by all means, international rates should stay for who can afford it, but for...

The Global Environment Facility’s 186 member governments have agreed to invest US$1.1 billion for international action on biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control, and met for the first time as Council of the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). The GEF Council, meeting in Washington, DC, approved US$918 million for 45 projects and programed from the Global Environment...

The Fiji Rugby Union hopes to announce the new Flying Fijians coach at the end of this week. This is after the last round of presentations by the shortlisted candidates in Suva on the weekend. Senirusi Seruvakula and Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne on Saturday presented to the panel. When approached, Byrne said all questions are to be directed to...

Vanimo -Green MP Beldan Namah says it’s time to take back Papua New Guinea from Prime Minister James Marape. Namah said that Marape was weaponising the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP) and Provincial Services Improvement Programme (PSIP), using them to reward those who remained faithful to him. Namah said that Marape’s time was up, he must step down in the best...