PINA

Australia said it will grant AUD$31 million (US$20 million) to Tonga to complete a vital port upgrade, boosting funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as Canberra focuses on building climate resilient infrastructure. The Pacific Islands region faces an infrastructure investment deficit of US$12 billion through to 2030 as climate shocks including cyclones, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions damage roads, ports...

The Pacific Island nation of Cook Islands, with just over 17,000 population, has one of the most comprehensive social protection policy in the Asia Pacific region. It has been in place since the 1960s – where successive governments have ensured that its poor, vulnerable and children are taken care of. Anne Herman, the island nation’s secretary for internal affairs attributed...

The COVI19 pandemic has reshaped the world exposing vulnerabilities in social protection systems – forcing governments to re-evaluate the impacts on their citizens, particularly the vulnerable and marginalised communities. Asian Development Bank’s Vice President (Sectors and Themes), Fatima Yasmin said the events of the last few years have highlighted the critical need for social protection – and the importance of...

The New Zealand government has given its full blessing to Cook Islands and Niue establishing diplomatic relations with the United States. At the U.S-Pacific summit on Monday (Washington time), President Joe Biden said he recognises the two island nations as sovereign and independent states, an announcement which the US Embassy in Aotearoa has labelled as “historic”. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said...

The U.S and Palau are discussing the permanent deployment of advanced missile defense systems in the Pacific island nation, Palau President Surangel Whipps said part of Washington’s efforts to check China's influence in the region. The revelation of talks over missile defence systems comes as U.S President Joe Biden host a second summit with Pacific island leaders at the White...

Women-led micro and small business owners in Fiji are celebrating the launch of digital mobile payment platform DUAPAY, following a successful 12-month pilot. Developed in collaboration with Mastercard, Fintech Pacific and international development organisation, ygap, in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Business Partnerships Platform (BPP), DUAPAY is now available to small business owners who have...

Free association deals have been central to Washington’s Pacific engagement for forty years. Will new deadlines be met? By Patricia O’Brien Little information has emerged about how negotiations for the renewal of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the United States are progressing. The United States has signed new agreements with...

Vaea Fifita’s Rugby World Cup is over after he was banned for four games following his red card in Tonga’s 45-17 loss to Scotland. The former All Blacks and Hurricanes flanker was sent off after he charged into a ruck and rammed his shoulder into the head of Scotland’s Finn Russell in the 77th minute. Fifita was immediately shown a yellow...

Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua has made four changes to his starting XV from the team beaten 19-10 by Argentina. Taleni Seu comes into the back-row after making a team-high 25 metres - including 20 past the gain-line - during 26 minutes off the bench last week. Sa Jordan Taufua replaces Steven Luatua at number eight, earning his first start since...

Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua says his country and Tonga would benefit from a similar development model that has seen Fiji take the Rugby World Cup by storm. While Fiji look on course to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 after beating Australia 22-15 in Pool C, Samoa's own Pool D hopes were dealt a...