PINA

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is welcoming Kiribati back into the fold of the Pacific Islands Forum. The Micronesian nation pulled out of the Forum in Fiji last year in protest of the appointment of former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna as Secretary-General of the Forum. However, PM Brown said there had been a meeting between the new Fiji...

Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who is also chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has stressed any future employment within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat must be sourced from MSG member countries. “We must first look with in our region, if we have people with required skills,” he said. “If the Melanesian region does not have those skills...

Moves to remove homosexuality from the Cook Islands Crimes Act are still awaiting sign off from Crown Law. Cook Islands News has been attempting to get into contact with the acting solicitor-general Jason Annadale over the past week. It has asked Annadale when the review of the Crimes Act will be complete, what will be changed as a result, and what...

After the Tongan volcanic eruption and tsunami of January 2022, Mango Island was destroyed, making it uninhabitable for the residents. A new community has been established in 'Eua, south-east of Tonga's main island, and residents were recently welcomed into their new community. Residents from Mango island were packed into a military-style ship, singing and dancing as they approached their destination. Mango Island...

Twenty-four-year-old Miss Papua New Guinea Josie Nicholas was crowned Miss Pacific Islands on Friday. After a three-year hiatus due to Covid, the pageant was held in Samoa last week with five participating countries under the theme – “Strength in Unity”. Miss Papua New Guinea Josie Nicholas won the Best Talent with a dance and drama performance transitioning into playing the drums...

By Robert Underwood The state of Pacific island solidarity in the midst of a serious crisis pertaining to climate change and the strategic competition between the United States and China seems to be weak. At a time when solidarity may be most needed, it seems to be most lacking. There are natural distinctions and geographic divisions between the north...

By Nic Maclellan Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles have just met their French counterparts Catherine Colonna and Sébastien Lecornu in Paris, at a “2+2” ministerial meeting to rebuild the France-Australia strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. But what does this engagement mean for the Albanese government’s “First Nations foreign policy”, and the rights of colonised...

By Cleo Paskal The United States just reopened its embassy in Solomon Islands, the country that last year signed a security deal with China. Problem solved, right? If only. Two other things just happened that give a sense of how unstable the situation is, and how far advanced Chinese political warfare operations are in the region. AN IMMEDIATE THREAT The first involves pro-PRC...

Fiji Rugby Union Acting chief executive Tevita Tuiloa says the position of Fijiana Drua head coach will be finalised by the end of this month. The successful candidate will also coach the Fijiana XVs. Tuiloa said they have received numerous applications for the role, but executives are going through the selection process carefully in view of strategic targets. “We have a point...

Work is underway to create accommodation for athletes competing at this year's Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands thanks to financial support from the Australian Government. The Solomon Islands 2023 Steering Committee has met for the second time to discuss preparations for the Games since Australia signed a formal agreement to provide funding last December. The main portion of Australia’s AUD$17...