PINA

The Pacific Islands Forum is set to welcome Guam and American Samoa as Associate Members, following a strong recommendation from the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting Friday. Incumbent Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown confirmed that the applications, which were submitted by the Lieutenant Governors of both territories, have gained widespread support and will now be forwarded to...

The Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers have made significant strides in advancing key regional initiatives, setting the stage for important Leaders Meeting at the end of this month. Incumbent Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown outlined the ministers’ decisions, emphasising the importance of their work on the 2050 Strategy, the Pacific Resilience Facility, and the Pacific Policing...

Foreign Ministers from the Pacific Islands Forum gathered in Suva, Fiji, Friday to address important regional issues in time for their scheduled Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga later this month. Incumbent Forum Chair and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown told Te Ao Māori news about the discussions around the disposal of Fukushima’s wastewater. Brown said water monitoring in...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is set to visit China from Monday until 21 August the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday, welcoming the chance for the two nations to build strategic ties. The news follows March reports that Fiji agreed to maintain a policing co-operation deal with China that fanned concern in Australia, against the backdrop of a long...

Lakapi Samoa is trying to secure much-needed funding to keep operations normal and has revised the national 15s tournament to sustain it. The Chief Executive Officer for Lakapi Samoa Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai said Lakapi Samoa is engaging with the government, sponsors, and stakeholders for support. “Lakapi Samoa has been engaging over the last six months with an external commercial entity on...

Eileen Cikamatana was in tears and her coach Paul Coffa is reconsidering retirement after she fell short of their lofty Olympic weightlifting goals. Coffa had confidently predicted the 24-year-old would win a medal, but the Fijian-born Cikamatana underperformed in the clean and jerk and finished fourth. Norwegian Solfrid Koanda won gold on Sunday in the 81kg class with an Olympic record...

Don Opeloge, Samoa's 25-year-old weightlifting sensation, faced a tough challenge in his Olympic debut in the 102kg event. Despite high hopes, Opeloge was unable to advance to the clean and jerk after three unsuccessful attempts in the snatch. “I’ll be back stronger,” Opeloge vowed, reflecting on his experience at the Olympic Games. “I can’t put into words how I’m feeling right now. “I...

New Zealand and Australia are partnering up to invest a combined NZ$47.5million (US$28.64 million) to establish humanitarian warehouses across the Pacific. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the Pacific is exposed to a wide range of natural hazards and other risks such as cyclones, tsunamis and disease. “This initiative places Pacific countries at the centre of responses. It will give countries access...

By Dr Satyendra Prasad The Finance Ministers of G20 met earlier this week in Brazil. Collectively, these G20 countries account for over 80 percent of the global economy; wield considerable control over global development financial institutions. Most G20 countries claim to be close friends of the small island developing states (SIDS). Yet their communique does not make a single reference to...

Outgoing Pacific Islands Forum Chair Mark Brown Friday emphasised the need for unity and strategic action as the region faces increasing global interest, climate crises, and new security threats. At the opening of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM) in Suva, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown urged foreign ministers to strengthen their collective solidarity to navigate the mounting challenges...