PINA

Two Papua New Guineans and their two Malaysian counterparts have been arrested in a drug bust in Port Moresby. Altogether 125 kilograms of methamphetamine or crystal meth was confiscated in the raid by the Trans National Crime Unit at 2am Thursday morning. PNG Police Commissioner David Manning called the drugs as ‘a serious growing threat’ to the country. The estimated street value...

The Government of Australia and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme will work in partnership to enhance the engagement of Pacific Islands in the climate change negotiations. The new negotiations support project will help strengthen the negotiation skills of Pacific Islanders, better resourcing them to amplify the Pacific Islands voice. “The Australian Government is pleased to provide this support...

The small island of Niue in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean has demonstrated climate change leadership at COP27, showcasing a home-grown innovative solution to raise funds for climate adaptation and mitigation. Speaking to an audience of world leaders during the resumed high-level segment of the COP27 at the Sharm El Sheikh International Congress Centre on Tuesday, Niue’s Minister...

The U.S and Japan have announced they will back the Australian government's unprecedented move to fund Telstra's purchase of the Pacific's largest telco, stumping up around $150 million(US$100 million) in credit guarantees for the high-profile deal. Telstra announced in July that it had finalised the $2.4 billion (US$1.6 billion) purchase of Digicel Pacific, which has over 2.5 million subscribers across...

Samoa coach Matt Parish has made one change to the squad ahead of Sunday's World Cup Final against Australia.. Fa'amanu Brown, who will miss the match with a head knock picked up in the win over England, is replaced in the 19-man by Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu. Chanel Harris-Tavita will start at hooker in his final game before retiring to pursue...

The Pacific Community (SPC) is offering grants for gender equality initiatives that support Pacific women and girls, in all their diversity, to be safe and equitably share in resources, opportunities and decision-making with men and boys. Grants are being offered by the Pacific Women Lead (PWL) at SPC programme, known as PWL at SPC, supported by the Australian Government. “These grants...

The disconnect between how the development sector addresses climate change-related issues like climate-forced displacement and relocation in island communities requires urgent attention. A convening of community representatives across the Fiji Islands, including those in the maritime region and communities in remote rural interior of the main islands also recommended an annual audit of evacuation centres. The audits, participants say in the...

Flying Fijians Head Coach Vern Cotter has managed to line up a formidable side despite the team facing player suspension and injuries. Cotter has made 7 changes from the Irish match to his 23-member squad in the hope to continue its unbeaten record against the French Barbarians on Sunday. He said “We have been addressing a few injuries whereby we have...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Sharm El Shiek Apart from the tough negotiations going into its final stages, one of the Pacific negotiators is not only relishing the experience and lessons learnt from the tough environment in the negotiating room, she is already thinking of what she can take away from COP27. Rothina Ilo Noka is the director of women’s...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Sharm El Sheikh Tuvalu like the rest of the Pacific is not standing idly by, waiting for the world to act – we’ve taken precautionary steps to protect and preserve our statehood and sovereignty, says Simon Kofe, the islands foreign affairs minister. He joined delegates at COP27 virtually from an island in Tuvalu that’s predicted...