PINA

The Cook Islands government has taken further steps towards establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), with officials currently in New Zealand holding discussions with financial experts, Prime Minister Mark Brown told Parliament last week. Brown also took the opportunity to push back against claims of strained relations between the Cook Islands and New Zealand noting: “So contrary to what we...

At the 2025 Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day in the Marshall Islands Monday, Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa stressed the lasting impacts of nuclear testing on the Pacific and reaffirming a commitment to justice and unity. In his statement, Baron Waqa highlighted the resilience of the Marshallese people, acknowledging the profound impact of nuclear testing on their lives. "We are here today...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has firmly dismissed calls for his resignation, characterising them as politically motivated and a dangerous attempt to capitalise on social unrest for personal gain. “From my perspective, it’s clear that Deputy Opposition Leader James Nomane and others in the opposition are trying to leverage social issues to gain political power. This pattern is...

A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report released Monday exposed "dangerous gaps" in infection prevention and control systems across six countries in the Western Pacific region: Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Vietnam. The report, Infection Prevention and Control Systems in Six Priority Countries in the Western Pacific Region, highlighted the need for these countries to...

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has received an impressive 24 expressions of interest for the highly anticipated OFC Professional League, due to kick off in January 2026. With the deadline for submissions closing on Friday 28 February, clubs from across the Pacific have signalled their intent to be part of the game changing competition. Widespread interest from across the region The 24...

Samoa Parliament was adjourned Monday following an uproar after Speaker Papalii Lio Masipau granted a contentious second motion of no confidence in less than a week. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa in her ministerial statement said the executive will withdraw all pending bills before the House until the second motion of confidence is dealt with. Mata'afa also expressed her disappointment in...

French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls left New Caledonia on Saturday after a one-week stay which was marked by the resumption of inclusive political talks on the French territory's future. He has now submitted a "synthetical" working document to be discussed further and promised he would return later this month. During his week-long visit, Valls had taken time to meet New...

Governments on Friday reached agreement on a strategy to raise an additional US$200 billion each year to better protect the world’s flora and fauna by 2030. Delegates met in Rome last week for the resumption of the UN Biodiversity Conference to hammer out an agreement at COP16.2 after attempts to reach a deal on financing at COP16 in Cali, Colombia,...

The Chuuk islands — a seemingly idyllic spot in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Indonesia and north of Australia and Papua New Guinea — is one of the four states making up the Federated States of Micronesia, an island nation strategically aligned with the U.S. Despite Micronesia's small population, (around 113,000 in 2024) the island chain allows for control of...

Members of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party are reaching out to the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in hopes of garnering their support for a vote of no confidence against Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. Ale Vena Ale, Member of Parliament for Faleata No.4, confirmed on Friday that he has approached certain members of...