PINA

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed the appointment of Albert Nicholas as the country's Deputy Prime Minister (DPM). The Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston MP holds the Infrastructure Cook Islands, Cook Islands Investment Corporation, National Environment Services, Business Trade and Investment Board, and Transport portfolios. In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said: “Through his work in these portfolios Nicholas will...

The fight against climate change is no longer a scientific issue but also a political one, as the mitigation and adaptation needs of the Pacific Island countries will not go away anytime soon. This has been highlighted by Director of Programmes and Initiatives at the Pacific Islands Forum, Zarak Khan, considering the continued funding support from other countries. Khan said though...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has doubled down on his support for ARLC chairman Peter V’landys’ National Rugby League (NRL) expansion bid, calling for a 20-team competition. V’landys is reportedly keen to have 20 teams in the NRL in the next decade, with Papua New Guinea the favourite to secure the 18th franchise licence. PNG’s push has been aided by the...

Fullback Andrew Kellaway has marshalled Melbourne to a morale-boosting 26-21 victory over Fijian Drua in their final Super Rugby Pacific trial, ending a tough week on a bright note. The Wallabies utility is set to start in the No.15 jersey for the Rebels' opening round match against the ACT in Melbourne next Friday night, after also impressing in their previous...

Zarak Khan, Director of Programmes and Initiatives at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Friday laid out the roadmap for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) during a briefing in Fiji. The primary objective was clear – establish and operationalise the PRF with utmost urgency. “The main priority for the Pacific Islands Forum and the Forum Secretariat is to get the Pacific Resilience...

The American Samoa delegation this week met with Forum Deputy Secretary General, Esala Nayasi at the Forum Secretariat in Suva. The focus of the meeting was American Samoa's bid for Associate Membership in the Pacific Islands Forum, with an eventual goal of achieving full membership in accordance with protocol. Lieutenant Governor Talauega, leading the delegation, portrayed the Pacific Islands Forum as...

A day after a US$95 billion foreign aid package left out economic help promised for the Indo-Pacific as the U.S tries to blunt China’s sway there, a senior official on Wednesday said the Biden administration stood committed to its partnerships in the strategically vital region. “At the State Department, the White House, we continue to advocate for the authorisation and...

The work to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) to engage and amplify the one Pacific voice in sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, has been applauded by Samoa, as the Chair of the 39 member Alliance of Small Island...

-Pacific Parliamentarians, Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), and Anti-Corruption Bodies (ACBs) are working together this week in Vanuatu to strengthen their key role as Triangle of Integrity partners to boost their oversight of corruption capture and prevention, with technical assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). Recognising that...

Papua New Guinea leader of Government Business and Minister for Finance Rainbo Paita has moved a motion of vote of confidence in Prime Minister James Marape. The Opposition in protest walked out with the numbers overwhelmingly in favour of PM Marape. Despite the shouts of protest by Leader of Opposition Douglas Tomuriesa and attempts by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, the...