PINA

Joseph Lelang has resigned as Papua New Guinea Leader of the Opposition and also as a member of the People’s National Congress party. This shocking announcement comes after Lelang received huge backlash from the public through social media for not attending media conferences staged by the members of the Opposition. The member for Kandrian-Gloucester made the announcement in a media conference...

Japan on Saturday promised 2.4 billion yen(US$6,701,111) in grant aid to Samoa to help improve a national university's facilities, as Japan's foreign minister met the Pacific island nation's prime minister in an effort to strengthen the bilateral relationship. During their talks in the Samoan capital of Apia, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who also serves as...

Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Kamikawa Yoko has met with Kalani Kaneko, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of the Marshall Islands, ahead of the PALM 5th Ministerial Interim Meeting in Suva, Fiji. She congratulated him on his new role and offered support for the Marshall Islands, which had suffered from drought and high waves. Kaneko expressed gratitude for Japan's assistance and...

Going to university in Australia could become simpler for Pacific Islanders if they are considered domestic students. The high commissioner for Samoa, Hinauri Petana, told federal politicians the crippling cost of international student fees in Australia was curbing educational outcomes in her nation. “Our appeal is that, by all means, international rates should stay for who can afford it, but for...

The Global Environment Facility’s 186 member governments have agreed to invest US$1.1 billion for international action on biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control, and met for the first time as Council of the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). The GEF Council, meeting in Washington, DC, approved US$918 million for 45 projects and programed from the Global Environment...

The Fiji Rugby Union hopes to announce the new Flying Fijians coach at the end of this week. This is after the last round of presentations by the shortlisted candidates in Suva on the weekend. Senirusi Seruvakula and Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne on Saturday presented to the panel. When approached, Byrne said all questions are to be directed to...

Vanimo -Green MP Beldan Namah says it’s time to take back Papua New Guinea from Prime Minister James Marape. Namah said that Marape was weaponising the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP) and Provincial Services Improvement Programme (PSIP), using them to reward those who remained faithful to him. Namah said that Marape’s time was up, he must step down in the best...

By Andrew Coletti At Four Shells Kava Lounge in Auckland, New Zealand, Todd and ‘Anau Mesui-Henry prepare kava in the traditional manner. The dried, powdered root of the kava plant is placed in a mesh bag, soaked in water, and squeezed to produce an opaque, brownish beverage, which is often drunk from a coconut shell. Todd explains that this...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa have renewed their promise to work closely together on climate change, human and economic development, and security. Peters arrived in Samoa late Thursday night for his four-day visit to Polynesia, after visiting Tonga and the Cook Islands. He met with Mata’afa on Friday morning in Apia where...

Pukapuka-Nassau MP Tingika Elikana is the new Cook Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marine Resources and Parliamentary Services. He replaces former DPM Robert Tapaitau following a corruption conviction last week. Prime Minister Mark Brown last week confirmed the Tongareva seat vacant after former deputy prime minister Robert Tapaitau’s conviction. Tapaitau, former National Environment Service (NES) director Nga Puna and Puna’s wife, Diane...