Brown’s Cook Islands Party is set for a fifth consecutive term after winning 18 seats in the general election, securing a three-quarter supermajority in parliament.
New Zealand and Papua New Guinea signed a defense agreement in Port Moresby on July 22, expanding maritime surveillance and military exercises. Analysts link this to concerns about China's growing security ties in the Pacific.
It is feared soft-power politics and a $240m war-chest could leave Samoa and Tonga uniquely vulnerableThere’s a new war in the Pacific brewing, with the Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika collapsing and rugby league on a new signing spree in union’s traditional heartlands.The conflict spells trouble for Rugby Australia (RA), whose federal government is funding a $600m NRL franchise in Papua New Guinea, $240m of which will go into poaching talent and creating pathways throughout Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Continue reading...
