PINA

Unity Fiji leader, Savenaca Narube has criticised Fiji's coalition government for failing to address the country's 2013 Constitution, accusing them of inaction and political posturing. Narube, whose party announced in May its intent to challenge the Constitution's legality in court, expressed concern over the government’s lack of progress on a key campaign promise to review the document within 100 days...

In a historic decision during the 103rd plenary session of the General Assembly, the United Nations adopted the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) by consensus, signaling a significant advancement for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their fight for sustainable development and global equity. This new benchmark, which transcends traditional development metrics like income per capita, is designed to better capture...

By Sadhana Sen and Stephen Howes The annual Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) always has a wide-ranging agenda. This year the FEMM, which was held at the start of August in Suva, endorsed the now-finalised but yet-to-be-released Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development, advanced the new Pacific Resilience Facility (to be headquartered in Tonga), and worked on a...

Former journalist Kairao Bauea makes her political debut as a candidate in Wednewsday’s Kiribati national elections, advocating for a greater role for women in politics to bring a much-needed change. Bauea is standing in Kiribati’s largest electorate, the capital city South Tarawa, and is one of 18 women running nationally, more than twice as many as in the 2020 elections. The...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland where the two discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues ahead of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to convene in Tonga at the end of August. Discussions focused on both countries' economic recovery efforts, including air links, debt servicing, infrastructure...

Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is looking forward to handing over the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders chairmanship to Tongan PM as he focuses on his roles back home. Speaking to Cook Islands News, Brown said the handing of the chairman’s role to incoming chair PM Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni takes place at the beginning of the Leaders Meeting in Tonga. The meeting...

The rapid construction of 140 prefabricated container houses in and around Nuku'alofa, should be completed by Friday, 16 August 2024, the CEO of Tonga Assets Managers and Associates (TAMA), Tevita Hu’akau said. The units are expected to house delegations attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting hosted by Tonga from 26-30 August 2024. Tevita Hu’akau said that in a meeting...

Fiji’s cabinet has approved the implementation of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union (EU) and decided to remove duties on certain goods from EU countries. This move is part of Fiji’s ongoing commitment to the iEPA, a trade agreement designed to enhance trade and strengthen economic ties between Fiji and the EU. Fiji is already reaping the...

World Rugby has reinstated Fiji to the World Rugby Council, effective immediately. This decision comes after the Executive Board approved the recommendation from the Fiji Oversight Committee, following the adoption of a new constitution and governance structure. “World Rugby can confirm that Fiji has been reinstated to the World Rugby Council with immediate effect following the Executive Board’s approval of the...

World Rugby has announced a reimagination of the qualification process for the men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027, the first event to feature 24 nations. With the core principle of qualifying on merit and simplifying the process for fans and teams, the new process opens new avenues for more teams to reach the pinnacle of the sport, raising global standards...