PINA

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has told FBC News he is ready to break the coalition agreement and remove the Social Democratic Liberal Party from the coalition government. In an exclusive interview this morning, Rabuka expressed disappointment about SODELPA’s general secretary, Viliame Takayawa, and its leader, Aseri Radrodro. SODELPA GS Viliame Takayawa earlier this week criticised the government’s trade mission team...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will now kick-start the process of due diligence to facilitate Fiji and Tonga’s request for the bank to raise local currency bonds in the Fijian dollar and Pa’anga. “We are going through a process of all of the legal, legislative, parliamentary requirements to allow us to put a...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy The Asia Development Bank (ADB) is stepping up its presence in the Pacific to be closer its 12 Pacific Developing Member Countries. Apart from Suva, Port Moresby and Sydney, ADB will set up a fully fledged office in Solomon Islands later this year. And, a possible office to serve the North Pacific is also...

U.S Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. After serving as missionary and archbishop in Peru, Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis's pontificate, adding three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. Prevost,...

Part One of the interview with Emma Veve, the new Director General of the ADB Pacific Department conducted by PACNEWS Editor, Makereta Komai on the sidelines of the 58th ADB Governor’s Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy. Veve took office in February this year and is tasked with the delivery of ADB’s vision and strategy in the Pacific PACNEWS: Thank you...

After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status. The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister's special advisor Eric Thiers, have since Monday moved from Nouméa to a seaside resort in Bourail - West coast of...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy One of the world’s ground-breaking low carbon sailing cargo ship, the SV Juren Ae, is now operating in the Republic of Marshall Islands, after the government took delivery of the vessel in July last year. Built under Korean Register class in South Korea, this innovative vessel marks a significant milestone in sustainable...

The National Parliament of Vanuatu approved the ninth constitutional amendment in the country's history on Wednesday, with 49 votes in favour and three abstentions. The Government currently has the support of 40 Members of Parliament (MPs), following the defection of the MP for Epi Constituency, Seoule Simeon, from the Opposition to the Government side earlier in the day. Seoule's move increased...

World Rugby has officially announced the full schedule for the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (22 August - 20 September), the second edition of the revitalised and expanded competition that is fast becoming a pillar of the international rugby calendar. This year’s tournament will once again bring together six of the most dynamic and passionate rugby nations: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa,...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Milan, Italy Fiji doesn’t expect an immediate impact on the U.S trade war through the imposition of tariffs in the short to medium term but is worried about the threat that it may lead to a global economic slowdown.’ Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad outlined Fiji’s immediate concerns of the trade war and its impacts...