PINA

Christopher Luxon said it was a “tremendous privilege” to wake up on Sunday as New Zealand’s incoming prime minister as he eyed talks to form a new coalition government. Voters ended the six-year reign of the centre-left Labour government on Saturday as Luxon’s conservative National Party won enough seats to govern in a coalition with liberal party ACT. Labour leader Chris...

By Nic Maclellan Yami Lester was ten years old when a British atomic weapon, codenamed Totem 1, was detonated at Emu Field on 15 October 1953. The isolated test site in the desert of South Australia was downwind from his home at Wallatinna, and the wind carried dust into his eyes. Four years later, he lost all sight. Before his untimely...

England are through to the semi-finals of Rugby World Cup 2023 after surviving a late fightback from Fiji to win 30-24 at Stade de Marseille on Sunday. Tries from Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant as well as 11 points from the boot of Owen Farrell had given England a handy 21-10 lead at half-time. However, the Flying Fijians roared back into...

Defending champions South Africa booked a Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final against England after beating hosts France 29-28 at Stade de France on Sunday, 15 October. Defending champions South Africa twice came from behind to overcome France in a pulsating encounter and secure a semi-final date with England back at the Stade de France next Saturday. The hosts made a blistering...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced a strategic reassignment of ministerial portfolios. The reshuffle is intended to enhance governance, improve policy coordination, and further improve service delivery to the people of Fiji, The following ministerial reassignments will become effective Tuesday 17th October 2023: 1.Siromi Turaga is reassigned to the ministerial portfolio of Lands and Mineral Resources; 2. Filimoni Vosarogo is reassigned to...

Years of protests by small climate-vulnerable nations have finally put critical reform of the global financial architecture high on the agenda of major international organisations and developed market governments. But the COP28 climate conference in United Arab Emirates in November-December will be the true test of whether the talk leads to action. “I think the anger and the advocacy of some...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Friday issued a strong condemnation of the recent attack by Hamas on Israeli towns and settlements near the Gaza Strip and central Israel. The Prime Minister expressed profound concern regarding the indiscriminate firing of thousands of rockets toward Israeli population centres, as well as the use of other munitions with the sole intention of causing...

The world must move faster on a plastic pollution treaty that is currently not expected to be finalised before the end of next year, Fiji’s deputy prime minister told an international summit on Thursday. A draft of the treaty on reducing global plastic pollution was unveiled last month and will form the basis for several rounds of negotiations, including next...

The government has secured 90 seats on the first flight to assist New Zealand and Pacific people to leave Israel, the Foreign Minister says. The government is partnering with Etihad Airways to secure places on special flights out of the conflict zone. It has also asked New Zealanders who can get seats on commercial flights out of Israel, to leave now. Israel...

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Wesley Simina followed by a bilateral meeting with the Premier of Niue, DaltonTagelagi at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on Wednesday. Both bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum Summit. “As fellow island nations, we...