PINA

With the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting just around two weeks away, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says they have received confirmation from agencies, dialogue partners and leaders who will be attending. The 2023 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be held from November 06-10 in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. PM Brown, who is also the Forum chair, attended the 43rd...

At the request of the Cook Islands Government, the Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) Medical Assistance Team (PACMAT) will deploy a five-member team to the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 06 - 10 November. They will provide clinical oversight and medical assistance throughout the duration of the Meeting. Team Leader, Dr Stephen Stathis, shares...

Tropical Cyclone Lola has strengthened to a category 5 super cyclone, the Fiji Meteorological Service says. A category 5 cyclone means average winds will surpass 198km/h. Residents on Vanuatu's north-eastern islands were feeling the beginnings of the severe cyclone on Tuesday morning. Fiji Metservice said parts of Vanuatu would be feeling gale force winds between 63-84 km/h. Meteorologist Samisoni Waqavakatoga said strong force...

The Australian-sponsored programme to care for refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea has been riven by corruption, fraud and nepotism, a whistleblower within the PNG government’s immigration authority has alleged in a complaint sent to the country’s prime minister, James Marape. The whistleblower also claimed that police investigations into corruption within the PNG immigration and citizenship authority (ICA) were abandoned...

Dr Oldman Oduetse Koboto is Adviser and Manager of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), based in Mauritius. He leads CCFAH’s work to support Commonwealth countries – particularly small and other vulnerable states – in unlocking international climate finance to enable climate action. Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to work as Adviser and...

Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua says the Coalition Government’s unwavering commitment to the 2013 Constitution remains a cornerstone of Fiji’s democracy and the recent appointment of Filimoni Vosarogo as the Attorney-General will be reviewed. Speaking in a media conference Monday, Tikoduadua said the Government will ensure all constitutional mandates and principles are adhered to. He said they will be...

Fiji's Attorney-General Siromi Turaga is optimistic that drafters of the Bill on the ‘Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions will get it ready for the November Parliament Sitting. Speaking to FijiLive, Turaga said the Government is moving towards enhancing Fiji’s intellectual property landscape as consultations begin on the draft Bill. Turaga said this Bill signifies a monumental addition to Fiji’s intellectual...

The Australian Border Force has confirmed it sent 11 asylum seekers to Nauru in September, the first transfer to immigration detention on the Pacific nation in nine years. The evidence to Senate estimates on Monday from the head of operation sovereign borders (OSB) confirms a report in Guardian Australia revealing the Albanese government sent asylum seekers to Nauru just months...

By Jaap van Hierden Today, 24 October 2023, we mark the 78th Anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. There is no other global organisation with...

There are plans to stage a historic clash between two NRL sides in Fiji as early as next year as the game prepares to expand into another international frontier. The initiative is the brainchild of the Melbourne Storm, who are poised to announce on Tuesday a new partnership with Fiji Airways for at least the next three years. Storm officials...