PINA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed satisfaction with Papua New Guinea’s progress in meeting the conditions of its loans. The IMF recently approved loans specifically for governance-related programmes, including auditing of government spending and supporting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Speaking at the official press conference announcing the 2023 outlook in Singapore, Shanaka Peiris, IMF Division Chief of Regional...

Thousands of Pacific islanders will be offered a path to Australian life after a government effort to boost regional employment and address shortages was given the green light. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles secured the votes of the Greens to have the Pacific visa scheme legislation pass the Senate after agreeing to a review of the significant costs threshold in a...

Fiji’s Prime minister said Wednesday on a visit to Australia's capital that his government was “more comfortable dealing with traditional friends” such as Australia as China pursues closer security ties in the Asia-Pacific region. Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia's Anthony Albanese met during the Fijian’s first state visit to Australia since he most recently came to power in December last year....

Australia has pledged $68 million (US$43 million) to Fiji in budget support and has agreed to sell the Pacific nation 14 bushmaster armoured vehicles for its peacekeepers as the two nations sign an "elevated" new partnership agreement in Canberra. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Canberra on Wednesday as he continues a state visit to...

By Kerryn Baker and Theresa Meki Independent states in the Pacific region have the lowest levels of women’s political representation in the world. Fewer than seven percent of Pacific politicians are women, compared with 27 percent globally. The absence of women’s voices in political decision-making has been consistently raised in regional forums, although progress has been slow. Yet, in November...

The countdown to the annual Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship has begun, with less than a month to go until the action-packed weekend of rugby sevens at Brisbane's Ballymore Stadium. The three-day tournament starting on November 10 will feature 25 teams, 15 men's and 10 women's teams, from 14 countries in the region. The top Pacific Island nations, Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa,...

The Fiji Rugby Union is pulling out all the stops to retain the services of Head Coach Simon Raiwalui for the Flying Fijians. Raiwalui made it official that he won’t be seeking a contract extension following their quarterfinal loss to England this past Monday. While Raiwalui had already decided on his departure prior to the quarterfinal clash, FRU remains committed to...

The Solomon Islands National University as one of the games village is now ready to be occupied by over 5000 athletes and officials from around the pacific regions during the 2023 Pacific Games next month. Eleven Pacific Island nations contingents have been confirmed, that will be accommodated at SINU villages starting November 14 for PG2023. The university is one of the...

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the signing of a renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership representing the principles and priorities of both countries and reflecting the growing maturity of the bilateral relationship. ‘Vuvale’ is the word in the Fijian language for ‘family’ and it recognises our respect for each other. The updated Vuvale Partnership elevates...

Former Tongan Health Minister Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala has been nominated as the next World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. Health ministers and other senior officials from the Region’s Member States voted Tuesday during the seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. Proposed by Tonga, Dr Piukala is a surgeon with nearly 30...