PINA

The Australian government has put banks on notice they need to be clearer on fees involved in remitting money overseas, an assistant minister says, after a report showed transfer charges are confusing consumers. Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh says he has told the chief executives of the big banks that transparency in money transfers is an issue of equity and...

Climate change, transnational crimes, and geopolitical tensions are at the forefront of the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference. Over 150 diplomats and Pacific Island officials gathered in Suva to address security risks and plan for the safety of future generations. Several Pacific Island countries are facing shared challenges and seeking collective solutions to address these issues. Fiji’s Ministry of Home Affairs...

Renewed protests have erupted in New Caledonia after indigenous Kanak independence activists that French authorities blame for last month’s riots were arrested and some transferred to pre-trial detention in France. France’s High Commission to the Pacific island territory on Monday said there had been a night of “agitation and unrest” in the capital Noumea and in other parts of the...

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) President Benny Wenda has welcomed the launch of the West Papua People’s Liberation Front (GR-PWP), a new movement aimed at furthering the agenda for West Papuan independence. “On behalf of the ULMWP, I welcome the launch of the West Papua People’s Liberation Front “The GR-PWP is a new popular movement formed to execute...

For the second consecutive year, Fiji’s national carrier was recognised as the best airline in Australia and Pacific at the prestigious Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards that was held in London. Fiji Airways was also awarded best airline staff in Australia & Pacific for the fourth year in a row. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen says, “Being named...

A total of 53 countries had best practice policies in place for tackling industrial trans fats in food as of last year, vastly improving the food environment for 3.7 billion people, or 46 per cent of the world’s population, according to a milestone report published by the UN World Health Organisation on Monday. This is significant progress compared to the...

The Government of Samoa gave SAT$500,000 (US$183,121)to the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympics Committee (SASNOC) to prepare the Olympic Games in Paris next month. This was confirmed by the SASNOC president Pauga Talalelei Pauga on Friday following the official announcement of the qualified athletes who have been selected to represent Samoa in the Olympics this year. “The whole targeted...

Yap voters gave the nod to a review of the state’s political status, a decision that would commence the process for Yap’s constitutional amendment to unlock other status options for one of the four sovereign jurisdictions of the Federated States of Micronesia(FSM). Unofficial results released by the Yap Election Commission showed the “yes” votes prevailing by a small margin. Of the...

The director of the Pacific Security College Professor Dave Peebles, has addressed one of the urgent security challenges confronting the Pacific. And Professor Peebles shared the concerns of Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of a “polycrisis” or multiple problems happening at the same time, facing the Blue Pacific. “Climate change, challenges to human security, transnational crime, geopolitics – these represent some...

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for urgent collective action to address the complex “polycrisis” threatening the Blue Pacific. “Seeing everyone here highlights the strength and the solidarity of the Pacific security effort. “All of us can build peaceful and prosperous Pacific communities by cooperating and learning from each other, said Prime Minister Rabuka in his opening address at the...