PINA

Officials from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu have completed expert training to manage their sovereign debt using the Commonwealth Meridian system. The Commonwealth Secretariat partnered with the Government of Fiji to host a regional training workshop in Nadi from 28 February to 08 March 2024. The training was designed to equip officials from finance ministries...

France's national assembly has voted on postponing provincial elections in New Caledonia that are a prerequisite for constitutional reforms that are supposed to review the electoral system in the French overseas territory. On Monday – following the vote's validation by the Senate – members of the French parliament are now considering what will be a very brief legislation, that will...

U.S officials stressed Tuesday that newly-approved legislation providing billions of dollars in funding for three strategically important Pacific island nations is an important sign of American commitment, which comes amid warnings China is actively trying to pry them away from Washington’s sphere of influence. The renewal of funds for the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic...

Japan on Tuesday began its second ministerial-level defence meeting with Pacific island nations in Tokyo, aiming to counter China's expanding military clout and maritime assertiveness in the region. At the two-day talks through Wednesday, Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and his counterparts will reaffirm the importance of a free, open and sustainable maritime order based on the rule of law,...

Fiji's Military Chief of Staff Land Force Command, Colonel (Col) Viliame Draunibaka, officiated the launch of the new established unit under the Third Battalion of Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR), called the Rapid Respond Infantry Company Group (RRICG), Monday at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB), Nabua. This initiative is in line with the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces...

Bendigo has temporarily delayed its plan to pull out of Nauru and close the Pacific Island country's only bank after a Chinese state-owned bank signalled it might be willing to fill the void, setting alarm bells ringing in Canberra. Bendigo Bank announced late last year that it would quit the country by December 2024, saying it wanted to “reduce complexity...

By Keshav Dash, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisor to Tuvalu and Dr Deepa Pullanikkatil, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisor to Fiji Climate change and gender Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities. However, when gender, class, race, sexuality, age or disability intersect, they further hamper the capacity of marginalised people to cope with and adjust to the impacts of climate change....

This week, Fiji will be hosting the first-ever PacificAus Sports Vuvale Round, which will feature a variety of rugby-focused activities leading up to the main event, the Super Rugby Pacific match between Fijian Drua and Waratahs and Fijian Drua women's first home game of the season against Waratahs as part of the Super Rugby Women competition – both games...

Fiji Rugby League Players Association President Pio Nakubuwai expressed immense joy as the Fiji Government officially supported their bid to join the NRL as the 18th team. He said they are grateful for the government’s recognition of the country’s sporting talent. An emotional Nakubuwai, while speaking to FBC Sports says he did not believe the sport would get to where it...

New Zealand has pushed back against China's opposition to its AUKUS involvement during “very convivial” talks between foreign ministers. Winston Peters hosted Wang Yi in Wellington Monday, the first stop on the Chinese foreign minister's trans-Tasman diplomatic tour this week. Wide-ranging talks touched on trade, security, China's engagement in the Pacific, the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. They also resolved that Prime Minister...