PINA

World Rugby has appointed Simon Raiwalui in a key role to support its core mission of increasing the competitiveness of international rugby as the sport prepares for a new era of opportunity and growth. With expanded men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups the cornerstones of a reimagined global rugby calendar from 2025, which features USA’s groundbreaking hosting of the men’s...

Samoa’s Associate Minister of Police, Fepulea’i Fa'asavalu Su'a has been asked to resign from his post following his recent trip to American Samoa, reports Samoa News. He allegedly used his diplomatic passport without a permit or an okay board to enter the territory. Senior Immigration officers, who are not allowed to speak to the media, confirmed this with Samoa News. It’s alleged...

By Enele Sopoaga, Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister of Tuvalu The Australia-Tuvalu ‘falepili’ strategy is bullish and most alarming. The initiative was never consulted with the people of Tuvalu, nor was it ever raised in Parliament. It is not a climate change response. It is ceding Tuvalu sovereignty to Australia. It reverses Tuvalu political status to that...

The Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, will lead the Commonwealth delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai to call for accelerated action on the climate crisis in light of intensifying threats to small and vulnerable member countries. Scheduled from 30 November to 12 December 2023, the annual summit comes just months after Commonwealth environment ministers committed to...

Small island developing states (SIDS) from the Pacific, Caribbean, African, Indian Ocean and South China Seas have converged in Dubai ahead of the pivotal United Nations climate summit, COP28, to strengthen positions on priorities that must be achieved to give SIDS the best chance of sustainably coping with worsening climate change impacts. At SIDS Prep days on 26 and 27...

Samoa is considering a proposal to build on their rivalry with England during last year’s Rugby League World Cup after officials agreed to re-open talks about a series in 2024. Rugby League Samoa officials agreed to re-engage with their English counterparts about a series in England at the end of next season following a meeting with International Rugby League chair...

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President Wesley Simina says his country could be staring down a “fiscal cliff” very soon if the U.S Congress does not approve its Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreement. “If nothing works out, if the U.S Congress does not approve in time, we're faced with a fiscal cliff,” President Simina said. “That means we will...

The new coalition government of National, ACT and New Zealand First will be stable, effective and will deliver for all New Zealanders, National Leader and incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Despite the challenging economic environment, New Zealanders can look forward to a better future because of the changes the new Government will make,” Luxon says. “I said on election night...

Samoa's Prime Minister has used a conference in Rwanda to highlight the values of the fa'asamoa and how they exemplify the spirit of the Commonwealth Charter. In her closing address to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum in Kigali, Rwanda last Friday, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa spoke of Samoa's hosting of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and its theme...

The Fijian Parliament Thursday passed the i-Taukei Affairs (Amendment) Act of 2023 which will see the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) the highest chiefly political body in the island nation. The GCC was disbanded in 2007 following a military coup by then-prime minister Frank Bainimarama, who accused it of interfering in politics and inciting racial tension. The Bill...