PINA

Senior officials of the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG) met in French Polynesia last week to advance discussions on formalising governance arrangements through the development of a PLG Charter. This foundational document aims to establish the PLG’s structure, providing institutional direction to strengthen regional cooperation and support member states in addressing shared challenges and opportunities. The officials highlighted the Charter’s importance in...

The world's most climate vulnerable islands including Jamaica, Fiji and Samoa, face a spiralling bill for economic loss and damage tied to extreme weather events, according to the first ever study into the indirect costs of climate driven loss and damage in the most acutely vulnerable nations on the planet – Small Island Developing States. A study by the ODI...

Caleb Muntz scored 19 points as hard-hitting Fiji extended Wales' losing streak to a record-equalling 10 matches with a historic 24-19 victory in Cardiff on Sunday. The Fijian Drua fly-half was outstanding throughout as Fiji overcame the 20th minute red carding of Semi Radradra, replaced after 20 minutes under World Rugby law trials. It was Fiji's first victory in Cardiff and...

The Kangaroos have won the Pacific Cup for the first time after surviving a late scare from a fast-finishing Tongan side to claim a 20-14 victory in Sunday's final in Sydney. Up by 16 with 23 minutes to play, Australia looked destined to record a comfortable victory at CommBank Stadium, but instead had to come up with a series of...

New Zealand have closed the curtain on a disappointing 2024 Pacific Cup campaign by avoiding relegation to the tournament's second-tier with a 54-12 victory over Papua New Guinea, while unearthing a future star in teenage debutant Casey McLean. Having lost the chance to defend the title they won last season by falling to Tonga in week two, the Kiwis faced...

Fetu Samoa will join the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns in next year's Pacific Cup after rolling past the PNG Orchids 34-12 at CommBank Stadium on Sunday. With skipper Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala leading the way up front, Fetu Samoa made it a perfect three from three for the tournament, claiming a spot at the 2026 World Cup and earning Pacific Championships promotion. Fetu...

A Palau Election Commission (PEC) spokesperson says it's highly unlikely President Surangel Whipps Jr will lose the election. Official results for the presidential election are yet to be declared. Unofficial results show President Whipps ahead of former four-term President Tommy Remengesau Jr by more than 1000 votes, with around 1600 votes yet to be counted. As of Thursday afternoon, local time, Whipps...

By Dr Satyendra Prasad, Senior Fellow – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Climate Lead for Abt-Global Pacific’s leaders, civil society, climate activists are traveling to Baku in Azerbaijan for the annual UN Climate Conference – COP29. All climate COP’s matter for Fiji and all the small states of the Pacific. This one matters perhaps like no other since...

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has confirmed that former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been granted early release as of today, in accordance with Section 46 (3) of the Corrections Act. This decision follows a comprehensive review of his application, which was processed in line with the relevant legal provisions governing early release and supervised reintegration. Section 46 (3) of the...

With a new, revised schedule announced this week, the stage is set for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings on the obligations of States under international law in respect of climate change. The first day of testimony will now feature a delegation from Vanuatu, the Pacific Island State that initiated the request for the advisory opinion from the ICJ. The...