PINA

Flying Fijians robust winger Vinaya Habosi has made his cut into the run-on team as Head Coach Simon Raiwalui named a powerful match day 23-member squad for the match against France this weekend. Habosi missed the last three test matches due to an injury he suffered during his club game with Racing 92 and he last featured for the Flying...

Lima Sopoaga and Ben Lam make their Manu Samoa debut when they take on the Barbarians in the early hours of Saturday morning. Manu Samoa Head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has named Melani Matavao to pair with Sopoaga as the halfback and flyhalf combination. This is also Matavao’s first start for Manu Samoa this year. Jordon Lay, Seilala Lam and captain...

By Pita Ligaiula As geopolitical competition intensifies all around us, addressing corruption is more important now than ever, says Forum Secretary General Henry Puna. “We should be working towards upholding good governance principles that keep decision-makers, like me, accountable and transparent in our actions. “We want institutions that ensure that decisions are made in support of our national and collective interests and...

Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa sounded a warning to the heads of Pacific's maritime forces to be mindful of the current geo-political interest and attention towards the blue Pacific region. She made the remarks as she officially opened the 6th South-West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces Meeting in Apia on Wednesday. Samoa plays host to the conference this year and...

Vanuatu Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP), Seoule Simeon’s advice rang out amidst the lingering tension in Parliament Wednesday afternoon: “Go to Court if you are not happy.” The backdrop was the Extraordinary Session of Parliament, an attempt to navigate the current political impasse that gripped the nation. Unfortunately, that session also failed to solve the political stalemate. In...

Vanuatu narrowly avoided a political crisis as Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Vote of no confidence against PM Kalsakau was defeated as opposition failed to achieve absolute majority of 27 votes. 26 Opposition Parliamentarians voted for the removal of PM while 23 MPs from the government side voted against. The Opposition is demanding to know...

Papua New Guinea Police personnel have been issued with a Commissioner’s circular on the approved use of force in the execution of their duties to protect lives from domestic terrorist and other criminal activities. With the escalation of violence in the Highlands and other areas, Police Commissioner David Manning said personnel must be clear on the extent of their powers,...

The Sixth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-6) Meeting closed Wednesday buoyed by the potential of the Weather Ready Pacific Programme for the safety of our Pacific Islands. The Seventh Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-7) will be hosted by Vanuatu in 2024, with the Eighth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-8) and the Fourth Pacific Meteorological Ministers Meeting (PMMM-3) to be tentatively hosted by the...

Ten years ago, at the Second Pacific Meteorological Council there was one woman at the head of the table representing her national Met Service. At the Sixth Pacific Met Council Wednesday there are six women at the table propelled by the saying – “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” The World Meteorological Organisation has cemented actions to...

NOAA Fisheries has awarded FLOAT Partners a five-year, USD$50 million) contract to oversee efforts to put observers on commercial fishing vessels in the Pacific Islands. Under the contract, which is set to begin 01 September and continue into 2028, Hawaii, USA-based FLOAT will recruit, supervise, and outfit fisheries observers as part of the Pacific Islands Region Observer Programme (PIROP). The programme...