PINA

The city lights of Seoul bear an extra sparkle for the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) as they anticipate the election of Fijian medical doctor and ONOC President Robin Mitchell as the permanent President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) later this week. While Dr Mitchell has acted on the position since 2018, the current XXVI (26th) ANOC...

Fiji's Attorney-General and Minister responsible for Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has reassured Fijians that the “2022 General Election will be held in the not too distant future”. While signing the terms of reference for the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) with Australia, Indonesia and India Tuesday, he said the independent international observer group would be in the country to observe the polls...

The formation of Vanuatu's new Government is in the works, after a pact signing between 31 candidates of the snap election who have secured seats in their respective constituencies, according to unofficial results. But Vanua'aku Pati (VP), Rural Development Party (RDP), Iauko Group (IG) and National United Party (NUP) are not party to the agreement which was signed last night...

The Cook Islands Government has announced its support for the candidacy of Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott for the position of Executive Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The announcement, made by Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum Tepaeru Herrmann was made after the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting on 13 July 2022 in...

Samoa Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi are officially suspended from Parliament for a record two years. The House voted 29 – 19 in a secret ballot to uphold the Privileges and Ethics Committee Report to suspend the Human Rights Protection Party MPs. The suspension was effective immediately. Tuilaepa and Lealailepule were...

Tonga's Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, Tuesday welcomed Defence Ministers and senior delegates from the region to discuss Pacific security challenges and build collective Pacific responses. Attending the seventh South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM), to be held 18-19 October, in Nuku'alofa, are delegates from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, as well as observer nations...

The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) will provide FJD$117 million (US$58.5 million) in financing to support the restoration and upgrade of key roads and bridges in Fiji. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Australia's Charge d'affaires John Williams and Fiji Roads Authority CEO, Kamal Prasad participated in the signing ceremony Tuesday. This financing package includes a FJD$24 million (US$12 million) grant...

Australian foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to Cook Islands, Niue and French Polynesia, this to further strengthen Australia’s deep ties with our Pacific partners, and demonstrate the Albanese Government’s commitment to the Pacific as a whole. “In Cook Islands, I will meet Prime Minister, Mark Brown. We will discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation. I am eager to hear...

Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi 11 was sworn in Tuesday by the Chief Justice as the country’s Head of State for the next five years. Prior to the ceremony, he inspected the Police Guard of Honour on Parliament grounds before entering Parliament for the swearing in ceremony. On 23 August 2022, Parliament re-appointed Tuimalealiifano for a second term after serving his five year...

Mate Ma'a Tonga have survived a scare from a committed PNG Kumuls outfit to come away with a 24-18 win at St Helens' Totally Wicked Stadium. In the game of the World Cup to date, the Tongans broke an 18-18 deadlock with three minutes to play courtesy of a miracle try to Rabbitohs star Kaeon Koloamatangi on his Test debut. After...