PINA

A little over two months after Australia claimed the 2022 title, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 will get underway in Hong Kong this weekend. If that seems like a swift turnaround, fans have had to wait a lot longer for the return of the ‘bucket-list’ Series tournament that is the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. It is now more...

Meteorologists at the Samoa Government are forecasting the rare occurrence of a three-peat La Nina event for the third consecutive Tropical Cyclone season. Releasing their Samoa National Statement on Tropical Cyclone and Climate Outlook 2022-2023 recently, the Samoa Meteorological Division within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) said their analysis points to the third consecutive Tropical Cyclone season...

Wealthy nations are pushing for the United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) to seek donations from big businesses and the super-rich, as government donations prove increasingly unreliable and insufficient. The UK and U.S have together failed to hand over more than US$2bn of promised money to the fund, which has responded by putting three projects on hold. At the fund’s October...

The continuous hunting tactics for Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs)-elect in a bid to shore up numbers as the first sitting of Parliament on Friday draws closer has reached a point where it is harrassment. The above remark was made by former Prime Minister Sato Kilman after their media press conference to confirm their numbers that they are ready to...

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has donated dozens of semi-automatic rifles to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), in what diplomats have called a “landmark” step up in security cooperation. However, the announcement has been slammed by opposition leader Matthew Wale, who has warned against the “militarisation” of Solomon Islands and accused Australia of making the donation purely to...

Governments and the international community must take action to protect the people who bring us the news, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed on Wednesday. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue...

Campaigning ended Wednesday for today's by-elections to elect three new People's Representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, in the Constituencies of Tongatapu 4, Tongatapu 6 and Tongatapu 7. There are 41 polling stations for the by-elections with a total of 13 candidates contesting the parliamentary seats vacated by Tatafu Toma Moeaki for Tongatapu 4, Poasi Mataele Tei for Tongatapu 6,...

The human rights campaigner Filep Karma – one of West Papua’s most famous former political prisoners – was found dead on a beach in Jayapura, sparking calls for a full and independent inquiry into his death. Twice jailed for raising the West Papuan Morning Star flag banned by Indonesia, 63-year-old Karma was one of the most prominent and influential campaigners...

The push for a strong Pacific voice and an even stronger presence to drive ambitious climate action at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt from 06 - 18 November 2022, has been enhanced with the announcement of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and the Pacific Delegation Office. The Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion will provide a platform or fono for talanoa and...

Sam Bremner scored four tries in her return to international rugby league, helping the Jillaroos to a 74-0 win against a gusty Cook Islands in their opening pool match. Evania Pelite also crossed for a hat-trick in her debut for Australia, while Tarryn Aiken was also a multiple try-scorer in her first match for the Jillaroos with a double. Bremner, who...