PINA

Tonga will hold a parliamentary by-election on 03 November to elect three new People's Representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, in the constituencies of Tongatapu 4, Tongatapu 6 and Tongatapu 7. The Office of the Legislative Assembly, stated that the Speaker Lord Fakafanua had issued to the Electoral Commission, writs of election for the by-elections, following the unseating of three...

-Vanuatu has become the most recent country in the world and the first Pacific island country to eliminate trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that can cause blindness. This will be the second NTD eliminated from this archipelago nation of 83 islands, after lymphatic filariasis in 2016. “This is a proud moment for Vanuatu,” said Minister of Health Bruno Leingkone. “My...

Former Fiji’s Opposition MP and Namosi province paramount Ratu Suliano Matanitobua has been sentenced to 36 months imprisonment by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Suva. Justice Thushara Kumarage delivered his sentence to a courtroom packed with his people and supporters. Ratu Suliano was sentenced to 36 months with 10 months suspended, and for the remaining 26 months, he...

The operationalisation of a Loss and Damage Finance Facility is an urgent issue for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that grapple with servicing loans to recover from extreme climate disasters and slow-onset impacts, at the cost of sustainable development. The Alliance for Small Island States (AOSIS) is leading the charge to ensure that loss and damage finance, or “L$D” for...

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been warmly welcomed in the Pacific island countries because it has helped boost their social and economic development over the past decade, a Fijian expert said. In an interview with Xinhua, Keshmeer Makun, a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific based in the Fijian capital Suva, said that the BRI...

A growing number of countries are demanding more time to decide on rules that would allow companies to mine the deep seabed for minerals needed to manufacture batteries for the energy transition. Last year, the small island state of Nauru, triggered a never-before-used procedure giving the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN body which regulates mining activities in international waters,...

The Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands has confirmed Mark Brown as the Prime Minister. In a statement issued from Mark Brown's office Sir Tom Marsters said he was "satisfied" that Mark Brown had the majority of the MPs elected to Parliament. Following the final count of the Cook Islands general elections, the Cook Islands Party (CIP) gained 12 seats including...

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor has voluntarily taken leave while the contracts of three staff members were terminated last week. This follows the discovery of certain breaches of internal processes which prompted the FRU Board to bring forward an audit that was scheduled for later on in the year as part of operations. FRU Chair, Commodore Humphrey Tawake said...

Auckland City FC are into their first OFC Champions League final since 2017 after a well-earned 2-0 semi-final win over Central Coast FC of the Solomon Islands. Adam Mitchell’s smart finish and Dylan Manickum’s superb stoppage time effort proved the difference between the two sides at Ngahue Reserve as the New Zealand side chase a record-extending tenth title. The two teams...

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila The geo-strategic competition intensifying in the Pacific region requires a reset in relationships that does not jeopardise diplomatic and political relations with friends and development partners, says Vanuatu's Economic Minister Johnny Kuanapo. Responding to a question from PACNEWS during a public lecture on "Reseting Blue Continent Economy", Kuanapo said resetting relationships is critically important...