PINA

Samoa’s State of Emergency and Alert Level One lockdown conditions will be lifted on 26 July as the country moves to open its international borders from 01 August 2022. Chairman of the National Emergency and Operations Centre, Agafili Shem Leo and the Acting CEO of Health, Tagaloa Dr Robert Thompson gave an update of the current Covid-19 situation leading up...

Sea levels in the eastern Pacific are expected to return to normal after days of heavy swells that have caused flooding in the Cook Islands, both Samoas, French Polynesia and Hawaii Flooding damaged infrastructure, including American Samoa's main airport, and resorts in the Cook Islands. Some domestic flights were stopped in French Polynesia. American Samoa declared a state of emergency over...

The Acting President of Vanuatu and Speaker of Parliament, Seoule Simeon, is appealing to church leaders and all citizens of Vanuatu to pray for God to choose the right person to become the new President today. Simeon made the appeal during the presentation of medals in recognition for long service and 40th Independence Anniversary to 27 people at the Parliament...

Nine days from the scheduled date for the return of writs, some Papua New Guinea election officials are worried that they will miss the deadline because of the ongoing disruptions to the counting process by candidates. In the National Capital District, the Returning Officer for Moresby North-West Vincent Manukayasi said he feared that counting might not be completed in time...

Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi will meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Wellington, and the pair are set to sign a renewed partnership agreement. Tagelagi will meet with Ardern, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio Thursday. Ardern said the key issues for the Pacific region would be discussed: climate change, post-pandemic economic recovery, and global supply chain...

Fiji Pearls were outplayed on home court in a 29-59 loss against the Tonga Tala in the Oceania Netball World Cup qualifiers last night. The unranked Tongans outclassed the 15th ranked Pearls as they dominated from the start, surprising the Fijian defenders and beating them convincingly at its own backyard. It was like the match was being played in Nukualofa as...

With less than eight years remaining to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the President of the UN General Assembly convened a ‘Moment for Nature’ debate on Tuesday to examine the interconnected environmental threats hampering efforts to achieve sustainable development. The day-long event is being held to assess recent decisions on the global environment agenda and to present solutions...

Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says no election will be deemed as failed unless a full report is given by security and electoral staff in the five electorates that have faced issues in the past week. Markham and Kabwum in Morobe, Kompiam-Ambum, Lagaip and Porgera in Enga Province are five electorates that have seen allegations of vote-fixing leading...

Two of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have reported their first community spread of covid since the pandemic began in early 2020, ending the country's status as one of a handful of covid-free countries globally. The FSM President's Office said that after two college students tested positive for Covid on Monday, health authorities tested 11...

A prolonged indentation in sea levels is being blamed for causing damaging elevated high tides in the Cook Islands, both Samoas and French Polynesia. A scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Connon Andrews said it's a common phenomenon although the intensity of such events are being exacerbated by sea level rising. “The issue is that...