PINA

World Rugby Council has unanimously approved a recommendation that unions participate in trials of a lower tackle height in community rugby. The opt-in trial, which gives unions the freedom to adapt within their own jurisdiction, aims to improve player safety by reducing the risk of head-on-head contact and therefore concussions. The international federation’s Council ratified the Executive Board’s recommendation from March,...

It’s a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary and Thursday the Fijiana Drua side were given their spoils. Facing financial hardships during the season, the champions transformed adversity into motivation, and standing by them again to show their appreciation was their loyal sponsor, Rooster Chicken. During the cheque presentation of $80,000 (US$40,000) in Ba, Drua captain Bitila Tawake said...

The U.S presidential envoy leading negotiations to renew agreements with three Pacific island states said on Wednesday he will visit them next week hoping to make progress ahead of a trip to the region by President Joe Biden later this month. Joseph Yun told Reuters he would be in Micronesia on Monday and would then visit Palau and the Marshall...

By Elenoa Dimaira Fiji and perhaps other Pacific Island nations are losing their experienced and skilled citizens to migration, which could have an impact on the countries’ ambition to increase renewable energy supply. Minister of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau said at the 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Ministers Meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu that Fiji was facing a...

Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says there is no better time to hand the baton of spotlighting anti- corruption to ‘you, our youth’, who make up a significant sector of the population in our region. Addressing the Pacific Conference on Good Governance in Auckland, Puna said the meeting this week has been a step forward, from your Youth Vision for...

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho’s trial will run from 17-28 July, 2023. The matter was called this morning before Magistrate Seini Puamau in Suva, for charges relating to a complaint made by the University of the South Pacific in July 2019 in relation to the activities of former staff members of the university. It is...

By Elenoa Dimaira  Fossil fuels cost lives. Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate, Ralph Regenvanu reminded the region of this adding that he grieved for lives lost in Vanuatu and throughout our island nations because of the impacts of climate change. “It’s time to release the stranglehold oil, gas and coal have over our economies, politics and lives,” Regenvanu said at the 5th Pacific...

Six political parties in Solomon Islands have been suspended last month over their failure to comply with requirements of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014. That’s according to Acting Registrar of the Political Parties Commission, Glinson Galo. “The parties failed to comply with section 51 of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014,” he explained. “Section 51. (l) The Registrar shall conduct a...

Governments are split over whether to call for a phase-out of fossil fuels and the role of carbon capture in the energy transition, as battle lines are drawn ahead of Cop28 in November. Ministers from around 40 countries gathered in Berlin last week to kick-start negotiations ahead of this year’s climate summit. The head of Cop28, the UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber,...

Dalton Tagelagi has been re-elected premier of Niue beating opposition leader O'love Jacobsen by 16 votes to 4 during the first sitting of the new assembly in Alofi. During the meeting Niue's 20 assembly representatives also took their oaths of allegiance to the head of state King Charles III and to serve the government and people of Niue for the...