PINA

New Caledonia's largest pro-independence party said it will not give up on the gains made in terms of decolonisation from France under the 1998 Noumea Accord. The party president Daniel Goa made the statement in an address at the party congress in the north of the main island at the weekend, outlining its key points ahead of negotiations with Paris...

Ha’apai has 18 positive COVID-19 cases in the community, recorded on Saturday, Tongan Minister for Health, Dr Saia Piukala said Monday. He said according to reports, there did not seem to be any connection to the positive cases in quarantine in Ha’apai at this stage, but more information on the situation would be confirmed later. Around 126 people travelled to Ha’apai...

The Unexplained Wealth Bill will give the Commissioner of Police (COP) greater powers to prosecute public servants, complementing existing legislation to tackle corruption, Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Bryan Kramer says. “Using his (COP) powers under the proceeds of Crime Act, there will be avenues of seeking orders from the court, like a search warrant or an unexplained wealth warrant,”...

An estimated $600 million (US$300 million) is lost to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific region every year. Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Fisheries Pene Baleinabuli, said the country bears an estimated 40 percent of the loss. Baleinabuli said these activities rob Fiji of development opportunities. “Right now, there is an estimation of maybe $200million-$300million (US$100 - US$150 million). That is...

By Dr Transform Aqorau It has been an interesting couple of weeks for Solomon Islands, with stories of policing, weapons, replica weapons and a security agreement with China dominating the local and regional media. Let’s start with the issue of arming the police. After the tensions, for a long time Solomon police did not carry arms but this is an...

The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Government of Japan and the Governments of the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Palau are partnering together to enhance COVID-19 preparedness and response in the three Pacific island countries. The Government of Japan is providing US$697,101 funding through WHO with the project focusing on remote...

With just one more home and away match to go in their debut season, the Fijiana Drua are on the brink of making the Super W Grand Final. Victory over the ACT Brumbies, who are yet to win a game, will send the Fijiana Drua through to the decider in Melbourne, most probably against the Waratahs. And the Fijians would go...

Athletes will soon use Solomon Islands’s first ever synthetic training running track built at the King George Sixth School site, East Honiara. According to a recent report from the 2023 Pacific Games Stadium Project, the running track and football field is completed and ready to be used. “It’s more than thrilled to announce that with the concerted efforts both by contractor...

New Zealand's Minister for Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta says the Indonesian Government needs to finalise the timing of the visit of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as soon as possible. Mahuta in an interview with FijiLive said last year, the United Nations received reports indicating several instances of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture,...

A new dawn at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) starts this week with the organisation welcoming its new Director General. Sefanaia Nawadra takes over from his predecessor, Kosi Latu, who held the role since 2016.Nawadra’s appointment was announced at the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials last September but was unable to take up the role due...