PINA

Former Melbourne Rebels halfback Frank Lomani has been slapped with a six-game ban for his shocking elbow against his former side at the weekend. The Fijian Drua No.9 was red carded for his strike on Melbourne lock Josh Canham during the Rebels' 41-20 win at AAMI Park on Friday night. The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee said Lomani would...

The number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis infections is increasing and already accounts for 3,500 deaths daily, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) released on Tuesday. The disease is the second leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per year, the same as tuberculosis, another top infectious killer, according to the...

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Micronesia should enhance cooperation on infrastructure, expressing China's willingness to provide assistance to the island country in tackling climate change. Xi's remarks came during his talks with President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Wesley W. Simina, who is on a state visit to China from 05 - 12 April. China...

Fiji has welcomed a new project designed to strengthen Pacific countries’ resilience to climate-induced loss and damage, noting that loss and damage from climate change impacts is already a painful reality for the nation. Funded by the International Climate Initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Building Our Pacific Loss and Damage Response Project (BOLD Response), one of the...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective action to tackle urgent global challenges, including sea level...

Tonga's prime minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni says the government will always work with international partner governments on programmes that will help the country provide the services her people need. Hu'akavameiliku said this has been happening over the last 50 years. He said the offer from China (People's Republic of China or PRC) to assist with security details at the upcoming Pacific...

Fiji Cabinet has given the green light to assess the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the ten Sectoral Minimum Wage Regulations. This review will also entail suggestions for new job classifications within the existing WRs. According to a statement released by the government, local consultants have been appointed for the task with their findings to be presented to the Cabinet for...

Next week, voters will determine not only political leadership but the future of democratic processes. By Meg Keen, Oliver Nobetau With a week to go before voters take to the polls on 17 April, election campaigns in Solomon Islands are in full swing with 334 candidates vying for 50 seats (only 21 candidates are women, so they will be under-represented again)....

Fiji Warriors begin the defence of their World Rugby Pacific Challenge title on Wednesday when they take on Tonga A at Apia Park in Samoa, kick-off 12:30 local time. Fiji’s development team has monopolised the tournament, winning it 10 times including five of the last six with Junior Japan the only team to deny them in that time. Last year Fiji...

Managers and stakeholders from the disaster and emergency management sectors in 15 Pacific Island countries convened in Nadi, Fiji, to review progress, obstacles, and prospects in regional cooperation to enhance disaster preparedness and response. The Pacific Regional Disaster and Emergency Managers Meeting (PRDEMM), convened by the Pacific Community (SPC), includes participants from the directors of National Disaster Management Offices (NDMO),...