PINA

The Australian federal government hired private luxury jets belonging to Crown Melbourne to deliver aid, including COVID-19 vaccinations, to two Pacific destinations earlier this year at a cost of almost $600,000 (US$428,000). The flights were confirmed by Crown and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), though Foreign Minister Marise Payne declined to comment. The Bombardier Global Express XRS jets,...

There have been mixed opinions from the Kanak community, in New Caledonia, after the third and final referendum returned a 96 percent vote against independence. While anti-independence parties welcomed the victory, the pro-independence side refuses to recognise the result. The turnout of potential voters was especially low among the Kanak community because many Kanaks abstained from the voting process. Aile Tikoure, an...

Vanuatu is expected to undergo a further extension of the State of Emergency (SOE). This was confirmed in a Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting held last week. In decision No. 364, CoM has approved for the President of the Republic of Vanuatu to extend the SOE under the Disaster Risk Management Act No. 23 of 2019. The SOE will be active for...

The installation of radar systems in Palau by the United States Defence Department will bring in US$42.3 million into the country’s economy, according to Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson, the Joint Region Marianas commander. “There is the US$42.3 million that actually come to Palau as part of the NDAA…That is a separate amount of money. That comes to Palau. And that’s...

The Cook Islands Prime Minister says Cabinet has approved new entry rules for people once the border is reopened mid-January. Mark Brown said the Covid-19 Safe Framework will be enforceable under new regulations available to Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health. Under the Safe Framework there will be three different groups of visitors able to enter the country, each group...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) approved on Friday the Covovax vaccine for emergency use listing (EUL), elevating to nine the number of immunisations approved to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine is produced by the Serum Institute of India, under licence from Novavax, and will now be part of the COVAX facility portfolio, boosting efforts to vaccinate more people in...

Lakapi Samoa has announced the death of former Manu Samoa front rower Jake Jacob Grey. The 37 year-old passed away at Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital in Apia on Sunday, after a long battle with cancer. Grey was a product of local rugby development and had played through the ranks of age groups rugby playing Under 20 and Manu Samoa A. “Jake became...

The Games Organising Committee (GOC) for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands launched a funding programme to support National Sports Federations in Solomon Islands. This aims to support the functionality and enhancement of National Sports Federations (NSFs) ahead and beyond 2023 as part of the Federations’ commitment to engage with the GOC in delivering their respective sport competitions at...

The New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker has bagged a unanimous points decision win over British veteran Dereck Chisora in their heavyweight rematch in Manchester. Parker, who won the first fight back in May by a controversial split decision, won this morning's bout far more decisively, by at least two rounds on all three judges scorecards. The former WBO heavyweight champion was...

The disappointing outcomes of COP26 have shown the lack of political will from world leaders to address climate change at the global level says Civil Society Organisations in Vanuatu. Despite the ever-increasing climate change issues impacting billions of lives around the world, governments are not committed to climate action. The Civil Society Organisations in Vanuatu are calling out to the government...