PINA

New data released by The Lowy Institute has predicted only a third of Papua New Guinea's adult population will be fully vaccinated by 2026 as the island nation battles to stay ahead of the pandemic. Lowy Institute researcher Alexandre Dayant said the analysis “revealed a region divided”, placing nations like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands well behind neighbours...

Fuiono Tenina Crichton is the new Samoa Member of Parliament for Falealupo following the Supreme Court decision Monday to disqualify Tuitogamanaia Dr. Peniamina Leavai from the by-election. The Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party candidate filed a petition questioning the eligibility of his rival and Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese and Justice Niava Mata...

Two Congress members are asking the U.S Department of Energy to provide more information about the effects of U.S nuclear waste in the Marshall Islands. The U.S conducted 67 nuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958, exposing Marshallese people to radiation that continues to have health and environmental implications. The U.S then stored the atomic waste...

Papua New Guinea Police have busted a drug trafficking and methamphetamine (meth) underground operation based at the Sanctuary Hotel. In a raid on the hotel on Tuesday last week, police seized five firearms, several rounds of ammunition of various calibre, meth, cannabis, ingredients and utensils used for manufacturing meth in several rooms. Police Commissioner David Manning said hotel owner Jaime Pang,...

A meeting of the IMO this week is the first test of translating promises made in Glasgow into bold action. The world must turn its gaze to shipping By David Kabua Last week all eyes were on Cop26, the global climate conference in Glasgow, and rightly so. World leaders, youth, entrepreneurs, and citizens gathered and debated how we will save ourselves from...

Ikale Tahi coach Toutai Kefu believes Tonga are capable of making the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, if eligibility rules were to change. The World Rugby Council will consider a proposal this week to change the sport's eligibility rules, making it easier for players to switch their international allegiance following a three year stand-down. Under the current regulations, once a player has...

Pasifika communities across the Pacific are celebrating the official confirmation of the first ever Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua squads for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition. The squads were announced exclusively to fans over the past two months and were finalised alongside teams unveiled by New Zealand and Australia. Moana Pasifika completed it's playing roster Monday with the announcement...

Tongan King Tupou VI has appointed Lord Tangi as the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, effective from Saturday 20 November 2021. In his role as Interim Speaker of Parliament, Lord Tangi will preside and lead the constitutional process to elect the Prime Minister Designate from the Representatives who have been elected as Members of Parliament in the...

Papua New Guinea’s top Covid official has blamed his country’s poor response to the pandemic on its shattered health system and “a cabal of multilateral agencies and international NGOs”. PNG Covid controller David Manning told a University of Melbourne conference that the international aid sector had ­undermined his government’s efforts to run contact tracing and roll out vaccines. The accusation came...

United States congressional leaders have ramped up pressure on the White House to elevate focus on negotiations over Compacts of Free Association with the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau — and to resolve all outstanding issues in the U.S nuclear test legacy with the Marshall Islands. Ten Congress members signed a letter earlier this month to Jack...