PINA

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna says the Pacific is keen to host a meeting of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in the Blue Pacific in 2022. SG Puna made the comment while addressing the 27th Session of the General Conference of the OPANAL and Member States for the 54th anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco. “I reiterate the ongoing solidarity of the...

CNMI representative Sheila Babauta has introduced House Joint Resolution 22-11 to condemn the Japanese government's decision to dump nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean. The joint resolution, which was co-sponsored by the rest of the House members, also calls for the CNMI to join the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Pacific Island Forum and the UN Special Rapporteurs in...

With the climate crisis already devastating lives and incomes, young people will be critical to driving global action forward, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told participants attending the Pre-COP Youth Event in Milan, Italy, on Thursday. Hundreds of delegates from across the world are taking part in the meeting, which is a precursor to the UN COP26 climate change conference in...

Fiji has recorded 70 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, increasing the total number of cases to 50,953 and 622 deaths since the outbreak in April this year. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said there have been 103 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 12,841 active cases. “There have been 50,953 cases...

World Rugby has announced details of a new cross-regional annual international competition titled, Pacific Four Series, that will bring together some of the world’s top women’s teams. Contested by four of the world’s top teams - Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA – the Pacific Four Series will act as one of the principle annual qualification routes for the top...

Weightlifters from Oceania have won titles and set records at their senior Championships, despite the fact that the competition was organised online. It is the first continental Championships ever to take place online, and the first time results from a virtual competition have been officially endorsed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The IWF approved the format in exceptional circumstances. Because of...

Viliame Kikau’s ascent from shy teenager to NRL superstar could not have happened without the love and support of one Townsville family. Panthers forward Viliame Kikau has credited the “beautiful family” he stayed with in Townsville for two years for setting him on his path to stardom after arriving in Australia from Fiji as a shy teenager with a sketchy...

Fijian Prime Minister and Forum Chair Voreqe Bainimarama has reaffirmed a 1.5-degree world will safeguard the region’s sustainable future. Speaking at the Pacific -ACP Leaders Meeting today, Bainimarama said the Pacific should demand this at COP26 in Glasgow. “As Pacific ACP States we are now on the frontlines of the climate crisis and only a 1.5-degree world will safeguard our region’s...

Papua New Guinea is now grappling with a surge in the deadly (Covid-19 Delta variant, with cases tripling from 30 on 01 September, to 97 on Sunday. National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom said the Covid-19 death toll had also risen to 227, including 17 deaths last week 20 September to 26. The 30 new Delta cases were reported...

ANZ customers in Australia and New Zealand can continue to send money to the Pacific for free using ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ goMoney, to help the flow of funds to communities impacted by Covid-19. ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Tessa Price, said: “For the past 11 months, ANZ has been waiving transfer fees on foreign currency international transfers from Australia...