PINA

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...

In a bid to strengthen gender inclusion and gender mainstreaming in Fiji’s tuna offshore sector, WWF and partners today launched a Gender Mainstreaming in Fiji’s Offshore Tuna Industry Report. With today being World Maritime Day and this year’s theme, Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future, the WWF led report provides a snapshot of improving the understanding of the longline...

A total of 75 candidates had registered for the Tonga General Election on 18 November, when registration closed at 3:00pm Tuesday, 28 September 2021. Meanwhile, over 64,000 voters have registered to elect their 17 representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly. The Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki said that two candidates from Tongatapu were disqualified because they failed to complete their application forms...

Border restrictions to the Cook Islands have been extended until November. A statement from Prime Minister Mark Brown’s office late Tuesday afternoon said Cook Islands will further extend its travel advisory restricting inward arrivals to the nation until 11.59pm on Thursday 04 November 2021. Hi announcement came after it was revealed there were 45 new cases in Delta community outbreak in...

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair Dr Satyendra Prasad said he was concerned about the more than 13,000 nuclear weapons around the world, many of which remain in a state of ‘high operational alert’. The Fiji Permanent Representative to the UN made his remarks before the UNGA76 plenary on Tuesday to commemorate the international day for the total elimination of nuclear...

-Voters from the big island of Savai'i have applauded new amendments made to the Electoral Act, passed in Samoa Parliament on Tuesday night aimed at providing clarity about candidates' eligibility and how to conduct elections and by-elections. They were happy specifically with the decision to bring back special voting booths, to cater to voters in the rural areas and Savai'i-...