PINA

Pacific Island leaders agreed to continue the dialogue among the nations to heal the fracture brought about by the withdrawal of the Micronesian countries from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Some Pacific experts said the line on a continued political dialogue among the leaders is a sign that there is still hope in keeping Micronesia in the Forum. In a communique...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will make a ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday to update the nation on the results of the Wabag and Kokopo meetings on Bougainville. The PNG and Bougainville governments have convened escalated Joint Supervisory Body meetings and joint consultation meetings to address the priority and sanctity of these issues. Marape said there can be...

Tonga is considering a mandatory death sentence for offenders who traffic five kilograms or more of a Class A drug. An amendment bill tabled in Parliament Friday also proposes the death sentence for offenders who repeatedly procure and use children in drug offences. The bill still has to go through the second and third readings before it can proceed further.... SOURCE: TONGA...

Four COVID-19 patients in Fiji who are considered to be in severe condition are on ventilators and 74 patients are on oxygen support in the hospital. This, according to Health Ministry chief medical adviser Dr Jemesa Tudravu. He said over 40 percent of COVID-19 patients were on oxygen support. Dr Tudravu said 386 individuals were admitted at the COVID-19 isolation facilities in...

Five High Court Judges from New Zealand have been appointed as Acting Judges of the Supreme Court of Samoa for a period of two years. The Judges are Justice Robert Fisher, Justice Peter Blanchard, Justice Rhys Harrison, Justice Rodney Hansen and Justice Raynor Asher. The Judges were sworn-in by the Head of State, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi 11 in a ceremony...

The current size of the PNG stock market is about K120 billion (US$34 billion), according to the PNG Securities Commission. Acting executive chairman Robert Minak said there were 13 companies currently listed on the PNG National Stock Exchange (PNGX). “The total market cap fluctuates around K120 billion,” he said. “The market tracks well and it’s steady all the time for those 13...

Tongan rugby coach and Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu is clinging to life after being stabbed in his Brisbane home while trying to defend his family during a reported break in. The former back rower was at home when three people broke into his family home in Coorparoo at 3am on Monday morning. According to Channel 7, Kefu was stabbed in the...

Amid a regional rift among the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum and increasing great-power competition between the United States and China, U.S representative Ed Case said that it would be a “terrible tragedy” if the Forum were to split up. Five Micronesian states have announced plans to withdraw from the Forum over a dispute about the regional rotation of...

As a proud founding member of the Forum, the Cook Islands has always taken the view that we are stronger together” says Prime Minister Mark Brown. Brown made the comments as Forum leaders celebrated the 50 years of the Pacific Islands Forum last week. The retreat chaired by Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama last Friday was attended by Forum leaders including...

Kiribati is the latest recipient of a new police patrol boat donated by Australia. Radio Kiribati reports the RKS Teanoai II arrived in Kiribati waters this week after a long journey from Western Australia through Cairns and Solomon Islands. It replaces its predecessor, also called Teanoai, which was also gifted by Australia, under the original Pacific Patrol Boat Programme between 1987...