PINA

Nine prominent opposition politicians – including two former prime ministers – have been arrested in Fiji for voicing concerns about a contentious land bill, leading to fears the Fijian government is using the police as a “political weapon” to intimidate and crack down on dissent. Six members of parliament and three other high-profile politicians were taken into custody by the...

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday backed a bid by the Marquesas Islands to gain UNESCO world heritage status. Macron, the first head of state to visit the remote archipelago in French Polynesia, was greeted by a traditional ceremony of 600 dancers and musicians from its six islands. He was the only person at the gathering wearing a suit -- with...

Fiji has reported 1,285 new cases of COVID-19 Monday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong also reported nine new COVID-19 deaths for the period of 23 – 26 July, 2021. Dr Fong said the first COVID-19 death was an unvaccinated 82-year-old woman from Tamavua who died at home on July 23, 2021. He said the second COVID-19...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has slammed the PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) for failing to study the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to Papua New Guinean immunology since the outbreak in 2020. Speaking at a National Control Centre (NCC) in Port Moresby last Thursday, Marape told leading health practitioners that he was greatly “discouraged” by the inaction,...

The second day of the men’s sevens tournament at the Tokyo Olympic Games will feature a repeat of the Rio 2016 gold medal match as Fiji and Great Britain go head to head for top spot in Pool B. Fiji famously won that match five years ago 43-7, to ensure the country’s first ever Olympic medal was gold, and will...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)’s 100m breaststroke swim queen, Taeyanna Adams broke her national record at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Sunday. Adams shaved off a good 0.37 seconds from her national record, recording a faster time of 1:25.26 and placed fourth in the women’s 100m breast-stroke event. Only the best 16 swimmers from the...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Fiji’s gold medal defence in sevens rugby got off to a jittery start with the host team Japan running in two tries and two conversions to edge Fiji 14-12 in the first half. But Fiji came back with two tries and a conversion from Waisea Nacuqu in the second half to seal the game...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo TOKYO, 25 JULY 2021 (PACNEWS) --- Fiji is aiming to repeat it historical gold medal win of five years in Rio when the men’s rugby seven competition starts Monday 26 July at the Tokyo Stadium. Fiji won the gold medal in the men's tournament at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. It was the island...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Papua New Guinea and the Pacific's top woman weightlifter, Dika Toua created Olympics history Saturday, when she competed in her fifth Olympics - but bowed out at 10th place to a field of 14 strong lifters. Toua is not new to making history at the Olympics. In Sydney at the 2000 Games she became...

Two Pacific flag bearers in their traditional attire and well-oiled bodies sent twitter fans into frenzy at the opening of the 32nd Olympics in Tokyo Friday night. Not only Twitter fans but the international media featured the two Pacific athletes in their coverage of the opening ceremonies. Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua, dubbed the ‘shirtless’ flag bearer once again became an internet sensation...