PINA

The installation of radar systems in Palau by the United States Defence Department will bring in US$42.3 million into the country’s economy, according to Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson, the Joint Region Marianas commander. “There is the US$42.3 million that actually come to Palau as part of the NDAA…That is a separate amount of money. That comes to Palau. And that’s...

The Cook Islands Prime Minister says Cabinet has approved new entry rules for people once the border is reopened mid-January. Mark Brown said the Covid-19 Safe Framework will be enforceable under new regulations available to Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health. Under the Safe Framework there will be three different groups of visitors able to enter the country, each group...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) approved on Friday the Covovax vaccine for emergency use listing (EUL), elevating to nine the number of immunisations approved to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine is produced by the Serum Institute of India, under licence from Novavax, and will now be part of the COVAX facility portfolio, boosting efforts to vaccinate more people in...

Lakapi Samoa has announced the death of former Manu Samoa front rower Jake Jacob Grey. The 37 year-old passed away at Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital in Apia on Sunday, after a long battle with cancer. Grey was a product of local rugby development and had played through the ranks of age groups rugby playing Under 20 and Manu Samoa A. “Jake became...

The Games Organising Committee (GOC) for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands launched a funding programme to support National Sports Federations in Solomon Islands. This aims to support the functionality and enhancement of National Sports Federations (NSFs) ahead and beyond 2023 as part of the Federations’ commitment to engage with the GOC in delivering their respective sport competitions at...

The New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker has bagged a unanimous points decision win over British veteran Dereck Chisora in their heavyweight rematch in Manchester. Parker, who won the first fight back in May by a controversial split decision, won this morning's bout far more decisively, by at least two rounds on all three judges scorecards. The former WBO heavyweight champion was...

The disappointing outcomes of COP26 have shown the lack of political will from world leaders to address climate change at the global level says Civil Society Organisations in Vanuatu. Despite the ever-increasing climate change issues impacting billions of lives around the world, governments are not committed to climate action. The Civil Society Organisations in Vanuatu are calling out to the government...

The 9th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) officially commenced in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 13 December 2021. Samoa is one of 152 countries meeting to advance action through the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and strengthen integrity responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CoSP is taking place over the course of five days from 13 –...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging Papua New Guinea to increase its Coronavirus vaccination rates in its efforts to prepare for a Omicron variant surge. Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for Western Pacific, was concerned as vaccination rates for the Covid 19 in the country still remained extremely low. He said based on his observations, the country only experienced...

After one of the busiest years in the history of the Human Rights Council, President and Fijian diplomat Ambassador Nashat Shameem Khan insisted on Thursday that the UN forum remains more relevant than ever, citing action on COVID-19 vaccine inequity, climate change and no less than five Special Sessions in Geneva. Speaking to the UN as she prepares to step...