PINA

The princess of Tonga shed tears as she formally accepted Jacinda Ardern's apology on behalf of the Government that oversaw the dawn raids of the 1970s. The practice saw immigration officials target the homes of Pacific Islands people in the early hours of the morning, beginning in the 1970s, in a crackdown on alleged "overstaying" on their visas. Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu...

Australia’s donations of COVID-19 vaccines to the Pacific last week topped the 1 million-mark, aided in part by some Australians’ reluctance to be vaccinated with AstraZeneca. More than half a million doses have been delivered to Fiji, which is racing to inoculate its population amid a serious outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta strain. About 278,000 doses have been given to...

Fiji has recorded 632 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths recorded Sunday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary, Dr James Fong said 62 cases were from the Western Division and 570 cases from the Central Division in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island. He said the first COVID-19 death was a 35-year-old man from Newtown who died at home (31/07/2021),...

The prime minister’s office in Apia, the capital of Samoa, which overlooks the harbour, has just been vacated by the man who held the job for 22 years. The bookshelves are still empty, but the room is filled with bunches of flowers, sent by well-wishers keen to congratulate the new incumbent. Last week, after the most contentious election in the Pacific...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Fiji’s back to back gold medal win in sevens rugby at the Tokyo Olympics Wednesday will open up doors for young people in Fiji and the Pacific to get scholarships to study and play in Asia. The Fijian sevens gladiators denied New Zealand a chance to win he coveted gold medal, 27-12 match point...

Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Fiji’s historical second gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Wednesday evening should be a cause for celebration not only for Fijians but the whole Pacific. That’s the view of Tuvalu Secretary General for National Olympic Committee, Elu Tataua who thinks that Tuvalu should ask Fiji for help in developing the sport in the...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo if there is one take-away from Fiji’s successful defence of its Olympic gold medal in sevens rugby – it’s the potential that athletes in Fiji can be trained and groomed to become Olympians. That’s the reflection of Fiji Association of National Olympic President (FASANOC) President, Makarita Lenoa after Fiji beat New Zealand 27-12 in...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Three Oceania judokas competing in the men’s 81kg category look set to improve their world ranking after competing at the Summer Olympics here in Tokyo Tuesday. According to the result summary released after the medals were awarded, Samoa’s Peniamina Percival and Hugo Cumbo of Vanuatu were placed 17th equal with 15 others while Guam’s...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo Kiribati’s lone female judoka raised her island nation’s flag at the Tokyo 2020 Games for a brief 0.52 seconds in the women’s 70kg class Wednesday after a strong fight from an experienced Australian opponent, Aoife Coughlan. 27-year-old Kinaua Biribo will use her Olympic experience to inspire other young people and young women in in...

The Weather Ready Pacific Decadal Programme of Investment was endorsed at the Forum Foreign Ministerial Meeting (FFMM) on 27 July 2021. The Government of Tonga presented the initiative on behalf of the members of the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) and as part of Tonga’s obligation as the current president of the World Meteorological Organisation Region 5 (South-East Asia and the...