PINA

French President Emmanuel Macron has reasserted his nation's presence in the Pacific on a visit to French Polynesia, a trip aimed at countering growing Chinese dominance in the region. The trip was also designed to underline the French government's support for Polynesians and heal wounds over French nuclear testing on the former colony's atolls, half a planet away from Paris. Macron...

COVID-19 infections rose eight percent last week to more than 3.8 million, the UN health agency reported on Wednesday. Latest data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed a “substantial” uptick in the Americas and the Western Pacific, which jumped 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively. This contributed to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus deaths overall, which climbed...

Fiji has dedicated its Olympic rugby sevens win to the people back home who are struggling amidst the country's Covid-19 health crisis. Fiji defeated New Zealand 27-12 in the men's sevens final in Tokyo to defend the title they won in Rio five years ago. Captain Jerry Tuwai said the win is very special for the team and all of Fiji. “Everything...

Despite a weakening economic growth forecast for the Pacific, recent progress in vaccination rollouts and stronger public health measures are providing optimism for the safe reopening of borders in the near term, according to the latest issue of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Economic Monitor (PEM) launched today. After a pandemic-induced contraction of 5.8 percent in 2020, the economies...

African countries, many of which are heavily reliant on mining, have criticised a move by the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru to fast-track international negotiations over deep-sea mining, an industry that could hurt their economies. Nauru last month set a two-year deadline for rules governing deep-sea mining in international waters to be finalised. Nauru triggered the so-called “two-year rule”,...

Fiji has recorded 1,057 new COVID-19 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths reported Wednesday. The permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr James Fong said 44 of the new cases are from the Western Division and 913 cases from the Central Division in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island. He said the 12 COVID-deaths were reported between 24-27 July. Dr Fong indicated seven...

Fiji secured their second successive men’s Olympic rugby sevens gold medal as they beat New Zealand 27-12 in a thrilling gold medal match at Tokyo Stadium. The defending champions raced into a 12-0 lead against the All Blacks Sevens as Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala touched down in the opening three minutes. Scott Curry crossed for his fifth try of the...

French President Emmanuel Macron promised transparency around decades of nuclear tests in French Polynesia and changes to compensation procedures on Tuesday when he stopped to talk to a group of protesters on his first official trip to the territory. Macron, who began his visit on Saturday, has previously signalled he will address the legacy of French testing in the South...

By Iliesa Tora Pacific Island heads of states and fisheries ministers have agreed that more needs to be done to protect our oceans from ongoing threats and exploitation. The ministers made this commitment at the 5th France-Oceania Summit, which was held virtually on 19 July from Papeete in Tahiti. French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke at the meeting, informing members that...

As Fiji continues to battle a spiralling outbreak, its government has directed asymptomatic health staff who have tested positive to COVID-19 to keep working. In a letter circulated by the Ministry of Health, those infected staff have been asked to continue their work in COVID safe "bubbles" without elaboration. Health workers who are primary or secondary contacts of COVID patients have...