PINA

A relaxation of World Rugby's eligibility laws would help avert scenes like the All Blacks' 102-0 victory over Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night, according to beaten coach Toutai Kefu. Putting together a makeshift squad using only local players, with the majority of Tonga's stars unable to travel to New Zealand from overseas, Kefu's side were outplayed in...

New Caledonia's 11 ministers have been summoned by the French High Commissioner to meet on Thursday for a fifth attempt to elect a president. Since February, there has been no properly constituted government because in four attempts, none of the presidential candidates could secure the minimum six votes to be elected. However, last week the pro-independence parties, which control six seats,...

Cook Islands will continue to support the work of the International Seabed Authority(ISA) in developing global seabed mining regulations, and the country will continue to follow its own process at its own pace. Prime Minister Mark Brown responded to questions on the matter by Cook Islands News after the Pacific island nation of Nauru notified the International Seabed Authority (ISA)...

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, have completed their virtual Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, the PALM 9, reaffirming the PALM partnership and priorities for collaboration for the coming three years to address emerging challenges. In an opening ceremony, Prime Minister Suga and the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Tuvalu Prime Minister Hon. Kausea Natano, set...

Samoa Head of State has defied a Supreme Court order for Parliament to convene within seven days, and instead proclaimed that the Legislative Assembly will sit on 02 August, as he says Samoa's two dominant parties “don't have a majority” to lead. In a night announcement at around 10pm on Sunday, Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II said the Court has no...

The French government denied any cover up on Friday over radiation levels in the Pacific following its nuclear testing in the region, as discussions were held in Paris about the legacy of the explosions. A two-day roundtable meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron in April began on Thursday following fresh allegations that the testing between 1966-1996 caused hidden atmospheric...

Fiji records 522 new cases and three more deaths SUVA, 05 JULY 2021 (FIJI TIMES/FBC NEWS) --- Fiji has recorded 522 new cases of COVID-19 and three COVID-19 deaths Sunday. The first death is a 93-year-old woman from Matata, Valenicinia Lami. She died at home. According to protocol she was swabbed and tested positive for COVID-19. She was not vaccinated. The two...

Japan will provide Pacific island nations and territories with 3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from mid-July through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing program, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday. Suga’s announcement came as leaders of Japan and Pacific island nations and territories held an online meeting Friday, with Tokyo aiming to promote its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific...

Papua New Guinea has opened its vaccine programme to anyone over 18 years old as it tries to overcome high levels of hesitancy. Health authorities are worried the country is particularly vulnerable to the Delta variant because of its low vaccination levels. Papua New Guinea's vaccination program is off to a slow start — so far just under 55,000 people have...

The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Leaders and Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga convened the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM 9) Friday with a renewed commitment to sustainable recovery and resilience through regional solidarity. Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama expressed his appreciation to Japan for its leadership through the PALM process which provide opportunities to collaboratively address challenges in...