Commonwealth Games Update
After a few days of Commonwealth Games competition, let’s check-in with our Pacific athletes and see how they have fared so far in Birmingham. Fiji 7s settles for Silver again Rugby 7s was one of the most anticipated
Samoa
After 865 days, Samoa reopens to tourists
Samoa reopens to international tourists again, 865 days after closing borders due to COVID-19. Tuitaga Nathan Bucknall, manager of the Taumeasina Island Resort near Apia, said it’s been a long time
Rugby 7s to light up Birmingham 2022
As the clock winds down to the grand opening of the Commonwealth Games 2022, the ever-growing sport of Rugby Sevens will be expecting to light up the stadium with some of the world’s best teams scheduled to take part
Courage and impact
Lagipoiva honoured for climate coverage The editor of Pacific Environment Weekly in Samoa, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, became the first Pacific Island journalist to receive a ‘Journalists of Courage and
Tonga making waves in Pacific Netball
In light of their recent success in the PacificAus tournament earlier in March this year, the Tonga Netball team will be hoping to continue top performance in the Netball World Cup Pacific Qualifiers this week in Suva,
Samoa at PIF2022: on gender and geopolitics
Samoa’s Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is attending her first Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting as Prime Minister in Suva this week. As leaders gather for their retreat today, Islands Business contributor, Sera
Samoa to host next CHOGM forum in 2024
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has ended in Rwanda with Samoa confirmed as the next host of the meeting. Samoa’s hosting of the 2024 event will be the first time a Pacific member country will
Pacific tourism workers resilient in adversity
Pacific researchers assessing the wellbeing of tourism-reliant communities in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands amid the COVID-19 pandemic have found these communities are mainly resilient in the face of
Seasonal workers scheme needs balance: Samoa PM Mata’afa
Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says there needs to be a circular process for the seasonal workers scheme to ensure human resource constraints in Samoa are dealt with in a balanced manner. Mata’afa
Qantas Airways renews license to fly to Samoa
Qantas Airways Limited has applied to Samoa’s Ministry for Works Transport and Infrastructure to fly two routes between two Australian east coast cities and Samoa. The interest shown by one of the
Samoa launches survey results on political attitudes
A pioneering survey of popular political attitudes in the Pacific – the Pacific Attitudes Survey (PAS) Samoa – is being launched this week. The PAS gauges the views of ordinary Samoan citizens on a range of
Cook Islands, Samoa open first ever diplomatic missions in Fiji this week
The Cook Islands and Samoa open their first diplomatic missions in Suva this week. The Cook Islands High Commission will open today, and the Samoa High Commission tomorrow. Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe
Samoa MPs suspended indefinitely
Leader of the Opposition HRPP Party and Samoa’s longest serving Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi and HRPP Party Secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi have been suspended indefinitely from Parliament.
New era for women’s representation in Samoa
A new era has dawned in Samoa with the swearing-in of three women MPs, taking the number of women in the Legislative Assembly to seven. The swearing-in follows a court ruling issued by Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa
Samoa international borders to open in August
Samoan Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has announced the returning of students to school and resumption of international flights this month, although restricted to Samoan citizens travelling in for various
Argentina denies Fiji in Vancouver Rugby 7s
Argentina has defeated Fiji in the finals of the Vancouver Rugby 7s, with the Santiago Gomez Cora- coached side playing exceptionally well throughout the weekend and outplaying Fiji 29-10 in the final match. World Rugby
Samoa prisoners COVID-positive
Nine prisoners and 22 guards in Samoa tested positive for COVID-19 and have been placed in isolation to avoid its
The cost of politics
is again under the spotlight as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia, Wallis and Futuna and American-affiliated Pacific states and territories are all expected to hold elections this
Pacific women thrive in world of sports
Champion Cikamatana carry Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton The Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay has completed its brief visit to Australia after following an itinerary from March 17-20 which paid
Samoa COVID-19 positive cases on the rise
Samoa’s total number of active COVID-19 cases has increased to 196, with the government confirming 192 cases in Upolu and four cases in Savai’i. The Government Press Secretariat’s community transmission update
Former PM Tuilaepa apologises in Samoa contempt of court case
Former Samoa Prime Minister apologises in contempt of court case Former Samoan Prime Minister and Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and deputy leader Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre
Manu Samoa 7s relocates to Australia following player’s complaints
The Lakapi Samoa Board has decided to move the Manu Samoa 7’s Team out of Dubai where they have been in a holding camp for seven weeks. The decision is in response to the player’s complaints against management which
COVID-19 may create a flood of criminal deportations to the Pacific
Closed borders have created a backlog of criminal deportations to Pacific Islands states, and more effective transition programs are needed to reduce the risk of recidivism among returnees, Henrietta McNeill and Magele