PINA

The emergence of the threatening new Omicron variant shows how important it is for the world to end the current “cycle of panic and neglect” over the COVID-19 pandemic, said the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was addressing the start of a special three-day meeting of the organisation’s governing body in Geneva on...

Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong says it is not yet clear whether the new COVID-19 variant Omicron is more transmissible compared to other variants, including Delta. He noted this in his COVID-19 update last night following the advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO). “There is some reported field evidence of increased transmissibility in...

Two extra women parliamentarians have been appointed by the Samoa Head of State and now make up six women members of parliament following last weekends by elections results. The warrant of appointment was issued Monday for the six constituencies that went to the polls last Friday, plus the two extra women members appointed under Article 44 of the constitution that...

Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says he is dumbfounded that Fiji’s role at COP26 has been a source of criticism. Speaking in parliament Monday Bainimarama stressed that international prestige is not the reason Fiji took on the responsibility to highlight the devastating impact of climate change on small nations. He said Fiji took on an active and assertive role in the...

The coronavirus pandemic will likely cost the global tourism sector US$2 trillion in lost revenue in 2021, the UN's tourism body said Monday, calling the sector's recovery “fragile” and “slow.” According to the latest forecast by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the same amount was lost in 2020, making it one of the sectors hit hardest by the...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has told Parliament Monday that he’s ready to face the motion of no confidence against him and calls on the Leader of Matthew Wale, to think first before tabling it in Parliament. Parliament resumed today less than a week of chaotic scenes that started around Parliament before spreading into central and eastern parts of...

The streets of Solomon Islands are calm again but there are warnings of worse troubles ahead if the underlying issues that provoked the recent rioting in Honiara aren't addressed. Solomon Islands' security forces, backed by a contingent of Australian police officers and soldiers, and with the support of security personnel from Papua New Guinea, were on alert in the capital...

The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) signed an MOU with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) regarding institutional cooperation to promote capacity building in the Pacific Region on disaster risk finance and management. The MOU was executed by the PCRIC CEO and PIFS Secretary General on 25 November. This partnership will allow PCRIC to place a Regional Coordinator within PIFS...

Spike in drug use has caused problems across Tongan society, with arrests doubling in two years and children severely affected By Joshua Mcdonald After more than four decades spent living in New Zealand, Ned Cook knew it was time to return to his home country of Tonga. His country was in the grip of a methamphetamine epidemic that was ripping families apart...

50 Fijian soldiers will be dispatch to the Solomon Islands Tuesday as part of a reinforcing platoon. The team will be commanded by Major Asaeli Toanikeve. The country’s capital Honiara has been wracked with unrest in recent days. Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama said his platoon will be embedded with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) elements on the ground. Bainimarama said another 120 troops...