PINA

By Sanjeshni Kumar Pacific youths have amplified their efforts to save their island homes and are calling on the world’s biggest emitters to commit to meaningful climate actions. This as greenhouse gas emissions increase annually while those responsible for burning most fossil fuels do not experience the most direct consequences of climate change. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) Campaigner,...

During a private meeting of Heads of State and Government, held on Wednesday at UN Headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for more action and leadership to tackle the climate crisis, warning that efforts to keep the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is “on life support”. Speaking to journalists after the meeting,...

It's official. All health restrictions for travelers including mandatory COVID-19 testing have been scrapped, allowing anyone to enter Samoa freely effective today, Thursday 22 September. The announcement was made by Acting Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio following Cabinet deliberation and approval in its weekly meeting. Tuala said Cabinet’s meeting on on Wednesday decided to remove all restrictions and related conditions from...

As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Pacific Islands, Kurt Campbell, the White House Indo-Pacific coordinator and deputy assistant to President Joe Biden, has said the U.S and India are engaging with each other on the issue, and that they look forward to working “more closely” with New Delhi in the region. He added that he was “gratified” by the close...

A military exercise in Fiji involving the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand ends this week as the traditional allies counter China’s growing influence in the region. The 11-day Exercise Cartwheel in Fiji began Sept. 12 and ends Friday, the U.S Embassy in the Fijian capital, Suva, said Wednesday in an email. U.S Navy Commander Victor Lange said the name...

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is taking part in a large-scale military exercise in Fiji, bringing together the same allies which once fought side by side in the Solomon Islands during WWII. NZDF land component commander, Brigadier Hugh McAslan, says Exercise Cartwheel provides a platform for Fijian, Australian, New Zealand, and British forces to work together, building readiness for...

Tongan Prime Minister, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, highlighted Tonga case on Day Two of the "Ocean Nations: An Indo-Pacific Islands Dialogue" at the United Nations in New York. Hu'akavameiliku delivered the keynote address at the meeting, hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Speaking on the topic “Priorities, Challenges, and Interests of Tonga within the Pacific...

Communication is key – especially when you are in the business of saving lives. During their Ignite session on the second day of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane, Australia, the FMS presented on disaster risk communication and effective information sharing, in order to give people a better understanding of the importance of effective communication of...

From heart disease to cancer and diabetes, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) now outnumber infectious diseases as the “top killers globally,” the UN health agency said in a new report, released on Wednesday, with one person under 70 dying every two seconds from an NCD. The report and new data portal, was launched on the sidelines of the 77th session of the...

Fijiana 15’s Head Coach Senirusi Seruvakula has selected his 32-member squad for the Rugby World Cup which begins in New Zealand next month. The squad was announced during the farewell function by Fiji Rugby Chairman Commodore Humphrey Tawake at Holiday Inn last night. The traveling party consists of 23 local provincial players of which 15 played for the Fijiana Drau and...