PINA

The clock ran out Friday at UN talks to forge a legally binding treaty to protect open oceans beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ), with no schedule set for prolonging the discussions. This fourth round of negotiations since 2018 -- preceded by a decade of preliminary talks -- was meant to create vast marine reserves to prevent biodiversity loss, oversee industrial-scale fisheries...

“Fabian, Fabian, why did you do that, why?” were the alleged words of Moresby Northwest MP Lohia Boe Samuel contained in a Papua New Guinea police statement of facts after the shooting incident at a restaurant in Port Moresby few days ago. Fabian Hera is Samuel’s protocol officer and was with Samuel and the deceased Robert Jerry during the incident...

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta is leading Timor Leste's presidential election, garnering 44 percent out of 50 percent votes counted by Sunday afternoon, according to data from the country's Election Secretariat. The Southeast Asian nation just had the presidential election on Saturday, presenting 16 candidates in the political contest. Incumbent president Francisco Guterres has garnered 22.66 percent. None of the...

The Australian Federal Agriculture Minister has taken a swipe at labour-hire companies that leave foreign workers with just $100 (US$74) in weekly wages. David Littleproud said it was not appropriate the workers be left with such little take-home pay after their employer made deductions for things like accommodation, transport and visas. “There is a small cohort in agriculture, as there is...

The solutions to restore the health of the ocean – which provides us with oxygen, food and livelihoods – are out there, and in 100 days they will be in the spotlight in Lisbon, Portugal, at the second UN Oceans Conference. Billions of humans, animals and plants rely on a healthy ocean, but rising carbon emissions are making it more...

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, which was distributed to the local media Monday , advised that health authorities have identified 85 new community cases by 2pm Sunday. The new community cases when added to the...

With many neighbouring Pacific island countries getting Covid and the government reducing quarantine time for inbound travelers, the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services is revamping its Covid procedures to be ready in case a border case leads to community transmission. By closing its border in early March 2020, the Marshall Islands has remained one of the last...

Rain pelts down as the monthly city markets opens its doors in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Market sellers worry about the weather chasing potential shoppers away but organiser, Sylvia Pascoe is unfazed. She gets onto social media to encourage her thousands of followers to stave off the rainy day blues by coming to the markets for...

Household contacts may be able to work in the future by taking daily Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) prior to going to work, says Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Prime Minister Brown said he was finding out from Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO) if it could work. As well as the RAT before work, he said positive cases in...

New Zealand Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart Monday for bilateral visits to Fiji and Australia to meet with counterparts to reaffirm our commitment to regional security in the Pacific and discuss ways to strengthen defence cooperation with partners. While in Fiji, Minister Henare will meet with Minister of Defence Inia Seruiratu, in the first face-to-face meeting of this...