PINA

The governments of Fiji and Japan exchanged diplomatic notes at a ceremony in Suva Tuesday to formalise Japan’s assistance to Fiji through the “COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan (Phase 2)” worth up to 10 billion JPY (FJD$186 million). The exchange of notes between the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Kawakami Fumihiro, Ambassador of Japan in Suva...

The Pacific nation, still reeling from a volcanic eruption and tsunami last month, is emerging from lockdown following its first outbreak of the pandemic. By Rhoda Kwan First came a volcanic eruption, blanketing Tonga’s main island in thick layers of ash that contaminated water sources. Then came a tsunami, which destroyed homes, left piles of debris and ripped out vegetation, stripping...

The Brumbies are expecting a much different Fijian Drua's outfit to their opening round defeat, believing they will be at their best when they face off at GIO Stadium. The Drua were dominated by the Waratahs 40-10 in their opening Super Rugby Pacific game last Friday. However, Brumbies winger Tom Wright suggests the inclement conditions had a major factor in this,...

Ball retention will be crucial for the Fijian Drua as it prepares for its Super Rugby Pacific round two clash against the Brumbies this weekend. Head Coach, Mick Byrne said this was the team’s main weakness last Friday and it is something they need to improve on before facing an experienced Brumbies side. He said the last 20 minutes of the...

PNG Hunters will take to the field for a historic pre-season clash when they face Fiji Kava Kaiviti Silktails this Saturday in the PacificAus Sports Melanesian Bowl. Runaway Bay’s Bycroft Oval will celebrate Melanesian and Indigenous culture, with the game to also provide an opportunity for the rugby league community to raise funds and awareness for Tonga Recovery Appeal. PacificAus Sports...

Australia will print, and pay K10 million (US$2.8 million) for the 12 million ballot papers to be used in the 2022 general election, according to Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai. In addition, India will provide, and pay K5 million (US$1.4 million) for the indelible ink used during polling, he said. Sinai told The National that Australia was supporting the Electoral Commission by...

The New Zealand government has announced $140 million (US$93 million) worth of targeted funding for health providers to support Māori and Pacific communities as they continue to face the impact of the current Omicron outbreak. This is in addition to the Care in the Community boost the Government announced last week to help all families who need to self-isolate as...

Solomon Islands has announced the country’s international borders will open by 01 July 2022. This is for those coming in and leaving the country. “We will make sure that we no longer have as much restrictions as we currently have,” said Secretary to the Prime Minister and Vice-Chairman of Oversight Committee Dr Jimmie Rodgers during an Oversight Committee talk-back show. However, he...

Health teams worldwide need much safer working conditions to combat the “dangerous neglect” they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN health and labour agencies said on Monday. Approximately 115,500 health workers died from COVID-19 in the first 18 months of the pandemic, linked to a “systemic lack of safeguards”, they noted. In a joint call for action from the...

While all eyes are on the COVID-19 crisis, one of the world's deadliest diseases continues to haunt the Pacific. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a highly-contagious airborne bacterial infection that attacks the lungs. It killed 1.5 million people last year - more than any other infectious disease except for COVID-19 and has been called a ‘silent’ or ‘hidden’ epidemic. Dr Hemant Bogati...