PINA

Australia must move past "the heavy hand of government" and authorities must stop shutting down people's lives with COVID-19 lockdowns, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as daily infections in the country shot up to a new pandemic high. COVID-19 cases have been breaking records over the last several days, the surge fuelled by the more transmissible Omicron variant,...

Kiribati and Tuvalu on 13 December officially started using UNCTAD’s ASYCUDAWorld customs management software to automate import and export clearance processes. The move will make trade easier, faster and cheaper for businesses in the two Pacific island nations, and for those wishing to do business with them. Until now, customs paperwork was processed manually on the islands. This was a time-consuming...

One of the Pacific's leading voices on the aviation industry says it would have been "nice" if Pacific airlines had been used for a COVID-19 aid delivery that cost the Australian government around $600,000 (US$429,000) in private charter fees. The Australian government has come under scrutiny with a report in The Age claiming Canberra spent almost $600,000 hiring private luxury...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to rescue PNG Power Limited before Christmas. This is by way of carrying out a major overhaul of all its power stations throughout the country including Port Moresby. Minister for State Owned Enterprise William Duma accompanied by PNG Power Limited chairman Moses Maladina and Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) acting chairman Dr David Kavanamur made...

Written by Maria Borovnik, Charlotte Bedford, Rochelle Bailey The Kiribati government closed their international border late in March 2020, to keep their island population of approximately 140,000 people safe from COVID-19. Luckily the system worked, and the country has managed well, with only two (unconfirmed) cases. Many I-Kiribati seafarers, however, ended up stranded overseas as a consequence of the...

It is important to seize this opportunity to get dedicated support for people on the front lines of climate impacts, urgently and based on need By Zoha Shawoo A top priority for many developing countries at last month’s UN climate talks was to secure finance for “loss and damage” – the cost of major climate change impacts that can no...

Manu Samoa 7s head coach Muliagatele Brian Lima has named a 20-man travelling squad for the upcoming HSBC World Sevens Series. The 7s squad is a mix of youngsters and experienced players, as well as veterans recalled. Muliagatele has retained key players who have consistently shown finesse in the local Vodafone National 7s competition such as Va’afauese Apelu, Melani Matavao and...

There is now “consistent evidence” that the Omicron variant is outpacing Delta, as COVID-19 continues to account for around 50,000 deaths worldwide every week, said the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists at WHO Headquarters in Geneva that it was also more likely that people who have been vaccinated, or recovered from...

Two men have denied setting fire to Solomon Islands Prime minister’s residence. PM Manasseh Sogavare’s mansion at Lungga was torched during the November riots. Moses Tome and Wilson Poelo are charged with one count each of attempted arson in relation to that incident, which occurred on 26 Novemberat Lungga area. The court heard the two men were part of a group that...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have signed a US$4 million grant to fund disaster risk reduction improvements to FSM's energy sector. The agreement, additional financing, as part of the ADB supported Renewable Energy Development Project, were jointly signed by ADB Executive Director Tony McDonald, acting on behalf of the Government...