PINA

New Caledonia's Covid-19 outbreak continues to spread with almost 10,000 active cases. This includes 1,289 new infections detected over the preceding 24 hours. 25 people are in hospital as the authorities have reopened some hotel facilities as temporary care centres. About 67 percent of the total population is fully vaccinated. Last week, Paris declared a health emergency in New Caledonia but the French...

Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed 124 new positive Covid-19 community transmission cases on South Tarawa, Betio and Buota through PCR lab tests. It said the total of Covid-19 cases in the country now stands at 1,037 – 42 imported, 995 local cases on South Tarawa, Betio and Buota and 23 in the outer island of Butaritari....

FijiFirst candidate Howard Politini and Social Democratic Liberal Party candidate, Ratu Jone Rabici Seniloli have this morning been sworn into Parliament. Politini will occupy the seat left vacant by the Late Former Minister for Forest Osea Naiqamu whereas Ratu Jone will occupy the Parliament seat that was once held by Lynda Tabuya following her resignation last month. Politini received 409 votes...

By Graeme Dobell The slow-motion crash of Micronesia’s break with the Pacific Islands Forum has reached the one-year mark. Back on 8 February 2021, the Micronesia five—the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau—announced they would withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum. Having lost the vote to elect a new PIF secretary-general, Micronesia expressed ‘great disappointment’ and declared...

The curfew that was enforced in 2020 since the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Fiji has been lifted. “From Monday 07 February, which is from midnight tonight, the curfew will be lifted. Not moved. Not shifted. Lifted, completely, says Fiji's Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. Khaiyum in his national address said the curfew was implemented to...

An official visit to Fiji by the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, this week marks a powerful step in advancing the United States' relations with Fiji and the Pacific. The visit by Secretary Blinken is the first visit by a U.S Secretary of State to Fiji since 1985. Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji looks forward...

Two new COVID-19 positive cases, bring the active number to seven for Tonga, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, told a Sunday press conference. The two new cases are co-workers of the primary case at the wharf. Minister for Health, Dr Saia Piukala said all seven are in good health and have not shown symptoms of the virus. In addition, the five adults have...

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Beijing on Thursday for the opening of the Winter Games and will not be traveling to France this week for an Indo-Pacific summit, his office said on Sunday. “Prime Minister Marape will now abort the French leg of this trip due to COVID-19 restrictions, having returned...

Member States of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) continued preparations for the Resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), with a sharp focus on using the global platform to advance the fight against marine and plastic pollution. Last Wednesday, a virtual preparatory workshop co-facilitated by SPREP and the United Nations Environment Programme...

Wallabies and Western Force hooker Feleti Kaitu'u has been announced as captain ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season. Kaitu'u joined the club in 2018, featuring in their NRC and Global Rapid Rugby campaigns. He would play an integral role in their rise in Super Rugby, playing a crucial role in the front-row to guide them to the finals in...