PINA

The Marshall Islands launched Covid-19 vaccinations for commercial fishermen temporarily in port Majuro this past week — possibly the first Pacific island to vaccinate fishermen. With the country vaccination programme nearing 80 percent completion for the two urban centres, and public health teams now conducting vaccinations for remote outer islands, the Ministry of Health and Human Services announced earlier in...

By Matin Karimli and Sheldon Yett Child labour remains a persistent problem in the world today, including in the Pacific Islands, jeopardising children’s future. Every child has a basic right to protection, as defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, “The right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is...

Lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines should be considered “global public goods”, the UN chief told journalists on Friday, covering the G7 Summit of leading industrialised nations taking place in the United Kingdom. Speaking via videolink in London, Secretary-General António Guterres said there was no other way of defeating a virus that spreads across developing countries “like wildfire” and risks mutating, other than through...

Samoan women’s issues researcher Dr Mema Motusaga says invoking the gender quota to decide Samoa’s Government following the 2021 General Election was “perverse” and "an insult” to women leaders of the past and is a mockery of the Constitution. Dr Motusaga, who advocates for women’s equality and was born and raised in Samoa, made the statement in Part two of...

Fiji has reported 105 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, taking the total number of infections since the outbreak started in April over 1000. Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said of the 105 cases, 98 of the new cases are linked to the existing clusters: *CWMH – 21 *Nawajikuma, Nawaka, Nadi – 16 *Tramline, Nawaka, Nadi – 6 *Kinoya – 1 *Navosai –...

The arrival of 50,000 more Australian manufactured AstraZeneca doses last Thursday night is a further demonstration of Australia’s commitment to stand with Fiji during this difficult time. “It is Australia’s highest priority that countries in our region, including our Fijian vuvale, have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Australia has now delivered 180,000 vaccines in just over a month...

Papua New Guinea has recorded 40 new COVID-19 cases last Thursday increasing the country’s total cases to 16,661. The cases were reported in ten provinces with National Capital District reporting the highest of ten cases followed by both West New Britain and Western Highlands with seven cases each. Enga province reported five cases, East New Britain four, Western and Morobe two...

Israel’s parliament on Sunday narrowly approved a new coalition government, ending the historic 12-year rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sending the polarising leader into the opposition. Naftali Bennett, a former ally of Netanyahu turned rival, became prime minister after the 60-59 vote. Promising to try to heal a divided nation, Bennett will preside over a diverse and fragile coalition...

Cook Islander Romani Katoa was elected to the bureau of the International Swimming Federation executive board, also known as FINA, over the weekend. His election is a first for a Pacific Islander. Also holding the role of Cook Islands Aquatics Federation (CIAF) president, Katoa said, “I’m humbled and honoured to be elected by my peers across the Pacific, to represent them...

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has been ranked 11th against some of the top Universities of the world in the area of Crisis Management by the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI) 2021 global ranking. The University’s world standing was officially cited in a virtual conference by Professor Emeritus of Seoul National University and Founding Director of the...