PINA

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...

The Chinese Government has donated AUD$6,739,600(US$5,224,850) to the Kiribati Government Monday. A report from the Office of the President said the grant will be allocated for Livelihood Projects such as Small Grant, Disaster Fund, In-Service training, Medical Fund, Social Stability Fund, Upgrading of Social Facilities on Outer Islands, and the re-construction of the submerged causeway between Tanaea and Buota. In his...

The most pressing disaster facing the Pacific right now continues to be the COVID-19 pandemic. And every place is different. After closing its borders and aggressively vaccinating, Palau has recently recorded it first case. While PNG has recorded more than 160 deaths and 16,000 cases, in Samoa, there has been only one case and no deaths, according to the World Health Organisation. The...

With more than 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine remaining and the expiry date looming, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is appealing to people to take the vaccine that was made available despite a global shortage. Marape, who took the first dose of the vaccine in March, took the second dose Thursday at the Covid-19 National Control...