PINA

Papua New Guinea is now grappling with a surge in the deadly (Covid-19 Delta variant, with cases tripling from 30 on 01 September, to 97 on Sunday. National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom said the Covid-19 death toll had also risen to 227, including 17 deaths last week 20 September to 26. The 30 new Delta cases were reported...

ANZ customers in Australia and New Zealand can continue to send money to the Pacific for free using ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ goMoney, to help the flow of funds to communities impacted by Covid-19. ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Tessa Price, said: “For the past 11 months, ANZ has been waiving transfer fees on foreign currency international transfers from Australia...

In a bid to strengthen gender inclusion and gender mainstreaming in Fiji’s tuna offshore sector, WWF and partners today launched a Gender Mainstreaming in Fiji’s Offshore Tuna Industry Report. With today being World Maritime Day and this year’s theme, Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future, the WWF led report provides a snapshot of improving the understanding of the longline...

A total of 75 candidates had registered for the Tonga General Election on 18 November, when registration closed at 3:00pm Tuesday, 28 September 2021. Meanwhile, over 64,000 voters have registered to elect their 17 representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly. The Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki said that two candidates from Tongatapu were disqualified because they failed to complete their application forms...

Border restrictions to the Cook Islands have been extended until November. A statement from Prime Minister Mark Brown’s office late Tuesday afternoon said Cook Islands will further extend its travel advisory restricting inward arrivals to the nation until 11.59pm on Thursday 04 November 2021. Hi announcement came after it was revealed there were 45 new cases in Delta community outbreak in...

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair Dr Satyendra Prasad said he was concerned about the more than 13,000 nuclear weapons around the world, many of which remain in a state of ‘high operational alert’. The Fiji Permanent Representative to the UN made his remarks before the UNGA76 plenary on Tuesday to commemorate the international day for the total elimination of nuclear...

-Voters from the big island of Savai'i have applauded new amendments made to the Electoral Act, passed in Samoa Parliament on Tuesday night aimed at providing clarity about candidates' eligibility and how to conduct elections and by-elections. They were happy specifically with the decision to bring back special voting booths, to cater to voters in the rural areas and Savai'i-...

Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services is preparing for the lifting of international travel restrictions, and other social and workplace engagement restrictions, noting that several countries have seen an increased number of cases with the relaxation of restrictions. Permanent secretary Dr James Fong announced this in his COVID-19 update saying there will always be people vulnerable to the virus...

Addressing the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) last week Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sovagare said his country being party to the 1985 South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty would like to keep the region nuclear free and put the region’s nuclear legacy behind it. “The ocean remains the life blood for our survival and would like...

More than 2,000 young leaders and youth-led organisations from across the Commonwealth are urging governments to respect the needs and contributions of the world's most vulnerable groups, in the lead up to global climate talks in Glasgow in November. The Commonwealth Youth Statement on Climate Change, released today, appeals to governments to include youth, women, the elderly and people with...