PINA

The temporary reduction in carbon emissions caused by global COVID-19 lockdowns did not slow the relentless advance of climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, and the planet is on path towards dangerous overheating, a multi-agency climate report published on Thursday warns. According to the landmark United in Science 2021, there “is no sign of growing back greener”, as...

Border restrictions on Fiji's main island Viti Levu have been lifted Friday. The move came after 62 percent of all adults are fully vaccinated and over 97 percent of the population have received their first jab. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said domestic travel is now open for the whole of Viti Levu. “Inter-island travel, however, will remain highly controlled, including to Vanua...

Fiji has recorded 197 new cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths Thursday, increasing the total number of cases to 49,517 and 542 deaths since the outbreak that started in April. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 93 cases are from the Western division, 98 cases are from the Central division in Vitilevu, Fiji’s main island and six...

Australia’s decision to build nuclear submarines will isolate Australia from its regional neighbours who have, for decades, pursued a nuclear-free Pacific, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) has said. While the Australian government and defence force have insisted the submarines will be nuclear-powered, and never nuclear-armed, Ican, the winner of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, argues that a...

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja says the PacificAusSports Olympic and Paralympic partnership was set up to provide elite level pathways for both potential Olympic and Paralympic athletes. “One of the facts about the Pacific is that there is extraordinary sporting talent available and one of the things that Australia has developed over the last few...

Brigadier-General Jone Kalouniwai is the new Commander of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces(RFMF), taking over from Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto. This was confirmed by the Fijian Government following a meeting by the Constitutional Offices Commission in Suva today. Former military man Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho remains as the Commissioner of Police, and Francis Kean as Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service. Jeanette...

Samoa Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and ordered the Speaker of the House to swear in the party’s members who were elected in April’s national poll and have not been knocked out by post-election legal challenges. The orders conclude a hearing of the declaratory order application filed by HRPP members against the...

Changes to Australia's Pacific worker programmes have been welcomed but questions remain over the pathway to permanent residency. The Australian government hailed their reforms to the labour programs as a "new era", claiming they are designed to reduce red tape for employers. It announced the changes on Tuesday and said they would streamline the application process for the two labour programmes,...

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja,has called on Micronesian Leaders not to leave the premier political body- the Pacific Islands Forum saying the region is ‘stronger together’. Seselja made the call after the recent move made by the Micronesian Leaders’ Summit last week to set up their own interim secretariat in Nauru- signalling the withdrawal of...

Fiji has recorded 146 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death reported Wednesday, increasing the total number of cases to 49,320 and 538 deaths since the outbreak that started in April. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 69 cases are from the Western division, 68 cases are from the Central Division in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island and...