PINA

Palau is sending a delegation headed by President Surangel Whipps Jr to Glasgow, Scotland for the COP26 climate conference. Palau will be one of the few countries in the Pacific attending the face-to-face summit amid the coronavirus pandemic that complicates the journey for most of the delegates from the region. Xavier Matsutaro, Climate Change Office coordinator said that in order to...

The highly infectious and deadlier Covid-19 Delta variant infection is surging fast – up 94 cases from 97 on 26 September to 191 on Sunday (three weeks). In Madang, 49 new Delta cases were reported on Sunday. And National Pandemic Controller David Manning said the Government would push for a higher vaccination rate as it had set a target to have...

Australia’s decision not to boost its 2030 emissions reduction target will disappoint key allies that have called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to do more ahead of next month’s United Nations climate summit in Glasgow. Morrison told Parliament on Monday he would stick with the target that he took to the 2019 election, which was set by former prime minister...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama Monday, a press statement from 10 Downing Street stated. The two leaders discussed the upcoming COP26 Summit, particularly around the need to hit the US$100billion target for international climate finance. “The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of promoting the voice of Fiji and other countries vulnerable to climate change,” it...

The overall COVID-19 death rate graphs for Central and Western divisions in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island indicate a declining trend. This, according to Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong. “The differences between the Central and Western are similar to the incidence of the daily cases and are likely a reflection of vaccination levels, COVID mitigation measures,...

Complacency and vaccine hesitancy at all levels of society have left PNG wide open to delta infection. The country needs outside help – and very quickly. Jonathan Pryke and Brendan Crabb A little later than expected perhaps but the delta strain of COVID-19 is now ripping through Papua New Guinea, threatening to overwhelm its fragile health system. Hospitals in Port...

Papua New Guinea Parliament Speaker Job Pomat has proposed to defer the 2022 National General Elections by one year, stating that the PNG Electoral Commission(PNGEC) is not ready. He said at the Parliament State Function Room last Thursday during the PNGEC briefing with the MPs that he was prepared, as the Speaker of the House, for any amendments to defer...

Samoa District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosela Papalii reluctantly granted another adjournment in the hearing of Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataafa’s private prosecution trial. She granted the adjournment but also noted that it would be the final adjournment. Mata'afa is charged with one count of bribery from the FAST party campaign rally in the lead up to the April general election and...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and traveling restrictions and challenges, the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has altered its November tour plan for the Flying Fijians who are set to face Spain, Wales and Georgia next month in Europe. FRU Chief Executive Officer John O’Connor said taking in consideration the challenges associated with COVID-19 including travel and quarantine restrictions, Fiji Rugby...

Moana Pasifika have pulled off another major signing, adding former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu to their squad ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season. Kepu played 110 games for the Wallabies, making his debut in 2008, becoming the first prop to bring up the century for Australia. He would also go on to play 141 games for the Waratahs, helping...