PINA

UBS made $81 million (US$60 million) in excessive profits from an overly complex loan to Papua New Guinea, while the investment bank failed to disclose it had structured an option agreement weighted heavily in its favour, a royal commission was told on Thursday. The commission into the so-called UBS loan affair heard evidence from Dr George Oldfield, a derivatives expert...

As Fijians reel from news of 1,120 new infections, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama maintains that adherence to the Health Ministry’s advice is the only way out. Bainimarama was asked by FBC News whether he is concerned with the increasing infections, even before the daily COVID-19 update was released. He said Fijians are still not taking personal responsibility. “The increase in numbers...

Indonesia's parliament has ratified a new autonomy law for Papua aimed at boosting development in its poorest region, sparking protests from activists who warned it would increase Jakarta's grip on the resource-rich area. The Papua special autonomy bill, which revised 20 articles from a pre-existing 2001 law, relates to Indonesia's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, where a low-level...

Samoa caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi has filed a complaint against the leader of Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party over “drastic” allegations, Acting Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti has confirmed. Responding to questions from Samoa Observer, Papalii said the matter was filed last Friday, and is now in the hands of an internal task...

The Delta variant’s spread, along with increased social mobility and the inconsistent use of proven public health measures, is driving an increase in both case numbers and deaths, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the recent data in an address to the Emergency Committee on COVID-19, established under the International Health...

Fiji has gone over the 1,000 cases of COVID19 recorded in a day. Fiji’s positive case number reached 1,220 and five new COVID-19 deaths Thursday. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said the five new deaths reported for the period of 10 July to 13 July. “The first a 61-year-old woman from Kinoya who died at home on 10/7/2021. Her family...

The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers Meeting today considered an update of the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies agreement (FSA) and welcomed the progress made thus far on the negotiating text. Trade Ministers also noted that a few key elements remain to be resolved and support the intensification of negotiations to reach consensus on these issues. Harmful fisheries subsidies have been...

Pacific Island countries will seek debt relief from their creditors as the spread of COVID-19 leaves some governments struggling to provide basic and essential services, Tuvalu’s Minister of Finance Seve Paeniu said on Thursday. Paeniu said the COVID-19 crisis has decimated the dominant tourism industries of some Pacific countries, and a meeting with creditors will be sought to secure financial...

The testing of a solar powered outboard engine for a locally built catamaran in Majuro this week is part of a large-scale sustainable ocean transport programme underway in the Marshall Islands that could lead to multiple vessel use of this sustainable energy technology for sea transportation. “We are developing systems that work for different types of boats in the Marshall...

It has been confirmed Thursday that a single positive COVID-19 case with the Delta mutation has been detected in Papua New Guinea. Deputy Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom confirmed that the case, PNG’s first and only case, is a 65-year-old male, who is a Philippine national. Dr Daoni said the case is currently in isolation...