PINA

Fiji has recorded 179 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths Thursday, increasing the total number of cases in the Pacific nation to 48,502 and 531 deaths since the outbreak in April. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 87 cases are from the Western division, 90 cases are from the Central division in Vitilevu. Fiji's main island...

“The relentless demands we humans have placed on the Earth are driving more than a million species of plants and animals to the brink of extinction. This climate-fueled loss in biodiversity will be irreversible. Once these species are gone, they are gone. There is no turning back the clock.” These were the bold remarks by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama...

Nauru’s president has released part of a previously confidential investigation into mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific in defence of the institution’s vice-chancellor. Lionel Aingimea tabled part of what’s known as the BDO report in Nauru’s parliament and said it showed “clear violation of university rules, unethical conduct, and gross financial mismanagement by the previous administration”. Professor Pal Ahluwalia...

Sefanaia Nawadra is the new Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Announced at the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials which concluded this afternoon,  Nawadra, a national of Fiji, will take over at the helm of the Pacific’s premiere organisation for the conservation of the environment from his predecessor, Kosi Latu, who has served as...

Kiribati will start opening its borders in January 2022. The announcement was made by Kiribati President Taneti Maamau when addressing the nation on Radio Kiribati. “Your government has decided that beginning next year, January 2022, Kiribati will open its borders resume travel,”, President Maamau announced. President Maamau urges the people of Kiribati who haven’t received their Covid-19 jabs to start getting theirs...

Further support for Fiji’s COVID-19 response has been announced by New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta today. The package builds on previous tranches of assistance Aotearoa New Zealand has provided to Fiji. “Fiji remains in a very challenging position in their response to COVID-19 and our continued thoughts are with the Fijian people at this time,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “New Zealand is...

Three key documents were endorsed by SPREP Member countries and territories during the second day of the 30th Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Meeting of Officials. The documents were presented to the Members and observers by SPREP technical experts who had worked in collaboration with Member countries and partners to develop and approve the final versions of the...

By Dr Ian Fry As wildfires take lives and ravage property around the Mediterranean and North America and floods destroy lives and property in other parts of Europe, China and Nepal, Pacific Island countries are bracing themselves for another severe cyclone season. These are no longer simply natural disasters, they are climate change events. This is the new normal and...

France has declared a health emergency in New Caledonia after Covid-19 was detected in the community. The state of emergency was decreed by the French prime minister Jean Castex, effective immediately. The decree, which is valid for a month, allows the authorities to impose restrictions, such as curfews or a lockdown, which the New Caledonian authorities had already imposed on Tuesday. Today,...

The small Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu, has been experiencing low rainfall conditions, with mounting concerns of extreme water shortages for people across the tropical islands. Tuvalu has been facing drought conditions for the past three months and rainfall levels have been some of the lowest ever recorded. There are fears communities may face water shortages in the coming months if...