PINA

Geopolitical jockeying for influence has got some Pacific island nations vaccinated against Covid-19 much quicker than New Zealand. But is there a quid pro quo? National Correspondent Lucy Craymer reports. The Marshall Islands has said they don’t need vaccines from COVAX, Palau and Guam are vaccinating tourists and Fiji is preparing to open its borders as 80 percent of its...

Samoa's National Emergency Operations Centre(NEOC) and the Ministry of Health has announced details for the mass vaccination roll-out on the two-day lockdown on Thursday and Friday this week. “Cabinet and its meeting 10 September approved the two days lockdown on 23 - 24 September to allow for the mass vaccination campaign across the whole country,” said the NEOC Chair, Agafili...

Fiji's Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma has been suspended. Sharma was suspended by the President Jioji Konrote following allegations of misbehaviour. Sources within his office have also confirmed his suspension. Under the Constitution, the Solicitor General is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission which first consults with the Attorney-General. The Solicitor-General may be removed from office for inability...

Speaking alongside the UK Prime Minister in New York on Monday the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called on world leaders for “decisive action now to avert climate catastrophe.” Guterres joined an emergency summit convened and attended by United Kingdom premier Boris Johnson, to press for more action on climate finance and other measures ahead of the watershed UN COP26...

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the world’s rich countries that “history will judge”, if they fail to act now to tackle the climate crisis, as U.S climate envoy John Kerry suggested President Biden was poised to commit more funds to the fight. At the UN general assembly in New York, the prime minister urged other developed countries to...

Fiji has recorded 121 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, increasing the total number of cases in the island nation to 50,010 and 573 deaths since the outbreak in April. Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 103 cases are from the Western division and 18 cases are from the Central division, in Vitilevu, Fiji's main island. “There have been...

Human rights groups say revelations that Australia sat on its hands after learning of Indonesian military atrocities against West Papuan demonstrators are “deeply disturbing” and should prompt an independent investigation. A newly released unredacted intelligence report, shared with the Guardian, shows the Australian government had compelling evidence that the Indonesian military fired live rounds indiscriminately into a group of unarmed...

The Fijian Government on 04 October will roll out the digital VAX-Check tool, which will be made available to all workplaces, tertiary institutions, houses of worship, hotels, restaurants, cafés, cinemas, gyms, pools and tattoo parlours allowing them to open at 70 percent capacity, but only to fully-vaccinated persons. From Monday 20 September 2021, cinemas, gyms, tattoo parlours, salon/spa can apply...

A medical doctor working at Daru Hospital in Papua New Guinea became the latest death due to COVID-19 reported in less than two weeks. The doctor was medevaced to Port Moresby last Tuesday when she suffered severe distress and sadly she succumbed to the disease at the weekend. Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom conveyed his condolences...

Republic of Fiji Military Forces(RFMF) Commander, Brigadier General Jone Kalouniwai says national security is no longer just about the traditional threats. The new Army Commander said non-traditional threat are a new area he will need some focus on. Kalouniwai who is also part of the National Security Secretariat with the Ministry of Defence said this has helped him understand non-traditional threats...