PINA

The Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (IMR) is being prepared to conduct genomic sequencing of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) test beginning next month, National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says. “We need to speed up tests and results for a better response to the pandemic. Speed matters for us to be able to know the actual status...

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today launched the school vaccination programme and rollout of the Moderna vaccine for children aged 15 years to 17 years, a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, and Ministry of Communication. According to the Prime Minister, Fiji is the safest it has been since April thanks...

The Fijian Drua has today unveiled the first five players signed by the Club for its debut Super Rugby Pacific season in 2022. Electric backline utility Napolioni Bolaca, Flying Fijians’ hooker Tevita Ikanivere, blockbusting winger Onisi Ratave, powerful loose forward Nemani Nagusa and rising star halfback Simione Kuruvoli are onboard for Super Rugby Pacific’s newest side. The five also attained the...

The Pacific Oceania men's tennis team is celebrating a Davis Cup promotion that's been almost a decade in the making. The regional team beat Syria on Saturday to clinch promotion from Asia Oceania Group Three, alongside Hong Kong and Vietnam. They'll contest the Davis Cup World Group Two Play-offs in February for one of 12 spots in the main draw. Cook Islands...

Rich countries will continue to miss a longstanding pledge to provide poor countries with US$100bn a year in climate finance for the next four years, new analysis suggests on the eve of a crunch meeting of world leaders at the UN on Monday. The promised cash is seen as essential to gaining support from developing countries for a global climate...

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander, Brigadier General Jone Kalouniwai says instilling discipline in soldiers is at the top of his agenda. Speaking to FBC News Kalouniwai said he will implement a modernisation plan in the RFMF during his five-year term. The new Commander wants changes in staff professionalism saying he is overwhelmed with what is to come. “I think if I...

By Christopher Knaus In the pre-dawn light, beneath a water tower on the West Papuan island of Biak, Yudha Korwa lay bleeding in the dirt. Four days earlier, the young high school student, full of hope in post-Suharto, Reformasi Indonesia, had joined hundreds of other independence activists to fly the Morning Star, the banned West Papuan flag, near Biak’s harbour. Now...

Unless wealthy nations commit to tackling emissions now, the world is on a “catastrophic pathway” to 2.7-degrees of heating by the end of the century, UN Secretary General António Guterres warned on Friday. This is far beyond the one to 1.5 degree Celsius threshold, agreed by the international community as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The UN chief's remarks came...

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has admitted there is distrust between Pacific Islands Forum member countries. Speaking on Radio Fiji One’s “Na Noda Paraiminisita” programme, Bainimarama says in his capacity as Chair he aims to unite the region. Bainimarama was asked about his role and what he intends to do as Fiji will be in a leadership role for the next...

Fiji has recorded 79 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, increasing the total number of cases to 49,889 with 564 deaths since the outbreak in April. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said 35 cases are from the Western division and 44 cases are from the Central division in Vitilevu, Fiji’s main Island. “There have been 82 new recoveries to report...