PINA

Tokelau has received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, with a 5000 nautical mile trip to transport Pfizer vaccines now complete. HMNZS Wellington has successfully delivered the vaccine consignment to the Fakaofo, Nukunonu and Atafu atolls of Tokelau. Transporting the vaccines on behalf of the Ministry of Health, HMNZS Wellington and her 76 crew utilised a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat and...

Former Health Ministry doctor Jone Hawea says Fiji Government’s “no jab, no job” policy threatens the livelihoods of those who do not wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr Hawea made the comments during a virtual discussion on Government’s ‘no jab, no job’ policy last week. Dr Hawea said he was not “anti-vaccine” but was against the manner in which Fijians...

Extreme weather events and natural disasters will continue to increase, the head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned on Monday, saying that climate change was the root cause for the torrential rainstorms and deadly floods ravaging across Western Europe this summer. Speaking to Xinhua, Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the Geneva-based WMO, said: “We have always had extreme weather events,...

Only fully vaccinated Fijians will be able to travel, go to restaurants and attend large gatherings, says Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He also said to protect against fraud, individual biometrics information would be captured to form the basis of identity authentication. While delivering the 2021-2022 National Budget last Friday, the A-G said Government was developing secure vaccine passports which were essentially...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS  Editor The 138th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) got underway in Tokyo this morning with a message of 'peace' and 'harmony' that the host government hopes will shine through when the Games that starts Friday. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga welcomed delegates from 205 National Olympic Committees with a message that despite the challenges of Covid19...

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday France and South Pacific nations would launch a South Pacific coastguard network to counter “predatory” behavior, which an adviser said was aimed at illegal fishing, as China expands its maritime reach. The United States and allies including France, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, are actively expanding their activity in the Pacific to counter...

Fiji has recorded 784 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths reported Monday. Permanent secretary for Health Dr James Fong said the new COVID-19 deaths for the period of 12 - 19 July. “The first COVID-19 death to report is a 65-year-old woman from Laucala Beach. She presented to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department in severe respiratory distress. She died 7...

Papua New Guinea has recorded three new COVID-19 cases on Friday 16 July, increasing the total number of cases to 17,467. The cases were reported in three provinces. West Sepik, East Sepik and Hela reported a single case each. Of the three reported cases, two were males and a female. Their ages range from 25 to 58 years. One out of...

Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) said on Monday it was in discussions to buy the Pacific operations of telecom company Digicel Group, with the support of the Australian government, which will likely fund the majority of the deal amount. The announcement follows a report over the weekend by the Sydney Morning Herald that said the deal could be worth AUD$2 billion...

By Wesly Morgan The first national leader to congratulate Joe Biden on his election as U.S President was Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama. There was little doubt what he wanted from the new head of the world’s most powerful nation. “Together, we have a planet to save from a climate emergency,” he tweeted. Bainimarama knew Pacific island countries had gained...