PINA

Australia is sending a second medical assistance team (AUSMAT) to assist Fiji’s worsening COVID-19 crisis, as diplomatic tensions in the region escalate. The rapid response has been welcomed in Fiji, with the Pacific nation recording 873 new COVID-19 cases in the Health Ministry's latest figures on Monday. Opposition MP Biman Prasad told SBS News the situation in the country is deteriorating. “There...

Fiji has reported 647 new cases of COVID-19 and one COVID-19 death Tuesday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong says the COVID-19 death  is a 58-year-old man from Delaivalelevu who died at home. He said the man’s family reported that he had been feeling unwell for one week. “He received his first dose of the vaccine in...

Fiji is among other Pacific island countries that will face a longer period of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 because it has depended on tourism as a major income. In addressing the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting from Washington DC in America Tuesday, International Monetary Fund deputy managing director Tao Zhang said the region may not get back to the...

By Brian Lezutuni Climate finance brings in big money – more than SBD$1.1 billion SBD (US$159.6 million) in the past 10 years. If initiatives to be put to the Forum Economic Ministers’ meeting this week are endorsed Solomon Islands may see that figure increase – with private sector involvement. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Climate Finance adviser Exsley Taloiburi says at a...

Samoa's caretaker HRPP administration and its leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi have been accused of an unprecedented attack on the rule of law. The call comes from the winner of April's election, majority party FAST, which has raised concern about what it described as "disturbing developments" in recent days. This includes the HRRP lodging a complaint to the Judiciary Services Commission, accusing...

The Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm, that arrived in Papua New Guinea last month was launched Tuesday at the Port Moresby General Hospital. This means that it will now be rolled out as one of the COVID-19 vaccines through the National country's Department of Health's vaccine distribution system. It is for persons aged 18 years old and above and is recommended for two...

Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected Pacific economies and exacerbated the Pacific region’s vulnerabilities to external shocks as developing and small island developing states. Speaking at his first virtual Forum Economic Minister Ministers Meeting (FEMM2021), Puna said the International Monetary Fund (IM)F has forecasted a negative economic outlook for the region. “Economic output measured GDP...

Global hunger levels have skyrocketed because of conflict, climate change and the economic impact of COVID-19; and one in five children around the world is stunted, UN agencies warned on Monday. New data that represents the first comprehensive global assessment of food insecurity carried out since the coronavirus pandemic began, indicates that the number of people affected by chronic hunger...

Nauruans stranded in Fiji because of COVID-19 border restrictions could be making their way home soon. Discussions were being held between the Nauru COVID-19 Taskforce and its national carrier on the possibility of repatriating Nauruans from Fiji and Taiwan. Nauru president Lionel Aingimea said Fiji was of concern given the highly infectious Delta strain circulating within its communities. A Nauru goverment statement...

Civil society organisations from around the world are calling on trade ministers to ensure that negotiations on fisheries subsidies at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) don't undermine development aspirations of small-scale fishing communities and developing countries - but target those most historically responsible for the state of global overfishing. “The current text of the negotiations is providing permanent loopholes for...