PINA

We are not giving up the fight against the COVID-19 virus in Fiji. This was the statement by Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong as the COVID-19 cases continued to soar, with a record 791 cases announced on Wednesday. Dr Fong remained adamant that the battle was not yet lost. “We are just shifting our priorities to mitigate the worst effects...

The world’s running out of time to limit global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius, a matter of life or death for climate vulnerable countries on the front line of the crisis, the UN Secretary General reiterated on Thursday. Speaking to the first Climate Vulnerable Finance Summit of 48 nations systemically exposed to climate related disasters, António Guterres said...

All employers and employees in Fiji's private sector and statutory bodies are to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 01 August, 2021 in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama highlighted this while delivering his statement Thursday night. He said: “It is simply unfair for anyone to risk the health of...

Pacific leaders Thursday (08 July) met COP26 President Alok Sharma to set out their priorities for the major climate change summit in November. Underscoring what is at stake for the Pacific, leaders and Ministers from 11 countries across the region joined a virtual dialogue hosted by the UK to outline their commitment to ramping up climate action and urge for...

The current (political) climate of ongoing turmoil and uncertainty, may well now justify the operation of the doctrine of necessity to validate the events of the 24 May 2021 swearing-in outside the chambers of Samoa Parliament so that the business of lawful governance of the nation can proceed. So ruled the Supreme Court late Thursday on the motion by the...

Fiji has reported 721 new positive COVID-19 cases and six deaths Thursday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the first COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman from Vatuwaqa. Dr Fong said a ministry response team attended to her at home and, assessing that she was severely ill, transferred her to the FEMAT field hospital. He said...

The global death toll due to COVID-19 officially passed four million late on Wednesday, marking yet another “grim milestone” and underlining the urgent need for the world to put a Global Vaccine Plan in place to get the pandemic under control, said the UN chief in a statement. “Many of us know this loss directly and feel its pain”, said...

Pacific Island Leaders and the United Kingdom convened a High Level Climate Dialogue Thursday to discuss the priorities ahead of COP26 to be held in Glasgow in November this year. The meeting led by the Secretary of State and COP26 President Alok Sharma provided an opportunity to update Pacific Leaders on the progress of key issues, and hearing first hand...

Pressure is growing on rich countries to set out exactly how they will deliver a promised US$100 billion a year in funding to help poorer nations tackle climate change, with the UN chief and Britain on Thursday calling for a clear plan. At a summit hosted by Bangladesh, finance ministers from a group of developing economies particularly vulnerable to climate...

A call from a Pacific island neighbour to phase out coal power is one of 55 recommendations the Morrison government has rejected ahead of a UN session focusing on Australia’s human rights record. Australia rebuffed the Marshall Islands’ request to phase out coal-fired power in order to limit global heating to 1.5C, as the climate crisis is increasingly framed as...