PINA

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is urging bilateral partners to open up an economic bubble that will allow export and trade in the region to help ease the economic strain impacting the Pacific Islands due to Covid-19. Marape made the appeal during the 9th Pacific Alliance Leaders’ Meeting (PALM 9) that was held virtually Friday. He told the leaders...

Fiji has reported 352 new positive COVID-19 cases and three deaths Monday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the first COVID-19 death was a 54-year-old man from Naikurukuru, Lami. He said the man was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the CWM Hospital Emergency department. “This means that he either died at...

Fijians need to help themselves if they want to see a way out of the current COVID-19 outbreak that has killed 31 people and infected over 5,000. This was highlighted by Dr Api Talemaitoga, an Auckland-based general practitioner who has been a part of New Zealand’s COVID response efforts. Dr Talemaitoga said there has also been particular concern about the spread...

China on Monday expressed grave concern over and firm opposition to Australia blocking China's COVID-19 vaccine aid to Papua New Guinea (PNG), calling it a breach of the basic humanitarian spirit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a relevant query. According to media reports, Australia has planted several “consultants” in the national...

The Australian Prime Minister has announced a four-step plan that could eventually lead Pacific Islanders to reunite with their families, but it all depends on vaccines. On Friday, Scott Morison said phase three could include freedom for vaccinated Australians to travel overseas, meaning Pacific Islanders could fly home to visit friends and relatives. He said the plan would be triggered when...

Samoa continues to be under COVID-19 State of Emergency as the Orders have been extended for another month to 01 August 2021. The extension has been approved by the Head of State on a recommendation from Cabinet according to the Press Secretariat. Meanwhile, an amended Travel Advisory was issued that gives conditions for those requesting to travel out and into Samoa...

The mortuary at Fiji’s largest hospital is now full, the country’s health ministry said on Monday, as the Pacific island nation logs record daily coronavirus cases. There were no immediate details on the capacity of the morgue. Twenty-eight people have died from COVID-19 in a second wave of infections starting in April, the ministry said on Sunday. The Colonial War Memorial...

By Nic Maclellan Japan’s Yoshihide Suga has announced a new “Pacific bonds” policy to strengthen cooperation between Japan and Forum Island Countries, as Pacific leaders joined the Japanese Prime Minister on Friday for an online summit – the ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9). In line with Australia’s “Pacific step-up” and New Zealand’s “Pacific reset”, Prime Minister Suga’s “Pacific bonds” policy...

By Mose Saitala Prime Minister Danny Philip in 2011 conceived and commenced the pursuit of the fundamental reform programme. He was ousted barely 15 months into his term in office. His successor, Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, was committal to the fundamental reform programme and propelled the country to accede to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) on...

A political commentator is urging the international community to get involved and for a politician to be dragged out of office as a new development emerges in Samoa's battle for power. Political commentator Mata'afa Keni Lesa spoke to The AM Show on Monday almost two months after FAST Party broke a month-long deadlock from the April election to claim a...