PINA

Fiji has reported 115 new cases of COVID-19 and one death Friday. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the majority of these cases are related to existing clusters of transmission or to localities where significant transmission has occurred. “These localities are well known areas of concern that we have discussed in our updates throughout the...

Well-known Suva employment lawyer Jon Apted says under Fiji's 2013 Constitution, no person can be vaccinated against their will without a court order. However, he says, in the workplace, an individual’s right not to be vaccinated has to be balanced against the rights of others. “The Constitution gives everyone other rights such as the right to life, the right to health,...

More than 40 Cook Islands tourism operators have signed up to display their products at a trade expo in Auckland next month. The idea was tabled early this month when Cook Islands Tourism Australasia general manager Graeme West called for feedback at a global breakfast update hosted by the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, at the Edgewater Resort and Spa. On Wednesday,...

An Human Rights Political Party (HRPP) Associate Minister has had his election in the seat of Sagaga No. 2 declared void by the Samoa Supreme Court following a legal challenge, triggering a by-election. This means previously elected Member of Parliament, Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli, a member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) has been removed from his seat after being...

Drought is a hidden global crisis that risks becoming “the next pandemic” if countries do not take urgent action on water and land management and tackling the climate emergency, the UN has said. At least 1.5 billion people have been directly affected by drought this century, and the economic cost over roughly that time has been estimated at US$124billion. The...

There could be a possible third wave of COVID-19 in PNG, however, this will depend on the risk of importation of variants. When asked to clarify about this potential third wave of COVID-19 in PNG, WHO PNG acting country representative Dr Anna Maalsen told Post Courier that they are currently keeping an eye on the testing and data reporting that...

Fiji has reported 91 new cases of COVID-19 and one death attributed to the virus. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said these figures were for new case notifications received between Wednesday night and 8am Thursday. He said 49 of the new cases reported have been confirmed in the existing clusters: Waila – 1, Rewa EOC –...

Fiji has reported another staggering 121 new cases of cOVID-19 Wednesday marking another single occasion of three-digit case numbers recorded. Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said 61 of those cases are linked to the existing clusters: Korovou – 1, IMT – 8, CWMH – 26, Tramline, Nawaka, Nadi – 5, Nawajikuma, Nawaka, Nadi – 1, Kinoya – 1,...

In a decision citing American Samoa cultural traditions, those born in the U.S. territory shouldn’t have citizenship automatically forced on them, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling reverses a lower court ruling that sided with three people from American Samoa who live in Utah and sued to be recognised as citizens. The...

The Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, John Patteson Oti, on behalf of Parliament has congratulated Peter Kenilorea Jr, Member of Parliament for East Are and Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee (FRC), on his successful appointment as the President of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly and Co-President of the ACP-EU...