by Maureen Penjueli SUVA (PANG)—The decision by the Micronesian Leaders to formally withdraw from the region’s premier political body, the Pacific Islands Forum within a year, is a move of tectonic scale whose impact which will reverberate across the region. The withdrawal comes on the back of a bruising leadership contest for the Secretary General […]
Category: Regional News
Posted inPacific News
Domestic tourism on the rise
SAIPAN, (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Over the years, tourism has been the main economic driver for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI). Attracting visitors from neighbouring Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China has always been the main focus of the industry stakeholders. But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world last year, […]
Posted inPacific News
Swift and strong condemnation of USP Vice Chancellor deportation
SUVA (PACNEWS) — Just hours after Pacific Leaders voted in a new head of its Secretariat in Fiji, the head of another regional organisation, the University of the South Pacific was deported from Fiji. USP’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ahluwalia and his wife, Sandra Price were forced out of the country after they were declared prohibited […]
Posted inPacific News
More contagious UK variant of COVID-19 may have been found In Hawaii
HONOLULU, (HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT) — A highly contagious COVID-19 variant first detected in southeast England may be present in Hawaii, state health officials said Tuesday. Test specimens from four people in Hawaii contained a molecular signal associated with the UK variant. State laboratory technicians are conducting extra analysis of the virus’s genetic information to confirm […]
Posted inRegional News
East and South Asia: Growth to recover but downside risks are high
Pandemic is threatening to reverse the progress that the regions have made towards advancing sustainable development Bangkok, 28 January — The United Nations today warned that the devastating socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for years to come unless smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience ensure a robust and sustainable recovery of […]
Posted inRegional News
Disappointing Chinese vaccine results pose Setback for developing world
Brazil says CoronaVac has an efficacy rate just over 50 percent, much lower than previously announced. More than 380 million doses have already been ordered. By Sui-Lee Wee and Ernesto Londoño Scientists in Brazil have downgraded the efficacy of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine that they hailed as a major triumph last week, diminishing hopes for a shot that […]