US

New directory to connect Pacific exporters with US consulting companies

The directory provides a list of U.S. companies with expertise in business-to-business matchmaking, distribution, marketing, and biosecurity compliance who are eager to work in Fiji and other Pacific markets. The directory is follow-up from the March 2021 Direct Line virtual conference “Growing the Fiji Brand: U.S. Services Needed” that attracted dozens of companies from across the United States eager to help Pacific exporters thrive.

US fires warning shots at Iranian boats in Gulf

The Pentagon said 13 fast boats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came within 140m (459ft) of US vessels on Monday.

The Iranian vessels left after 30 warning shots were fired, the Pentagon said.

This is the second such incident in the region in two weeks.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby accused the Iranian boats of "acting very aggressively" near the US military vessels, which were escorting USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine.

Repatriation flight for Samoan citizens overseas cancelled

The news of the cancellation was made by the Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Center, Agafili Shem Leo, over the weekend.

RNZ Pacific reprots Agafili said Fiji Airways, which was to operate the flight carrying stranded Samoans including sailors from Europe, had cancelled the flight.

He did not clarify if the flight had been rescheduled or if any other plans had been made to bring these people home.

Meanwhile, he advised that the government has secured enough Covid-19 vaccines to complete the Mass Vaccination Programme.

Indianapolis FedEx gunman was former employee

Police named the suspect as 19-year-old Brandon Hole, who last worked at the company in 2020.

He began shooting "randomly" almost immediately after exiting his car, according to police.

Seven people were also injured and the gunman apparently killed himself before police arrived, officials say.

This is the latest incident in a recent uptick of mass shootings across the US.

The victims in Thursday's shootings have not yet been named.

A statement from FedEx chairman and CEO Frederick Smith described the incident as a "senseless act of violence".

US agencies call for pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said six cases in 6.8 million doses had been reported and it was acting "out of an abundance of caution".

Following the news, South Africa, the first country to use the jab, said it would suspend its rollout.

Johnson & Johnson said it would also delay its vaccine drive in Europe.

The US move follows similar rare cases in the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has prompted some curbs in its use.

Reports of shooting at Knoxville, Tennessee high school with one dead and multiple victims - police

One person has been killed in the shooting, Local 10 News reports, citing a police statement.

"Multiple gunshot victims reported, including a KPD officer. The investigation remains active at this time," Knoxville police said on Twitter.

Authorities did not say if the gunman had been taken into custody but the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that one person had been detained in connection with the shooting.

Television news images showed police and fire crews surrounding Austin-East High School in east Knoxville.

US rules out vaccine passports

Schemes to introduce such passports have been touted around the world as a way to enable safe circulation of people while fighting the pandemic.

The US said it did not and would not support a "system that requires Americans to carry a credential".

America has lost more than half a million lives to the virus.

Nearly 31 million cases have been registered, making the US the country worst affected by the pandemic, figures from Johns Hopkins University indicate.

Stray dog in US adopted after repeatedly breaking into store to steal stuffed unicorn

Sisu, a one-year-old stray, came to the Dollar General store in Kenansville, North Carolina, five times to steal the same stuffed toy when animal control was called on Tuesday NZT, CNN reports.

The Duplin County Animal Control officer who attended the scene to take Sisu away didn't leave him empty-pawed, however, as he decided to buy the coveted toy for him instead.

US and allies promise one billion jabs for South East Asia

The joint commitment was made following the first leaders' meeting of the so-called Quad - a group formed in 2007.

The vaccines - expected to be the single-dose Johnson & Johnson product - are set to be manufactured in India.

The US said the "massive joint commitment" would initially focus on delivering doses to South East Asia.

US passes half a million Covid deaths

It comes just over a year after the first infection of the novel coronavirus, first detected in China, was recorded on the US west coast.

The grim milestone will be marked by a candle-lighting ceremony and moment of silence at the White House. President Joe Biden will also deliver remarks.

More than 28.1 million Americans have been infected - another global record.