PINA

Fijian importers and exporters will have greater access to finance under a partnership between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and HFC Bank that’s expected to boost trade and support economic growth and jobs in Fiji. Under an agreement announced today, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in...

Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua has made nine changes to his starting XV from the team that lost 28-22 against Japan, with only Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Tumua Manu and Duncan Paia’aua retaining their places. Jonathan Taumateine will partner Lima Sopoaga in the halves for only the second time after they started alongside each other against Ireland...

Many rugby fans in Fiji go to great lengths to watch the Flying Fijians in action at the Rugby World Cup. The players know this and also notices the commitment by their fans back home. Pictures of Fijians watching a game out at sea or some crowding behind a mobilefone in the highlands always hit social media after a match. Halfback Frank...

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has released the team lists for the PNG LNG Kumuls and the PNG Orchids Thursday. In a statement, PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina, together with PNG LNG Kumuls Chairman, Wapu Sonk and the newly appointed Chairlady for the Santos PNG Orchids, Celestine Ove announced the 21-person squads. PNG LNG KUMULS SQUAD 1 Alex Johnston 2 Benji...

The PNG Hunters head coach, Stanley Tepend has stepped down as head coach, due to personal reasons and no longer feels that he can give the role the attention it deserves. SP PNG Hunters Board and Management have reluctantly accepted the resignation. They expressed disappointment to see Tepend go but would like to thank him for his services over the past...

Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis and Table Tennis are among the first to kick off sports competitions at this year’s 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. According to the recently released Games Sports Schedule, all five sports will start Thursday 17 November, two days prior to the Games Opening Ceremony. Football competitions will kick off at Lawson Tama and the new SIFF Academy...

Japan began releasing a second batch of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant on Thursday, the plant's operator said, as tensions with neighbouring countries over the move continue to fester. Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) started the process at around 10:20 a.m. “We would like to continue approaching this with the utmost caution,” Kenichi Takahara, a...

Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna says the signing of the Samoa Agreement – the successor to the Cotonou Agreement next month will be a historic occasion for the Pacific sub-region. Puna made the remarks at the Pacific ACP Trade Ministers Meeting at the Forum Secretariat in Suva. “The Pacific ACP Ministers and high-level representatives from the 27 EU member states will...

Australia will rejoin the world’s major global climate finance fund, reversing a Morrison government decision to withdraw from the United Nations initiative. The Abbott and Turnbull governments provided $200 million (US$126 million) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) between 2015 and 2018 before then-prime minister Scott Morrison announced he would no longer “tip money into that big climate fund”. The Morrison...

A drought has been declared for Tongatapu and ‘Eua, with alerts for Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu, and warnings for Ha’apai and Vava’u this month by Tonga Meteorology. A rain deficit is forecast for the coming months within this El Nino period. In the last three months, the rainfall in Tongatapu was below the the average rainfall within three months. Tonga Met reported drier...