PINA

By Aden Miles Morunga When will the world stop colonising the Pacific? The Pacific Ocean is home to species of cultural and environmental importance. The Fukushima radioactive water discharge and the emergence of deep sea mining have raised new concerns about neocolonialism in this region. Fukushima radioactive water discharge In 2011, a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, leading to a meltdown at the...

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has expressed gratitude for the prayers and support of friends, family and well-wishers following his acquittal in court Thursday. He also extended his thanks to his legal team and Magistrate Seini Puamau, whom he credited with clarifying what he described as the “confusion” caused by the Criminal Investigations Department’s alleged “trumped-up charges.” “We want to thank...

Concerns of political interference in the command and control of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is among the grounds that will be pursued by suspended Chief of Defence, Major General Mark Goina in his appeal against his suspension if the court grants him leave to appeal. Goina seeks leave to review the decision of the National Executive Council (NEC)...

The first Archipelagic Island States (AIS) Forum High Level Meeting (HLM) has concluded at the Bali International Convention Centre, in Bali, Indonesia. Fiji's delegation was led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications Manoa Kamikamica. In his contribution to the meeting, DPM Kamikamica highlighted the enormous challenges Fiji faces as Small Island...

China is to deploy its first neutrino telescope in the western Pacific Ocean, to decipher the origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. The relative blueprint was released by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), who led the research, at a press conference on Tuesday. Carrying out the first expedition in the South China Sea in 2021, the team found a favorable site...

Following the second release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant (5 October), a team of international researchers have addressed concerns and misinformation. Beginning in August and continuing for the next 30 years, treated water contaminated by the 2011 meltdown of the plant is being slowly released into the Pacific Ocean. Several nations and international groups have raised concerns...

England have been using some of their players at training to play the role of the man known in France as ‘La Machine’, Levani Botia. The Naitasiri man is a threat at the breakdowns in this World Cup and this is one of the reasons England coach Steve Borthwick will try to minimise the involvement of the Fiji Water Flying...

The back row was plucked from obscurity – and a job in a high-security prison – and hopes to drive Fiji to their first World Cup semi-final At times on the pitch, Levani Botia’s mind drifts. The flanker thinks back to his childhood, walking up mountains to find enough reception to watch the Flying Fijians, whom he will represent...

The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee’s justification committee has approved an overall contingent of 520 for Team PNG to the 2023 Solomon Islands Pacific Games. Team PNG will compete in 20 sports and the contingent comprises of athletes, officials, management and medical staff. PNGOC in a statement yesterday said they were making every effort to raise funds through fundraising events and...

Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau has acquitted former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama of charges related to perverting the course of justice. The man who ruled Fiji for 16 years was facing allegations he interfered in a police investigation into the University of the South Pacific (USP). Puamau asserted that the State failed to establish a compelling case against the former Prime...