PINA

OP-Ed by Sameer Chand and Lasse Melgaard Fiji recorded its strongest post-independence period of economic growth in the decade before COVID-19, underpinned by rising productivity and investment, political stability, and a booming tourism industry. While the impact of the pandemic lingers, amid a climate crisis that remains the defining challenge of our time, there are enormous opportunities that can...

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach congratulated Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) officials after opening the organisation’s headquarters in Suva. Bach was among the attendees at a ceremony to mark the opening of the building, located at Gladstone Road in the Fijian capital’s city. The building will be ONOC’s first headquarters, with the organisation saying the opening marked one of...

Papua New Guinea has launched a bid to join the NRL as the competition’s 18th team in the next broadcast cycle, receiving the backing of the country’s prime minister. As the NRL awaits the introduction of the Dolphins as the 17th team next year, Papua New Guinea has put its hand up for the license of the 18th club. The PNG...

Fijian Drua prop Samu Tawake believes the work of Head of Athletics Performance Nacani Cawanibuka is slowly showing on the field. Tawake who came off the bench last week against the Highlanders says they’re now competing for 80 minutes and they’re adapting quickly to the pace of Super Rugby. He says they’ve been put under the situation by Cawanibuka in the...

The Fiji High Court has granted an application to seize Russian superyacht Amadea berthed at the Lautoka wharf. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution applied to register a US warrant against the vessel which is owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kherimov. Following the ruling this afternoon, defence lawyer Faizal Haniff informed the court that he will be filing an...

Some Pacific island nations have been left walking a geopolitical tightrope in their response to the war in Ukraine, as they try to balance regional alliances with both the west and China and Russia. Comments by Russian president Vladimir Putin, which many have interpreted as thinly veiled threats about the potential use of nuclear weapons have also touched a nerve...

Fiji's Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula has been found guilty of one count of giving false information to a public servant and one count of obtaining a financial advantage. The matter was called before High Court Judge Justice Dr Thushara Kumarage in the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court at Suva for judgment today. In his judgment Justice Kumarage said Nawaikula falsely...

More than 5,500 jobs are set to be created with the construction of a major tuna processing plant in Solomon Islands that will provide economic security for the Pacific Islands nation and its people into the future. The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant, to be built under a public-private partnership (PPP), is also expected to generate up to US$40 million...

On 03 May every year, media workers here in the Pacific and across the globe come together to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. This year, UNESCO set “Journalism Under Siege” as the theme of celebrations, in recognition of the many digital threats media workers are faced with daily. While digital technologies and social media have presented...

On 03 May, the Palau Media Council celebrates journalists' critical role worldwide. The World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity for smaller newsrooms like what we have in Palau to highlight the need for independent local journalism. The Palau Media Council, with membership open to media practitioners residing in the Republic and affiliates from overseas, works to promote and sustain Freedom...