Human Rights Defenders build regional protection strategy
Pacific human rights defenders are building a regional protection strategy in the face of challenges ranging from inadequate judicial systems to colonial-era laws and heavy-handed law enforcement. Office of the United
Josh Tatofi’s Aloha for Hawaiian Mele
Hawaiian artist - Hoku Award winner and Grammy nominee, Josh Tatofi - picked up the Best International Pacific Artist award at New Zealand’s Pacific Music Awards in 2023, adding to his growing international profile
IMO to open regional office in Fiji to serve the Pacific
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will open its seventh Regional Presence Office, in Suva, Fiji, to serve countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and
Former Fiji PM, suspended police commissioner found guilty
Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama was found guilty Thursday of illegally shutting down a sensitive police investigation, local media and a court official said. Bainimarama, a former military commander who
Opinion: The Rabuka government: a first-third assessment
Ice hockey is, almost uniquely, a game played over three thirds. You won’t find much ice hockey in tropical Fiji, but its speed and brutality certainly find parallels in the world of Fijian politics. The Sitiveni
Pacific youth to #SwipeUp4Change
Young climate activists and content creators from the Pacific are taking steps to harness the power of social media to further drive climate action in the region. Twenty young people are in Suva for a week-long workshop
Fiji Business Briefs: Energy price hike rejected, SPX results, BSP Life payout
FCCC rejects energy price hike The Fijian Competition & Consumer Commission (FCCC) has rejected Energy Fiji Limited’s (EFL) bid to increase electricity prices. EFL wanted the adoption of both fixed and variable
Fiji tourism business briefs: Rydges, latest projections
EVT will operate new Rydges Resort The future Rydges Wailoaloa being developed by owners Hari Punja & Sons at Wailoaloa Beach is expected to open in late 2026, approvals and construction permitting. When it is
Prioritise cyber risk management: ANZ
A cybersecurity expert with the ANZ bank says many organisations fail to keep their systems up to date, and as a result, they expose themselves and their customers to cyberattacks. Eli Hirschauge, ANZ’s Head of
Kīngi Tūheitia to attend inaugural meeting of Pacific traditional leaders in Fiji
Kīngi Tūheitia has accepted an invitation to meet with Pacific traditional leaders in Fiji. Fijian paramount chief Epenisa Seru Cakobau will host the meeting of leaders from Samoa, Tonga, Hawai’i and Fiji,
ANZ anticipates Fiji population growth as overseas migration slows
Fiji is poised to witness an increase in labour force expansion and economic activity, starting in 2025, due to changes in trends in international migration, says the ANZ Bank. A new report from ANZ Research projects a
USP students with big dreams
Hundreds of students from around the region this week filled the Australia Pacific Lecture Theatre at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Campus, with much eagerness to further their studies. Every year,
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga all options for future NSW Cup NRL
The NSW Rugby League has set their sights on fielding teams from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in their main competition as part of the game’s push into the Pacific. The code’s Pacific expansion remains a key
At ICJ, lawyer for Palestine rips U.S. and Fiji for defending whatever offenses Israel commits
An attorney representing Palestine at the United Nations’ highest court called out the U.S. on Monday for routinely defending Israel’s violations of international law, including its brutal 57-year occupation
Delay in glitch investigation raises concerns
The Electoral Commission of Fiji (ECF) is concerned over the prolonged delay in investigating the “glitch” that occurred during the vote counting process in the 2022 General Elections. In a statement this week, the
Fiji tourism industry celebrates leaders and innovators at annual awards
The Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa sparkled with glamour and excitement as the venue of the 2023 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards on Saturday night. The event, attended by 700 tourism operators and
WHO watches for new covid variants
Three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more than 774 million confirmed cases and more than seven million reported deaths globally, according to recent statistics by the World Health
Dropouts declining, but education challenges remain
Analysis of 2021 data on student retention and attrition of students indicates that student dropouts are gradually decreasing in the region. Data collected by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Pacific women and online abuse
Fijian women are bearing the brunt of online abuse, says the country’s Online Safety Commission (OSC). The OSC says 61.44% of Fijian women experience this form of violence while men account for 38.56%. Facebook
Lifting through his struggles: Taniela Rainibogi
Fiji’s new-found weightlifting sensation, Taniela Rainibogi, is powering his way to becoming one of the biggest names in Pacific sports, after becoming the first weightlifter from his country to win a medal in a
Australian Defence Chief unaware of Commander Naliva’s torture allegation
Australia’s Defence Force Chief was unaware a Fijian officer who became a Deputy Commander of 3000 troops was alleged to have committed torture. Colonel Penioni Naliva was appointed the Deputy Commander of the 7th
Fiji Outsourcing conference set for June
Hopes for expansion of FJ$216m industry Fiji is gearing up to host its first in-country outsourcing event, the Exploring Outsourcing in Fiji conference (EXO Fiji) in June. While Outsource Fiji has previously
Fiji Business Briefs: Ministry name change, medicinal cannabis movement, Down to Earth deal
Name Change for Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications The Ministry responsible for small businesses will have a name change, to acknowledge micro enterprises and their role in