Author: TMC Palau

The program also supports Shangri-La’s Environment, Sustainability and Governance Strategy.[PICTURE:SUPPLIED] More than 100 students from two Coral Coast schools have taken part in a cultural exchange program. The initiative is aimed at broadening their understanding of Chinese arts and traditions. Students from Nadroumai Primary School and Cuvu District School joined the program at Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji, in partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of the South Pacific as part of the resort’s global Arts and Culture Month. The students took part in practical sessions on traditional Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting and other cultural activities designed to encourage…

World Rugby has denied reports that it gave Samoa an ultimatum to sort out problems over which body governs the sport in the country, or face a ban from international competition.This follows reports that the Samoan government was given 24 hours – until Friday – to accept a review of its decision to withdraw its support of Lakapi Samoa.Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt announced earlier this year that he was establishing a rival union to take over the role of Lakapi Samoa (the Samoa Rugby Union).But World Rugby denies reports that it had told Samoa that failure to accept the…

Shoppers across the nation looking to upgrade their living spaces can now take advantage of special offers following the launch of Courts annual National Bedding and Furniture Month promotion this morning. Centred around the theme ‘Sleep well, live well and furnish better’, the nationwide campaign was launched across three main outlets in the Central, Western and Northern divisions-Suva, Ba and Labasa. The event at the Rodwell Road branch in Suva was officiated by Courts Marketing General Manager Anil Senewiratne. Senewiratne says there are heaps of products on offer across all outlets and urges customers to take advantage of the special…

As demonstrated in the previous article in this two-part series, Pacific publishers have seen sharp, unexplained falls in their Facebook reach, at a time when much of the region depends on the platform for news, official information and emergency alerts. The question is why the Pacific is so exposed, and what can be done about it. Commercial estimates based on Meta’s advertising data put Papua New Guinea’s Facebook audience at about 1.5 million in late 2025, according to DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report. That is not an independently verified count of active users, but it indicates the platform’s scale. The cost…

A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for the manslaughter of Zain Kaiyum in Nasinu. Daniel O’Brien Lal pleaded guilty to manslaughter by recklessness over the fatal assault in May 2023. He was charged alongside three other men. The remaining accused have pleaded not guilty and will face trial. The High Court heard Lal and others assaulted the victim after a packet of crystals was allegedly stolen.Article continues after advertisement The court heard the victim was taken from his home and assaulted at several locations in Makoi and Nasinu. Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu said Lal…

Facebook is strangling Pacific journalism, with some news organisations losing up to 70% of their audience almost overnight. The sudden falls have hit The Pacific Newsroom, the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) and the Solomon Islands-based Melanesian News Network, raising fears that changes to Meta’s algorithms are pushing verified news out of Facebook feeds. The Pacific Newsroom recorded a 70% fall in Facebook views. Melanesian News Network founder and editor Dorothy Wickham says her outlet’s reach dropped by about 45% over four months. In Vanuatu, the has also reported a significant decline in reach and views across its main…

Samoa’s opposition leader Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi says the country faces suspension by World Rugby today because of “a dirty political move” by the government.Tuilaepa’s spoke to RNZ Pacific after the government announced that it was pulling its support of Lakapi Samoa due to “unresolved internal issues and division” at the national rugby union.”The government does not provide the Samoa Rugby Union with any financial assistance, there are no internal issues, it’s political madness on the part of the prime minister, ” Tuilaepa, who is a former Samoan PM and the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), said.RNZ Pacific…

[File Photo] The Insurance Scheme for social welfare recipients will cease from August 1 after no funding was allocated for its continuation in the 2026-2027 National Budget. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection states the scheme, administered by the Ministry of Finance will end at the start of the new financial year. The scheme provided one-off financial assistance to eligible social welfare recipients for funeral support, fire compensation and accident-related claims. The Ministry says while the insurance scheme will no longer continue, assistance in these areas will still be provided through existing government programmes and relevant agencies.Article continues…

MSAF says it will look into the incident further. {PICTURE:SUPPLIED] The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji will investigate the vessel engine failure that left six health workers and a boat operator stranded at sea before they were safely rescued. MSAF says the incident reitarates the need for everyone using sea transport to follow maritime safety requirements. The Authority says it will work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Education to improve safety awareness among communities and frontline workers. MSAF joins the nation in thanking those involved in the rescue and keeping the seven individuals…

[Photo: FILE] The Ministry of Housing says demolition of homes under the proposed Public Health Amendment Bill should only be used as a last resort, with proper consultation required before families are displaced. Permanent Secretary for Housing Manasa Lesuma says while the Ministry supports action to address unsafe and unsanitary conditions, enforcement must consider the circumstances of affected households, particularly vulnerable families living in informal settlements. He highlighted this while making a submission on the Public Health Amendment Bill. “Under the powers to demolish buildings,  the ministry recognizes that demolition may be necessary where a building presents a serious public…