Fiji’s Minister for Women resigns
Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa has resigned from Fiji’s cabinet. Vuniwaqa’s resignation takes effect today, several sources close to cabinet have confirmed. She
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Climate, Covid and Co-ordination: Forum leaders hold online summit
A virtual summit of the Pacific Islands Forum will be held this Friday 6 August, after the annual face-to-face meeting of presidents and prime ministers was again disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. After the 2020
Tides that bind: Australia and Pacific leadership
Richard Marles has a passion for the Pacific. In his new book ‘Tides that bind: Australia in the Pacific’, the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) argues that Australia should play a greater leadership
Can the Fijianas make history in Tokyo?
After an impressive outing in their pool games, Fiji’s women’s rugby 7s side, the Fijianas, have secured a place in the quarter finals at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The women have shown great improvement in their
Fiji Airways returns two planes ahead of schedule
Fiji Airways has returned two A330-200 aircraft to Etihad Airways group months ahead of the end of its lease. Fiji Airways leased the Island of Beqa (DQ-FJO) and Island of Vatulele (DQ-FJP) in 2018 to “boost the
A view of Bill 17 of 2021
Earlier this month, the government, in the context of its annual budget process, introduced a Bill (“Bill 17”) to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act (TLTA) – the “iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Act,
Fiji Wins Gold in Tokyo: Mission Accomplished
Fiji’s flag is flying high again as the country’s men’s rugby 7s team successfully defended its gold medal after a thrilling final against old rugby rivals New Zealand last night. The nail biting encounter was a
Fiji and NZ to meet in 7s gold medal clash
New Zealand and Fiji will meet in the gold medal match of the men’s Olympic sevens tournament at Tokyo 2020 tonight. The Fiji 7s men’s team shrugged off an unwavering Argentina side this afternoon. Young Sireli
Tokyo 2021: Pacific athletes ready to go
Let the Games Begin! Once again we will get to hear this iconic line as the Summer Olympic Games sets up for another momentous opening ceremony in Tokyo tonight. Despite the long delays and seeds of doubt conjured by
Fiji’s new budget: significant fiscal challenges
The task that the Fiji government has faced since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis has been challenging, involving difficult choices and adjustments. Despite rising case numbers and deaths, there is an obvious tension
Nine COVID-19 cases in Fiji travellers to NZ
Nine cases of COVID-19 have been detected among travellers from Fiji to New Zealand in the past week, a senior health official said. Fiji is grappling with a worsening Covid crisis, with over 15,686 people reported to
Oil Search rejects Santos bid
Oil Search rejected an unsolicited scrip-based takeover proposal from Santos Ltd that valued the Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer at AUD$8.8 billion (US$6.5 billion), the two companies said on Tuesday.
No progress on Fiji bubble until COVID is controlled: Australia
Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific says Australia will want to see COVID cases under control in Fiji before any commitment can be made on a travel bubble. When Fiji’s Minister for
First delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Tokelau complete
Tokelau has received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, with a 5000 nautical mile trip to transport Pfizer vaccines now complete. HMNZS Wellington has successfully delivered the vaccine consignment to the Fakaofo,
Telstra in talks to buy Digicel Pacific with Australian government support
Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) says it was in discussions to buy the Pacific operations of telecom company Digicel Group, with the support of the Australian government, which will likely fund the majority of the deal amount.
Fiji’s Vuniwaqa vies for top UN Women job
Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa has applied to be the new executive director of UN Women, the United Nations agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of
Fiji, the World Bank and debt
When Fiji’s Minister for Economy delivers his budget address this evening many eyes will be on figures around the country’s debt-to GDP ratios. This week, Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers were preoccupied
COVID-19 Delta variant reported in PNG
A single positive COVID-19 case with the Delta mutation has been detected in Papua New Guinea. Deputy Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom confirmed a 65-year-old Philippine national
Fiji COVID cases hit 1200 in a day
As Fiji’s daily COVID-19 cases hit 1,200 in a 24 hour period, Fiji’s top health official is looking to bring in more retired health workers, recent graduates and civil servants to help boost medical and health
Economist says Guam’s economic future remains unpredictable
Guam’s post-lockdown economic activity may have returned to “some semblance of normalcy or some notion of what it was before,” but unpredictable variables are clouding the long-term outlook for the island, Bank of
Still no news on the appointment of Niue Premier as USP Chancellor
Niue is preparing for the graduation of a large cohort of University of the South Pacific students in October this year. The call for applications to graduate is now open until the end of the month says USP Niue
BSP and FASU clash over alleged money laundering warning
The Bank South Pacific Financial Group Ltd (BSP) has always complied with its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) obligations in Papua New Guinea, says chairman Sir Kostas Constantinou. He made
The crisis of governance in PNG’s power sector
The recent spate of power outages (70 in a week according to the Post Courier), and the sudden resignation of yet another PNG Power Chief Executive Officer after only nine months in the job have brought into stark
