Fiji tourism looks to India, China
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka’s busy schedule last week included a brief meeting with Indian actress, Rakul Preet Singh and her new husband, film producer Jackky Bhagnani. The couple were in Fiji for
Fiji
Spartan Fiji aims to double participants, economic impact in 2024
Spartan Race CEO Russell Nelms hopes to double the number of people participating in the Fiji event this year, and its value to the local economy. Russell Helms says the event injected FJ$6.2 million into the economy in
Fiji and Rabuka’s Peacemaking Ambitions
The prime minister is promoting his “Ocean of Peace” concept, despite significant dissonance within Fiji’s foreign policy. Speaking to a rapt audience, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared an account
USP Council votes to bring controversial VC back to Fiji
Controversial University of the South Pacific (USP) Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, will return to be based at the USP main campus in Fiji following a decision by the University Council. The
Fiji Business Briefs
Fiji Cabinet approves review of national minimum wage Fiji’s Cabinet has given the greenlight to a review of the national minimum wage and will also assess job classifications. The review will include a number of
ADB calls for more sports, retirement and medical tourism in Fiji
Continued recovery in Fiji’s tourism sector boosted the country’s overall economic growth last year, according to the Asian Development Bank. In its annual Asian Development Outlook report released this month, the
Opinion: The Climate Crises & High Debt-Levels in the Pacific: Who will pay?
As Fiji and neighbouring Pacific Island Countries face the daunting prospect of dealing with unprecedented national debt levels and the effects of climate change, the issue of how climate action will be financed becomes
Jo Nata’s journey from the dark
'We let the genie out of the bottle' Emerging out of 24 years in prison, Josefa Nata is now convinced that the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000 was not justified and that all it did was let the
Opening Fiji’s can of worms
Josefa Nata knows he’s expected to tell all, having featured prominently in the George Speight-led takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in 2000. In the long history of Fiji’s coups since 1987, this was not only the
Prison ‘dark culture’
Josefa Nata claims Fiji’s prison system is perpetuating what he describes as a “dark culture” of cover ups of the abuse of prisoners’ rights, including uninvestigated deaths, and has met with Prime Minister
Reversing the tide of colonial anthropology
Doctor Tarisi Vunidilo has emerged as a leading voice in the growing movement across the Pacific in recent years to repatriate Pacific treasures, as well as human remains from museums across Europe and other parts of
Dealing with dengue: Pacific looks to new tools
Climate change and increased urbanisation are driving an increase in dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases and the Pacific is responding with a suite of new interventions and tactics. The World Health Organization
Pacific obesity rates continue to concern
Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and
Fiji Business Briefs: Fuel prices up, Vanua Levu road project, Movers and Shakers
Revised fuel and LPG prices for April 2024 The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has released new regulated prices for various fuel products effective from 1 April 2024. Unleaded fuel has gone up by nine
Fiji Business Briefs: RBF on Fiji’s outlook, Aviation school to expand
RBF says inflation, job vacancies up The Reserve Bank of Fiji says indications are Fiji’s economy will grow in 2024. In a recent statement, RBF Governor, Ariff Ali said while consumption spending was positive—due to
Absolute discharge for Bainimarama, fine without record of conviction for Qiliho
Suva, Fiji: When Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau took her seat in court this morning to deliver her sentence against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, she warned
Opinion: Where did that Chinese police video come from?
Last night’s 60 Minutes broadcast in Australia featured extraordinary footage of 2017 Chinese police raids in Fiji, followed by the extraction of 77 People’s Republic of China citizens, hooded
Opinion: Yes, there are Chinese police in Fiji. But that’s none of Australia’s business
Sunday’s episode of 60 Minutes revealed a fascinating tension within the Fijian government about whether to embrace a 2011 agreement signed with the Chinese government that allows Fijian police officers to receive
Chinese Communist Party-Backed Businessman in Fiji is a Top Australian Criminal Target
Prominent Fiji-based businessman Zhao Fugang is a trusted advocate for China’s interests in the Pacific. But Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies suspect he plays another part: as a senior organized
Where is USP heading amid a gathering storm?
In February 2021, the University of the South Pacific (USP) was plunged into crisis when Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia was unceremoniously thrown out of Fiji following a middle-of-the-night raid on his campus
International blunder or domestic strategy?
Fiji's position on Israel could hint at paradigm shift South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been described as involving two competing narratives: one, about a displaced
Is the Pacific moving fast enough on Kava protection?
Pacific Island nations are considering implementing Geographical Indication (GI) protections for kava to safeguard its reputation and uniqueness. This move aims to capitalise on the growing global demand for kava and