Author: TMC Palau
[Photo: PECELI NAVITICOKO] Farmers in the North are calling on the iTaukei Land Trust Board to review agricultural land rents, saying high lease costs are adding to the financial pressures facing the sugar industry. Rent, together with fertiliser, cultivation, harvesting and other production expenses, is becoming increasingly difficult to meet amid rising living costs and declining returns from cane farming. TLTB maintains that agricultural land rents are not arbitrarily set, but are determined under legislation based on the unimproved capital value of the land. Hameed Khan is among cane farmers questioning whether the rent charged reflects the size of his…
[Photo: PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI/ FACEBOOK] Terrorist financing remains a low risk, but dirty money linked to drugs, organised crime and corruption remains a high threat. The illicit funds generated by these crimes remain a major risk to Fiji’s financial system. Financial Intelligence Unit Director Caroline Pickering assessed this while appearing before the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs to answer questions on the FIU’s 2024 Annual Report and operations. “In its regulatory role, the FIU applies a risk-based approach to supervising financial sectors and businesses. We focus our supervision efforts on the high-risk sectors, namely the real estate…
The Cook Islands goes to the polls this week for its four-yearly general election.Like all countries in the region, the Cooks has had its fair share of challenges due to global shocks in recent years, and there’s a sense that voters are looking for some stability, particularly around the cost of livingThe prime minister and leader of the Cook Islands Party, Mark Brown is in no doubt about the priority for people in this election.He said for his party it’s about consolidating the country’s growth and economic recovery since reopening borders four years ago when the Cooks emerged the Covid…
[Photo: PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI/ FACEBOOK] Police say gaps in financial intelligence are slowing the trail of money linked to serious crime. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs during its review of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit Annual Report 2024, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Meli Sateki raised concerns over how FIU reports are referred to police. Sateki points out that the Police Force has no central focal point for receiving and tracking the reports. He said information was instead sent to different specialised units and individual investigators, making it difficult to monitor and follow…
India’s recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) factsheets, covering nearly 679,000 households across 715 districts, give us an insight into the largest pillar of the global Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) network. Read closely, they also offer an important lesson in how the development sector can move past isolated metrics. For donors and ministries across the 90 countries running similar frameworks, the survey offers a playbook; for planners working on India, it offers an immediate operational guide. The lesson has become more urgent since the Trump administration dismantled USAID in early 2025. The loss of US funding in February…
Kirikiti Biu after their quarterfinal win in Tavua. In the dynamic world of youth sports, few athletes showcase the breadth and depth of talent like Marist Brothers High School under-15 rugby winger, Kirikiti Biu. His journey through multiple disciplines—track, football, and rugby—demonstrates not only exceptional physical ability but also an inspiring versatility that resonates within Fiji’s vibrant sports culture. In April, he donned his track shoes and dominated the Fiji Finals junior boys’ 100 and 200 meters, clinching two gold medals and underscoring his speed and competitive edge in athletics. His talents extend far beyond the track; just last month,…
Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama says if Papua New Guinea’s national parliament refuses to back the 2019 referendum result it will undermine the peace process.Toroama made the comment while addressing last week’s meeting in Port Moresby of the Joint Supervisory Body co-chaired by PNG’s prime minister, James Marape.As a result of the meeting, after months of uncertainty, both governments have decided that the referendum results will finally be tabled for deliberation by the national parliament on 27 August.The historic, non-binding referendum saw 97.7 per cent of respondents in the autonomous PNG region vote in favour of independence.The referendum was provided for…
[Source: AP] The trial of a man accused of orchestrating the killing of Tupac Shakur started this week with jury selection, almost 30 years after the rap legend was gunned down near the Las Vegas Strip. Attorneys began vetting potential jurors Monday for the case, which centers on one of the hip-hop world’s defining moments and enduring mysteries. Seven potential jurors were asked to return Thursday afternoon as attorneys continue the selection process Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 16 jurors will be selected for the monthlong trial. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder with…
The netball community in New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Australia are mourning the loss of former Silver Ferns’ captain Ana Noovao, who has died aged 58.The midcourter played for New Zealand between 1989 and 1992, picking up 23 test caps.Netball New Zealand said it was deeply saddened by the news. In a statement it said Noovao died peacefully on Sunday in Rockhampton, Queensland, after a long illness, surrounded by her family and loved ones.Noovao, who was hugely proud of her Cook Island heritage, was a gifted wing attack with natural creativity and was known for her calm temperament on…
[Source: Reuters] The densely populated Chinese capital of Beijing braced for the expected onset of more than one-third of its annual rainfall over 24 hours starting late on Tuesday as moisture from Typhoon Dolphin to the south converged with cool air over northern China. From Tuesday evening through Thursday, most areas in Beijing will experience heavy downpours with a cumulative rainfall of over 100mm (3.9 inches) in 6 hours and more than 150mm (5.9 inches) in 24 hours, according to the city’s meteorological service. The cumulative rainfall in districts including Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou, and Fengtai may exceed 200mm…