Author: TMC Palau
Pacific Islands Forum Troika leaders met in Suva yesterday, focusing discussions on reforming Pacific regional governance ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau next month.The meeting brought together Forum Chairperson and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.The meeting marked Mr Wale’s first official visit to Fiji since taking over the Forum chairmanship.Opening the meeting, Mr Wale said Pacific institutions must continue to adapt to an increasingly complex strategic environment.“The question before us is not whether the region will change. It will. The question is…
Members of the Wales side during a training session this week. Wales is expecting nothing short of a physical and grueling encounter when they face the FIJI Water Flying Fijians in their opening game of the Nations Championship this weekend at the Cardiff City Stadium. While they may have the home advantage, coach Steve Tandy says they will not be letting their guard down against the Fijians. The side has been recovering well from their recent clash against the Barbarians, and preparations for Sunday’s game has been coming along well. Tandy adds that this will be a good opportunity for…
[File Photo] The Electoral Commission supports the principle that rehabilitation should restore the right to stand for office, but recommends that the Commission of Review provide clarity on its scope. This is for persons who have completed a custodial sentence. The Electoral Law Reform Commission has made several recommendations concerning the qualification of candidates. It says that the conduct of recent elections has raised further questions that the Commission and the Fijian Elections Office are bringing to the Review Commission’s attention.Article continues after advertisement The qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament are set out in the Constitution. The Commissioners…
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) governor David Apatang is advising residents of Saipan, Tinian and Rota to stay up-to-date with forecasts as Typhoon Bavi approaches.An update just after midnight Friday from the National Weather Service in Guam said satellite imagery showed Bavi as a very broad, strengthening storm, forecast to become a typhoon within the next 24 hours.Bavi is forecast to continue strengthening over the next few days as it moves west-northwest toward the Marianas.The storm could potentially pass anywhere from south of Guam to north of Anatahan, in the north of the CNMI, and there will…
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32 – Spain v Austria Purchase Licensing Rights Spain put their World Cup rivals on notice with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria on Thursday thanks to a Mikel Oyarzabal double and another commanding defensive display to reach the last 16. Spain, who arrived at the tournament among the favourites and have yet to concede a goal, made a slow start with a draw against Cape Verde, but Austria had no answer to their opponents’ relentless attack and impenetrable back line on a sunny day in Southern California. While Spain’s attack, especially teenage…
Men hold a banner depicting Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. [Photo Credit: Reuters] Iran’s ruling clerics are preparing days of mass funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a show of public devotion to the Islamic Republic and proof that its revolutionary fervor still burns strong. Iran’s supreme leader was killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes in their first attack of the war and the funeral events will begin over the weekend in Tehran, with mass processions planned next week in Qom and Mashhad and…
[File Photo] The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has never been truly independent, with its commissioners often appointed in ways that lean towards the political leadership. This was part of Suva lawyer Barbara Malimali’s submission to the Constitutional Review Commission. Malimali claims the institution has moved away from its original purpose of prosecuting corrupt government officials and their private sector counterparts. She says FICAC has instead focused largely on prosecuting electoral offences and politicians.Article continues after advertisement She recommends that FICAC’s prosecutorial powers be removed and transferred to another independent layer of scrutiny, particularly the Office of the Ombudsman. Malimali…
Eight players of Pasifika heritage have been named in the All Blacks match-day 23 to battle France at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday.Captain Ardie Savea, who is of Samoan heritage, leads the pack in what is a historic game for the team’s Pacific connection in their opening Nations Championship game of 2026.All Blacks head coach David Rennie is of Cook Islands heritage, through his mother, and one of his assistants, Fa’alogo Tana Umaga is of Samoan origin.Savea is joined by Peter Lakai and Caleb Clarke in the starting lineup, in the All Blacks’ first test at the…
[File Photo] The Electoral Commission of Fiji has rejected a request by former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem for the establishment of an Independent Investigation Committee into the conduct of four Fijian Elections Office officials. In a statement, the Commission says it had considered Saneem’s request but determined that establishing such a committee falls outside its constitutional mandate. The Commission also noted that it is aware of the findings of the Chief Justice in Criminal Case HAC 165 of 2025S, in which Saneem and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum were acquitted on 26 June 2026. It stated that disciplinary matters relating…
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have both recently made changes to their construction procurement policies. These aim to promote more employment and skills development for the residents of the countries receiving the loans. But do these changes go far enough to have a major impact? Are the new requirements sufficient to provide the social licence that foreign firms and the multilateral agencies want? Will the changes overcome the reputational damage caused by the past reliance of construction firms on imported skilled workers for large projects? The PNG Government, in its national budget papers for 2025, has…