Author: TMC Palau

[Photo: Reuters] Western Europe was in the grip of a heatwave on Wednesday that claimed dozens of lives, disrupted power supplies, shut schools and cultural landmarks, as forecasters warned the extreme temperatures could persist until the end of the week. Smashing previous records, Britain logged its highest temperature for June, reaching 35.8 degrees Celsius in southern England as a heat dome hovered over much of Western Europe. France recorded its hottest day since records began nearly 80 years ago, when temperatures peaked at 44.3 C in the southwestern town of Pissos on Tuesday. At least 48 people have died in…

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has formally outlined its final position on its political future, proposing a three-stage pathway towards self-government and eventual independence.President Ishmael Toroama presented its position to the independent facilitator who is overseeing the joint technical consultations between the ABG and the Papua New Guinea government.Bougainville would continue preparations for self-government until 1 September 2027, focusing on strengthening institutions, governance systems, peace and security, and economic readiness.From that date, Bougainville would enter a period of self-government, “exercising the fullest practical and constitutional authority available under the existing legal framework, including additional powers provided under Section 289 of…

[Photo: FILE] The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji has rejected claims by Interlink Shipping Ltd that its concerns have been ignored. MSAF says it has already held several discussions with the operator and other stakeholders on issues affecting the maritime sector. The Authority said matters involving crewing, certification requirements and workforce shortages are not new and remain under ongoing engagement with industry players. It said that these concerns have been overlooked do not reflect the discussions and actions already taken. MSAF acknowledged the shortage of qualified seafarers but stressed that any request to recruit foreign crew must meet legal, certification,…

[Photo: FILE] McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women head coach Mike Legge expects a tough and physical contest when his side takes on the Queensland Reds this weekend, with a home semifinal spot on the line. Legge said the Reds are likely to deliver a similar challenge to what they showed during the preseason, particularly through a powerful forward pack. “We expect them to be really physical up front. They’ve got a very formidable forward pack, especially with the likes of Eva Kapani and Tanya Kalounivale strengthening them, so we know we’ll be up against some big ball runners.” The Drua coach…

Late last year, at the Australasian Aid and International Development Conference at the Australian National University, I attended a session titled “Whose question, whose answer? Participatory design in every stage of development projects”. One panellist, Idris Jala, former CEO of Malaysia Airlines and current Chairman and CEO of the private consulting firm PEMANDU Associates, spoke about Malaysia’s “Lab and Open Day” approach to public sector reform. His insights were timely for Papua New Guinea, where concerns about persistent weaknesses and decline in service delivery are consistently highlighted in policy discussions and in government and development reports. Listening to Jala, I…

Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation Chief Executive Edward Bernard. [Photo: FILE] The private sector is calling for a balanced national Budget that supports businesses while also easing rising living costs. It warns that the high cost of doing business is placing pressure on economic growth and employment. Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation Chief Executive Edward Bernard states businesses are hoping the budget will support both economic recovery and social needs without leaning too heavily on one side. He said the top concern remains the rising cost of doing business, driven by high fuel, freight and food prices.Article continues after advertisement…

Analysis: During the fuel crisis, Pacific Island countries have scrambled to secure their own fuel supply, forcing them to lean on their wealthy neighbours and multilateral donors.This triggered a region-wide economic slowdown and driven a managed, yet sharp, increase in fuel and electricity costs throughout the Pacific.According to fuel price schedules released by Pacific governments regularly from February to June, Fiji has doubled the maximum price for diesel in urban centres in the main island, Viti Levu, such as Suva and Nadi.Samoa has lifted its diesel ceiling by more than two thirds during that time, Tonga by more than 60…

[Photo: KELERA DITAIKI] Poor drainage, weak waste management and a lack of electricity remain major challenges in dozens of informal settlements across Nasinu. A six-week survey identified 51 informal settlements within the municipality. The survey provided authorities with a better understanding of the conditions faced by thousands of residents. Nasinu Town Council Chief Executive Felix Magnus explained that the findings highlighted key gaps in services and infrastructure.Article continues after advertisement Magnus pointed out that the profiling exercise identified settlements without electricity. He says solar lights have already been provided in some of these communities. “We’ve also gone to the extent…

The Fijian government has been left chasing its tail after a high-profile businessman described as a “Chinese national”, who was under investigation by the tax office for an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud case, fled the country despite having a stop-departure order against his name.Local media report that Dickson Peng, also known as Dick Peng, the owner of an electronics and technology solutions company, defrauded the Fijian government of FJ$23 million (approximately NZ$17.5m) in tax dating back to 2019.Peng, who was a prominent financier of the previous FijiFirst administration, was also at the centre of controversy surrounding his real estate development company,…

[Source: Reuters] Colombia secured their place in the World Cup Round of 32 with a game to spare after a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in Group K, with Daniel Munoz scoring the winner after the South Americans had been frustrated for much of the evening. Colombia moved ⁠to six points from two matches and guaranteed their progress to the knockout stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday. DR Congo remained on one point and will need a result against Uzbekistan to keep their qualification hopes ⁠alive. Colombia dominated possession and…