Author: TMC Palau
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the government is reconsidering whether the Municipal Elections scheduled for September should proceed. Speaking to FBC News this morning, Rabuka confirmed that a review will be carried out to determine government priorities amid current economic pressures. He acknowledged concerns over the short timeframe between Municipal Elections and the next General Election, as well as other key priorities including the review of the Constitution. “The things that we need to complete, the Constitution review, the processes in Parliament, the Referendum, any changes in Electoral law, all that needs to be incorporated into the law and then…
The CNMI’s Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) approved a sharp increase in its fuel surcharge driven by soaring global diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Photo: Quin Tauetau Still reeling from the devastation of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) could soon face the highest electricity prices in the United States and its territories. This comes after the CNMI’s Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) approved a sharp increase in its fuel surcharge driven by soaring global diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission…
source: reuters G7 finance ministers gathering in Paris on Monday will try to find common ground on tackling global economic tensions and coordinating critical raw material supplies, even as geopolitical differences threaten to test the group’s cohesion. The two-day meeting follows a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing that yielded few concrete economic breakthroughs, as tensions over Taiwan and trade simmered beneath a display of diplomatic cordiality. At the core of the Paris agenda will be what French Finance Minister Roland Lescure described as deep-seated global economic imbalances that are fuelling trade friction…
source: AAP James Cameron is hoping to cut costs for his next Avatar movies. The 71-year-old filmmaker released the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, last year and still has plans for the fourth and fifth movies in the franchise. They haven’t officially been green lit but Cameron is working on a way to make them “in half the time for two thirds of the cost” of the previous instalments. “I’ll be doing some writing, I’ve got a number of projects I’m cooking. And Avatar 4 and 5 are still floating out there,” he told the Empire Film Podcast.Article continues…
Vanuatu United FC’s Nicolas King and his team celebrate scoring the winning goal to put Vanuatu into the semi finals. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz A 10-man Vanuatu United team came back from the dead to beat Bula FC 2-1 in the semifinal playoff at the OFC Pro League at the Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Sunday afternoon. The win sees them secure a semifinal spot against top team South Melbourne FC on Wednesday at the same venue. Replacement Azaria Soromon claimed a goal to draw level just before fulltime after Bula FC had led 1-0 for almost 90…
The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation is calling on government to prioritize local industries, jobs and productivity in the upcoming national budget. The federation says these areas are critical if Fiji is to achieve long-term economic growth targets. FCEF Chief Executive Edward Bernard says it has already submitted its budget recommendations to government ahead of the national budget announcement in late June. “Basically what we have proposed is safeguarding local industries, local jobs, and improving productivity.”Article continues after advertisement Bernard says Fiji must focus on strengthening key sectors to support future economic growth. “So that we are able to make…
The Consumer Council is calling for stronger enforcement action against restaurants and cafes found breaching basic hygiene and food safety standards across Fiji. Concerns were raised during discussions on the Council’s Annual Reports, with joint inspections alongside municipal councils revealing repeated sanitation issues, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. Consumer Council Manager Research and Policy Analyst Lusia Rabaka says there have been some improvements in the Suva to Nausori corridor, while recurring hygiene violations continue to be found in parts of the Western Division. She says joint inspections have led to some traders working to correct non-compliance issues, but problems…
National powerlifter Susana Qionibaravi says her journey into the sport has exceeded expectations after claiming international success within just her first year of competition. Qionibaravi was among the athletes competing at the East versus West Powerlifting Competition held in Suva over the past two days, continuing what has been a remarkable rise in the sport. The national representative revealed she initially began with functional strength training at the gym before being encouraged by her coach, Norman, to take up powerlifting competitively. “I started from a gym just doing functional strength training… then my coach Norman advised me to start this…
When a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme worker in an Australian abattoir gets fewer shifts one fortnight, what happens to their family’s budget back in Fiji? In a new discussion paper, we use high-frequency financial diaries collected from 29 Fijian temporary migrant workers in Australia and their families back home to study how remittances respond to the ups and downs of earnings abroad. We find that negative earnings shocks are passed through to families immediately, while positive shocks tend to be absorbed by the migrant. For households in Fiji where remittances are typically the primary and often only source…
Matthew Wale was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands by the Governor-General Sir David Tiva Kapu at Government House, immediately after his election in parliament on Friday 15 May 2026. Photo: Facebook / Government Communication Unit – Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands new Prime Minister Matthew Wale completed the formation of his Cabinet over the weekend. Wale, 57, the leader of the Solomon Islands Democratic Party, was elected to the top job last Friday by secret ballot. The final group of ministers was sworn in at Government House in Honiara on Sunday. His Deputy Prime Minister…