Author: TMC Palau

Businessman Sanjay Kaba has been acquitted of a charge of obtaining a financial advantage following a ruling by the Suva Magistrates Court. The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption had charged Kaba with one count of obtaining a financial advantage. FICAC had alleged that while serving as a board director of Telecom Fiji Limited and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings between 2017 and 2018, Kaba used information obtained through his position to secure a project management contract for his company, Houng Lee-Kaba Jacob Pte Limited. The prosecution alleged that the company later received more than $766,000 from Telecom Fiji Limited as a result.Article…

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) has resumed its Manila-Saipan service and launched flights to Palau as it expands its international network. “This launch reinforces Manila’s position as a key regional transit hub while strengthening its role as a gateway for medical tourism,” PAL President Richard Nuttall said in a media release over the weekend. Saipan, a US territory, is PAL’s seventh destination in the United States, alongside Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Guam, and Honolulu. The Manila-Saipan route complements PAL’s existing Pacific network, which includes flights to Guam, Honolulu, and services to Palau via Cebu.…

A refugee advocate says the Australian government is refusing to medivac a severely ill Kurdish-Iranian man currently in Port Moresby.However, Australia’s Home Affairs Department says it is Papua New Guinea’s responsibility to care for the 60 deportees from Australia still in the country from the offshore detention programme.Aust govt refusing to medivac ill refugee – advocatePacific WavesHatam Yekta, 36, was first sent to Manus Island in 2013 after seeking asylum from Iran. Since then, his family and advocates say his health has rapidly deteriorated.The Refugee Action Coalition said he is one of 12 refugees still in Papua New Guinea after…

Tickets for the 2026 BiC Fiji FACT are qucikly selling out, with football fans snapping up seats since sales opened last week. Fiji Football Association Head of Media and Communications, Avikash Chand, confirmed that all VVIP tickets have been sold out, while general admission tickets are also moving quickly. With the tournament set to kick off at 1pm today, Chand is urging supporters to secure their tickets early to avoid missing out. Each team will play three pool matches over the weekend, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the semi-finals.Article continues after advertisement The semi-finals are…

The Ministry of Health is hoping the 2026-2027 National Budget will address long-standing concerns around staff remuneration, overtime payments and working conditions as Fiji continues to battle the migration of healthcare workers. Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu says while the Ministry has requested additional funding, Government must balance competing priorities across all ministries. Dr […] Source link

Fiji Pearls head coach Michelle Parsons has outlined a detailed and evidence driven approach behind the selection of the national squad ahead of upcoming international commitments. Parsons explained that the selection process extended well beyond the final trial day, with all trial matches filmed and supported by statistical data collected by bench officials. She said the selection panel continued reviewing footage and performance metrics right up until the final squad was confirmed to ensure no player was overlooked. “The process went beyond Saturday. We had video footage and stats from every game, and we were still reviewing everything with the…

Solomon Islands is beginning an important national conversation about free education. At one level, the idea is simple and powerful: no child or young person should be denied education because their family cannot afford it. In a country where many families carry heavy financial burdens, this aspiration deserves serious support. But free education is not simple in practice. Education is never literally free. Teachers must be paid. Classrooms, libraries, laboratories and workshops must be maintained. Universities need lecturers, internet, utilities, student services and accommodation. Schools need learning materials, inspection systems and trained teachers. What free education really means is that…

Labasa head coach Alvin Chand is confident his side is well-prepared to defend its title when the 2026 BiC Fiji FACT kicks off this afternoon. Chand said the team’s focus over the past few weeks has been on refining the fundamentals of their game, emphasizing the importance of executing the small details correctly. The Babsiga Lions will open their campaign against Suva this evening at 7:30pm and are aware of the significance of securing a positive result to build momentum for the tournament. “We know Suva will be going all out this afternoon. We are also aware that winning against…

Minister for Public Enterprises Charan Jeath Singh. [Photo: FIJI GOVERNMENT/ FACEBOOK] Public sector executives should no longer be rewarded based solely on their positions or years of service, but on measurable performance and results. Minister for Public Enterprises Charan Jeath Singh says executive remuneration must be tied to accountability, clear targets and outcomes that deliver value for the people of Fiji. Speaking at the Second Annual Higher Salaries Commission Seminar in Suva, Singh says while competitive salaries are necessary to attract capable leaders, pay structures must also consider affordability, transparency and value for money. Singh says State-Owned Enterprises and public…

[Photo: SUPPLIED] Fiji is exploring potential financial support from Japan to help fund major infrastructure projects aimed at improving public services and strengthening national development. Officials from the Ministry of Public Enterprises met with a delegation from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to discuss possible areas of collaboration and investment. The discussions covered key sectors including transport, water, ICT, ports and waste management. JBIC shared its experience in financing large-scale infrastructure projects globally and outlined possible funding mechanisms, including loans, equity participation and guarantees.Article continues after advertisement The meeting focused on how international financing and technical expertise could support…