Fiji

Last night, the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum remained firm with Fiji’s position to investigate the matter.

“We said that there needs to be an investigation into the issue – these are taxpayer’s money. Fiji is the largest contributor by way of grant to USP.”

“If there is nothing to hide, why don’t we have an investigation? It has been highly politicised. It is a question of accountability or financing,” Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Pacific leaders from 18 member countries, including Australia and New Zealand, will gather face-to face for the first time since 2019 to discuss a basket of issues affecting the region.

The meeting, hosted by the Fijian government, is billed as one of the most significant in recent history as the region gradually emerges from the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Fijian government sees the convening as "an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reset goals and priorities for regionalism and collective action as a Forum Family".

The company's parent firm recently announced that it was moving production to Fiji with 50 jobs to be affected.

Samoa Breweries Ltd is majority owned by Paradise Beverages Ltd, and general manager Mike Spencer said in a statement it had not taken the decision lightly.

He said Samoa Breweries' commercial viability had steadily declined over the past five years due to a combination of factors including ageing machinery, the impact of the 2019 measles outbreak, followed by the disruption caused by Covid-19.

Vailima - which is advertised as 'The Taste of Samoa' - will now be manufactured at the company's Paradise Beverages facilities in Fiji.

Samoa Breweries Ltd is majority owned by Paradise Beverages Ltd whose General Manager Mike Spencer said in a statement that it had not taken the decision lightly.

The meetings were facilitated by Fiji Police Pathologist Dr James Kalougivaki where he had the opportunity to meet senior members of the Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services and Justice system in accordance with Fiji’s commitment of ensuring the exchange of shared learnings between Pacific Island law enforcement agencies.

Eroni Talemaigau won three bronze medals for Team Fiji in his division and created a new Oceania Youth record of 115kg in the Clean and Jerk.

FASANOC said the youngster lifted 82kg in the snatch and 105kg in the Clean & Jerk for a total lift of 187kg.

He was challenged by 105kg but secured two out of three votes needed to proceed to the next round.

Talemaigau missed his first two lifts in the Snatch and failed the second and third in the C and J.

Its director Vasiti Soko said the coastal inundation experienced on Wednesday was caused by a low depression to the far south of Fiji, which is slowly moving eastwards, coinciding with seasonal king tides.

Ms Soko said initial reports indicate the flooding has so far caused only minimal damage but she is urging communities in affected areas to remain vigilant as authorities continue to monitor the situation today.

"Machine guns, fighter jets... are not our primary security concern. The single greatest threat to our very existence is climate change," Fiji Defence Minister Inia Seruiratu said.

He was addressing a summit in Singapore which has focused on China-US tensions and the Ukraine war.

Cyclones have repeatedly battered Fiji and other low-lying Pacific countries.

"It threatens our very hopes and dreams of prosperity. Human-induced, devastating climate change," Mr Seruiratu told the forum, called the Shangri-La Dialogue.

With the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the international game, World Rugby has part-funded the franchises to provide an impactful environment and pathway that will ultimately benefit Fiji, Samoa and Tonga on the biggest stage – Rugby World Cup.

The selection of 43 players for the Pacific Nations Cup from Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua is an important step in that journey, providing each union with the benefit of access to a group of players performing in an environment geared towards achieving success at international level.

Fiji's Supreme Court lifted a stay order which had prevented the U.S. from seizing the superyacht Amadea.

A US Justice Department's Taskforce has focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian oligarchs in a bid to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

The 106m Amadea arrived in Fiji on 13 April after an 18-day voyage from Mexico.

It was seized by Fiji authorities after the country's High Court granted a US warrant last month that linked the yacht to sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.