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As argument rages over Japan bowing to Australian pressure to exclude Frank Bainimarama from the forthcoming PALM summit of Pacific leaders, we're newly reminded of the striking disconnect between the attitude of the Labor Government and ordinary Australians towards Fiji. Pick up any newspaper and the tough rhetoric of its politicians in the news … [Read more...] about #83 THE AUSTRALIA-FIJI DISCONNECT

Japan has damaged its close relations with Fiji by bowing to an Australian request not to proceed with plans to invite the Fijian leader, Frank Bainimarama, to an important regional conference this month. The Australian newspaper says Tokyo had been keen to ask Commodore Bainimarama to come to Japan  for the triennial PALM Forum of Pacific leaders. … [Read more...] about # 82 AUSTRALIA ENGINEERS JAPAN SNUB

Air Pacific has reached into its past to define its future with the decision to re-brand itself as Fiji Airways more than 40-years after it jettisoned the name. The airline’s new flagship aircraft –three Airbus A330-200s – will be emblazoned with the back-to-the-future moniker when they begin operating across the network in just over a year. The … [Read more...] about #81 THE STRENGTH OF BRAND FIJI

Fiji has a new Miss World contestant after a debacle that has shamed the local organisers and severely dented sponsor confidence in the country’s ability to stage credible events. The original winner of the competition – 16-year old Torika Watters – has been deemed ineligible, on the grounds of age, to participate in the forthcoming Miss World in … [Read more...] about # MISS WORLD FIJI DEBACLE

A central pillar of the Fiji Government's promised return to democracy in 2014 is the formulation of a new constitution to provide for one man one vote, a feature that was noticeably absent in the 1997 constitution abrogated three years ago. The job has been given to a panel led by Professor Yash Ghai, a constitutional expert who's a global … [Read more...] about #79 CONSTITUTIONAL CAPERS

Tupuola Terry Tavita is media advisor to the Samoan prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and editor of Savali, the Samoan government newspaper. He’s also a barroom bruiser who’s been openly castigated by his Pacific journalist colleagues for his racist comments on industry websites. Readers of Grubsheet will be familiar with his … [Read more...] about #78 PACIFIC MEDIA PUG (UPDATED 10/5)