Woolworths has announced it has lowered prices on almost 400 products, including household staples, amid cost-of-living pressures. RPT

FT: Prime Minister, many indigenous landowners like Areki Dawai of Suva have expressed concern about not fully understanding land laws — particularly the ‘six feet under’ and ‘20-centimetre ownership’ provisions.What steps is the Government taking to ensure that iTaukei landowners are properly informed and educated about their land rights, especially regarding subsurface ownership and development? PM: This is a very good question because it highlights a big gap in Fiji’s education curriculum since the colonial era — matters that affect our ordinary lives as Fijians. It must be introduced into the schools’ curriculum and made examinable subjects in schools together with constitutional issues, mineral and underground water and mineral rights, qoliqoli and fishing rights, UNFCCC regulations and obligations, UN Sustainable Development Goals, financial literacy, UN- CEDAW, UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169 etc — all life lessonsthat women and men must grow up knowing and understanding. Numeracy and literacy skills are...

The strategic plan, made public mid last month, highlights that the country’s mental health service, since 2023, employs two medical officers, one clinical psychologist, three nurses and a counsellor. Te Puna Tiaki – Wellness Unit at the Rarotonga Hospital when it opened in 2023. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/23050589 Mental health services in the Cook Islands have significantly expanded over the past four years, according to the recently released Cook Islands National Health Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (TMO Ara-Tango Anga’nga) by the Cook Islands Ministry of Health. RPT

MALAITA Province has once again qualified for the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) for the 2025/2026 period. Deputy Provincial Secretary for Malaita, Peter Herehura, confirmed the province’s qualification for the PCDF.  He expressed confidence, stating that the results of the recent assessment were positive, confirming that Malaita had qualified for the fund this round. “Yes, the province qualifies for the PCDF, but it has not been officially announced yet,” Mr. Herehura clarified. Malaita has had a mixed track record with the PCDF, experiencing both qualifications and disqualifications over the years, depending on its performance in meeting the program’s criteria. The province has been disqualified from the PCDF on at least three occasions, but it has also qualified for the fund in several years, reflecting improvements in governance and fiscal management. In the 2012/2013 period, Malaita met only three out of the seven minimum conditions required, which resulted in no allocation...

The three patrol boats recently received by the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) will be deployed to their designated provinces once officer training is completed, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed. Read more: https://www.dailypost.vu/news/police-patrol-boats-to-be-deployed-after-officer-training-completion/article_5704ae45-d351-5f70-b237-48ac567a3c0e.html Facebook

Queensland will embark on a key trade mission to China this week, including opening a new office in Shenzhen. RPT

HAVING their pool matches in the Pacific Nations Cup closer to home will serve as an advantage for the FIJI Water Flying Fijians, says head coach Mick Byrne. Fiji is pooled with Samoa and Tonga in Pool A, and the fixtures in Rotorua, New Zealand for the former and at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva for the latter are what Byrne says makes sense in a logistical aspect. “We’ve got Tonga in Suva, and then we’ve got Samoa in Rotorua so it’s a not bad travel program for us,” coach Byrne said in a virtual media conference yesterday. “I think it’s a couple things there, logistically it makes a lot of sense to play our pools a bit like last year and it’s probably logistically the best way to do it.” “We’ll just play our games down in the islands, we were due to play against Samoa, but their...

Takuvaine took on Tupapa in the Netball Cook Islands domestic competition last week. MELINA ETCHES / 25050411 Netball Cook Islands has yet to announce any plans or training schedules for its 18-member training squad it announced this week for the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup. The national under-21 squad includes Tia Crombie, Genesis Foster-Jonassen, Charlize Gabel-Joseph, Tashi Kopu, Aaliyah Koteka, Serra Lau’ese, Marua Matapo, Feliza Nicholas, Mere-Jean Piri, Roimata Save-Havili, Chariah Shepherd, Mahanarei Short, Ngahuia Te-Rure, Aleida Tere, Melody Tommy, Jazaria Tongotongo, Kydan Tuapou and Deja-Maree Waitere-Patterson. Netball Cook Islands (NCI) acknowledged the dedication, talent and commitment these players have shown to earn their place in the training squad. Last month, 27 netball trialists from Rarotonga, Australia and New Zealand participated in sessions held on April 19 and 21 at the National Sports Arena Indoor Stadium. The team is preparing for the Netball World Youth Cup to be held...

Christafari, the internationally acclaimed Gospel reggae band and number-one Billboard-charting artists, have officially announced their return to the Solomon Islands this June. After months of anticipation, the band has finalized their flights and is ready to bring their high-energy ministry to local shores once again. Christafari will begin their Melanesian outreach in Vanuatu before arriving in the Solomon Islands, where they will minister from June 8 to June 16. Though their originally planned visit to the Western Province had to be cancelled due to flight issues, the band is confirmed to perform in Honiara on June 8 and June 15, and in Malaita on June 12 and 13 at the APS Field. “We’re beyond excited to return to one of our favorite nations,” said Pastor Mark Mohr, founder and lead vocalist of Christafari. “It’s been six years since our last visit, and as we enter our 35th year of ministry,...

Legendary Aussie community radio and music scene presenter Paris Pompor has died aged 58. RPT