Business
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Hari Punja Wins SPX Lifetime Achievement Award, Shaping Fiji’s Economic Outlook
From a small shop in Cuvu to a regional business empire, the Punja family’s Fiji saga is a testament to entrepreneurship and resilience. A visionary leader, enduring milestones, and a celebrated Lifetime Achievement honor underscore a lasting impact on the Pacific’s economy.
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Paramount Skydance Launches $108.4B Hostile Bid for Warner Bros Discovery—What It Means for Netflix
Paramount Skydance unleashes a bold, hostile bid that could reshape Hollywood’s power map. In a high-stakes showdown with Netflix looming in the background, the move signals a new era of consolidation over major TV, film, and streaming assets. As regulators weigh the fallout, the future of access, creativity, and competition hangs in the balance.
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Fiji’s Cash Holds Ground as Digital Payments Surge
Cash continues to play a central role in Fiji’s daily life even as digital payments gain ground. With a new 2025 polymer note on the horizon and ongoing upgrades to the payments system, the story hints at a future where cash and digital methods coexist. A snapshot of Fiji’s evolving money landscape.
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InterContinental Fiji Wins Fifth Straight Fiji Best MICE Hotel Title at World MICE Awards 2025
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has clinched Fiji’s Best MICE Hotel for 2025 at the World MICE Awards, marking a fifth consecutive win. Discover how its serene Watercourt spaces and authentic Fijian hospitality are shaping the future of group events in Fiji.
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Labasa Produce Crunch: Dalo Prices to Rise Ahead of Festive Season
Labasa’s produce supply is tightening, with dalo prices set to rise as festive demand approaches. Shoppers are eyeing alternatives like rice and cassava, while pineapple season offers a seasonal bright spot. The push to boost Northern agriculture grows louder as markets brace for the holidays.
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Fiji Sugar Faces Persistent Burnt Cane as Master Award Reform Talks Begin
Five years of the same stubborn trend: burnt cane deliveries persist in Fiji’s sugar industry. With a Master Award review on the horizon, questions are rising about how harvesting rules could change—and what that could mean for sugar quality and farmers.
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Paramount’s $108.4B Bid for Warner Bros Discovery Fuels Netflix Clash
Paramount Skydance jolts the entertainment world with a record $108.4 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash with Netflix. Backed by a powerful financing network, the move hints at a sweeping shift for HBO, DC, and the studios behind them. The battle for a media giant is only just…
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Pacific Fast Payments: A Quiet Shift Toward Digital Banking
Fast payments are poised to redefine how money moves in the Pacific. A recent Nadi workshop spotlighted upgrades to real-time settlement and mobile wallets, underscoring a push for greater financial inclusion even as cash still plays a big role. The discussions hint at a transformative path for regional economies, blending global insights with local initiatives.
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Fiji’s Best MICE Hotel 2025 Retains World MICE Award for Fourth Straight Year
An island retreat where meetings feel inspired. InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa earns Fiji’s Best MICE Hotel for 2025, marking a four-year streak of excellence. Inside: a standout Watercourt for group sessions, authentic Fijian hospitality, and a strategic gateway to the Pacific’s key markets.
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Pool Homes: Value Boost or Hidden Costs?
Dreaming of a backyard pool? It could elevate your living space and resale value, but maintenance, budget, and insurance costs add up. Weigh the lifestyle perks against the responsibilities to see if a pool fits your home dream.
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First-Time Homebuyers: The Hidden Steps to a Smooth Mortgage
Buying your first home is a thrilling milestone—yet the journey can feel overwhelming. This primer hints at the key moves that protect your budget and peace of mind, from pre-approval and down payments to choosing the right advisor and anticipating closing costs. A thoughtful plan now can make the path to homeownership smoother and more…
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Fijian Holdings slashes debt with landmark SPX bond payoff
Fijian Holdings marks a major milestone in its post-pandemic debt restructuring as it trims borrowings and advances its flagship FHL Tower. With remaining maturities on the horizon, the company continues to navigate market conditions in a bid to sustain growth.
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Fiji’s Tourism Boom Pushes Resort to Full Capacity as Hotels Struggle to Keep Up
Shangri-La Yanuca Island Fiji is buzzing as visitor numbers surge from Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. The boom shines a light on Fiji’s growing demand for rooms and skilled staff, hinting at a brighter—but more challenging—path for the island’s tourism scene.
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Fiji Unveils New Polymer Banknotes With Cultural Imagery and Climate Messages
Fiji unveils a striking new polymer banknote series, promising longer life and stronger security. The redesigned notes blend vivid cultural motifs with eco-conscious design, signaling a bold new chapter for the nation’s currency. A glimpse into how tradition and innovation come together on the same banknote.
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Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Sets Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office Record
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 roars into theaters with a record post-Thanksgiving debut. Even amid mixed reviews, the horror sequel proves audiences still crave big thrills and may be reshaping the industry mood.
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Fiji Poised to Lead Global Premium Kava Market as Farmers Scale Up
Fiji is positioning itself to lead the global premium kava market as demand accelerates. Leaders say sustained growth will hinge on investments, training, and stronger collaboration across the industry—potentially transforming local livelihoods and Fiji’s place on the world stage.
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Netflix to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery in Game-Changing Streaming Deal
Netflix moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and HBO Max in a blockbuster deal that could redefine streaming. A vast library boost and a reshaped battle for your next binge are on the horizon.
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Fiji’s Kava Boom Faces Looming Labor Crunch as Farmers Age
Fiji’s thriving kava sector may be facing a hidden challenge: its farmers are aging rapidly, with the average age hovering in the mid-60s. A new training push and information package aim to renew the next generation of growers—just as pressures from disease and soil health mount. The outcome could reshape the future of this cash…
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Netflix Lands $72 Billion Warner Bros Discovery Deal, Reshaping Hollywood
Hollywood is on the brink of a seismic reshuffle as a blockbuster deal brings a legendary studio into the streaming era, signaling a bold, vertically integrated new era. With iconic franchises and streaming growth in focus, the entertainment landscape could be poised for a dramatic shift.
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Fiji Goes Cashless: Wallets and QR Payments Take Off
Fiji is accelerating its move to cashless payments, with digital wallets and QR transactions becoming everyday tools. Surging remittances and broader mobile-payments adoption hint at a reshaping economy—and what that could mean for households and businesses.
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Fiji Pushes Modern Insolvency Reform for a Fresh Start
Fiji is set to overhaul its aging bankruptcy system with the Personal Insolvency, Financial Rehabilitation and Entrepreneurial Rescue Bill 2025. The reform promises faster, more compassionate debt relief for individuals and MSMEs, offering a fresh start for those who act in good faith. Now headed to an expedited committee review, the proposal could reshape how…
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Fiji’s Rarawai Mill Reopens as Sugar Harvest Hopes Rise
After a dramatic 78-day rebuild, a major sugar mill returns to production, marking a turning point for the industry. With cane quality and collaboration in focus, the harvest season faces a decisive stretch ahead.
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Is the Fed Turning a Corner on Pandemic Losses?
After a challenging period tied to pandemic-era policy, the Fed seems to be edging back into profit territory. A modest drop in its deferred asset hints at a turning point, but the timeline and implications remain uncertain. Analysts are watching closely for what this could mean for government revenues and the central bank’s policy path.
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Fiji Eyes Bangladesh Labor Pact to Stabilize Sugar Industry
Fiji is weighing a bold new plan to steady its sugar industry amid ongoing labor shortages. A cabinet-ready recruitment model hints at international partnerships and farmer-backed deployment, signaling a major shift for cane farming and milling.
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Tourism Fiji Signals 2025 Marketing Push After Northern Talanoa
A pivotal gathering in Fiji maps a path toward inclusive, regionally balanced growth as Tourism Fiji brings together its board, operators, and traditional leaders. Plans on the horizon include the Fiji Matai 3.0 – Fiji Travel Agent Specialist Training Program and a 2025 marketing strategy aimed at boosting Vanua Levu and Taveuni.
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Fiji SPX Annual Awards Return Boosts Confidence in Financial Hub Ambitions
Fiji’s financial scene shines as the SPX reinstates its Annual Awards, highlighting governance, transparency, and investor confidence. A Lifetime Achievement honor for Hari Punja punctuates a night of leadership reflections, while government support reinforces Fiji’s push to become a regional financial hub.
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What the Credit Union Bill 2025 Could Mean for Fiji
Fiji’s financial sector gets a major refresh with a landmark Credit Union reform. Expect stronger member protections, modern governance, and clearer oversight as the move reshapes the framework for today’s savers and a more resilient system.
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Parametric Insurance Boom as Storm Season Approaches
Parametric insurance is catching on as families bolster protection against severe weather. New, affordable products are rolling out for welfare and disability needs, plus a standalone rainfall cover as the cyclone season approaches. With faster, more predictable payouts and stronger community resilience on the horizon, this could signal a major shift in how households weather…
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California Seedlings Land in Fiji, Fueling Vanua Levu Orchard Plan
Fresh seedlings from California arrive in Fiji, kicking off a bold farming venture in Vanua Levu. A citrus-and-fruit pilot, supported by modern greenhouses and local partnerships, hints at a future where more fruit is grown close to home.
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Fiji’s Home & Living Unveils 24/7 Online Store with Instant Hire Purchase
Fiji’s shopping scene just got a major upgrade: a 24/7 online platform with faster checkout, instant hire-purchase approvals, and easy ways to send gifts home to loved ones abroad. A smarter, smoother path to what you want, when you want it.