Tourism Policy Clash: Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel hit back at Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association over the 5% tourism services tax, saying tourism reps met and agreed to both the tax and its absorption. Cabinet Cost Controls: Immanuel also ruled out cutting Cabinet size, but left the door open to deeper minister salary cuts if the fuel crisis worsens. Fiji on the Global Stage: Fiji picked up major travel awards, including top island rankings in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 list, while Tourism Fiji’s campaigns earned shortlist and finalist spots. Local Talent Spotlight: Lautoka cinematographer Lanza Coffin became the first Fijian nominated for an Emmy for his work on Survivor 50. Aviation Engineering Career: Fiji Airways’ Aircraft Reliability Engineer Silipa Halofaki rose from engineering intern to CAMO role, highlighting skilled local pathways. Agriculture Trade Push: Fiji–Australia business talks are flagging agriculture as the next big bilateral opportunity, with forum plans in Suva. Sugar Sector Warning: Finance PS Shiri Goundar said Fiji’s sugar model is “no longer sustainable” and warned against more open-ended public funding without a recovery plan. Road Safety Rulemaking: Land Transport Authority faced questions over bright LED vehicle lights, with enforcement and off-road exemptions discussed. Mining Compensation: Former Vatukoula mine workers and families continue receiving long-delayed compensation payments. Regional Security Tension: China’s Pacific missile test sparked fresh fallout and debate around transparency, with Fiji’s defence pact timing adding to regional concern. Sailing Sustainability: World Sailing launched a first-of-its-kind life cycle assessment to cut the environmental impact of Olympic sailing equipment.