Pacific News In Brief For 1 July
Health, education, social welfare and government salaries have receives a boost in the Niue government's new NZ$12.5 million (US$7.6m) deficit budget.
Last week, the island's finance minister announced the largest expenditure of the government is to cover the salaries of its workforce and the cost of social services.
TV Niue reported the health department gets the highest increase in this budget of more than $880,000, a 26 percent boost.
Cook Islands - firearms
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing firearm regulation and safety across the Pa Enua (outer islands).
Cook Islands News reported this includes the resumption of police-issued ammunition and plans to simplify the driving licensing process for tourists.
Speaking in parliament, Brown confirmed that the Cook Islands Police has reinstated its role as the official supplier of ammunition to the Pa Enua.
The move is expected to assist island communities in managing issues such as wild animal control.
Papua New Guinea - chicken
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has raised concerns over a drop in chicken sales nationwide.
Bird said the government banned the importation of frozen chicken from Australia and New Zealand with the pretext of protecting the Papua New Guinea industry from foreign competitors and diseases.
He said it was a short-sighted decision and now as imported chicken stock runs out, the impact is being felt around the country.
He said imported chickens retail at about 22 kina ($US5.33) per kilo, while locally produced chickens retail at about 40 kina.
Bird said local chicken production will remain expensive because the chicken feed is imported and 80 per cent of the cost of producing a chicken is the feed cost.
Samoa - festival
A large Samoan festival - the Teuila Festival - has been cancelled this year.
The festival, which features cultural performances and the Miss Samoa pageant, has been cancelled to avoid a timing clash with Samoa's general election.
The Miss Samoa pageant has been rescheduled, to run from 27 October to 9 November.
Fiji - ICC
Fijian Nazhat Shameem Khan has been elevated to the topmost prosecutorial position at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Fiji Times reported the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC has announced that deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang have taken over leadership, following prosecutor Karim Khan KC's temporary leave of absence.
In May Khan, who is British, stepped aside pending the outcome of a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation into alleged misconduct.
Nazhat Shameem Khan is a Fijian diplomat and former judge.
Fiji/PNG - anniversary
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is poised to attend Papua New Guinea's 50th independence anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby on 16 September.
Local media reports Rabuka praising his PNG counterpart James Marape for his leadership in strengthening the region and expressed Fiji's commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with PNG.
Fiji and PNG established diplomatic relations in 1975 and continue to build on their traditional, political, and economic partnership.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Swyftx acquires Caleb & Brown to target wealthy US investors
Swyftx has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based crypto brokerage Caleb & Brown in a move targeting high-net-worth investors in the United States. The acquisition follows Swyftx's earlier purchase of New Zealand crypto exchange Easy Crypto, as the group continues its recent expansion across markets in Australasia, North America, and beyond. Major acquisition According to Swyftx, the transaction constitutes the largest crypto acquisition in Australasian history and signals the group's ambition to address the needs of affluent digital asset investors, particularly in the United States, where the company seeks to access the world's largest crypto market. Jason Titman, Chief Executive Officer of Swyftx, highlighted the strategic nature of the acquisition and noted its intended impact on both the US and New Zealand markets. He said high-value customers currently represent approximately 30 percent of Easy Crypto's user base in New Zealand, but are responsible for about three-quarters of total trading volumes. Titman reported a significant increase in high-net-worth activity: "Titman says they have recorded a 25 percent increase in wealthier clients over the past year, signalling strong and growing demand for tailored crypto services." "What we know about this segment of the market is that they're often older, looking for more than just low fees and they're not interested in crypto's meme-culture. "Many of them are business owners or professional investors who are used to personalised financial services. This acquisition gives us the platform and expertise to meet those expectations. "Caleb & Brown has quietly established one of the most impressive brokerage offerings in the world, with a heavily differentiated private client service. We see enormous growth potential. "Swyftx has the resources to build on Caleb & Brown's competitive advantages and peel off high net worth clients from the largest exchanges. There are polished and well-respected platforms operating in the US but a lot of the new breed of wealthy investors want a service that is ultra client-centric, with round-the-clock access to broker expertise. It is the kind of relationship management they get in traditional finance. "Over the next couple of years, we'll look to significantly grow Caleb & Brown's network of relationship managers so that we can target more wealthy clients from the big US exchanges on their home turf. We see this as an underserved market," he says. Expanding global reach Titman described the deal as "the largest crypto acquisition in ANZ history" and said that it "gives Swyftx access to the world's leading digital assets market at a time when the US has sought to position itself as the 'crypto capital of the planet'. The US currently accounts for around a quarter of all global trade volumes in cryptocurrency." Swyftx has expanded significantly in recent years, now serving over 1.2 million customers across the group. The acquisition of Caleb & Brown will extend Swyftx's reach to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States, with the group projected to employ just under 300 staff members upon deal completion. Caleb & Brown background Caleb & Brown, established by Rupert Hackett and Dr Prash Puspanathan in 2016, provides crypto brokerage, asset management, and research services to private clients across the US and Australia. The company reportedly oversees over AUD $2 billion in digital assets and employs 64 team members between Australia and the United States under the leadership of Equal Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Jackson Zeng. Zeng commented on the significance of the acquisition and its alignment with the company's approach to client service: "We're excited to join the Swyftx Group. It is the fastest-growing exchange in the ANZ region and shares our client-centric approach." "This deal is a testament to the strength of our brokerage and its differentiated offering. Swyftx has the resources to help us scale faster, diversify our product offering and expand our geographic reach," he says. The acquisition places Swyftx among the largest players in the region's digital asset brokerage sector, with strengthened capabilities to serve high-net-worth individuals seeking bespoke crypto services across multiple continents. Follow us on: Share on:
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 1 July
Article – RNZ A round-up of news from around the region, including Niue government announcing its budget for 2025. Niue – budget Health, education, social welfare and government salaries have receives a boost in the Niue government's new NZ$12.5 million (US$7.6m) deficit budget. Last week, the island's finance minister announced the largest expenditure of the government is to cover the salaries of its workforce and the cost of social services. TV Niue reported the health department gets the highest increase in this budget of more than $880,000, a 26 percent boost. Cook Islands – firearms Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing firearm regulation and safety across the Pa Enua (outer islands). Cook Islands News reported this includes the resumption of police-issued ammunition and plans to simplify the driving licensing process for tourists. Speaking in parliament, Brown confirmed that the Cook Islands Police has reinstated its role as the official supplier of ammunition to the Pa Enua. The move is expected to assist island communities in managing issues such as wild animal control. Papua New Guinea – chicken East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has raised concerns over a drop in chicken sales nationwide. Bird said the government banned the importation of frozen chicken from Australia and New Zealand with the pretext of protecting the Papua New Guinea industry from foreign competitors and diseases. He said it was a short-sighted decision and now as imported chicken stock runs out, the impact is being felt around the country. He said imported chickens retail at about 22 kina ($US5.33) per kilo, while locally produced chickens retail at about 40 kina. Bird said local chicken production will remain expensive because the chicken feed is imported and 80 per cent of the cost of producing a chicken is the feed cost. Samoa – festival A large Samoan festival – the Teuila Festival – has been cancelled this year. The festival, which features cultural performances and the Miss Samoa pageant, has been cancelled to avoid a timing clash with Samoa's general election. The Miss Samoa pageant has been rescheduled, to run from 27 October to 9 November. Fiji – ICC Fijian Nazhat Shameem Khan has been elevated to the topmost prosecutorial position at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Fiji Times reported the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC has announced that deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang have taken over leadership, following prosecutor Karim Khan KC's temporary leave of absence. In May Khan, who is British, stepped aside pending the outcome of a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation into alleged misconduct. Nazhat Shameem Khan is a Fijian diplomat and former judge. Fiji/PNG – anniversary Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is poised to attend Papua New Guinea's 50th independence anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby on 16 September. Local media reports Rabuka praising his PNG counterpart James Marape for his leadership in strengthening the region and expressed Fiji's commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with PNG. Fiji and PNG established diplomatic relations in 1975 and continue to build on their traditional, political, and economic partnership.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 1 July
Niue - budget Health, education, social welfare and government salaries have receives a boost in the Niue government's new NZ$12.5 million (US$7.6m) deficit budget. Last week, the island's finance minister announced the largest expenditure of the government is to cover the salaries of its workforce and the cost of social services. TV Niue reported the health department gets the highest increase in this budget of more than $880,000, a 26 percent boost. Cook Islands - firearms Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing firearm regulation and safety across the Pa Enua (outer islands). Cook Islands News reported this includes the resumption of police-issued ammunition and plans to simplify the driving licensing process for tourists. Speaking in parliament, Brown confirmed that the Cook Islands Police has reinstated its role as the official supplier of ammunition to the Pa Enua. The move is expected to assist island communities in managing issues such as wild animal control. Papua New Guinea - chicken East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has raised concerns over a drop in chicken sales nationwide. Bird said the government banned the importation of frozen chicken from Australia and New Zealand with the pretext of protecting the Papua New Guinea industry from foreign competitors and diseases. He said it was a short-sighted decision and now as imported chicken stock runs out, the impact is being felt around the country. He said imported chickens retail at about 22 kina ($US5.33) per kilo, while locally produced chickens retail at about 40 kina. Bird said local chicken production will remain expensive because the chicken feed is imported and 80 per cent of the cost of producing a chicken is the feed cost. Samoa - festival A large Samoan festival - the Teuila Festival - has been cancelled this year. The festival, which features cultural performances and the Miss Samoa pageant, has been cancelled to avoid a timing clash with Samoa's general election. The Miss Samoa pageant has been rescheduled, to run from 27 October to 9 November. Fiji - ICC Fijian Nazhat Shameem Khan has been elevated to the topmost prosecutorial position at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Fiji Times reported the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC has announced that deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang have taken over leadership, following prosecutor Karim Khan KC's temporary leave of absence. In May Khan, who is British, stepped aside pending the outcome of a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation into alleged misconduct. Nazhat Shameem Khan is a Fijian diplomat and former judge. Fiji/PNG - anniversary Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is poised to attend Papua New Guinea's 50th independence anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby on 16 September. Local media reports Rabuka praising his PNG counterpart James Marape for his leadership in strengthening the region and expressed Fiji's commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with PNG. Fiji and PNG established diplomatic relations in 1975 and continue to build on their traditional, political, and economic partnership.
