Fiji

The IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department director, Changyong Rhee, says he has continued to work very closely with the Fijian government in this area and was happy to note that inroads have been made through the national budget and other key policies to achieve this.  
 

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed this to the Fiji Sun. He suggested Black Rock in Nadi as the best place to train the proposed peacekeeping force.
 
Bainimarama said this had been a topic discussed by the MSG Police Commissioners. The MSG Police Commissioners met in Honiara last month.
 
The Prime Minister said if this issue was brought up at the meeting in Honiara this week, Fiji would support it.
 

The seismic movement was recorded 56km north-east of Ndoi Island, according to the US Geological Survey.

It is believed no tsunami alert has been issued.

The quake struck around 417km south-east of Suva, the capital.

A Geoscience Australia spokesman said quakes were common in the area.

"Earthquakes of this magnitude are not at all unusual in that part of the world, and it was very, very deep so it's something unlikely to have any impact on the surface," he said.

The Dialogue “Enhancing Macroeconomic Resilience to Natural Disasters in the Pacific Islands” will build on previous conferences held in Samoa and Vanuatu and recent IMF analytical work on this topic. It will bring together leading policymakers from 13 Pacific Island nations, as well as representatives from regional development partners, international financial organizations and think tanks.
 

ACP – EU Co- Presidents, Louis Michel said the assembly expressed solidarity for the people affected during cyclone Pam and called on the international community to continue its support in the rebuilding process.

They say ACP and EU countries must ensure that the post-2015 development agenda takes account of the needs of ACP small island developing states by addressing the impact of climate change and building resilience to natural disasters.