Wellington - The central bank of Fiji, where the military government rules under emergency powers, devalued its currency by 20 per cent on Wednesday, warning citizens that the move would increase inflation. A statement from the Reserve Bank in the capital Suva said a rise of about 20 per cent in the Fijian dollar's value over the last year was unsustainable and the devaluation was needed to lift exports and boost tourism.

Both sectors are critical to the Fijian economy which has been hard hit since a military coup overturned the elected government in December 2006.

London, Apr 14 : Fiji’s military government has expelled three foreign journalists and arrested a local reporter over their reporting of the deteriorating political situation in the island nation.

ABC correspondent Sean Dorney is expected to arrive in Sydney today after he was deported by FIJI Government officials unhappy with his coverage of recent political developments in the troubled nation.

Wellington, Apr 14 : Commonwealth secretary-general's special envoy to Fiji Sir Paul Reeves has said that the island nation faces expulsion from the Commonwealth.

Fiji is likely to be suspended from the Commonwealth, and its membership within the Pacific Islands Forum was also in doubt, Sir Paul said.

The latest turmoil in Fiji was prompted by a Court of Appeal ruling last Thursday that said Commodore Frank Bainimarama's regime, which has been in power since staging a 2006 coup, was illegal under the country's 1997 Constitution.

Wellington - Fiji's military government, which is ruling with emergency powers, strengthened its hold on the country Tuesday, taking over the Reserve Bank and ordering the country's Human Rights Commission office closed, according to reports from the capital, Suva. The Reserve Bank tightened exchange controls with immediate effect and deputy governor Sada Reddy said the move was in line with the bank's core objective of safeguarding foreign reserves, Radio New Zealand reported.

Vanua Levu (Fiji), Apr. 13 : Years of stifling military rule and financial destitution are propelling Fiji towards becoming the Burma of the South Pacific, claim regional experts.

These commentators, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, have labelled the latest developments in Fiji an outrage.

With the country''s military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, returning to the leadership helm with more power than ever in spite of a court ruling that termed his 2006 coup illegal under the country''s 1997 constitution, the experts have described the latest political situation in the island nation a total charade.

Singapore - Singapore's DBS Group Holdings Ltd said its chief executive officer Richard Stanley, who was diagnosed with leukemia in late January, died Saturday morning. "After a brief fight, Rich passed on at about 8:45 (0045 GMT) this morning," DBS said.

Stanley's condition had deteriorated rapidly and he was in critical care Friday night, DBS said in an earlier statement to the Singapore Exchange.

Stanley, 48, had been responding to treatment and after two rounds of chemotherapy his doctors believed earlier this week that his cancer was in remission.