Fiji
Fiji's military chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, declared himself head of state this week, following the tiny Pacific country's fourth coup in 20 years. Bainimarama claimed that the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, was corrupt. When the president wouldn't dismiss Qarase, Bainimarama sent troops to government buildings, declared himself president, and fired the entire government. Bainimarama appointed the military's senior medical officer, who has no experience in government, to be his prime minister. "This is a sad day for democracy and the rule of law," said Qarase, who was placed under house arrest.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Critics’ choice: Restaurants worthy of their buzzfeature A fun bistro, a reservation worth the wait, and a modern twist on Mexican dishes
-
Film reviews: Snow White, Death of a Unicorn, and The Alto KnightsFeature A makeover for Disney’s first animated feature, greedy humans earn nature’s wrath, and a feud between crime bosses rattles the mob
-
Bombs or talks: What’s next in the US-Iran showdown?Talking Points US gives Tehran a two-month deadline to deal
