Kiribati to return to Pacific Islands Forum
Kiribati will return to the Pacific Islands Forum. Forum Chair, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says his office has now received a letter confirming this intention from Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau. Rabuka
Fiji, Kiribati restore ‘trust, respect and understanding’
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s state visit to Kiribati yesterday started with a handshake with Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau, and ended with an embrace. This morning Rabuka described the visit, his first
Rabuka to visit Kiribati in a bid to heal family relations
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka flies to Kiribati on Friday morning to meet with President Taneti Maamau and discuss Kiribati’s membership of the Pacific Islands Forum, amongst other issues. The visit is
Fiji government seeks to allay concerns on military statement
Fiji’s Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs say the new government’s relationship with the military is good, and that there is no need for Fiji citizens to be concerned. Home Affairs minister Pio
Japan eyes delay of Fukushima plant water release
Japan has revised the timing of a planned release to the sea of treated but still radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear power plant to “around spring or summer,” indicating a delay from the initial target
U.S. nears new cooperation deals with Pacific Island nations
The Biden administration is nearing deals with two Pacific Island nations to extend ties that are considered critical to maintaining balance in the U.S-China rivalry for influence in a region where the Chinese are
FSM’s Panuelo hints March election will be his last
The President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo has informed his people, the upcoming March 2023 election will be his last, to pave the way for new and young leaders. “I will accept the will
Tourism continues to buoy Fiji’s economy, but inflation still 5.2%
The Reserve Bank of Fiji says the country’s economy continues to buck international trends on the back of a “marked recovery in tourism.” In November 2022, more than 560,700 international visitors arrived in Fiji,
No domestic flights in PNG today
Air Niugini has cancelled domestic flights indefinitely, citing the suspension of fuel supply by Puma Energy within Papua New Guinea. Hundreds of holiday-makers who travelled to other provinces during the Christmas
Opinion: Fiji’s fragile new coalition needs the support of Australia
Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji’s prime minister again after assembling last month a coalition with a majority of three seats, ending Frank Bainimarama’s 16 years in power. Like Gaul, the new coalition government of
Opinion: Japan must work with the Pacific to find a solution to the Fukushima water release issue – otherwise we face disaster
Over the past 20 months, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members have been in dialogue with the government of Japan on its proposed plans to release over a million tonnes of contaminated nuclear wastewater into
Fiji Writ of elections to be returned this afternoon
The Fijian Electoral Commission Chair Mukesh Nand says the General Election was held in a peaceful and environment. The Electoral Commission is now calculating the allocation for the 55 seats in the next Parliament.
SODELPA still pondering coalition
Fiji’s Social Democratic Party (SODELPA) has denied rumours that they have decided who they will support to form the next Fiji government. The SODELPA Party leader, Bill Gavoka, says, “It’s still very much
Fiji elections: Polls close, now the wait begins
The polls have closed in Fiji, and citizens have exercised their right to determine which government will rule. While the final results may not be known for some days, it appears voter turnout has been somewhat
Pacific gambit: Inside the Chinese Communist Party and Triad push into Palau
Palau is a key hotspot in the growing rivalry between China and the West. Organised criminals with links to the Chinese Communist Party are trying to find a way in — and many in the local elite have welcomed them,
Fiji election countdown: Blackout period begins
Yesterday banners, billboards and building hoardings bearing the faces of Fiji politicians and electoral candidates dotted Fiji’s landscape. Taxis, market buildings, carparks and private residences displayed
One year on: Fiji’s tourism sector ‘exceeding expectations’
Fiji’s tourism sector leaders are celebrating the one-year anniversary of Fiji’s reopening to tourists, having seen over half a million tourists visit the nation since December 1, 2021. Covid-19 ravaged Fiji’s
The Pacific at AAC2022: Lesson learnt; voices amplified?
After a break in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Australasian Aid Conference (AAC) returns to the Australian National University today. The AAC2022 will include some livestreamed sessions which Pacific audiences can tune
Fiji lawyer found guilty of contempt
A prominent Fiji lawyer, Richard Naidu, has been found guilty of contempt and scandalising the court by the country’s High Court, in a case that has attracted international scrutiny. Judge Justice Jude Nanayakkara
Loss and damage on the climate agenda
The question of whether ‘loss and damage’ should lead to compensation and acceptance of liability is causing ruptures at the COP27 climate talks in Egypt. Loss and damage is the irreversible economic and
Call for pragmatism at COP27
The message was clear: if delegates to this week’s COP27 climate conference expect global greenhouse gas emitters to completely eliminate all uses of fossil fuel without support, it will be a difficult task. The