PINA

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on his way home from the United States, capping off a huge diplomatic offensive to calm regional concerns about the AUKUS security pact, and push back against a misinformation campaign by Australia’s detractors. The Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy have...

-World leaders need to listen to and act on solid scientific guidance to urgently reduce global warming, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message at the opening of the new session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Monday. Underlining the “urgent need to end global heating with cold, hard facts”, he said the panel’s...

Fiji Airways staff say bodyguards for former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum were allowed to carry guns onto Fiji Link domestic flights when he was a passenger without Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) approval. Current and former airline ground staff have told this newspaper they were directed by Fiji Airways senior management to allow the guns to be carried in the...

Cabinet may be increased by six new portfolios as Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape wants to see “more hands on deck” to deal with a rapidly growing population. “The population is bigger and growing at a three percent rate, but our economy hasn’t grown above that rate. It’s always been below average at three per cent,” he said. “So...

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will be much better off without China, outgoing President David Panuelo said, disclosing the initial steps he has taken toward a diplomatic switch to Taiwan, a move protested by Beijing. In an extensive letter to the FSM Congress that came out of the blue, Panuelo expressed his displeasure over China's attempted use of the FSM...

After close to two decades of negotiations, an historic United Nations ocean treaty has been agreed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. The agreement, referred to as the High Seas Treaty, will allow marine protected areas (MPAs) to be set up in international waters. The treaty is in line with the 30x30 pledge made by countries at the UN biodiversity...

The Nature-based Solution (NbS) grant funding of EUR326,077 (FJD$700,000) signed Monday in Suva will go towards the rehabilitation of six project sites in Fiji. “This award will assist the Government of Fiji in increasing the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change by constructing nature-friendly climate adaptation structures… Today, we're joining forces with IUCN and the Kiwa Initiative to...

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland has raised the Commonwealth Flag for Peace at a ceremony in London on Commonwealth Day. The Secretary-General was joined by Commonwealth leaders, Ministers and youth representatives to raise the specially-designed flag, created as part of efforts to promote 2023 as the Commonwealth Year of Peace across the family of nations. Speaking at the ceremony, at Marlborough...

Despite raging opposition both at home and abroad, Japan still intends to push ahead with its plan to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in this spring or summer. Local residents, especially those in the fishery industry, believe the discharge will wreck their livelihoods and all the efforts they have made...

Commonwealth Day was an occasion of particular pride for my beloved Mother, the late Queen – a treasured opportunity to celebrate our Commonwealth family, to whose service she dedicated her long and remarkable life. In succeeding Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth, I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary...