11 h. ago Pacific Islands Forum rolls out strategic plan for partner engagement

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says a new engagement and advocacy plan will shape how the region works with its partners. Deputy Secretary General Esala Nayasi says the plan will guide engagement at all levels while strengthening advocacy on climate change, security, and other regional priorities. He adds that a messaging guide will ensure the […]

Politics

4 d. ago FINTEL plays critical role in Fiji’s connectivity: Naivalurua

FINTEL plays a critical role in safeguarding Fiji’s international connectivity and there is a need to plan ahead as digital demand continues to grow. This was highlighted by Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua during his landmark visit to FINTEL at the Vatuwaqa Communications Centre. This visit also marks the first ministerial engagement with […]

Politics

8 d. ago Zelenskiy says he will meet US and European representatives in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would meet U.S. and European representatives in Berlin to discuss “fundamentals of peace.” Zelenskiy said Ukraine needed a “dignified” peace and a guarantee that Russia, which invaded his country in 2022, would not attack again. Germany said earlier on Saturday that it would host U.S. and Ukrainian delegations over […]

Politics

8 d. ago Doctor who sold ketamine to Matthew Perry before death gets 2 1/2 years in prison

A doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the “Friends” star’s overdose death was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence plus two years of probation to 44-year-old Dr. Salvador Plasencia in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles. The judge […]

Events

8 d. ago UK’s Starmer and EU’s von der Leyen discuss Ukraine peace plan

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed work on U.S.-led peace proposals for Ukraine and moves to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to help provide funds for Kyiv. “Both agreed that this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine’s future, and that Europe will stand with them for as […]

Politics

8 d. ago Ales Bialiatski, who won Nobel prize while behind bars, is freed from prison

Human rights campaigner Ales Bialiatski fought for decades on behalf of political prisoners in Belarus, earning the Nobel Peace Prize but paying the cost of his own freedom. The Nobel award in 2022 made Bialiatski a globally recognised symbol of resistance to the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia’s Vladimir […]

Events

1 week ago Ukrainian sea drones disable sanctioned Russian oil tanker in Black Sea

Ukrainian sea drones on Wednesday hit and disabled a tanker involved in trading Russian oil as it sailed through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, a Ukrainian official said. The attack is the third sea drone strike in two weeks on vessels part of Russia’s so-called “shadow […]

Events

1 week ago New land titles bring security and fresh start for Nadi settlement

Residents of Ledrusasa in Nadi were over the moon last night after receiving their land leases from the Housing Minister. They had endured significant setbacks due to the absence of a scheme plan from when the project started. Homes were constructed without a proper layout, leading to major challenges for the Ministry. Minister for Housing […]

Sport

1 week ago Trump criticises ‘decaying’ European countries and ‘weak’ leaders

US President Donald Trump has criticised European leaders as “weak” and suggested the US could scale back support for Ukraine. In a wide-ranging interview with Politico, he said “decaying” European countries had failed to control migration or take decisive action to end Ukraine’s war with Russia, accusing them of letting Kyiv fight “until they drop”. […]

Politics

1 week ago France, Germany, UK leaders discuss Russian asset use for Ukraine aid

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Germany discussed the “positive progress” made to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine, Downing Street said on Monday. “The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure […]

Politics

1 week ago UK’s Princess Kate celebrates community work at annual Christmas service

Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, hosted an annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Friday to honour guests who had mostly been invited for service to the community, joined by her husband and heir to the throne Prince William. The event, which the princess launched, is now in its fifth year, offering the royal […]

Politics

2 w. ago Russian strikes kill four in Ukraine as new US policy released

Russia on Sunday welcomed the Trump administration’s new national security strateg y in comments by the Kremlin spokesman published by Russia’s Tass news agency. Dmitry Peskov said the updated strategic document was largely in line with Moscow’s vision. “There are statements there against confrontation and in favor of dialogue and building good relations,” he said, […]

Events

2 w. ago Man wounded in 2nd stabbing attack on North Carolina commuter train since August

Police in North Carolina have charged a 33-year-old man with critically injuring another person in a stabbing on a Charlotte commuter train, just a few months after a Ukrainian refugee riding one of the city’s trains was killed in an unrelated knife attack. Oscar Solarzano, 33, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a […]

Events

2 w. ago Putin says Russia will take full Donbas unless Ukraine withdraws

President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published on Thursday that Russia would take full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region by force unless Ukrainian forces withdraw, something Kyiv has flatly rejected. Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops in […]

Politics

2 w. ago 7,000 seedlings mark start of The Wonderful Company’s farm plan

The Wonderful Company, parent company of FIJI Water has taken a major step in its agricultural expansion, with the first batch of seedlings arriving in Waiqele, Vanua Levu. The pilot project will grow Persian limes, Mexican limes, lemons and papayas, marking the start of what the company says is a long-term investment in Fiji’s agriculture […]

Politics

2 w. ago US backs UN demand for Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children

The United States joined 90 other countries at the United Nations to demand Russia “ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported” and urge Moscow to stop the practice. The adoption of the resolution by the 193-member General Assembly came a day after U.S. President […]

Politics

2 w. ago Ministry of Health outlines plan to address specialist shortages

The Ministry of Health has intensified its efforts to address specialist shortages, with a fully funded plan for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, allocating $82.4 million to support the recruitment and retention of medical specialists nationwide. Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu informed the parliament today 83 percent of specialist positions were filled within four months of […]

Politics

2 w. ago Trump met with advisers on Venezuela as US ramps up pressure

U.S. President Donald Trumpheld talks with top advisers to discuss the pressure campaign on Venezuela, among other topics, a senior U.S. official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Oval Office meeting included senior members of Trump’s national security team. No details of the talks were immediately available. The session came as […]

Politics

2 w. ago Four dead in Russian attack as diplomatic efforts to end Ukraine war continue

A Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed four people and injured 40, authorities have said. Unconfirmed reports say a ballistic missile was used in the strike, which took place on Monday morning. Videos shared online showed a large explosion occur on the side of a motorway, and local media […]

Events

3 w. ago Kazakhstan tells Ukraine to stop attacking CPC terminal after oil exports halted

Kazakhstan told Ukraine on Sunday to stop attacking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles more than 1% of global oil, after a major drone attack halted exports and seriously damaged loading infrastructure. The CPC, which includes Russian, Kazakh and U.S. shareholders, said it had halted operations after a mooring at […]

Events