Fiji's ex-leader, Frank Bainimarama, sentenced to prison for interfering in police investigation
Former Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has been sentenced to a year in prison for interfering in a criminal investigation while leading the government of his South Pacific island nation.
Rabuka sworn in as Fiji prime minister after close election
Sitiveni Rabuka has been sworn in as Fijiโs prime minister, capping a tense week in a fragile Pacific democracy where the former military commander first held office more than two decades ago.
Fiji observers say election was free after 5 parties protest
An international group that monitored Fijiโs general election this week says it didnโt observe any voting irregularities and the process was transparent and credible.
Fiji parties say election count should stop after glitch
The leaders of four political parties contesting Fijiโs general election called for an immediate halt to vote-counting after the online results app experienced a glitch and then the next batch of results swung in favor of the incumbent prime minister.
Harris vows US will strengthen its Pacific islands relations
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris assured Pacific island leaders of more U.S. engagement after acknowledging the United States may not have previously provided the diplomatic attention the region deserved.
Australia, New Zealand say Pacific must discuss China
Australia and New Zealandโs prime ministers have agreed that security concerns regarding Chinaโs expanding influence must be discussed at a meeting of western Pacific leaders.
Australia, China continue Pacific rivalry with island visits
Australia and China are continuing their tit-for-tat diplomatic rivalry in the Pacific as the foreign ministers from each country pay separate visits to island nations.
The Latest: S Korea sets another new high for daily cases
South Korea is reporting a new daily high for coronavirus cases a day after authorities enforced stringent restrictions in areas outside the Seoul capital region seeking to slow a nationwide spread of infections.
The Latest: Hawaii eases virus rules for inter-island travel
Hawaii officials are moving forward with a plan to allow people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to skip pre-travel testing and quarantine requirements for flights between islands.
Fiji deports university leader in blow to regional relations
In this photo provided by Sandy Price, Price and her husband, Pal Ahluwalia, pose for a photo in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. Ahluwalia, the leader of the University of the South Pacific, and his wife were asleep Wednesday at their Fiji home when a ruckus outside awoke them near midnight. (Sandy Price via AP)WELLINGTON โ The leader of the University of the South Pacific and his wife were asleep at their Fiji home when a ruckus awoke them around midnight. Now, he's at the center of a bitter dispute threatening to tear apart South Pacific regional relationships. By shaking up the university, Ahluwalia found himself in conflict with other administrators, some of whom have deep ties with Fiji's government.
Leaders to UN: If virus doesn't kill us, climate change will
In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at September 2020's annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)JOHANNESBURG โ In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at this weekโs annual United Nations meeting are taking the long view, warning: If COVID-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will. Meanwhile, the U.N. global climate summit has been postponed to late 2021. That hasnโt stopped countries, from slowly sinking island nations to parched African ones, from speaking out. World powers cannot shirk their financial commitments to fighting climate change during the pandemic, Remengesau said, even as economies are battered.