Fiji

SUVA, Fiji, July 11 (Reuters) - Tensions between China and the United States, and the withdrawal of the remote Pacific island nation of Kiribati, have overshadowed the Pacific Islands Forum as leaders arrived in Fiji on Monday for the first in-person summit in three years.

During the four-day meeting, Pacific island leaders will discuss how to gather more international support and funding to fight the impact of rising sea levels and climate change, as well as China's ambitions for greater security ties across the region.

SUVA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) will continue to advocate against climate change in the Pacific region this year, said a UN official here on Monday.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Sanaka Samarasinha, UN resident coordinator to five South Pacific island nations including Fiji, said that the countries in the Pacific region are dealing with an existential crisis that is not caused by them.

SUVA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Tonga's Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has been in home isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Sovaleni, with mild symptoms, will be isolated at home for a period in line with the COVID-19 health protocols in the Pacific island country, Tonga's news website Matangi Tonga Online reported on Sunday, citing a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

SUVA, Jan 14 (NNN-PIN) – The volcano in Tonga’s Hunga Ha’apai island, erupted again today, sending ash, steam and gas into the air.

According to Tonga’s news website, Matangi Tonga Online, the volcano, about 65 km north of capital city, Nuku’alofa, has erupted continuously since esrly this morning, raising the plume to an altitude of five to 20 km above sea level.

Volcanic ash was also reported from the island of Fonoi, in the Ha’apai Group and some islands.

SUVA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Fiji announced on Sunday tightened measures to contain spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the South Pacific island country.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Fiji's health ministry and police, Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya said that with a rapid spread of the Omicron variant confirmed in the country, the key measures against COVID-19 should be tightened to contain the variant's transmission.

SUVA, Fiji (AP) — A growing coronavirus outbreak in Fiji is stretching the health system and devastating the economy. It has even prompted the government to offer jobless people tools and cash to become farmers.

The Pacific nation got through the first year of the pandemic without any significant outbreaks and just two virus deaths.

But an outbreak of the highly contagious delta variant two months ago has grown to the point where Fiji is adding about 250 new cases each day.

SUVA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Samoa's Supreme Court on Sunday overturned the decision made by the Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II to suspend the parliament's scheduled sitting on Monday.

According to Samoa's English daily the Samoa Observer, after an urgent meeting attended by Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, the Supreme Court ruled that the head of state's decision on Saturday night is "unlawful."

SUVA, Apr 12 (NNN-SPN) – The final and official count for this year’s general election of Samoa is currently underway, in the South Pacific island nation, according to local media report today.

The Samoa Observer daily reported that, according to preliminary ballot counts, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by incumbent Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, led by former HRPP deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, are tied on 25 seats each in the 50-seat parliament.

SUVA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Fijian President Jioji Konrote on Friday stressed the importance of forests in the fight against climate change.

"We all know that the world desperately needs to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. So forests are in the front lines in the fight against climate change. We need our forests as much as we need to breathe to stay alive," said Konrote as the island nation celebrated the International Day of Forests which falls on March 21.

SUVA, Jan 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Fiji is preparing for the arrival of tropical cyclone Ana, which is expected to bring more heavy rain and damaging winds to the island nation.

According to the Nadi Weather Office, the eye of cyclone Ana is expected to be closer to the Yasawa islands, in the western part of Fiji, and approaches Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu early tomorrow, as a category 1 cyclone.