International
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Fiji-UAE Seafarer Certification Pact Opens Gulf Job Opportunities
Fiji takes a major leap for its seafarers with a new UAE partnership. The pact centers on mutual recognition of certificates and expanded training, unlocking Gulf-region opportunities for qualified Fijian sailors. A five-year agreement aimed at boosting skills, safety, and international mobility in Fiji’s maritime sector.
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WHO Warns Women Face Higher Risks From Smoking
Smokers once thought to be protected by gender, but a landmark look at women and tobacco suggests the risks are real—and may be different for women. From reproductive health to aging and quitting struggles, the story hints at a shifting landscape as more young women begin to smoke. A provocative glimpse into what these findings…
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Barcelona-area train derailment kills driver, 14 injured
Tragedy strikes on a regional rail line near Barcelona as a derailment leaves a driver dead and several passengers injured. With fierce storms lashing the area, rescue teams press on as authorities review rail safety in the wake of recent crashes.
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Fiji Leads Pacific Climate Mobility Talks on Planned Relocation
Pacific island nations are stepping up cooperation on climate mobility and planned relocation. Fiji hosts a regional exchange with Palau, sharing lessons and strategies with support from IOM and the Platform on Disaster Displacement. The conversations reinforce a regional framework for community‑led, culturally sensitive responses to climate displacement and relocation.
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Israel Demolition Underway at UNRWA HQ in East Jerusalem Sparks International Law Concerns
– Tensions flare in East Jerusalem as a humanitarian agency encounters a bold government move, sparking a debate over international law and aid operations. – A dramatic development in East Jerusalem tests the balance between security actions and humanitarian work, signaling broader questions about immunity and law. – In East Jerusalem, a controversial move unfolds,…
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Pacific Cocaine Corridor: Record Haul in French Polynesia and Fiji Seizures Spark Alarm
Two high-stakes seizures in the Pacific are signaling a shift in the fight against international drug trafficking. French Polynesia reported a record cocaine haul, while Fiji uncovered a separate operation with multiple arrests. The events point to the Pacific as a growing transit corridor for global networks and the evolving tactics authorities are confronting.
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Water Scarcity and Global Food Security Take Center Stage at Berlin GFFA 2026
Water scarcity is reshaping the future of food, with leaders outlining bold paths toward secure harvests. From clean water access to diverse crops and resilient fisheries, the conversations hint at a new era of collaboration and sustainable management. Fresh ideas from young farmers suggest a hopeful shift in building resilient food systems for all.
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Fiji Joins MAAC, Advancing Global Tax Transparency and Cooperation
Fiji has joined a leading multilateral framework to boost tax transparency and cooperation worldwide. The milestone enables enhanced information exchange with dozens of jurisdictions and strengthens efforts to combat tax evasion. Observers say the move could sharpen Fiji’s international relationships and its standing in global tax governance.
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US Pivots in the Pacific as China Expands Influence in Micronesia
Washington’s growing ties with Micronesian states are testing a delicate balance of power as Beijing’s footprint in the Pacific expands. Behind funding decisions and strategic rights lies a high-stakes debate about democracy, development, and regional resilience. A closer look at the bets, debates, and real-world impact on these island nations.
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Narco-Submarine Intercept Ties Australia to Pacific Cocaine Haul
An audacious narco-submarine operation near Fiji halted a shipment of more than two tonnes of cocaine believed destined for Australia. Six suspects were arrested as investigators link a sprawling international trafficking network, spotlighting ongoing cooperation across the Pacific in the fight against drugs.
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Record-Low Birth Rate in China Sparks Demographic Concerns
China’s birth rate sinks to a new low even as the economy keeps expanding, sharpening the link between demographics and growth. With deaths rising alongside aging trends, policymakers face a delicate balancing act about the country’s future. A closer look at the numbers hints at big questions for prosperity ahead.
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IFC names Sarvesh Suri Asia-Pacific chief to mobilize private capital and jobs
An experienced IFC leader takes the helm for Asia and the Pacific, charged with mobilizing private capital to create jobs and tackle development challenges. Across sectors from financial services to infrastructure, a new regional push aims to turn private-sector know-how into real opportunities—from India to the Pacific.
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Fiji Learns Singapore’s Waste Management Playbook to Transform Policy and Circular Economy
Fiji is drawing on Singapore’s integrated waste management and circular economy approaches as a government delegation explores planning, regulation, and data-driven monitoring. The exchange aims to strengthen Fiji’s reform agenda, protecting environmental health and building longer-term resilience. It signals a bold step toward a healthier, more sustainable future for the islands.
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Tonga Flag Under Scrutiny: Sanctioned Oil Tankers Exploit AIS
A tangled maritime mystery is unfolding as ships reportedly fly unlikely flags while moving sanctioned oil across global routes. Deceptive registrations, AIS obfuscation, and the heavy reach of sanctions push the shipping world into murky territory—keeping flag states under close scrutiny.
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High Seas Treaty Enters Implementation Phase: Can Global Cooperation Deliver Ocean Protection?
After a landmark treaty took effect, the hard work begins: turning promises into protected oceans. Nations, regional groups, and scientists are outlining concrete steps—from new marine protected areas to robust monitoring and fair resource sharing. The coming months will test whether ambition can translate into real protection for the high seas.
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Direct Flights and Fiji-Canada High Commission Spur Trade and Investment
Strengthened ties between Fiji and Canada are accelerating with a new High Commission and direct flights, reshaping trade, investment, and mobility for Fijian-born Canadians. A widening focus on sectors like mining, tourism, construction, and technology hints at a new era of two-way collaboration and opportunity.
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BBNJ Takes Effect as Pacific Leaders Rally for Ocean Governance
A landmark biodiversity treaty for areas beyond national jurisdiction has taken effect, signaling a new era in ocean governance. Pacific leaders hail the milestone as a triumph after two decades of negotiation, but warn that universal participation and real action lie ahead.
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Solomon Islands Professor Joins Transpacific and Asian Dialogue Fellowship to Shape U.S.-China Policy
Tacisius Kabutaulaka, a Solomon Islands scholar, has been named a fellow in a prestigious program studying the future of US-China relations from a Pacific perspective. The initiative aims to turn scholarly debates into practical policy guidance for governments and stakeholders navigating a shifting geopolitical landscape. Focusing on Oceania and broader Asia-Pacific dynamics, his work could…
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Caregivers at Risk: Fiji’s Diplomatic Push Amid U.S. Deportation Debate
Facing a shifting U.S. deportation policy, SODELPA urges swift diplomatic action to shield Fijian workers abroad and safeguard national security. The plan weighs labor shortages, remittances, and the challenge of reintegration at home.
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Fifteen UN Peacekeepers Return and Begin Reintegration Program
Fifteen officers return from international peacekeeping missions, spanning South Sudan, the Multinational Force and Observers, and Abyei. They begin a Post Deployment Reintegration Program, underscoring dedication, resilience, and a renewed commitment to global peace.
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Syria Seizes Key Oilfield and Tabqa Dam, Signaling Shift in Northeast Syria
A dramatic shift in northeast Syria unfolds as a key oil facility and a strategic dam shift into new hands, following a Kurdish-led withdrawal. With alliances in flux, the region’s balance of power remains increasingly unsettled.
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US-Solomon Islands Ties Deepened as Ambassador Wraps Term
Two years in the Pacific come to a close as the U.S. ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu wraps up her tenure. Her farewell tour spotlighted historic sites and a surge in people-to-people ties, signaling a new chapter in U.S.–Solomon Islands diplomacy.
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Bollywood Across the Pacific: Fiji Film Festival Highlights India’s Global Ties
Bollywood lights up Fiji as the Indian Film Festival spotlights enduring ties between the two nations. Cinema is painted as an emotion that transcends borders, with the Fiji-Indian diaspora bridging cultures—from language and songs to student exchanges and cultural programs—and reinforcing a shared heritage across generations.
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Cinema as Bridge: Fiji-India Ties Shine at Film Festival
At Nakasi’s festival opening, cinema is celebrated as a bridge that connects Fiji and India—across language, songs, and shared values spanning generations. A minister casts film as a powerful force for dignity and dialogue, signaling how culture and collaboration in health and education are shaping a united future. A concise glimpse into the ties that…
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U.S. Ambassador Damour Bids Farewell as Pacific Partnerships Grow Stronger
After three years in the Blue Pacific, Ambassador Marie C. Damour bids farewell with gratitude for the warmth, hospitality, and friendships she found across the region. She reflects on strengthened US-Pacific ties—from development and security to education and health—and a shared sense of purpose that binds communities. A hopeful note about continued collaboration hints at…
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BBNJ Enters Into Force: A New Era for Ocean Governance
A landmark treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions has come into force, heralding a new era in the protection and sustainable use of the world’s shared oceans. Led by Pacific nations, the agreement promises a binding framework—but the real test lies in turning commitments into action across borders, technologies, and generations.
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Fiji Peacekeepers Return Home From United Nations Missions, Begin Reintegration Program
Fifteen officers are back on home soil after serving on international peacekeeping missions, carrying hard-won lessons from the field. As they begin a Post-Deployment Reintegration Program, their overseas experiences are set to enrich local policing and community outreach. A new chapter unfolds for frontline officers who answered the call abroad.
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Fiji Joins Global Tax Transparency Framework, Signaling Stronger International Cooperation
Fiji has taken a bold step toward tax transparency by joining a landmark multilateral framework for mutual administrative assistance in tax matters. The move promises enhanced international cooperation and tougher safeguards against tax evasion, signaling a new era for Fiji’s economy and its standing abroad.
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Fiji Signs MAAC to Strengthen Global Tax Transparency
Fiji has taken a major step toward tax transparency by joining a global framework for mutual administrative assistance. The milestone signing in Paris signals a deeper commitment to information sharing and cooperation on tax matters, setting the stage for automatic data exchange and tougher action against tax evasion.
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Canada Funds Women POWER to Elevate Pacific Women’s Climate Leadership
A bold, five-year push is set to elevate women-led climate action across Fiji, Kiribati, and Vanuatu with a CAD 5 million investment. The Women POWER Project aims to broaden leadership, amplify women and girls’ voices, and strengthen community resilience through gender-transformative approaches. As the Pacific faces rising climate threats, women’s leadership could reshape adaptation and…