Fiji

The two nations had never met before Friday and they made up for lost time, producing a match that had everything a rugby league fan could ask for. 

Breathtaking tries, wonderful individual performances, huge hits and three controversial sin-bins were just some of the highlights of the fiery clash that for a long time was a lot closer than the scoreboard suggests. 

Needing to win by 46 to progress to the quarter-finals, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Italians and they did not help their cause in the early stages. 

Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama is presiding over the 11 day long talks, known as COP 23, which starts next week.

The Fijian government said it was ensuring Fiji's "Bula" spirit is stamped on the occasion by providing cultural shows, a Fijian drua or sailing canoe in the main foyer and talanoa-style negotations.

Fiji, along with most Pacific island countries, wants to see a one-point-five-degree limit on global temperature rise above pre industrial levels.

Fiji is co-hosting the UN conference on climate change in Germany and is holding a series of preliminary meetings this week in Nadi.

Most Pacific countries have long backed limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees celsius abover pre-industrial levels, while New Zealand and Australia have committed to two-degrees in line with most other developed nations.

At the meeting, Australia is set to face criticism over the planned Adani coal mine in Queensland and PICAN's Genevieve Jiva said it should not go ahead.

The International Solar Alliance was launched by India in late 2015 and has about 40 countries as members.

The Alliance's aim is to undertake innovative efforts to develop solar power technology at a reduced cost.

India's government said the Alliance is seeking investment to promote energy security and access for its members.

Any country located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is eligible to join the Alliance.

Vanuatu is also a member.

Photo: AFP

Exactly where the Super Rugby champions will play their matches in 2018 has yet to be made public, although chief executive Hamish Riach has already declared the competition schedule, released by Sanzaar last week, isn't conducive to his club transferring a fixture to the Fijian capital of Suva.

When the Chiefs transferred their "home" games against the Crusaders to Suva for the last two years, they did so in the knowledge that the Fijian government would invest around $1.6 million.

For the past two years the franchise has taken their big game, against what have become their fiercest rivals, to Suva, in a deal which reaped financial benefit, but left local fans missing out on attending the key derby. 

The 2018 draw was announced on Thursday, and while none of the New Zealand sides have confirmed their venues for their eight home fixtures, the Chiefs aren't expecting to play in Fiji for a third successive year.

The men's and women's tournaments were hosted at ANZ Stadium in Suva last December and will both return to the Fijian capital until at least 2019.

A record 21 teams are set to contest the 2017 Championships, including 13 men's teams and eight women's sides.

New Zealand will also enter teams in both the men's and women's competition for the first time in three years.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Laisenia Bale Tuitubou, said the Fiji Government was delighted to secure hosting rights for another three years.

Air New Zealand said it had diverted several flights to Fiji over the past few days to top up on fuel.

It said the temporary shut-down of the damaged pipeline was affecting all airlines operating in and out of Auckland Airport.

The airport said it does not know how long the problem would take to fix, but it said it was in regular contact with the company responsible for the pipeline, Refinery New Zealand, to know when it would be operational again.

The fisheries minister, Semi Koroilavesau, said new regulations would be in force from June to September next year.

He said there would also be a permanent ban on the harvest, sale and export of beche de mer, as well as a ban on longline fishing within 10 nautical miles of barrier reefs.

The Fiji Times reported Mr Koroilavesau also promised increased enforcement of current size limits.

The measures are part commitments Fiji made at a United Nations oceans conference in June.

Fiji welcomed this opportunity during the signing of the World Bank establishment agreement at the Prime Minister’s office Wednesday.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji is honoured to host the World Bank group.

Bainimarama says Fiji’s relationship with the World Bank is growing and its presence at home will benefit not only Fiji but neighbouring countries.