PINA

By Graeme Dobell Fiji will soon vote on Frank Bainimarama, the military supremo who slowly morphed into an elected leader. The man who has driven and dominated Fiji’s politics since 2000 had urgent heart surgery in Australia in mid-January and returned to Suva at the start of March. The campaign period for Fiji’s general election starts on 26 April, which just happens...

The White House’s top Asia official is preparing to travel to the Solomon Islands in a rare high-level visit that underscores alarm in Washington over the Pacific nation’s security pact with China. Kurt Campbell will fly to the Solomon Islands this month, according to four people familiar with the plan. He is expected to travel with Daniel Kritenbrink, the top...

Scott Morrison has kicked off his campaign to become the first Australian prime minister in a generation to win a second term after calling an election on 21 May. Morrison’s coalition government trails the opposition Labor party in the polls and faces a tough task to narrow that gap over a six-week campaign that will be disrupted by Easter and...

Samoa’s Head of State has extended the proclamation of the State of Emergency (SOE) to next month due to a “grave emergency” where a “catastrophe” threatens the security of the nation. The proclamation signed by His Highness, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II on Friday extends the nation’s SOE from 11 April to 08 May 2022. In his proclamation the Head of State...

French voters streamed to polling stations Sunday for the first round of a tense contest for the presidency, with incumbent Emmanuel Macron’s hopes of reelection clouded by a strong challenge from the far right’s Marine Le Pen. Macron, a centrist, is asking France’s 48 million voters for a second five-year term. But he was up against 11 other candidates and...

Tongan overstayers who can’t return home because of the damage caused by January’s volcanic eruption are asking the Government for a short-term working visa. Some parts of the island nation were completely wiped out or left largely uninhabitable when the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, triggering a tsunami. It’s estimated the disaster has cost Tonga $175 million (US$119 million) or almost...

Families and communities across Kiribati will receive much-needed health support as part of the US$14 million Kiribati Health Systems Strengthening Project that has been approved by the World Bank’s board of executive directors. The project will improve infrastructure and equipment across Kiribati’s hospitals, health centres and clinics; provide in-service training to health workers; and enhance the country’s health information systems. Kiribati...

In Papua New Guinea, defending women accused of sorcery, has become a life-threatening occupation. The UN and European Union run Spotlight Initiative, is promoting legislation that will protect threatened human rights defenders in the country, who risk violence, torture, and death. “When we are trying to help others, or when we go to court to take up someone’s case, we...

Olympic champions Fiji returned to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in style with a stunning victory in Singapore, overcoming New Zealand 28-17 in a pulsating final to claim the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens title. Australia beat impressive Ireland 21-19 to clinch a hard fought bronze medal and remain in contention for the 2022 Series title. Prior to Singapore, South Africa...

Fiji is drawn in pool A with USA, Kenya and England for the Vancouver 7s which kicks off this weekend. Singapore 7s silver medalist New Zealand is in Pool B with Samoa, Wales and Japan. The Blitzboks are in Pool C with Australia, Spain and hosts, Canada while Pool D will feature Ireland, Argentina, France and Scotland. The Vancouver 7s kicks off...